Embedded Files
Geospatial technologies are integral to the work of the Watershed Conservation Research Center.
My Role
For the past 3 years, I've helped to facilitate and oversee the work of the Geospatial Interns during 8-week long summer research opportunities in June/July. You can read more about the projects they have completed below. The interns utilize geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), and other technologies to support the important work of the WCRC, which often involves local stakeholders such as the French Creek Valley Conservancy and Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission.
If you're interested in being an intern in the future, please contact me!
Bryson DeChambeau, winner of 2 U.S. Open Championships (2020 at Winged Foot and 2024 at Pinehurst) was kind enough to take time out of his 2025 Open preparation to sign my WCRC hat.
Geospatial Interns
Geospatial Interns
Summer 2024
Geospatial Interns, Julia Desanto '25 and Lauren Dougherty '25, worked on a wide range of research projects including compiling, organizing, and disseminating vast amounts of ecological data, evaluating multiple techniques for drainage basin delineation, inventorying hiking trails at the college's experimental forest, determining if and how landcover influences nesting sites of Hooded warblers, updating the French Creek Water Trail public-facing map and supporting decisions on the placement of signage, and capturing drone imagery of the Harmonsburg fen prior to herbicide treatment.
Summer 2023
Geospatial Interns, Travis Dear '24 and Heather Landis '24, conducted a land parcel prioritization research project for the French Creek Valley Conservancy. Leveraging map overlay approaches, they combined a number of geographic criteria including total acreage, proximity to water, existing FCVC land, and public land, presence of wetlands and/or hydric soils, amount of "core" forest and canopy cover, and riparian frontage to "score" 63,393 land parcels based on desirability for future acquisition.
Summer 2022
GIS/Remote Sensing Interns, Grace Camarata '23 and Rachel Ditzenberger '24, gained hands-on experience over the summer working on a variety of research projects for local stakeholders. In the largest project, they supported the work of the PA Fish & Boat Commission's Unassessed Waters Initiative by analyzing landscape level characteristics for over 30 small watersheds in northwest PA. This including using GIS to delineate watershed boundaries, measure land area, elevation, and stream gradient, and determine landcover composition. They also helped with stream surveys, conducted aerial mapping flyovers of campus, and assisted the Erie Bird Observatory with bird banding.
Restoration Activities
Restoration Activities
Pre-flight drone assembly
Chop-and-Drop
Chop-and-drop restoration is a stream enhancement technique that involves cutting down trees and strategically placing them in waterways to improve habitat complexity and promote biodiversity. In collaboration with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the WCRC conducted a drone survey along the full length of German Run, from its headwaters to its confluence with Woodcock Creek, to collect baseline data on the stream channel and surrounding riparian zone. A follow-up survey will be conducted after restoration activities are complete to assess ecological and geomorphic changes. This summer, the Geospatial Intern played a central role in the project, overseeing mission planning, aerial imagery acquisition, and post-processing and visualization of the data.
Pre-conversion (April 23, 2025)
Pollinator Gardens
The WCRC, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Crawford County Conservation district, is working on a project to enhance the shoreline at the Woodcock Creek Lake Overlook Recreation Area, a spot frequently visited by anglers and tourist. The goal is to transform portions of the existing lawn into a native wildflower garden. In support of this effort, pre- and post-conversion aerial imagery was captured to document the work.
ES 585: Jr Seminar (Spring 2025)
Tree Planting
In the spring of 2025, students in Casey Bradshaw-Wilson's ES 585: Jr Seminar - Sustainable Development teamed up with the Crawford Conservation District and WCRC to plant trees along the bank of Woodcock Creek near Stainbrook Park.
Stream Restoration Work
The WCRC works with the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and Crawford County Conservation District to restore sections of streams that have experienced severe degradation. Aquatic surveys are conducted pre and post-restoration. Drone imagery and video is captured to record these efforts. Recent restorations have occurred on Woodcock Creek (Stainbrook Park, 2024; Craid Road, 2023), and its tributaries (Telliho, 2023).
Restoration work, 2024
Pre-restoration survey, 2023
Post-restoration survey, 2023
Restoration work, 2023
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