natural resource inventory of the town of oneonta, new york...

Natural Resource Inventory

of the Town of Oneonta, New York

July 2012

www.occainfo.org

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Introduction

Natural Resource-Based Planning*

Planning, when done well, is among the most powerful tools available to communities. A solid plan, based on good natural resource information, guides rational land-use decisions, and allows the community to consider innovative tools for resource protection with fewer chances for legal challenges to their planning authority. The plan also sends a clear message about what the community values and wishes to preserve and, if well crafted, results in few surprises to developers, local officials or residents.

The importance and benefits of natural resource-based planning

Natural resource-based planning is a process that puts the community’s natural resource base at the forefront. By identifying natural resources at the beginning of the planning process, your community can determine where development is most appropriate. This way, communities can avoid the unintended consequences of the typical planning process, such as open space becoming the “leftover” pieces, water resources being degraded, and community character being compromised.

A good comprehensive plan is not a “wish list” of local concerns – it’s a rational list of actions based on accurate information about your community. Inventories and assessments are a key step in the planning process because they will help guide the discussion about where development or other land uses should occur and what natural resources should be protected or restored.

A natural resource inventory (NRI) is the information collected to identify the location and character of natural resources. NRIs can be used by conservation commissions to guide conservation planning, planning boards to review land use proposals requiring regulatory oversight, selectmen, citizens, conservation groups and land trusts to guide land conservation plans for the region, and regional planning commissions. A natural resource survey (NRS) is an analysis of the NRI to aid in decision-making and management efforts.

What is a natural resource inventory (NRI)?

An NRI is simply a collection of data represented by descriptive maps – a collection of maps used to depict important naturally occurring resources within a town, watershed, or other geographic area. It can include anything from a simple hand-drawn map to comprehensive, geographic information system (GIS)-based maps. Once an NRI is completed, the information collected can then be used to conduct an NRS to investigate local natural resource issues.

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A natural resource inventory can include a wide variety of subject areas. This NRI includes:

• General Location • Surficial and Bedrock Geology • Water Bodies, Water Resources and Floodplains • Watersheds • Stream Buffers • Frost Action • Slope • Farm Soils and Erosion • Depth to Restrictive Layer • Depth to Water Table • Land Cover (vegetation types) • Land Use • Aerial Photograph

Where do the NRI maps come from?

The information contained in the maps comes from a database of natural and cultural data from statewide sources called the New York State GIS Clearinghouse and from additional sources, including the Otsego County Planning Department, Otsego County Soil and Water Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and others. The information is compiled using GIS software, which has the ability to display multiple layers of information (such as roads, parcels and water areas) overlaid upon one another.

Who uses the NRI maps?

NIR maps are used by local government officials, conservationists, and others who want to achieve informed decision-making in their efforts to:

• Determine the current or future use, needs or protection of natural or man-made resources;

• Provide a scientific basis for decision making about both regulatory and non-regulatory approaches to preserve natural resources;

• Use inventory maps to show the location and extent of existing resources, such as farmlands, surface and ground waters, and related features.

What are the uses of NRI maps?

• Identify threats to the continued availability of important natural resources; • Document current conditions so changes over time can be assessed; • Educate local officials and the public about natural resources;

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• Initiate and support land protection efforts; • Provide a basis for land use planning efforts; • Update or create municipal comprehensive plans; • Guide conservation planning; • Review land use proposals requiring regulatory oversight; • Guide land conservation planning; • Provide a basis for regulatory techniques for protecting important natural resources; • Provide a basis for non-regulatory techniques for protecting important natural

resources; • Support build out analyses.

A Natural Resource Inventory is not static. It is meant to be updated and corrected, as more current data becomes available, or additional data becomes digitized.

The Otsego County Conservation Association

The Otsego County Conservation Association’s (OCCA) mission is to promote the appreciation and sustainable use of Otsego County’s natural resources through education, advocacy, resource management, research, and planning. OCCA plays a key role in initiating and carrying out programs designed to improve or protect Otsego County’s air, land, and water. Wide support from county residents enhances our ability to accomplish our mission.

Many Otsego County municipalities have often expressed a need for more dedicated, in-depth support with land use issues, sustainability initiatives, grant opportunities, and development challenges. OCCA’s Circuit Rider Planner Program was established to meet these needs by providing both continuous and project-specific land use planning support for municipalities at minimal cost.

