Research by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Zhenghong Tang is helping conserve key south-central Nebraska wetlands that provide habitat for millions of migratory birds.
An expert in environmental planning and geospatial data science, the associate professor in the College of Architecture's community and regional planning program works with federal, state and local officials to generate detailed wetland profiles. The work is used to direct restoration projects within the region, which is known as the Rainwater Basin, and educate the public about its importance.
"The Rainwater Basin has been named by the federal government as one of the 10 most important wetlands in the nation," Tang said. "Protecting these wetlands is important globally because they provide habitat to more than 250 bird species and they are a key resting and feeding place for migratory birds, including the Sandhill cranes.
"Protection is also of regional importance because these wetlands help with flood mitigation and water quality improvement, and bring in millions of tourism dollars every year."
Since 2010, Tang has received more than $821,000 in grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Interior to further research into the wetlands. The awards include a recent $100,000 EPA grant that will allow Tang's research team to use ground-penetrating radar to map sediment profiles across 93 wetland watersheds within the basin.
"Because the Rainwater Basin is a closed system, sedimentation is a key issue," said Ted LaGrange, wetland program manager for Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and a collaborator on Tang's research. "There are no outlets to the basin, so sediments that are transported in build up. Over time, that causes the basin to become shallower and they can't support habitats needed by the birds and other wildlife."
Traditionally, soil scientists have been tasked with using specialized drills to collect sediment profiles in the wetlands. Tang's research will use ground-penetrating radar to pass over the wetlands, generating sediment profiles -- from the surface to the clay layer -- electronically. The process is expected to speed up the data collection and use fewer resources compared to drilling.
"Drilling is time consuming and involves the use of a lot of labor and energy," Tang said. "By using ground-penetrating radar, I believe we can provide more accurate underground profiles about sediments quickly and efficiently. It also will allow us to get into areas of the wetlands that are not accessible to drills."
If successful, the profiles will be used to direct restoration projects -- primarily through removal of sediments -- within the basin.
"Projects led by Dr. Tang have been used to assess the health and condition of the Rainwater Basin," LaGrange said. "His work has helped us prioritize our restoration actions and what we do to improve the condition of the wetlands. He has been a great collaborator in helping us improve conservation in the Rainwater Basin."
For Tang, the research allows the chance to expand his expertise in geospatial technologies while also giving back to Nebraska.
"It's wonderful to fill the technology gap for federal and state wetland managers by providing more accurate wetland geospatial databases," Tang said. "It's also great knowing that my work is helping further sustainable land practices and preserving the environmental quality of these wetlands for future generations."
Writer: Troy Fedderson, University Communications
FULL STORY: Tang applies research to wetlands conservation

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package
Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane
The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont