Jenny L Hanson
I am a Biologist at UMESC involved with projects that require inland hydrographic and topographic surveys for applications such as mapping water depth (bathymetry), mapping inland river habitat for mussels and/or fish, development of topobathy (merging of lidar and bathymetry), and geomorphology studies.
I survey freshwater inland rivers and lakes using multi-beam and single-beam echo sounders, acoustic Doppler current profilers, sidescan sonar, and lidar. I also have experience in GIS, land cover/land use mapping, and object-based image analysis/automated image interpretation.
Research interests:
Hydroacoustic Technologies and Applications in Rivers
- Benthic Habitat Mapping
- Hydrographic & Topographic Surveying
- Substrate Stability
- Geomorphology
- Topobathy
Geoanalytics and Data Science
- Spatial Analysis
- Habitat Assessments and Suitability Modeling
- Decision Support Systems
Remote Sensing Technologies
Science and Products
Hydroacoustic mapping for native mussel and host fish habitats using Quadrula fragosa and Ictalurus punctatus
The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (SACN) is one of the best remaining refuges for declining populations of native unionid mussels in the United States and supports the only known self-sustaining population of the federally endangered Winged Mapleleaf ( Quadrula fragosa ) in the Upper Mississippi River basin. Mussel fauna are important to the river ecosystem, providing important ecological...
Lake Superior Beach Nourishment and Near-Shore Bathymetric Surveys of Minnesota Point at Duluth, Minnesota
The shoreline, beaches, and infrastructure in Duluth, Minnesota have been degraded along the Minnesota Point barrier island because of high water levels and heavy wave action. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is exploring the beneficial use of dredge material for beach nourishment on the Lake Superior side of the barrier island.
Kalamazoo River AOC Dam Removal Geomorphic/Habitat Assessments – Reference Reach Identification
The Kalamazoo River Area of Concern (AOC) has multiple dams in various stages of removal, at which restoration work will be completed in the coming years. Hydrogeomorphic data from relatively undisturbed river reaches are commonly used to inform the design parameters of river restoration projects. Reference reaches are selected to have similar prevailing boundary conditions as target restoration...
Mapping 3D floodplain forest understory and density of wild rice beds of UMRS with mobile mapping system to support UMESC research in landform characteristics, hydrologic position, and associated vegetation mapping
The objectives of this project are to test new 3D mobile mapping equipment that could be used for future Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS) ecological research, specifically research in floodplain vegetation densities.
Hydroacoustic detection of dreissenid mussels and their habitat: an innovative way to detect dreissenid infestations and model preferred habitat for future colonization
The proposed project will explore the technology of hydroacoustics to detect dreissenid mussels and analyze habitat variables to model preferred future habitat locations to help control the spread of invasive dreissenid mussels.
Develop Sonar Data Mapping on Three Rivers to Assess Suitability for Native Mussel Habitat
The National Park Service Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway is known for their conservation efforts of threatened and endangered native freshwater mussels. Understanding what constitutes mussel habitat is important for identifying suitable habitat for the conservation and restoration of freshwater mussels. Mussel habitat has not been well...
Hydroacoustic mapping of habitat for threatened and endangered native mussels in the Upper Mississippi River
Understanding the distribution of threatened and endangered freshwater mussels is needed to conserve and restore populations. Sampling for native freshwater mussels typically involves taking quadrat samples in soft substrates and counting the number of mussels in a defined area. However, this methodology is unsuitable for detecting populations of the Spectaclecase mussel ( Margaritifera monodonta...
Benthic Mapping – Illinois River Benthic Mapping to Support Invasive Asian Carp Research
According to the 2016 Monitoring and Response Plan for Asian carp in the Mississippi River Basin, there is little to no information regarding Asian carp behavior and habitat use in invaded areas (1). There are some studies and anecdotal information showing that Asian carp are occurring in certain macrohabitats, specifically the main channel border during low summer flows and backwaters during...
Science and Products
Hydroacoustic mapping for native mussel and host fish habitats using Quadrula fragosa and Ictalurus punctatus
The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway (SACN) is one of the best remaining refuges for declining populations of native unionid mussels in the United States and supports the only known self-sustaining population of the federally endangered Winged Mapleleaf ( Quadrula fragosa ) in the Upper Mississippi River basin. Mussel fauna are important to the river ecosystem, providing important ecological...
Lake Superior Beach Nourishment and Near-Shore Bathymetric Surveys of Minnesota Point at Duluth, Minnesota
The shoreline, beaches, and infrastructure in Duluth, Minnesota have been degraded along the Minnesota Point barrier island because of high water levels and heavy wave action. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is exploring the beneficial use of dredge material for beach nourishment on the Lake Superior side of the barrier island.
Kalamazoo River AOC Dam Removal Geomorphic/Habitat Assessments – Reference Reach Identification
The Kalamazoo River Area of Concern (AOC) has multiple dams in various stages of removal, at which restoration work will be completed in the coming years. Hydrogeomorphic data from relatively undisturbed river reaches are commonly used to inform the design parameters of river restoration projects. Reference reaches are selected to have similar prevailing boundary conditions as target restoration...
Mapping 3D floodplain forest understory and density of wild rice beds of UMRS with mobile mapping system to support UMESC research in landform characteristics, hydrologic position, and associated vegetation mapping
The objectives of this project are to test new 3D mobile mapping equipment that could be used for future Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS) ecological research, specifically research in floodplain vegetation densities.
Hydroacoustic detection of dreissenid mussels and their habitat: an innovative way to detect dreissenid infestations and model preferred habitat for future colonization
The proposed project will explore the technology of hydroacoustics to detect dreissenid mussels and analyze habitat variables to model preferred future habitat locations to help control the spread of invasive dreissenid mussels.
Develop Sonar Data Mapping on Three Rivers to Assess Suitability for Native Mussel Habitat
The National Park Service Mississippi National River and Recreation Area and the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway is known for their conservation efforts of threatened and endangered native freshwater mussels. Understanding what constitutes mussel habitat is important for identifying suitable habitat for the conservation and restoration of freshwater mussels. Mussel habitat has not been well...
Hydroacoustic mapping of habitat for threatened and endangered native mussels in the Upper Mississippi River
Understanding the distribution of threatened and endangered freshwater mussels is needed to conserve and restore populations. Sampling for native freshwater mussels typically involves taking quadrat samples in soft substrates and counting the number of mussels in a defined area. However, this methodology is unsuitable for detecting populations of the Spectaclecase mussel ( Margaritifera monodonta...
Benthic Mapping – Illinois River Benthic Mapping to Support Invasive Asian Carp Research
According to the 2016 Monitoring and Response Plan for Asian carp in the Mississippi River Basin, there is little to no information regarding Asian carp behavior and habitat use in invaded areas (1). There are some studies and anecdotal information showing that Asian carp are occurring in certain macrohabitats, specifically the main channel border during low summer flows and backwaters during...