Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, South Florida-Carribean CESU: EDEN DEM Revision and Expansion Research Grant

The EDEN surface-water model was created by Pearlstine et al (2007) with use of the radial basis function interpolation and the multiquadratic method in ArcGIS9.x. The continuous mathematical representation of the water surface was sampled further on a 400 x 400 m grid spacing to record the interpolated values. In the past 2 years, revised data at water level gages and a better representation of several canals require revision of the surface water model.

To produce historic and real-time maps of water depth, the EDEN developed a system-wide digital elevation model (DEM) of the ground surface. Because of the highly variable topography in Water Conservation Area 1 (WCA1), several new methods were tested in 2008 to improve the DEM in that area. This CESU agreement will use one of those methods to update the DEM in WCA1. In addition, an area south of Big Cypress National Preserve has been added to the EDEN domain and will, using consistent methods with the original EDEN DEM, be developed and stitched to the existing DEM to expand the DEM.

The research included in this agreement is designed to answer questions critical to restoration success. There are two related research goals that are contained within the current cooperative program:

Goal 1 – Revises and expands the EDEN DEM

1 – Revise the EDEN DEM in WCA1 based on methodology developed in CESU agreement # 0599HS0012

2 – Expand the EDEN DEM to include area south of BCNP to the mangrove ecotone edge

Goal 2 – This task improves the EDEN surface-water interpolation program for estimation of daily water level surfaces by use of revised input data and reparameterization of the model parameters.

1 – Incorporate updated gage data and canal interpolations to revise the surface-water interpolation program

2 – Reparameterize the revised model and test against available field data

3 – Examine EDEN results for ‘dry’ conditions by preparing and running a input data set which excludes gage data when gage water levels are below ground level.