{"id":{"repo_id":"central-wash","oai_identifier":"oai:digitalcommons.cwu.edu:etd-1009"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/central-wash/oai:digitalcommons.cwu.edu:etd-1009","repository":{"repo_id":"central-wash","name":"Central Washington University","base_url":"https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"GIS Modeling of Elk Habitat Suitability in the North Cascades of Washington State","abstract":"The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) elk management goals are to adjust the distribution of elk on the landscape in the North Cascades to reduce negative impacts to private property while maintaining a healthy population of elk in the area. The goal of this study was to use custom Geographic Information System (GIS) elk habitat suitability models to model baseline elk habitat suitability in the 8,600 km<sup>2</sup> North Cascades elk management area, and then evaluate how theoretical forage enhancement sites would affect habitat suitability. Prior to creating the baseline and proposed habitat suitability maps for the study area, the GIS data inputs were verified and updated as needed, and then model outputs were calibrated using known elk locations in a subset of the study area. Using the baseline predicted habitat suitability, 55 potential forage enhancement sites, covering 726 acres, were outlined within the core elk range. The models predict that these forage enhancement sites would improve the suitability ranking for 2,589 acres. The models indicate that forage enhancement sites have a stronger impact in areas with flatter slopes. The results from this modeling process will be used by WDFW to inform elk forage enhancement planning in the North Cascades.","abstract_html":"The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) elk management goals are to adjust the distribution of elk on the landscape in the North Cascades to reduce negative impacts to private property while maintaining a healthy population of elk in the area. The goal of this study was to use custom Geographic Information System (GIS) elk habitat suitability models to model baseline elk habitat suitability in the 8,600 km&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; North Cascades elk management area, and then evaluate how theoretical forage enhancement sites would affect habitat suitability. Prior to creating the baseline and proposed habitat suitability maps for the study area, the GIS data inputs were verified and updated as needed, and then model outputs were calibrated using known elk locations in a subset of the study area. Using the baseline predicted habitat suitability, 55 potential forage enhancement sites, covering 726 acres, were outlined within the core elk range. The models predict that these forage enhancement sites would improve the suitability ranking for 2,589 acres. The models indicate that forage enhancement sites have a stronger impact in areas with flatter slopes. The results from this modeling process will be used by WDFW to inform elk forage enhancement planning in the North Cascades.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Yost, Anna"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Resource Management","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Robert J. Hickey","Tom Cottrell","Chris Danilson"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2014,"date_issued":"2014-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2014-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:36:32Z","subjects":["elk habitat suitability","GIS modeling","North Cascades","Washington","forage enhancement","Natural Resources Management and Policy"],"languages":["English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/10","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Robert J. 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The goal of this study was to use custom Geographic Information System (GIS) elk habitat suitability models to model baseline elk habitat suitability in the 8,600 km<sup>2</sup> North Cascades elk management area, and then evaluate how theoretical forage enhancement sites would affect habitat suitability. Prior to creating the baseline and proposed habitat suitability maps for the study area, the GIS data inputs were verified and updated as needed, and then model outputs were calibrated using known elk locations in a subset of the study area. Using the baseline predicted habitat suitability, 55 potential forage enhancement sites, covering 726 acres, were outlined within the core elk range. The models predict that these forage enhancement sites would improve the suitability ranking for 2,589 acres. The models indicate that forage enhancement sites have a stronger impact in areas with flatter slopes. The results from this modeling process will be used by WDFW to inform elk forage enhancement planning in the North Cascades."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["GIS Modeling of Elk Habitat Suitability in the North Cascades of Washington State"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Robert J. Hickey","Tom Cottrell","Chris Danilson"],"dc:creator":["Yost, Anna"],"dc:date.available":["2016-06-16T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) elk management goals are to adjust the distribution of elk on the landscape in the North Cascades to reduce negative impacts to private property while maintaining a healthy population of elk in the area. The goal of this study was to use custom Geographic Information System (GIS) elk habitat suitability models to model baseline elk habitat suitability in the 8,600 km<sup>2</sup> North Cascades elk management area, and then evaluate how theoretical forage enhancement sites would affect habitat suitability. Prior to creating the baseline and proposed habitat suitability maps for the study area, the GIS data inputs were verified and updated as needed, and then model outputs were calibrated using known elk locations in a subset of the study area. Using the baseline predicted habitat suitability, 55 potential forage enhancement sites, covering 726 acres, were outlined within the core elk range. The models predict that these forage enhancement sites would improve the suitability ranking for 2,589 acres. The models indicate that forage enhancement sites have a stronger impact in areas with flatter slopes. The results from this modeling process will be used by WDFW to inform elk forage enhancement planning in the North Cascades."],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/10"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:subject":["elk habitat suitability","GIS modeling","North Cascades","Washington","forage enhancement","Natural Resources Management and Policy"],"dc:title":["GIS Modeling of Elk Habitat Suitability in the North Cascades of Washington State"],"dc:type":["Text"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Resource Management"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:36:32Z"}