About the README File Template

Data deposited into DigitalCommons are required to have a README file that provides enough information about your research to enable users to use the data in their own research.

The more information you provide, the easier it will be for you or someone else to reuse your data in the future.  

Complete all fields that pertain to your data, format so it is easy to read, and save in a plain text format.

1. Dataset Title: Using Nonnative vegetation to enhance in-stream habitat for native fishes
2. Name and contact information of PI: 
a. Name: Casey Pennock
b. Institution: Ohio State University
c. Address
d. Email: pennock.17@osu.edu
e. ORCiD ID:


3. Name and contact information of Co-PI: 
a. Name: Benjamin Miller (contact first for data questions)
b. Institution
c. Address
d. Email: benjaminmiller1921@gmail.com
e. ORCiD ID: 0009-0009-8097-0763
f. Cell: 763-219-5678

4. Name and contact information of Co-PI: 
a. Name: Phaedra Budy
b. Institution: Utah State University
c. Address
d. Email: Phaedra.budy@usu.edu
e. ORCiD ID:

5. (Repeat if needed)
6. Funding source (Agency, Grant Number) if applicable: NA

7. Project summary, description or abstract: 
 Water development and the proliferation of invasive riparian vegetation has led to widespread habitat loss and simplification of rivers
 in the western United States, contributing to the imperilment of native fishes. Here, we quantify channel narrowing and vegetation encroachment, which are conspicuous indicators of
 riverine habitat degradation, along approximately 400 km of three dryland tributaries of the upper Colorado River. To accomplish this, we conducted a comparative analysis of aerial
 photographs from historical (1930s) and contemporary (2010s or 2020s) time periods and utilized Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data and Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) to
 determine contemporary canopy cover of woody riparian species. Coinciding with a general decrease in flows over time, all three rivers underwent substantial channel narrowing;
 although, the degree of narrowing varied among rivers (78%, 73%, and 29%). The magnitude of channel narrowing generally matched the deviation from historical spring (i.e., peak)
 flows, with large decreases in spring flows corresponding to substantially more pronounced channel narrowing. In contrast to patterns of channel narrowing, contemporary woody 
 cover was similarly high among all three rivers (39%, 41%, and 36% of valley bottom area), and a woody vegetation change analysis conducted for one river indicated a substantial 
 increase in woody vegetation along the active channel compared to historical conditions (4% to 74%). These findings underscore a common pattern observed in rivers throughout the
 basin, where river channels often undergo narrowing and encroachment by invasive vegetation, ultimately leading to habitat simplification. Our findings also emphasize that, 
 when possible, preserving or restoring large magnitude and long duration floods, should be prioritized for the effective conservation of dryland rivers.


8. Brief description of collection and processing of data: Comparative historical-contemporary analysis of channel area and riparian vegetation density. Arcgis pro was used to take publicly available
							   aerial imagery and draw the active channel and valley boundaries for each time period. OBIA analysis conducted by the ETAL lab (Wally MacFarlane) 
							   for estimatation of woody cover for Price and White rivers. LIDAR data used for estimation of woody cover for the San Juan River.

9. Description of files (names, or if too numerous, number of files, file type(s): Many GIS files. Mostly aerial imagery, created raster and point-line-polygon features, and LIDAR data. 

10. Definition of acronyms, codes, and abbreviations: NA
11.  Description or definition any other unique information that would help others use your data: Start by opening the Arcgis Pro project of interest (channel or veg). All data (i.e., imagery) is linked to these projects, but can also be 
											          found in the file structure. There are separate channel and vegetation projects for each river.

12. Descriptions of parameters/variables
a. Temporal (beginning and end dates of data collection): NA
b. Instruments used and units of measurements: NA
c. Column headings of data files (for tabular data): NA
d. Location/GIS Coverage (if applicable to data): Spatial extent is apparent in the Arcgis pro project. GIS coverage of the lower San Juan, Price, and White Rivers.
e. Symbol used for missing data:
13. Special software required to use data: Arcgis Pro
14. Publications that cite or use this data: 
15. Was data derived from another data source?  If so, what source? Co-authors Wally MacFarlane (USU; wally.macfarlane@usu.edu) and Steven Bassett (Santa Fe TNC: sbassett@tnc.org).

OPTIONAL Fields

If these pertain to your data, consider including them to facilitate use your data in the future:

1. Uncertainty, precision, and accuracy of measurements, if known:
2. Quality assurance and quality control that have been applied:
3. Known problems that limit datas use (quality control, sampling issues, etc.):
4. Related datasets outside of this dataset:
5. Example records for each data file or file type:
6. Description of relationship between files and/or any file dependencies:
7. Information about other files (names, locations) and documents (such as field notes, publications, etc.) that would be helpful to a person using your data.