Enhancing Public Access to Nature Preserves using GIS
Introduction
Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy (BHHC) is a non-profit land conservancy that focuses on protecting the watersheds and headwaters regions of 4 major river systems in Southeast Michigan: The Clinton, Flint, Shiawassee, and Huron Rivers. BHHC’s mission is to safeguard natural land, water, and wildlife from unrestricted development and harmful human activity, and at the same time to connect conservation with local communities and provide outdoor recreation, green space, and educational opportunities to the public. One of the main ways BHHC accomplishes this is by maintaining a combination of private and public properties obtained through conservation easements and land acquisitions.
During the land acquisitions process, we assess whether or not a property has public access potential. Adding public access and amenities where it’s appropriate—and without disrupting sensitive habitats and ecosystems—can benefit both people and the natural environment. Public nature preserves provide recreational green space, increase value to communities, and educate visitors on the natural and cultural history of a preserved space. Offering public access on select properties may also help prevent trespassing and environmentally damaging activities on privately protected land. BHHC works hard year-round to steward the land and enhance public spaces with amenities such as interpretive signage, hiking trails, bridges, parking space, benches, birdhouses, viewpoints, and more.
For the past several years, GIS tools have allowed BHHC to manage over 1500 acres of land and record/store important geodata on public and private properties. Stewardship workers and volunteers use GIS tools to conduct property inspections, track native and invasive plant growth, map boundary markers, and to investigate high priority conservation areas for potential land acquisitions. After ArcGIS Field Maps was launched, we saw an opportunity to not only elevate the data collection process, but also to create shareable web maps that showcase the natural features and amenities offered on our public preserves.
We chose to begin with a trail map for Nels Kimball Sanctuary, a 41-acre public nature preserve with updated signage, a regularly maintained parking lawn and trail system, and a bridge that crosses the Clinton River. Under BHHC’s protection since 1985, Nels Kimball Sanctuary allows visitors to take refuge in a pocket of secluded oak hickory woods in the midst of developed area in the Village of Clarkston. It displays seasonal vernal pools, wildlife activity, and an array of colorful, native wildflower blooms in the spring. Our objective was to map the uncharted trails and other relevant features for a public map, and additionally, to fill any gaps in pre-existing property data.
(left) Nels Kimball Sanctuary scenic bridge. Photo by Theresa Ray
(right) Wild geranium at Nels Kimball Sanctuary. Photo by Marlene Horner
Methods
Before going out to Nels Kimball Sanctuary, we created new point, line, and polygon feature layers on ArcGIS Online that would serve as containers for the new attributes recorded on the field. Once out on the property, we used ArcGIS Field Maps to collect the locations of signage, parking areas, and trail entrances as point features. We utilized the photo and text description entries if needed, taking notes on amenity conditions and highlighting any need for maintenance. We recorded all of the trail paths as line features using the streaming tool. During this visit, we did not find a need to add to the pre-existing polygon features on the property, which indicate areas of invasive growth or other concerns.
After the field data collection, we opened a copy of the recorded attributes on ArcGIS Pro. Figure 2 shows all of Nels Kimball Sanctuary’s unrefined point, line, and polygon features, including the trails and access points recorded for the trail map:
Figure 2. Collective unedited geodata of Nels Kimball Sanctuary
For the public trail map, we hid the data used for internal purposes; invasive growth, signage conditions, and other stewardship related points. We were left with the outline of the property, the streamed trail paths and two points indicating the entrances and parking lots. For properties with other public amenities such as benches or restrooms, those data points would be included as well. Next, we edited the Symbology of the visible features. We labeled and organized trails and loops by name and color. During our visit, we found that a section of the trail required maintenance and labeled it as temporarily closed. We further edited the appearance of the features as necessary to create a clean and visually appealing map.
Because we wanted to create an interactive web map, we used Configure Pop-ups to edit the type of information that shows up when viewers click on each feature on the map. Figure 3a shows the default pop-up window for the Yellow Loop, and Figure 3b shows the same pop-up after edits were made to improve its appearance and include relevant information on the trail.
Once edits on ArcGIS Pro were complete, we published a copy of the refined data layers and uploaded the map to ArcGIS Online using Save Web Map. Finally, we confirmed that the web map is accessible to everyone under the web map’s settings in ArcGIS Online.
Results
Figure 3a. Yellow loop pop-up before editing
Figure 3b. Yellow loop pop-up after editing
Figure 4. Final web map for Nels Kimball Sanctuary and the property pop-up window
View the web map of Nels Kimball Sanctuary here
Conclusion
This project was an exploratory step in using GIS in new ways that would further serve BHHC’s mission. The organization maintains 6 other public nature preserves in addition to Nels Kimball Sanctuary, all with unique natural features and amenities for the public. Our next objective is to replicate this process for each of our public preserves and eventually have a collection of interactive web maps that can be shared and embedded online. Our hope is that the web maps will increase awareness and navigation of the public green spaces in our service area of over 400,000 residents. To learn more about Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy and our ongoing projects, visit our website.
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Blog Author: Anastasia Alexandrova, BHHC Outreach Coordinator & GIS Specialist
Field Data Collection: Kyle Clarke, BHHC Land Steward & Anastasia Alexandrova