Welcome to the 2026 GIS in Action Annual Conference hosted by the Oregon & SW Washington Chapter of the Geospatial Professional Network & Cascadia ASPRS.
The removal of the J.C. Boyle Dam in 2024 marked a transformative moment in the ecological restoration of the Klamath River Basin. This study presents a multi-sensor UAV-based assessment of post-dam removal landscape dynamics using high-resolution RGB, multispectral, and LiDAR datasets acquired in July and November 2024. A comprehensive land cover classification was conducted to evaluate vegetation recolonization, exposed sediment distribution, and hydrologic surface changes. Multispectral indices, including NDVI, NDRE, and SAVI, were used to quantify vegetation recovery and stress patterns across newly exposed riparian zones. Additionally, LiDAR-derived digital terrain models enabled a DEM of Difference (DoD) analysis to identify erosion and deposition patterns, channel reconfiguration, and microtopographic variability. Preliminary results indicate significant sediment redistribution and early-stage riparian vegetation establishment within four months of dam removal. The integration of UAV photogrammetry and LiDAR data provides a scalable framework for monitoring rapid geomorphic and ecological transitions in post-dam landscapes. This study demonstrates the value of high-resolution UAV-based monitoring for adaptive river restoration management and long-term ecosystem recovery assessment.
