Intertidal Habitat Inventory 1995, Whatcom County Area, WA - Generalized Vegetation Classification

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Nearshore Habitat Program, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Aquatic Resources Division

Publication_Date: 19970630

Title:

Intertidal Habitat Inventory 1995, Whatcom County Area, WA - Generalized Vegetation Classification

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

Publication_Information:

Publisher: Washington State Department of Natural Resources

Online_Linkage: <http://www2.wadnr.gov/nearshore/>

Larger_Work_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Nearshore Habitat Program, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Aquatic Resources Division

Publication_Date: 1997

Title: Intertidal Habitat Inventory 1995, Whatcom County Area, WA

Online_Linkage: <http://www2.wadnr.gov/nearshore>

Description:

Abstract:

Dataset consists of a polygon coverage repesenting eight intertidal vegetation types, classified according to Nearshore Habitat Program's vegetation mapping procedures. Dataset was generalized from a more detailed raster dataset. Includes information on vegetation type, location and areal extent.

Purpose:

To provide resource managers, planners and other decision-makers with information about intertidal vegetation. The data were collected as part of the Nearshore Habitat Program's mandate to map the abundance and distribution of nearshore habitats in the Puget Sound for the Puget Sound Ambient Monitoring Program (PSAMP).

Supplemental_Information:

(1) Washington State is divided into two State Plane zones, north and south. The data set's coordinate values are reported in Washington State Plane south. (2) Imagery was acquired during periods of maximum intertidal exposure (0 -- mean lower low water or below in most areas), and times when sun angle would reduce sun glint. (3) This dataset was generalized from the raster Intertidal Vegetation Inventory 1995. The purpose of generalization was to provide a vector-based version of the dataset with a manageable file size. (4) For overview of source dataset see metadata for Intertidal Vegetation Inventory 1995, Whatcom County Area, Washington. (5) Detailed documentation of methods used to create the nearshore vegetation data set can be found in Berry & Ritter (1997). Revisions 1.0.0 References_Cited Berry, H.D. and R.A. Ritter. 1997. Puget Sound Intertidal Habitat Inventory 1995: Vegetation and Shoreline Characteristics Classification Methods. Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Aquatic Resources Division. 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.

The Intertidal Vegetation Inventory attribute codes can be related to classification categories using the separate IVEG_CD table (available from the distributer of this data in dbf format). 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 vegetation type classification.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 19950712

Ending_Date: 19950813

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.797723

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.478045

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.913860

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.636430

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: none

Theme_Keyword: habitat

Theme_Keyword: nearshore vegetation

Theme_Keyword: wetland

Theme_Keyword: multispectral imagery

Theme_Keyword: intertidal

Theme_Keyword: eelgrass

Theme_Keyword: kelp

Theme_Keyword: algae

Theme_Keyword: salt marsh

Theme_Keyword: spit/berm vegetation

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: none

Place_Keyword: Whatcom County area

Place_Keyword: Washington, USA

Place_Keyword: Puget Sound

Temporal:

Temporal_Keyword_Thesaurus: none

Temporal_Keyword: July 1995

Temporal_Keyword: August 1995

Access_Constraints:

Freely available from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) contingent upon acceptance of all the terms and conditions contained in the DNR agency license agreement.

Use_Constraints:

(1) Other classification systems and regulatory programs may define and describe nearshore or intertidal vegetation in a different manner than that used in this inventory. (2) This dataset was created for use at 1:24,000 scale or smaller. (3) This information was developed for regional analysis and planning, not for site-specific planning purposes. (4) Features reflect environmental conditions in nearshore vegetation conditions at a point in time (July 12, 1995 or August 13, 1995). (5) Do not copy, modify, or distribute the dataset. (6) While efforts have been made to ensure these data are accurate and reliable, Washington State Department of Natural Resources cannot assume liability for any damages, or misrepresentations, caused by any inaccuracies in the data. Washington State Department of Natural Resources makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. (7) Use must conform to the Washington Dept of Natural Resources license agreement.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

Nearshore Habitat Program, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Aquatic Resources Division

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address

Address: PO Box 47027

City: Olympia

State_or_Province: WA

Postal_Code: 98504-7027

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (360) 902-1100

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (360) 902-1786

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Version 5.0 (Build 2195) Service Pack 3; ESRI ArcCatalog 8.3.0.800

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

A classification accuracy assessment by vegetation type was performed. When field reference data were in hard copy form, marine scientists used plots to evaluate the land cover type accuracy; digital field sites were overlaid onto the classified file and evaluated on screen. Overall accuracy was 72.1%.

Quantitative_Attribute_Accuracy_Assessment:

Attribute_Accuracy_Value: 72.1%

Attribute_Accuracy_Explanation:

See Berry & Ritter (1997) for producers accuracy, users accuracy and other information.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Polygon topology present. Data set was reviewed and determined to have a valid range of values.

