Natchez Trace Parkway Partners with the NASA Develop Program

Date: December 16, 2015
Contact: Lisa McInnis, [phone]

TUPELO, MS: The Natchez Trace Parkway (Parkway) has partnered with the NASA Develop programon a project to address questions involving past, current, and future wetland conditions.

Along the Parkway, beavers have altered current and historic wetland conditions by changing stream flow along adjacent rivers and streams. While the ecological services provided by these beavers benefit wetland habitats, excessive dam building causes issues with flooding, property damage, and road maintenance. NASA used satellite data from December 1992 to January 2015 to create a time series of land classification maps that show wetlands along the Parkway. This time series and modeling work will aid the Parkway in wetland conservation and beaver management planning. This information can also be used to aid other National Park Service units with wetland conservation efforts.

For more information on the project go to: http://earthzine.org/2015/11/25/mapping-wetlands-along-the-natchez-trace-parkway.