Salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest are in decline due to a variety of factors, including habitat loss, overfishing, and climate change. To address this issue, structured decision-making (SDM) models have emerged as a valuable tool for identifying effective strategies for salmon recovery. Recently, at the Monday Morning Meetings seminar series hosted by the Department of Fish and Wildlife at Oregon State University, Mark Tompkins, co-founder of FlowWest, gave a talk on the evolution of quantifying habitat over time and proposed a modernized approach to quantifying habitat using remote sensing data.
As the co-founder of FlowWest, Mark has worked on several high-profile projects, including the Klamath Strategic Habitat Conservation project and the Central Valley Project Improvement Act. Mark Tompkins is a recognized expert in the field of environmental data science and has dedicated his career to applying data-driven solutions to solve complex environmental problems.
In his talk, Mark discussed the benefits and limitations of traditional methods of quantifying habitat and proposed a modernized approach using remote sensing data. Remote sensing data allows for regular updates to habitat data, making it easier to track changes to the landscape and adjust restoration strategies accordingly. This approach has the potential to be more effective than traditional methods, which often rely on static data sets that may not accurately reflect current conditions.
By leveraging his expertise in environmental data science, Mark Tompkins is making important contributions to the field of salmon recovery. His work demonstrates the value of using data-driven approaches to address complex environmental challenges. With continued research and collaboration, it is possible to develop effective strategies for restoring and protecting salmon habitat, ensuring the long-term health and viability of these critical populations in the Pacific Northwest.
