Effect of Drought in Two Watersheds in Northern California

Investigator: 
Colby Tucker
Advisor: 
Peter Raymond
Start Date: 
June, 2014
Description: 

Spring-fed rivers are known refugia for cold-water fish. These rivers maintain their temperature and water depth throughout the year and across years with varying amounts of precipitation in comparison to snow-melt dominated rivers. This study compares soil moisture and vegetation cover between spring-fed and snow-melt dominated watershed using remote sensing techniques. Four Landsat TM/OLI images of Northern California from four different years (1986, 1993, 2003, and 2013) were manipulated through Tasseled Cap transformations and NDVI. The wetness band statistics from each watershed were calculated and compared with precipitation data. The results suggest that soil moisture in spring-fed watersheds and snow-melt dominated watershed respond differently to the decreasing precipitation observed in Northern California.