Completeness_Report:

Sites that have a total vegetation cover greater than 25 percent are mapped as a vegetation type. All nearshore vegetation areas were mapped into one of eight types.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Quantitative_Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: +/-40 feet for most areas at original resolution

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Explanation:

Root mean square error calculated in conjunction with rectfication transformation.

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Not determined

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Aquatic Resources Divison, Nearshore Habitat Program

Publication_Date: none

Title:

Intertidal Vegetation Inventory 1995, Whatcom County Area, Washington

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: remote-sensing image

Source_Scale_Denominator: 0

Type_of_Source_Media: 8 mm magnetic tape

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 199507812

Ending_Date: 19950813

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Source_Contribution:

The nearshore vegetation inventory was the primary dataset used to produce the generalized vector intertidal vegetation inventory. The following steps were used: boundary smoothing, vector conversion, elimination of polygons smaller than approximately 690 square feet, and buffering of spit/berm vegetation types. See Process Steps and Berry & Ritter (1997) for more information.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

G.A. Borstad and Associates Ltd. under contract to Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Aquatic Resources Divison, Nearshore Habitat Program

Publication_Date: none

Title:

1995 Compact Airborne Spectographic Imager, Nearshore Airborne Multispectral Imagery, Whatcom County Area

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: remote-sensing image

Source_Scale_Denominator: 0

Type_of_Source_Media: 8 mm magnetic tape

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 119507

Ending_Date: 199508

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Source_Contribution:

Airborne multispectral imagery was used as the primary data set for the nearshore vegetation inventory.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Sound Aerial Surveys under contract to Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Aquatic Resources Divison, Nearshore Habitat Program

Publication_Date: none

Title:

1995 Nearshore Habitat Low Tide Color Infrared Aerial Photography

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: remote-sensing image

Source_Scale_Denominator: 11,000

Type_of_Source_Media: color infrared transparency(9" x 9")

Source_Contribution:

Color infrared aerial photography, acquired simulataneously with the multispectral imagery, was an ancillary data set in developing the nearshore vegetation inventory.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Aquatic Resources Divison, Nearshore Habitat Program

Publication_Date: none

Title: 1995 Nearshore Habitat Program Field Surveys

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: ground based surveys

Source_Scale_Denominator: 13,000 and 11,000

Type_of_Source_Media:

annotation on color infrared contact print; annotation on imagery plots; GPS-located, differentially-corrected field sites and associated forms.

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 1995

Source_Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Source_Contribution:

Aerial photography and imagery (map scale from 1:11,000-1:13,000) used as base to record field data (spatial and attribute information). Information was used to guide nearshore vegetation classification or as a classification accuracy assessment site.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The Raster dataset was generalized and converted to vector format in order to: be used with the standard DNR vector-based cartographic production, to provide information for systems with limited Raster manipulation capabilities, and to reduce the number of features and arcs in the coverage to a manageable number for common computer system configurations. The objective was to simplify the coverage while maintaining the salient characteristics of vegetation features at an appropriate scale. The following steps were applied: (1) Mosaic blocks were joined into a single grid file for the study area, and then separated by vegetation type for generalization. (2) An ArcInfo GRID (ESRI,Redlands, California) focal filter function was used to smooth feature boundaries. Smoothed grids for each vegetation type were then recombined according to a hierarchy, so that in cases where a pixel was assigned multiple vegetation values, the higher priority vegetation type was retained. The assignment hierarchy was based on the relative significance of vegetation types in management and environmental decision making: eelgrass (highest), kelp, salt marsh, spit berm, mixed algae, brown algae, green algae (lowest). The recombined grid was then converted into a polygon coverage. (3) Features with an area equal to four or fewer pixels (approximately 690 square feet) were eliminated. The elimination decreased the total number of features by two-thirds, while changing the total acreage by less than 5 percent. In determining the size of features to eliminate, the effect of elimination on visual appearance turned out to be more important than the effect on total vegetation acreage because the size distribution of vegetation features was skewed. As a result, the visual appearance of the coverage could change markedly without a corresponding change in acreage. The narrow, linear vegetation features areas were most affected by area elimination thresholds. They were evaluated at 1:12,000 scale to decide which elimination threshold best maintained feature representation. Note: Detailed documentation of methods used to create the nearshore vegetation dataset can be found in Berry & Ritter (1997)

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Complete chain

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 7390

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Label point

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 3133

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: GT-polygon composed of chains

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 3132

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Point

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 4

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Planar:

Map_Projection:

Map_Projection_Name: Lambert Conformal Conic

Lambert_Conformal_Conic:

Standard_Parallel: 45.833333

Standard_Parallel: 47.333333

Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -120.500000

Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 45.333333

False_Easting: 1640416.666667

False_Northing: 0.000000

Planar_Coordinate_Information:

Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair

Coordinate_Representation:

Abscissa_Resolution: 0.000177

Ordinate_Resolution: 0.000177

Planar_Distance_Units: survey feet

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: D_North_American_1983_HARN

Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Polygon attributes

Entity_Type_Definition:

Polygon attribute table containing intertidal vegetation inventory for Whatcom County Area, classified according to the Nearshore Habitat Program's eight nearshore vegetation types.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source:

Nearshore Habitat Program. Mumford et al (1992) and Berry & Ritter (1997).

