Hey everyone!

I took more GPS point, over 200 this time! I marked the ATV trails, vernal pools and stream run offs. There was already the initial 'farm' road, but I found a set of ATV trails winding through the parcel. I noticed one seemed to run right through a vernal pool, not ideal. There was also a tree stand someone put up for hunting on the property. I am in the process of transferring the points to ArcGIS, so look back soon for another map update.

Some progress!

 

 

I took some initial GPS points of the existant trail on the premises. I have found some potential vernal pools, stream runoffs, and other atv trails on the property that I am going back to plot. The data pertaining to wetlands shows a large area alongside the stream to be of forest/shrub wetland, although it seems this has changed over time. I will be back out in the near future to collect the remaining points of interest.

   -James B. White

Van Dyke Project Proposal

Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy

 

Van Dyke Preserve-Van Dyke Road Delmar, NY

Introduction:

The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy received a new preserve in the winter of 2012. The 25 acre parcel in located in the Town of Bethlehem, NY located on the West side of Van Dyke Road. There are only a few things known about the property, such that the Phillipin Kill passes through, it contains flood plains, wetlands, an old farm road, and may contain a vernal pool. It does contain some rough terrain with steep slopes. As of today, there is no visualization of the property to begin any planning of property use, such as trail systems.

Objectives:

·         Map property boundaries.

·         Identify stream corridors and low sections for potential trail crossings.

·         Map old road as start to trail system.

·         Identify areas of wetlands, flood plains, and vernal pools.

Methodology:

I will hike the parcel and identify points of interest using GPS to document coordinates. I will also take stream measurements (depth and width) as to find potential trail crossing. The coordinates and data measurements will be entered to excel and transferred ArcGIS. Arc GIS software will be used to map a professional data map.

Week by week work plan:

Oct 15-21 – Receive a letter of permission to enter the future Van Dyke Preserve, as the contractor still owns the property. Continue to work with the client, Jill Knapp from the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, to finalize a project plan.

Oct 22-28 – Survey the Van Dyke Preserve; gather GPS coordinates of points of interest, and current trail.

Oct 29-Nov 4 – Continue data collection of points if necessary, and start processing data into the necessary files for use in ArcGIS.

Nov 5-11 – Continue the data entry, presenting a more complete map of the property boundaries, stream corridors, wetlands, flood plains, vernal pools, and the present trail.

Nov 12-18 – Present the client with a draft of the map for review, and allow for alterations as wanted.

 Nov 19-25 – Finalize the map and submit for client approval, allowing time for addition of any other necessary or pertinent information. The final presentation of the map and information can also be discussed.

Dec 3-9 – Present finalized map to client.

Deliverables:

With the completion of my project, I will have a map of the Van Dyke Preserve to present my client, presenting land features. These will include vernal pools, stream crossings, flood plains, wetlands, and the location of the old farm road. This will allow for my client and the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy to perceive the land they have acquired to allow for the installation of a trail system.

Data Sources:

·         Topographic lines

·         Stream vectors

·         Wetlands

·         Vernal Pools

·         Property Lines

·         Collected GPS coordinates