The US Geological Survey will use unmanned aircraft flights to monitor river bank erosion on the Lower Brule reservation on the west bank of the Missouri River in central South Dakota in the United States.
The Lower Brule Sioux Tribe estimates that the reservation is losing some eight feet of shoreline per year in some locations, and the two-year study will monitor physical changes along the river bank.
The flights will occur during the week of August 29 along a seven mile stretch of Missouri River shoreline near the community of Lower Brule. A second round of flights will be sent out in August 2012.
USGS scientist Kathy Neitzert says results will be analyzed to investigate the location and severity of erosion, and the lasting impacts of cultural and environmental losses.
Source: The Republic