This Natural Resource Inventory for the Town of Oneonta is intended as a land use planning tool that also demonstrates the types of services available to other municipalities through OCCA’s Circuit Rider Planner Program. For more information about these maps or inquiries regarding creating a Natural Resource Inventory for your community, please contact OCCA’s Environmental Planner at [email protected] or visit www.occainfo.org.

*This material is adapted from segments of A Quick Guide to Using Natural Resource Information, produced by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District, 2004, and materials from Green Mountain Conservation Group.

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City of Oneonta

Town of Oneonta

Otego

Unadilla

Village ofGilbertsville

Butternuts

Morris

Pittsfield New Lisbon

Laurens

Milford MarylandWorcester

DecaturWestford

Middlefield

Roseboom

Cherry ValleySpringfield

Plainfield

RichfieldVillage of

Richfield Springs

Exeter

Otsego

Village of Cooperstown

Hartwick

BurlingtonEdmeston

Village ofLaurens

Village ofMilford

Village ofOtego

Village ofUnadilla

Village ofMorris

Village ofCherry Valley

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Town of Oneonta, New YorkGeneral Location

As of 2010, the Town of Oneonta was home to 5,229residents. It is located along Interstate 88 and isbounded by the Town of Otego to the west, the Townof Laurens to the north, the Town of Milford to thenorth and east, and Delaware County to the south. Itcompletely surrounds the City of Oneonta.This report provides an overview of the naturalcharacteristics and resources that are found in theTown of Oneonta. While an inventory of a singleparcel of land might be quite specific and detailed, thistown-wide overview is, by necessity, more general.The primary purpose of this report is to provide datathat can form a basis for municipal planning. Itprovides basic data for the preparation of plans,information to review proposed development plans,and data to assist in completing environmental impactassessments. These maps are not intended to be usedfor detailed site evaluations but are appropriate forlarger-scale planning efforts. This report alsoassembles basic natural resources information that canbe expanded upon to create a natural resourcessurvey, which is an in-depth document thatinventories resources of an area, collects the data in auseable format and interprets the findings.

For more information, please contact OCCA at (607) 547-4488 or www.occainfo.org.Authors: Susan Pastor and Rima ShamiehText is based on the Tompkins County Natural Resources Inventory.Date: July 2012Data Sources: Otsego County Planning DepartmentProjection: NAD_1983_StatePlane_New_York_East_FIPS_3101_Feet

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Town of Oneonta, New YorkSlope

LegendSlope:

0%- 15%15.1% - 25%over 25%

Lakes and pondsRivers and streams

Roads

Slope is the percent change in elevation over a certaindistance and is determined by measuring thedifference in elevation from one point to anotherdivided by the lateral distance between those points.Accounting for slope is important when consideringland use and development over time. Buildingstructures and roads in areas with high slopes canincrease the cost of construction. Also, disturbingsloped areas can increase erosion and stormwaterrunoff that can affect water quality, and may causelandslides if not properly sited. Because of thesehazards, slope should be considered when drawingup plans for any construction project.The Town of Oneonta is characterized by flat rivervalleys such as those along Otego Creek and theSusquehanna River, rolling hills, and areas of steepslopes (25% or higher) surrounding higher elevations.Note that the roads tend to follow routes with fewslopes, and as indicated by road density, most landdevelopment in the town has occurred in non-slopingareas.


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Town of Oneonta, New YorkSurficial Geology

LegendSurficial Geology:

Lacustrine sandOutwash sand and gravelTill deposits

Kame depositsBedrock

Rivers and streamsLakes and ponds

Surficial geology describes the rocks andunconsolidated materials that lie between the bedrockand the surface of the land, and the inorganic materialthat makes up soil. Surface geology is importantbecause the characteristics of materials below theearth’s surface influence the feasibility of constructingbuildings and roads. Surficial deposits commonlydetermine soil composition and therefore may affectagricultural viability.There are five types of surficial geology deposits in theTown of Oneonta:1. Lacustrine sands are well sorted (particles are ofsimilar size) and stratified sand deposits that settledout when lakes were formed by melting glaciers.2. Outwash sand and gravel is course to fine gravelmixed with sand. Location is restricted to valleybottoms and stream terraces.3. Till deposits are poorly sorted (particles of varyingsizes) material of variable texture such as clay, silt-clay, or boulder clay that were deposited beneath theglacial ice. Permeability of these deposits varies withthe amount of compaction.4. Kame deposits are glacial deposits of various formswhich are called kames, eskers, kame terraces andkame deltas. They are small, irregular hills andterraces deposited by glaciers and are typically foundin valleys. These deposits are composed of coarse tofine gravels and/or sands.5. Bedrock is exposed or generally within one meter ofthe surface.

For more information, please contact OCCA at (607) 547-4488 or www.occainfo.org.Authors: Susan Pastor and Rima ShamiehText is based on Tompkins County Natural Resources Inventory.Date: July 2012Data Sources: Otsego County Planning Department, NYS GIS ClearinghouseProjection: NAD_1983_StatePlane_New_York_East_FIPS_3101_Feet

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Town of Oneonta, New York

For more information, please contact OCCA at 607-547-4488 or www.occainfo.org

Bedrock Geology

LegendOneonta Formation - DgoUnadilla Formation - Dgu

Moscow Formation - DhmoWater

Rivers and streams

Bedrock geology describes the basic rock formationsthat underlie soils and unconsolidated materials.Bedrock occasionally protrudes through thesematerials or may be exposed alongside roads andcreek beds. These rocks, formed millions of years ago,constitute the foundation of materials and topographyin a region. Three formations are present in the Townof Oneonta: the Moscow Formation (Dhmo) in theHamilton Group, the Oneonta Formation (Dgo) in theGenesee group, and the Unadilla Formation (Dgu),also in the Genesee Group.Depending on the type of rock and its susceptibility toforces such as erosion and glaciation, bedrock willoften determine the path of moving water such asrivers and streams. Understanding the patterns ofdrainage systems can help civil engineers determinethe placement of new buildings and cities.

Authors: Susan Pastor and Rima ShamiehDate: 4/27/2012Data Sources: Otsego County Planning Department, NYS GIS ClearinghouseProjection: NAD_1983_StatePlane_New_York_East_FIPS_3101_Feet

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Town of Oneonta, New YorkFarm Soils

LegendPrime farmlandFarmland of statewide importance

Prime farmland if drainedNot prime farmland

Roads

Soils are a mixture of mineral particles, organic matter,water, and air, and are usually described in terms oftheir texture, e.g. sand, silt, and clay. Soils affect avariety of human activities from agriculture to theengineering and construction of roads, buildings, andsewage disposal systems. They are critical indetermining the productivity and viability ofagricultural operations.Prime Farmland is land with soils that the USDAunderstands to have the best combination of physicaland chemical factors for agricultural production.Another type of agricultural soil is Farmland ofStatewide Importance. According to the USDA, thesesoils are not as productive as Prime Farmland, but ifmanaged according to sound agricultural practicesthese soils can produce fair-to-good yields.This map shows farmland soils in the Town ofOneonta. Note the large patch of Prime Farmland(dark green) in the western portion of the town whichhas been lost to non-agricultural uses, indicated by thedense network of roads.

For more information, please contact OCCA at (607) 547-4488 or www.occainfo.org.Authors: Susan Pastor and Rima ShamiehText is based on the Tompkins County Natural Resources Inventoryand information from the USDA.Date: July 2012Data Sources: Otsego County Planning DepartmentProjection: NAD_1983_StatePlane_New_York_East_FIPS_3101_Feet

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Town of Oneonta, New YorkFrost Action

LegendFrost Action:

HighModerateNo data

RoadsLakes and ponds

Rivers and streams

Frost action is a rating of the susceptibility of the soilto upward or lateral movement by the formation ofsegregated ice lenses. An ice lens is formed whenwater accumulates and freezes in a localized zone.Frost action rates the potential for frost heave and thesubsequent loss of soil strength when the groundthaws. A low rating is given to soils that are rarelysusceptible, a moderate rating is given to soils that aresusceptible, and a high rating is given to soils that arehighly susceptible.All soils in the town are rated moderate or high intheir susceptibility, while no rating is given for soilsthat are continuously saturated with unfrozen water,such as the Susquehanna River or Wilber Lake.Frost heave damages highway and airfield pavements.It can cause damage to unheated structures that haveconcrete or asphalt floors, and can cause driveways,patios, and sidewalks to heave and crack. Seedlingsand young plants of clover, alfalfa, wheat, and oatscan be raised out of the soil or have their root systemsdamaged by frost heave.

