Project Description
Existing wetland classification systems used in Canada lack appropriate guidance regarding hydric soil types found within wetland classes, which could be an important aspect in cultivated wetlands where native vegetation is no longer present. The objectives of this research are to (1) utilize high-resolution imagery to characterize surface water patterns to facilitate change detection of prairie wetlands in Saskatchewan’s agricultural region, and (2) evaluate the relationships between hydric soil indicators, soil classification, and wetland classification in Saskatchewan’s cultivated wetlands and then assess how hydrology, climate zones, and land management history may influence these relationships. This research will contribute to improved wetland management and conservation by addressing knowledge gaps, as well as provide important data that will contribute to the development and enhancement of provincial and federal policies relating to wetland management and decision-making.