To assist in detecting change over time for the forested landscape of George W. Pirtle Scout Reservation, Panola County, Texas, digital ortho-photography imagery (acquired 1996 and 2004) were used to designate forest cover types and hazard rating for forest insects and diseases. Status of camp grounds was ascertained and recommendations made for management using the GIS database created for the camp

Bardwell, Josh

Kulhavy, David

Shockley, Frank B.

Unger, Daniel

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Stephen F. Austin State UniversitySFA ScholarWorksFaculty Presentations Spatial Science2007Landscape Analysis of George W. Pirtle ScoutReservationDavid KulhavyArthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, dkulhavy@sfasu.eduDaniel UngerArthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State University, unger@sfasu.eduFrank B. ShockleyJosh BardwellFollow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/spatialsci_facultypresPart of the Forest Management CommonsTell us how this article helped you.This Conference Proceeding is brought to you for free and open access by the Spatial Science at SFA ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion inFaculty Presentations by an authorized administrator of SFA ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact cdsscholarworks@sfasu.edu.Recommended CitationKulhavy, David; Unger, Daniel; Shockley, Frank B.; and Bardwell, Josh, "Landscape Analysis of George W. Pirtle Scout Reservation"(2007). Faculty Presentations. Paper 17.http://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/spatialsci_facultypres/17LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS OF GEORGE W. PIRTLE SCOUT RESERVATIONDavid L. Kulhavy, Daniel R. Unger, Frank B. Shockley and Josh BardwellArthur Temple College of Forestry and AgricultureStephen F. Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, Texas 75962-6109ABSTRACTTo assist in detecting change over time for the forested landscape of George W. Pirtle Scout Reservation, PanolaCounty, Texas, digital orthophotography imagery (acquired 1996 and 2004) were used to designate forest covertypes and hazard rating for forest insects and diseases. Status of camp grounds was ascertained andrecommendations made for management using the GIS database created for the camp.INTRODUCTIONLandscape ecological analysis of George W. Pirtle Scout Reservation, Panola County, Texas, was conductedusing spatial analysis of USDA National Agricultural Imagery Program imagery. Data collection were obtainedusing a Trimble ProXRS GPS unit, iPlX and digital photoquadrangle imagery, insect and disease hazard ratingssystems, NRCS Panola County, Texas, Soil Survey within ArcGIS 9.2. The project team used social structureperspectives in conjunction with the overall integrated landscape management strategy with regard to landscape andcultural heritage."Landscape ecology is the study of the structure, function, and change in a heterogeneous land area comprisedof interacting ecosystem types. Landscapes are comprised of patches, corridors, and the background matrixembedded in a mosaic." (Forman, 1995). By applying and using these principles, problems can be formulated andsolved. "The concept of a sustainable environment focuses on a time frame of human generations and theconcurrent maintenance of basic human needs." (Forman, 1995)One of the basic concepts of landscape ecology is identifying and classifying the landscape features. Thematrix is the background ecosystem of land-use type in a mosaic characterized by extensive cover, highconnectivity, and/or major control over dynamics. At Pirtle, the matrix is a pine-hardwood mix.A corridor is a strip that differs from the adjacent land on both sides. Although corridors are too narrow to beseen on the map, they provided for transportation of organisms and energy to different areas. The roads and trailsaround camp that lead to and form the central areas, outside of camp, and to the outlying areas are all examples.A patch is a relatively homogeneous nonlinear area that differs from its surroundings. They come in thecategories of disturbance (affected by human or natural causes), environmental resource (left due to difference fromsurroundings), ephemeral (caused by short-lived interaction and quickly disappear), introduced (long-termdisturbance, including planting new species), regeneration (recovering disturbance patch), and remnant (originalarea left behind due to a disturbance).Recognition and management of insects and diseases helps reduce significant impact and prevents spreadinginto larger management areas. Proper management for these will lead to a more sustainable environment andincreased forestry income. These can be used to improve camp facilities and allow for greater camp population.Coupling the site index of pines and hardwoods and equipment limitation, the rangers and managers will be able todesignate optimal areas for harvest and growth of loblolly (Pinus taeda) and shortleat (P. echinata) to maximizecamp income and maintain a sustainable environment.Camping areas were rating for suitability of sites based on soils and forest stand structure. The area of current usagewas located in the moderate camp site area. Recommendations were made to look at development of the area ofslight for erosion and suitable soils (Figure I). The areas of severe for camping were located in low areas prone toflooding.21 sl Biennial Workshop on Aerial Photography, Videography, andHigh Resolution Digital Imagery for Resource AssessmentMay 15-17,2007 * Terre Haute, IndianaFigure 1. Camping areas suitability based on soils and cover. Recommendations includeproposing development on the area of slight erosion.Hazard rating the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis, is based on basal area of pine, height of pineand landform. Rating for annosus root rot, Heterobasidion annosum, is based on soil characteristics including depthto clay and depth of sandy soil. For the areas of current campsite location, the area is rated high for annsous root rotand moderate for southern pine beetle (Figure 2). Care needs to be taken planning timber sales in these areas tolower hazard to soutbern pine beetle.A complete diagnosis of George W. Pirtle Scout Reservation is presented in Figure 3. At the center of theimage is a depiction of the cover types of the forest stands of Pirtle. The light green section indicates regeneratedareas for pine harvest and represents change over time.Figure 2. Annosus root rot hazard rating and moderate southern pine beetlehazard rating for George W. Pirtle Boy Scout Reservation.21 sl Biennial Workshop on Aerial Photography, Videography, andHigh Resolution Digital Imagery for Resource AssessmentMay 15-17,2007 * Terre Haute, IndianaLandscape Analysis of George W. Pirtle Scout Reservation~a.EIiIIo'-.l"-~ • ...... -....... ...... _____.c.-. .....'..... c:....--" _,w.- .. ~' '---.~ t .. _.A ...............,~ __. ....--.- ~.-._......- .._1_" _---..----~ ..-.....~---,~-.....-----~"",,_,,-l."""-'''-'-'=:-.:=...--.......- ..-.._ ..--..........-- ..- -------~.- ..----~-_ .......-._- ... ...;.:::-:.-::..=--:-_. ~... ...- -.-..._-...-.--....- -.-_--_..--- ~~--~..-_~. ftIt ...... ...-._.._..._- -_...- -------_ -~ ..~. _....---~..-...---~.-...---- ~-- ........."'...- ....-..........-_.._--:'..~-====........--'==::::'-:-~~':~':':'::' -~ ..~"""'..._-~....--.~- ...-..-..--...---_.-r-r=-Figure 3. Landscape ecological analysis of George W. Pirtle Scout Reservation based on the tenets ofR. T. T.Forman Land mosaics, the ecology oflandscape and regions.REFERENCESForman, R. T. T. 1995. Land mosaics, the ecology oflandscape and regions. Cambridge University Press,Cambridge, United Kingdom. 632 p.21 'I Biennial Workshop on Aerial Photography, Videography, andHigh Resolution Digital Imagery for Resource AssessmentMay 15-17,2007 * Terre Haute, Indiana

Landscape Analysis of George W. Pirtle Scout Reservation

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Landscape Analysis of George W. Pirtle Scout Reservation

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