Eelgrass

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Metadata:

Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: MA DEP Wetlands Conservancy Program
Publication_Date: 200602
Title: Eelgrass
Edition: 2
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Other_Citation_Details:
CZM changed the name of these data from "DEP Eelgrass" to "Eelgrass." To allow for consistent evaluation and comparison of a variety of datasets with distinct spatial resolutions, accuracies, and other characteristics, the Massachusetts ocean management planning area was partitioned into 250 x 250-meter grid cells, each with a unique ID. These data were converted to the planning area grid by extracting all of the cells in which the data layer occurred. The data were then dissolved into one feature.
Online_Linkage: <http://www.mass.gov/mgis/eelgrass.htm>
Description:
Abstract:
Seagrass beds are critical wetlands components of shallow coastal ecosystems throughout the state. Seagrass beds provide food and cover for a great variety of commercially and recreationally important fauna and their prey. The leaf canopy of the seagrass bed calms the water, filters suspended matter and together with extensive roots and rhizomes, stabilizes sediment.
Eelgrass and other seagrasses are often referred to as "Submerged Aquatic Vegetation" or SAV. This distinguishes them from algae, which are not classified as "plants" by biologists (rather they are often placed in the kingdom protista), and distinguishes them from the "emergent" saltwater plants found in salt marshes. In addition to the term SAV, some coastal managers use the term SRV or submerged rooted vegetation. This term probably arose to avoid confusion because non-scientists considered both seagrasses and algae as "plants" or "vegetation," and did not realize the term SAV excluded algae. (refer to <http://www.buzzardsbay.org/eelgrass.htm>)
The DEP Eelgrass layer, produced from data collected in 2001, is the second statewide mapping of the eelgrass resources along the coast. The data were compiled from similar methodologies as the earlier 1995 dataset. A similar third iteration of this statewide mapping is planned for the 2006-07 seasons.
Eelgrass, Zostera marina, is the most common seagrass present on the Massachusetts coastline. The other species found in embayments of the Massachusetts coast is Ruppia maritima, widgeon grass, is present in areas of less salinity along the Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay coast.
The layer is named EELGRASS_POLY. With the February 2006 update, which added the 2001 data, the EGRASVPT_PT layer of field verified points was discontinued.
CZM changed the name of these data from "DEP Eelgrass" to "Eelgrass." To allow for consistent evaluation and comparison of a variety of datasets with distinct spatial resolutions, accuracies, and other characteristics, the Massachusetts ocean management planning area was partitioned into 250 x 250-meter grid cells, each with a unique ID. These data were converted to the planning area grid by extracting all of the cells in which the data layer occurred. The data were then dissolved into one feature.
Purpose:
The purpose of mapping the distribution of eelgrass (Submerged Aquatic Vegetation - SAV) is to determine areas where the Zostera marina resource was decreasing in area and cover. The methods used for the 2001 were similar to those used in the earlier 1995. One exception to this specification was the change in the delineation of apparent areas of no Zostera within polygons of the resource (i.e. holes). This change in mapping convention was derived from a better understanding of the scientific literature of the dynamics of Zostera beds which describes subtle "infra" movement within beds in response to day-to-day wave action, currents and sand migration, and storm events.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Single_Date/Time:
Calendar_Date: 200602
Currentness_Reference: publication date
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: Irregular
Spatial_Domain:
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.093586
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -69.961804
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.663729
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.296849
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: eelgrass
Theme_Keyword: submerged aquatic vegetation
Theme_Keyword: rupia
Theme_Keyword: seagrass
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: oceans, 014
Theme_Keyword: biota, 02
Theme_Keyword: environment, 007
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus:
NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 6.0.0.0.0
Theme_Keyword:
Biological Classification > Plants > Angiosperms (flowering Plants) > Monocots > Seagrass
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
Place_Keyword: Massachusetts
Place_Keyword: Gulf of Maine
Place_Keyword: Massachusetts Bay
Place_Keyword: Cape Cod Bay
Place_Keyword: Nantucket Sound
Place_Keyword: Vineyard Sound
Place_Keyword: Buzzards Bay
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: U.S. Board on Geographic Names
Place_Keyword: Massachusetts
Place_Keyword: Gulf of Maine
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus:
NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 6.0.0.0.0
Place_Keyword: Ocean > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean
Place_Keyword: Ocean > Atlantic Ocean > North Atlantic Ocean > Gulf Of Maine
Place_Keyword:
Continent > North America > United States Of America > Massachusetts
Access_Constraints: No restrictions to access
Use_Constraints:
Use for other than display purposes requires the consent of the Mass DEP Wetlands Conservancy Program Manager
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Charles Costello
Contact_Organization: MA DEP - Wetlands Conservancy Program
Contact_Position: Director
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 1 Winter St
City: Boston
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 01915
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 617-292-5907
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 617-556-1049
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: charles.costello@state.ma.us
Hours_of_Service: 9am-5pm
Data_Set_Credit:
Mass Dept of Environmental Protection - Wetlands Conservancy Program
Security_Information:
Security_Classification_System: none
Native_Data_Set_Environment:
Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 3; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.1.3500
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Title: EELGRASS_POLY
Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report: Edge of polygons accurate to +- 10 meters
Completeness_Report: Complete to date of delineation
Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: edge of polygon accurate to +- 10 meters
Lineage:
Source_Information:
Source_Scale_Denominator: 1:12000
Type_of_Source_Media: Aerial photos
Source_Contribution: flown low tide no clouds
Source_Information:
Type_of_Source_Media: field verification with gps and underwater camera
Source_Contribution: field verification of interpreted areas
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Selected by attributes to select only those polygons that represent eelgrass or other seagrasses:
"CODE" = '01 ONLY' OR "CODE" = '95 AND 01' OR "CODE" = '95 ONLY'
The selected polygons were then exported.
To allow for consistent evaluation and comparison of a variety of datasets with distinct spatial resolutions, accuracies, and other characteristics, the Massachusetts ocean management planning area was partitioned into 250 x 250-meter grid cells, each with a unique ID. These data were converted to the planning area grid by extracting all of the cells in which the data layer occurred.
The data were clipped to the Massachusetts ocean management planning area. The data were then dissolved into one feature.
Process_Date: 2009
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
Contact_Position: CZM Data Manager
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing address
Address: 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800
City: Boston
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02114-2138
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 617-626-1200
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 617-626-1240
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: czm@state.ma.us
Hours_of_Service: 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs EST
Contact_Instructions: email only
Cloud_Cover: none
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
SDTS_Terms_Description:
SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: G-polygon
Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 1
Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Planar:
Grid_Coordinate_System:
Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: State Plane Coordinate System 1983
State_Plane_Coordinate_System:
SPCS_Zone_Identifier: 2001
Lambert_Conformal_Conic:
Standard_Parallel: 41.716667
Standard_Parallel: 42.683333
Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -71.500000
Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 41.000000
False_Easting: 200000.000000
False_Northing: 750000.000000
Planar_Coordinate_Information:
Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair
Coordinate_Representation:
Abscissa_Resolution: 0.000000
Ordinate_Resolution: 0.000000
Planar_Distance_Units: meters
Geodetic_Model:
Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222
Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Altitude_System_Definition:
Altitude_Resolution: 0.000100
Altitude_Encoding_Method:
Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: Eelgrass
Entity_Type_Definition:
Area representing a special, sensitive, or unique marine and estuarine life and habitat (SSU) resource.
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: FID
Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.
Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Shape
Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.
Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Dataset
Attribute_Definition: Dataset description.
Attribute_Definition_Source: CZM
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: Description of features.
Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
Contact_Position: CZM Data Manager
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing address
Address: 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800
City: Boston
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02114-2138
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 617-626-1200
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 617-626-1240
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: czm@state.ma.us
Hours_of_Service: 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs EST
Contact_Instructions: email only
Resource_Description: CZM_moris_om_eelgrass_poly
Distribution_Liability:
Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of these data, errors and conditions originating from physical sources used to develop these data may be reflected in the data supplied. The client must be aware of data conditions and bear responsibility for the appropriate use of the information with respect to possible errors, original map scale, collection methodology, currency of data, and other conditions specific to certain data. In no event shall CZM be liable for any damages, whether general, special, incidental or consequential damages, arising out of your use of these data. Your sole remedy for damages is to stop using the data. You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless CZM and its employees against any claim, loss, liability or expense, including attorneys' fees, resulting from loss of or damage to property or the injury to or death of any person arising out of the use of the data.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: ESRI Shapefile (.shp)
Format_Version_Number: ArcGIS 8.x & 9.x
Transfer_Size: 1.477
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: <http://www.mass.gov/czm/mapping/index.htm>
Fees:
GIS and coordinate files may be downloaded at no charge by following links on the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management website (<http://www.mass.gov/czm/>).
Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20100223
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Contact_Person: Robert Hames
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: One Winter Street
City: Boston
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02108
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 617-556-1115
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
Metadata_Time_Convention: local time
Metadata_Extensions:
Online_Linkage: <http://www.mass.gov/mgis/eelgrass.htm>
Profile_Name: MassGIS Web Documentation
Metadata_Extensions:
Online_Linkage: <http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html>
Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile
Metadata_Extensions:
Online_Linkage: <http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html>
Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile
Generated by mp version 2.9.6 on Thu Feb 25 08:19:37 2010