Using Remote Sensing to Identify Locations of Large Animal Operations in the Maumee River Watershed

Session: Poster session

Colleen Long, University of Michigan, [email protected]
Rebecca Muenich, Arizona State University, [email protected]
Donald Scavia, University of Michigan, [email protected]

Abstract

In some Maumee River Watershed counties, there is a gap between the number of operations in the largest size categories of the National Agricultural Statistics Survey and the number of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).  This suggests there are a number of very large, unpermitted operations that produce, and potentially land-apply, substantial amounts of manure.  The potential that these operations are applying manure to cropland without the oversight to which CAFOs are subject has been a topic of increasing interest and concern.  Furthermore, without knowing the locations of these operations, it is difficult to complete a comprehensive assessment of nutrient inputs and sources to the watershed.  Here, we use remote sensing to identify the locations of large animal operations in the Maumee River watershed.  High resolution aerial imagery and LiDAR data are used to perform an object-oriented classification which identifies the operations.  The resulting location dataset indicates where in the watershed a substantial portion of manure is generated and likely applied to cropland, and can be used to improve nutrient balance estimates and watershed model inputs.

1. Keyword
watersheds

2. Keyword
nutrients

3. Keyword
remote sensing