Program on the Environment

Spatial data is an essential tool in the efficient and sustainable management of land as it allows for a deeper understanding of that land. Federal, state, and city websites can provide access to a variety of different spatial data sets; each putting forth a multitude of different data. However, interpreting that data so that it can be used to create a beneficial land management plan requires further refinement. The purpose of this study was to create a variety of different spatial data platforms for Discovery Park so a new land management plan could be implemented. By taking data collected by the Friends of Discovery Park GIS team as well as some data provided by the City of Seattle, I was able to format five different platforms that will provide information for the new land management of the area. To accomplish this task, I looked at three important aspects of Discovery Park; environmental benefits, endangered species, and economics. I used a variety of GIS software technologies to depict each of these factors, providing an overview of how changing the park would affect each category. I found that changing land cover zones to aid endangered birds could yield up to $274,495 annually, and changing current shrubland and invasive species land cover zones to mixed forests could garner up to $582,705 annually in ecosystem benefits. Utilizing information like this for Discovery Park, as well as other Seattle parks, can aid in sustainable and efficient land management for the future.