For more information, please contact OCCA at (607) 547-4488 or www.occainfo.org.Authors: Susan Pastor and Rima ShamiehText is based on Tompkins County Natural Resources Inventoryand information from the USDA.Date: July 2012Data Sources: Otsego County Planning Department, USDA NaturalResources Conservation Service (NRCS)Projection: NAD_1983_StatePlane_New_York_East_FIPS_3101_Feet

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Town of Oneonta, New YorkErodibility

LegendK Factor:

LowModerateHigh

No DataRivers and Streams

The erodibility of a soil is an expression of its inherentresistance to particle detachment (degradation) andtransport by rainfall (erosion). It is determined by thecohesive force between the soil particles, and mayvary depending on the presence or absence of plantcover, the soil’s water content and the development ofthe soil’s structure. When computing the degree oferodibility of a soil, silt content, very fine sandcontent, clay content and organic matter content, aswell as the structure of the surface layer and thepermeability of the profile, is considered. A soil witha high K factor erodes more easily than a soil with alow K factor.This map shows the erodibility of the soils in theTown of Oneonta and indicates that the soils that aremost easily eroded are largely found along OtegoCreek and the Susquehanna River.

For more information, please contact OCCA at (607) 547-4488 or www.occainfo.org.Authors: Susan Pastor and Rima ShamiehText is based on the Tompkins County Natural Resources Inventoryand information from the USDA.Date: July 2012Data Sources: Otsego County Planning Department, OtsegoCounty Soil and Water Conservation DistrictProjection: NAD_1983_StatePlane_New_York_East_FIPS_3101_Feet

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Mill Creek

Gilfo

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Oteg

o Cree

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Harrison Creek

Susquehanna River

Oneonta Creek

City of Oneonta

City of Oneonta

Town of OneontaTown of Oneonta

Hampshire House

Camarata, Francis P

Aurelia Osborn Fox Memorial

Little Red Schoolhouse Comm MHP

Other

Recreation

Water Supply - Primary

Recreation, Water Supply - Primary

Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Farm Pond, Recreation


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LegendAquifers:

10-100 gallons/min>100 gallons/min

") Dams! Water supplies


Water ResourcesThe upper surface of groundwater is the water table.Below this surface, all the pore spaces and cracks insediments and rocks are completely saturated withwater. This saturated zone is where groundwateroccurs. Aquifers are geological formations beneaththe earth’s surface that store and yield usable amountsof groundwater. Because aquifers are replenished bythe infiltration of surface water, impervious surfacessuch as parking lots and building footprints threatenaquifers by inhibiting the infiltration of precipitationand surface water through the soil. Any spills withinan aquifer or its recharge area could contaminate it.Potential contamination pathways include bacteriaand pathogens from septic systems; salt and oilwashed from roadways; fertilizers and pesticides fromlandscaping; and hazardous or toxic waste spills. Thismap indicates the surficial aquifers (those closest tothe earth’s surface) in the town, as well as surfacewater dams and water supplies.Unlike surface water, which flushes contaminantsdownstream relatively quickly, groundwater inaquifers migrates relatively slowly and can takeseveral years or decades to move from the point oforigin to the point of discharge. Once degraded, anaquifer can become unusable, and often remediation isnot technologically or economically feasible.


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Town of Oneonta, New YorkDepth to Water Table

The vertical distance from the ground surface to thewater table varies from place to place and may vary inthickness from a few feet to several hundred feet.The water table rises and falls depending on the ratesof groundwater recharge and discharge and thecapacity of the aquifer.The depth to the water table affects both buildingfoundations and septic system siting. A seasonal highwater table can cause flooding in basements or cause aseptic system to malfunction. A high water table canalso affect the ability of a soil to support heavystructures.

LegendDepth to water table:

0 - 15 inches15.01 - 30 inchesover 30 inches

Rivers and streamsWetlands and water bodies


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Lower Charlotte Creek

Brier Creek - Susquehanna River

Middle Ouleout Creek

Oneonta Creek - Susquehanna River

Lower Otego Creek

Goodyear Lake - Susquehanna River

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WatershedsTown of Oneonta, New York

A watershed is the land area that contributes water toa given point, such as a stream or lake. Eventually allsurface water, some groundwater resources, andprecipitation falling within the watershed drain into asingle receiving water body such as a river, lake orwetland. Watersheds exist at various scales within ahierarchical structure. Gullies and ravines trickle intostreams, which in turn feed into larger streams orrivers. Each of these water bodies drains its ownparticular watershed so that larger watersheds arecomprised of several smaller ones. A watershedboundary is usually delineated by connecting thehighest elevation points in the area.Land use in a particular area is often determined bythe availability of reliable water supplies, and indeveloped areas the single most importantdeterminant of the quality and quantity of local waterresources is land use. Because of this dynamicrelationship between water and land use, thecharacteristics of the entire watershed must beconsidered when addressing water quality and waterquantity issues, including such factors as the amountof impervious surface and effectiveness of local landmanagement practices. Additionally, the criticalinfluence and impact of water on important ecologicaland economic systems (such as provision of drinkingwater, flood impacts, recreation, and future economicgrowth) make watersheds increasingly importantmanagement and planning units.


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Depth to Restrictive Layer

LegendDepth to restrictive layer:

0 - 18 inches18.01 - 36 inchesover 36 inches


A restrictive layer is a layer within the soil profile thatobstructs water movement. This layer can be theresult of the underlying bedrock or of shallower layersthat can obstruct water movement, such as clay. Thismap shows the depth of the soil over the restrictivelayer and indicates high depths to the restrictive layerin the Otego Creek and Susquehanna River valleys.The depth to restrictive layer is an important factorwhen considering plant root development, sitedrainage and building foundation engineering.Shallow depths to bedrock significantly impact thelocation, development, maintenance, and cost ofpublic services such as sewers, water supply systems,and roads. Construction feasibility and costs forprivate investment, such as building foundations,septic tanks, and private roads, are partiallydependent on the depth to bedrock.


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TT

T

T

T T

T

T

TT

T

T

T

T

T

T

Mill Creek

Gilfo

rd Cr

eek

Oteg

o Cree

k

Susquehanna River

Oneonta Creek

Wilber Lake

Lower Reservoir

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Town of Oneonta, New YorkWater Bodies

T denotes a trout stream

LegendState wetlandsFederal wetlands

Class A streamsClass B streams

Class C streamsLakes and ponds

The term water bodies includes lakes, ponds, rivers,streams and wetlands. This map shows all waterbodies within the Town of Oneonta.New York State classifies streams based on theirexisting or expected “best use,” from Class AA, whichindicates the most pristine, to Class D, which indicatesthe most degraded. Streams with sufficient amountsof dissolved oxygen to support trout or troutspawning are classified with an additional (T) or (TS),respectively. Streams designated as “C (T)” or higherare collectively referred to as “protected streams” andare subject to additional regulation by the state. Themany trout streams in the town are marked with a “T”on the map. All streams in the town are Class C orhigher.The Town of Oneonta is home to two lakes, WilberLake and the Lower Reservoir, both indicated in darkblue. Wilber Lake provides drinking water to the Cityof Oneonta and parts of the town.Wetlands are vital components of environmentalsystems. Federal and state agencies consider wetlandsto be distinct from other water bodies for regulatorypurposes. The way that wetlands are delineated isdifferent for the state and federal governments, andthe regulations are different for each. Both state andfederally regulated wetlands are indicated on thismap; state wetlands are semi-transparent and overlayfederal ones so all boundaries can be seen.

For more information, please contact OCCA at (607) 547-4488 or www.occainfo.org.Authors: Susan Pastor and Rima ShamiehText is based on the Tompkins County Natural Resources Inventory and information from the DEC.Date: July 2012Data Sources: Otsego County Planning DepartmentProjection: NAD_1983_StatePlane_New_York_East_FIPS_3101_Feet

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Town of Oneonta, New YorkStream Buffers

Legend500 foot stream bufferLakes and ponds

Rivers and streamsRoads

Establishing buffers around waterways is critical toprotecting aquatic systems against increasingdevelopment pressures and to maintaining thephysical, biological, and chemical integrity of thosesystems.A stream buffer is a strip of undisturbed land withnative vegetation that borders a stream or river. Thetrees, shrubs, and other plants in the buffer provide anatural and gradual transition from terrestrial toaquatic environments. These areas are critical forwildlife habitat, storing water during periods of highwater flow, and protecting waterways from physicaland chemical pollutants.This map shows a 500-foot zone around all creeks andrivers. Note the overlap of the existing road structureand the stream buffer zones.