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: AREA

Attribute_Definition: Area of feature in internal units squared.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 0

Attribute_Units_of_Measure: square feet

Unrepresentable_Domain: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: PERIMETER

Attribute_Definition: Perimeter of feature in internal units.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 0

Attribute_Units_of_Measure: feet

Unrepresentable_Domain: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: IVEG95VC#

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: IVEG95VC-ID

Attribute_Definition: User-defined feature number.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: User defined number

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: GRID-CODE

Attribute_Definition:

numeric value representing nearshore vegetation type classification

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Nearshore Habitat Program multispectral image classification, guided by field data collection on vegetation type.

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: -9999

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: no data

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 1

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

brown algae - Algae belonging to the taxonomic group Division Phaeophyta. Some common representatives in Puget Sound include rockweed (Fucus spp.) and Sargassum muticum.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 2

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

green algae - Algae belonging to taxonomic group Division Chlorophyta. A common representative in Puget Sound region is sea lettuce (Ulva spp.).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 3

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

mixed algae - Areas in which red, green, or brown algae coexist, but no single type occupies more than 75% of the vegetated cover.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 4

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

red algae - Algae belonging to taxonomic group Division Rhodophyta. A common representative in Puget Sound region is nori (Porphyra spp.). Areas dominated by red algae and large enough to map at this resolution rarely occur in the summer in the intertidal zone of Puget Sound.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 5

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

eelgrass - The vascular plants Zostera marina, and Zostera japonica. Eelgrass beds are recognized as critical habitat in the life cycles of many fishes, invertebrates and birds.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 6

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

kelp - Large brown algae in the taxonomic group Order Laminariales. Some common representatives in Puget Sound include floating kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) and understory kelp (Laminaria spp.). Because of its recognized ecological function and management importance, kelp is distinguished from other brown algae when it makes up greater than 75% of the vegetated cover.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 7

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

salt marsh - Salt-tolerant, emergent wetland plants such as pickleweed (Salicornia virginica), saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), and sedge (Carex lyngbyei). Freshwater marsh areas were not included in the inventory.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 8

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

spit / berm vegetation - Areas dominantly covered with plants such as dune grass (Elymus mollis), gumweed (Grindelia integrifolia), and yarrow (Achillea millefolium), which generally occur above the highest tides but still receive salt influence. The substrate is usually sand or gravel, and drift logs commonly accumulate.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: IVEG_CD

Attribute_Definition: text code for vegetation classification

Attribute_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Null

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: no data

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: bro

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: brown algae

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: eel

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: eelgrass

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: gre

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: green algae

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: kel

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: kelp

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: mix

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: mixed algae

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: red

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: red algae

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: msh

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: salt marsh

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: spb

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: spit/berm vegetation

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Nearshore Habitat Program, Berry & Ritter (1997)

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

This layer delineates nearshore vegetation types in the Whatcom County Area. Vegetation types are classified according to the Nearshore Habitat Program's vegetation mapping procedures. Descriptive attributes include vegetation type (identified by numeric and alphabetic attributes), and feature measurements (length, area, perimeter). This dataset was generalized from the raster Intertidal Vegetation Inventory.

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

Nearshore Habitat Program, Washington State Department of Natural Resources,Aquatic Resources Division

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address

Address: PO Box 47027

City: Olympia

State_or_Province: WA

Postal_Code: 98504-7027

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (360) 902-1100

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (360) 902-1786

Resource_Description:

This dataset is part of the 1995 Intertidal Habitat Inventory, Whatcom County Area, WA originally distributed on CDROM but now available online: <http://www2.wadnr.gov/nearshore>

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: ArcInfo coverage

Transfer_Size: 1.752

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: <http://www2.wadnr.gov/nearshore>

Fees: none

Ordering_Instructions: download from <http://www2.wadnr.gov/nearshore>

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20040506

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

Nearshore Habitat Program, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, Aquatic Resources Division

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address

Address: P.O. Box 47027

City: Olympia

State_or_Province: WA

Postal_Code: 98504-7027

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 360-902-1100

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 360-902-1786

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.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html>

Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile