Tribal Lands: Monitoring and Analysis

San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation is located in east central Arizona. The vast diversity of land use, land cover, and terrain require the best tools available to assist in the management of Reservation natural resources. Tribal leaders have expressed their need for acquiring remotely sensed data products and technology to assist with development of ecosystem management plans to provide for the wise utilization of their resources. This project is a collaborative effort between tribal, BIA, and USGS staff who work closely together on all aspects of the project to develop specific products and tools for use by Tribal natural resource managers, and to develop a long-term remote sensing and image-processing capability within the Tribal Natural Resources Department.

The study uses remotely sensed satellite data to develop mapping products and monitoring protocols that will assist the Tribe in efforts to manage their Reservation lands. Specific objectives were developed in close conjunction with Tribal natural resource managers and personnel, and reflect their expressed priorities. Remotely sensed satellite data at a variety spatial and temporal resolutions, were used to characterize and map land cover change across the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Several digital map products were derived for each decade starting in the 1970’s (1975, 1989, and 2003) depicting landscape change.

Rangeland health is being ascertained by the use and analysis of carefully calibrated multi-temporal satellite datasets to assess grassland health and desertification processes. This study provides unique insight into the desertification rates and processes acting on tribal rangelands. Maps showing the relative health of Tribal rangelands and impacts of desertification on these rangeland communities have been generated in concert with Tribal and BIA personnel and will be utilized for the development of management plans and monitoring protocols for future resource utilization.

High resolution satellite and field data is being used to study the distribution of forest trees afflicted by bark beetle infestation. This study also aims to develop a method for detecting and monitoring the earliest observable signs of tree decline as a result of the beetle attacks. In close collaboration with Tribal and BIA personnel, digital maps of forested areas that are affected by major bark beetle infestations have been produced and will be used in the development of forest management plans.

Remote sensing and image processing expertise and personnel available at USGS are being used to train San Carlos tribal and BIA personnel in the use of remote sensing technology for environmental resource applications. This will provide the Tribe the capability to keep their data current, developing their own database of digital data products to assist in the management of their lands, and build their own remote sensing and analysis capability for long term monitoring, analysis, and decision making.

Significance:This effort not only provides the hardcopy and digital products necessary to make current management decisions, but most importantly builds a long-term Tribal remote sensing and monitoring capability for long term monitoring and decision making.