This data layer is one component of a larger dataset, the Intertidal Habitat Inventory 1996, Skagit County and Northern Whidbey Island, Washington. The key components of the larger dataset include classified intertidal vegetation (raster and generalized vector), shoreline characteristics, a mosaiced multispectral image of the study area as well as the study area boundary. Supplementary tabular data files are also available.
The Intertidal Vegetation Inventory attribute codes can be related to classification categories using the IVEG_CD table available for distribution with the data. The following fields are included: IVEG_NAME: description of vegetation type VALUE: numeric code identifying vegetation type classification GRID-CODE: numeric code field created by ARC/INFO identifying vegetation type classification (same as VALUE attribute) IVEG_CD: three letter code identifying
The shoreline characteristics attribute codes can be related to classification categories as defined by "A Marine and Estuarine Habitat Classification for Washington State" (Dethier, 1990). They can also be related to codes that adopt the National Wetlands Inventory classification structure. Tables are available for distribution with this data as listed below. The primary keys of code tables are carried in the coverage .PAT as foreign keys. Each code table includes the code (*_cd), the attribute name (*_name), and the hierarchical levels based on the NWI classification: Table = systm_cd.dbf Primary key = sys_cd + sbsys_cd Table = subst_cd.dbf Primary key = subst_cd Table = energ_cd.dbf Primary key = energ_cd Table = wreg_cd.dbf Primary key = w_reg_cd Table = wchem_cd.dbf Primary key = w_chem_cd. This table cannot be joined to the .PAT table because water chemistry was not classified. It is included because it is part of the complete classification. Table = smod_cd.dbf Primary key = smod_cd. This table cannot be joined to the .PAT table because water chemistry was not classified. It is included because it is part of the complete classification. In order to link shoreline characteristics attributes to the complete habitat type description according to Dethier (1990), a table is provided that summarizes habitat types as described in the classification system and the page number reference for each habitat type description: Table name: clas_lst.dbf Primary key = combination of all *_cd fields. Nwi_code = the code based on NWI classification format. Page_no = the page number referenced in Dethier (1990). Clas_name = the complete name of the classified habitat type.
References Cited: Borstad, G. (1996). The Nearshore Habitat Inventory Project Task 7: Project Summary Memorandum. Unpublished report prepared by Borstad Associates Ltd. for Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Aquatic Resources Division, Olympia, WA-USA. Ritter, R.A, H.D. Berry, B.E. Bookheim and A.T. Sewell. 1999. Puget Sound Intertidal Habitat Inventory 1996: Vegetation and Shoreline Characteristics Classification Methods. Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Aquatic Resources Division.
Note: Detailed documentation of methods used to create the nearshore vegetation data set can be found in Ritter et al. (1999).