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Town of Oneonta, New YorkFloodplains

LegendFEMA floodplainsExtent of 2006 flood

Rivers and streamsRoads

Flood events are part of natural hydrological andseasonal cycles. The size and location of the areaswhich are typically inundated during flood events, aswell as the magnitude of the event, are significantlyinfluenced by the total area of impervious surface(roads, parking lots, etc.) and wetlands within awatershed (see the Water Bodies map). An increase inimpervious surfaces and the loss of wetlands whichhelp store and control floodwaters also cause highervolumes and peak flows of stormwater runoff,increasing the likelihood of flooding. While floods cancause damage to infrastructure, the economy, and theenvironment, periodic inundation can benefit thehabitat of certain species and add nutrients toagricultural lands located in flood plains.This map shows the Federal Emergency ManagementAgency’s (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM)for the town (orange). FIRM maps are the officialmaps of a community on which FEMA has delineatedboth the special hazard areas and the risk premiumzones applicable to the community. These data areused to determine flood risk to properties andwhether flood insurance is required, and to administerflood management regulations and mitigate flooddamage. Also indicated on this map are the areasoutside the FIRM delineation that were affected by thedevastating 2006 flood event (red).

For more information, please contact OCCA at (607) 547-4488 or www.occainfo.org.Authors: Susan Pastor and Rima ShamiehText is based on the Tompkins County Natural Resources Inventoryand information from FEMA.Date: July 2012Data Sources: Otsego County Planning DepartmentProjection: NAD_1983_StatePlane_New_York_East_FIPS_3101_Feet

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Town of Oneonta, New YorkLand Cover

LegendOpen waterDeveloped, open spaceDeveloped, low intensity

Developed, medium intensityDeveloped, high intensityDeciduous forest

Evergreen forestMixed forestShrub/scrub

Grassland/herbaceous coverPasture/hayCultivataed crops

Woody wetlandsEmergent herbaceous wetlandsRoads

Land cover documents how much of a region iscovered by forests, wetlands, impervious surfaces,agriculture, and other land and water types. Landcover can be determined by analyzing satellite andaerial imagery, and can provide information to helpmanagers best understand the current landscape. Inorder to see change over time, land cover maps forseveral different years are needed. With thisinformation, managers can evaluate past managementdecisions as well as gain insight into the possibleeffects of their current decisions before they areimplemented.

For more information, please contact OCCA at (607) 547-4488 or www.occainfo.org.Authors: Susan Pastor and Rima ShamiehText is based on the Tompkins County Natural Resources Inventory.Date: July 2012Data Sources: Otsego County Planning Department, USGS LandCover InstituteProjection: NAD_1983_StatePlane_New_York_East_FIPS_3101_Feet

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Town of Oneonta, New YorkLand Use

LegendAgriculturalResidential

Vacant land, all typesCommercial

Recreational and entertainmentCommunity service

IndustrialPublic service

Forest and open spaceRoads

Land use maps show how people use the landscape– whether for development, conservation oragriculture. Land use can be determined throughreal property records and by conducting windshieldsurveys.Current land use information enables communitiesto identify existing land use patterns, andconsequently, make better informed decisionsconcerning proposed land uses, developmentsuitability analyses, and comprehensive planning.This map provides a static picture of developmentpatterns based on available county data as of 2009,and may be used as a benchmark for future land useanalyses.


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Town of Oneonta, New YorkAerial Photograph

Aerial photographs are images of the land taken froman airplane. They are useful tools in studying changeson the surface of the earth over time. They areparticularly valuable in land use and land coveranalyses, and comparing older data sets with newinformation. They are a record of what was on theland at the time the photograph was taken, and can beused for many types of studies.Aerial photographs contain distortions and, therefore,are unreliable for measuring distances unless they areorthographically rectified (a process that takes thedistortion out of photographs). Conventional aerialphotographs contain image displacements caused bycamera lens distortion, camera tip and tilt, terrainrelief, and scale. These types of distortions areremoved through a process of rectifying the originalphotographs to create a computer file referred to as adigital orthophoto.A flyover of Otsego County was conducted in 2009and aerial photographs were taken. The photographswere then rectified to create a digital orthophoto.


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