Radnor Lake State Natural Area Steve Ward Park Manager Leslie Anne Rawlings Park Ranger Josh Walsh Park Ranger Joshua Kirby Interpretive Specialist Ryan Jenkins Seasonal Interpretive Specialist Shaun Rainone Student Interpreter Recreator Lyndy Maness Secretary Angelina Clarke Receptionist Radnor Lake State Natural Area 1160 Otter Creek Road Nashville, TN 37220 (615) 373-3467 Park Hours: 6 a.m. until dark Visitor Center Hours: Open daily: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed: noon -1 p.m. Park Visitor Center: (615) 373-3467 A schedule of events is available at the Visitor Center or online at: www.radnorlake.org
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Using GIS @ RLSNA
to better manage our state’s first natural area
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he Friends of Radnor Lake has been involved in the development and maintenance of a geographic information systems (GIS) program at Radnor Lake since 2003. In the five years that the program has been active, great strides have been made in improving the quality and accessibility of spatial data available for numerous projects. Probably the most recognized aspect of the program is the updated trail map on display at the parking lot kiosks, but there are many other instances in which the GIS program has benefited the park, such as the development of the map in the enclosed Water Quality Initiative brochure. But before I continue, you might be wondering what comprises a GIS, and how, besides mapping the park’s trail system, it benefits the park? A GIS uses computers for assembling, storing, manipulating, and displaying geographically referenced data for analysis. It is not a software program, but a method. Data such as aerial photographs, property parcel boundaries, road alignments, stream networks, hiking trails, and topographic contours are obtained from various sources and then spatially referenced with sophisticated computer software. Software tools enable queries of either the spatial relationships of the data (proximity, overlay, etc.) or data tables that are dynamically linked to the geographic data sets. Those data tables might contain information on attributes like property parcel ownership and acreage, street addresses, elevations, or hiking trail dis-
tances. As spatial analyses are conducted on data within the system, more data sets are created and spatially referenced. Over time, the variety of data sets within the system helps to provide an understanding of processes taking place in and around the park that might not have otherwise been recognized. For example, data from the U.S. Geological Survey was used in the GIS to delineate areas that drain into the lake— its watershed. Park rangers are now better able to identify areas of concern for water pollution from areas adjacent to the park and monitor selected sites for contamination. The park’s GIS was also used to identify properties within the park’s viewshed, locations viewable from public areas within the park. By identifying those areas within the park’s viewshed, strategies can be developed to limit visual distractions from outside of the natural area, thereby helping to maintain the feel of an urban oasis for visitors to the park. The park’s GIS has also been used to track confirmed rabies cases in the Oak Hill and Forest Hills communities, map the results from a study to gauge the perceived impact of deer and coyote in the area, and develop materials for community outreach and fundraising. Perhaps the greatest benefit that the GIS has had on operations at Radnor has been the pulling together of data from a variety of sources into one, readily accessible database. Instead of having to search through numerous hard-copy maps or trying to visualize the relationships between data in spreadsheets and locations on a map, rangers can now
access a wealth of geographically referenced information in minutes. As the GIS program at the park forges ahead, we will continue to advance the use of cutting-edge technologies for natural resources conservation and protection. —James Russ, GIS Specialist
James Russ has worked for the past 5 years as a GIS specialist and mapping consultant for Friends of Radnor Lake.
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any thanks to the Frist Foundation for helping Friends of Radnor Lake fund the implementation of this technology.
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nclosed in this newsletter is a brochure about the Radnor Lake Water Quality Initiative which was implemented with the help of the GIS system to measure the water quality of Radnor Lake on an on-going basis. As you’ll see, the overall health of the ecosystem seems to be in good shape—but could be better in a few of the tested areas. As neighbors of Radnor, we can all help keep Radnor Lake clean and healthy with a few common sense practices as noted in the brochure. As you know, we couldn’t be happier that so many Nashvillians love and enjoy Radnor and it is a worthy and important goal to protect the environment that brings so much pleasure to so many people...and birds…and turtles..and deer…and otters…
www.radnorlake.org