Coastal Massachusetts Submerged Aquatic Beds 1994-1996 Geodatabase

The Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP) at NOAA Office for Coastal Management partnered with The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Wetlands Conservancy Program (DEP-WCP) and Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) to produce a digital coverage of submerged aquatic vegetation, primarily eelgrass (Zostera marina) along the Atlantic coast of Massachusetts. Conventional color metric aerial photography at a scale of 1:20,000 was acquired form 1994-1996 according to stringent parameters detailed in the C-CAP protocol (https://coast.noaa.gov/crs/lca/ccap.html). The photography was photointerpreted by DEP-WCP using a biocular stereoscope (Cartographic Engineering Modular Stereoscope Model SB 190). Polygons of eelgrass were delineated onto acetate overlays affixed to each photograph. Extensive fieldwork was conducted to develop signatures and gather surface level data where the presence or extent of habitat was not apparent from the photography. An underwater video camera was utilized in this effort. The aerial photos, with the interpreted acetates attached, were scanned using a photogrammetric quality scanner (AGFA Horizon Plus) at a resolution of 600 dpi resulting in a pixel resolution of .85 meters. The resulting image file was rectified (bilinear 2nd order) by C-CAP to 1 meter black and white and color digital orthophotos supplied by CZM. The polygon delineation from the rectified image was then digitized onscreen. In addition, a point file was generated based on field-verified sites as well as all occurrences of widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima) and algae. The rectification and digitization was completed utilizing the ERDAS Imagine software package. The benthic data is classified according to the System for Classification of Habitats in Estuarine and Marine Environments (SCHEME). This system is fully described in "Development of a System for Classification of Habitats in Estuarine and Marine Environments (SCHEME) for Florida, Report to U.S. EPA - Gulf of Mexico Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Marine Research Institute. Review Draft 12/04/02." The polygon vector coverage was accuracy assessed by C-CAP and DEP-WCP in July 1997 and September 1998. The assessment was based on random points generated within the polygon boundaries. Navigation to each point in the field was accomplished using real time differential GPS. The underwater video camera was used to verify the presence of the mapped feature at the random point. The accuracy of the mapped grass was 85.4 % (175 of 205 sites mapped correct).

Original contact information:

Contact Org: NOAA Office for Coastal Management

Phone: 843-740-1202

Email: coastal.info@noaa.gov

Provide a baseline digital map of submerged aquatic vegetation resources for coastal management applications.

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Aerial photography was interpreted for SAV presence. Extensive field work was conducted in conjunction with the interpretation to develop signatures and address areas of concern.

A total of six coverages were produced in this project. There are two sets of three files. The first set is projected using the Massachusetts mainland state plane projection and covers the entire Atlantic shoreline. This set contains a SAV polygon coverage, a field-verified point coverage, and a point coverage containing all occurrences of Ruppia maritime and algae. The second set is projected using the Massachusetts islands state plan projection and covers Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. This set contains a SAV polygon coverage, a field-verified point coverage, and a point coverage containing all occurrences of Ruppia maritime and algae. AERIAL PHOTO INFORMATION PROJECT Areas Nantucket Acquisition Dates (YYYYMMDD): 19931006 Photo Source: James W. Sewall Company Mission ID: A5076 Scale: 1:20,000 Overlap/Sidelap: 80/40 Film Type: Aerochrome 2448 Filter Type/Number: clear Camera Type: Zeiss RMK Top 15 Lens Type and Focal Length: 6"/153 mm Image Format (23cm, etc.): 9" Number of Rolls/Frames: Roll # 2097, 70 exposures Martha's Vineyard, Elizabeth Islands and South Coast of Cape Cod Acquisition Dates (YYYYMMDD): 19940511/19940921/19950528 Photo Source: James W. Sewall Company Mission ID: A 5223Scale: 1:20,000 Overlap/Sidelap: 80/40 Film Type: Aerochrome 2448 Filter Type/Number: clear Camera Type: Zeiss RMK Top 15 Lens Type and Focal Length: 6"/153 mm Image Format (23cm, etc.): 9" Number of Rolls/Frames Roll # 2224 and 2225, 517 exposures Northern Coast of Cape Cod Acquisition Dates (YYYYMMDD): 19950629/19950528/19960419 Photo Source: James W. Sewall Company Mission ID: A5223 Scale: 1:20,000 Overlap/Sidelap: 80/40 Film Type: Aerochrome 2448Filter Type/Number: clear Camera Type: Zeiss RMK A 1.5/23 and Zeiss RMK Top 15Lens Type and Focal Length: clear Image Format (23cm, etc.): 9"Number of Rolls/Frames: Roll # 2225 and 2226, 337 exposures Boston Harbor and North Shore Acquisition Dates (YYYYMMDD):19960718 Photo Source: James W. Sewall Company Mission ID: A 5522 Scale: 1:20,000 Overlap/Sidelap: 80/40 Film Type: Aerochrome 2448 Filter Type/Number: clear Camera Type: Zeiss RMK A 1.5/23 and Zeiss RMK Top 15 Lens Type and Focal Length: 6"/153 mm Image Format (23cm, etc.): 9" Number of Rolls/Frames: roll # 2243 and 2244, 388 exposures Buzzards Bay and Mount Hope Bay Acquisition Dates (YYYYMMDD): 19960507 Photo Source: James W. Sewall Company Mission ID: A 5522 Scale: 1:20,000 Overlap/Sidelap: 80/40 Film Type: Aerochrome 2448 Filter Type/Number: clear Camera Type: Zeiss RMK A 1.5/23 and Zeiss RMK Top 15 Lens Type and Focal Length: 6"/153 mm Image Format (23cm, etc.): 9" Number of Rolls/Frames: Roll # 2237 and 2240, 342 exposures

This file geodatabase contains three feature layers corresponding to the CMECS 2012 Substrate and Biotic components. These layers were converted from an earlier version classified according to the System for Classifying Habitats in Estuarine and Marine Environments (SCHEME) using the CMECS Crosswalk Tool. Each feature layer has its own metadata record describing the attributes, and data development methods associated with it.

NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose.

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