GLRCSEMINARSERIESPRESENTS:W.CHARLESKERFOOT
LakeSuperiorEcosystemResearchCenter&DepartmentofBiologicalSciences,MichiganTechnologicalUniversity
LiDARandMSSApplicationsForCoastalEcosystemResearch&RestorationProjects
Duetoitshighspatialresolutionandexcellentwaterpenetration,LiDARandmulti‐spectralimaging(MSS)hasgreatpromiseforresolvingshorelineenvironmentalissues.Grand(Big)TraverseBayontheKeweenawPeninsulahasprovidedanexcellentGreatLakesexampleoftheconsequencesofminedischargesintocoastalenvironments.Althoughcoastaldischargeiscurrentlyadvocatedbymininginoceanenvironmentsasthe"outofsight,outofmind"alternativeto"tailingimpoundments",modernimprovementsinremotesensingcantrackcoastaldischarges.Foroveracentury,wasterockmigratingfromshorelinetailingspileshasmovedalongextensivestretchesoftheKeweenawcoastline,dammingstreamoutlets,interceptingwetlandsandrecreationalbeaches,suppressingbenthicinvertebratecommunities,andthreateningcriticalfishbreedinggrounds.HereweuseLiDARandMSSimagerytoestimatethetimecourseandmassoftailingserodedintoGrandTraverseBayandtoquantifyunderwatertailingsspreadacrossbenthicsubstrates.WeshowthatthecoastaldetailfromLiDARandMSSopensupnumerousapplicationsforecological,ecosystem,andgeologicalinvestigations.Initialstudiesaidedtheestablishmentofanauthorized$8‐9MUSACEStampSandRestorationProjectinGrandTraverseBay.