Ludwigia Monitoring by Drone

Use of Drone to Detect Distribution of the Invasive Plant Ludwigia in the Laguna de Santa Rosa

Presenter: Robert Bisdori

Co-Presenter(s):
Yessica Martinez

Presenter Status: Undergraduate student

Academic Year: 21-22

Semester: Spring

Faculty Mentor: Jackie Guilford

Department: Geography, Environment, & Planning

Funding Source/Sponsor: CEI

President's Strategic Plan Goal: Sustainability and Environmental Inquiry

Screenshot URL: https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1efz4GQmu8U1nHuE9mNYT8IBOGymJdoc5

Abstract:
The invasive aquatic plant Ludwigia has become an increasing problem within the Russian River watershed, and particularly in the Laguna de Santa Rosa. It outcompetes native plant species, hinders flood control, serves as prime habitat for mosquitos, and impedes the migration of anadromous fish, such as salmon and steelhead trout. The purpose of this project is to establish a method for using drone imagery to map the distribution of Ludwigia in a section of the Laguna de Santa Rosa near Stony Point Road in Rohnert Park, CA. We will compare mapping of Ludwigia distribution using drone imagery to traditional on-the-ground Ludwigia mapping.