Description: The coastal vulnerability index (CVI) provides insight into the relative potential of coastal change due to future sea-level rise. The maps and data presented here can be viewed in at least two ways: * as a base for developing a more complete inventory of variables influencing the coastal vulnerability to future sea-level rise to which other elements can be added as they become available; and * as an example of the potential for assessing coastal vulnerability to future sea-level rise using objective criteria. As ranked in this study, coastal geomorphology is the most important variable in determining the CVI. Coastal slope, wave height, relative sea-level rise, and tide range provide large-scale variability to the coastal vulnerability index. Erosion and accretion rates contribute the greatest variability to the CVI at short (~3 km) spatial scales. The rates of shoreline change, however, are the most complex and poorly documented variable in this data set. The rates used here are based on a dated, low-resolution data set and thus far corrections have been made only on a preliminary level. To best understand where physical changes may occur, large-scale variables must be clearly and accurately mapped, and small-scale variables must be understood on a scale that takes into account their geologic, environmental, and anthropogenic influences.
Copyright Text: Coastal Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise: A Preliminary Database for the U.S. Alantic, Pacific, and Gulf of Mexico Coasts. Erika S. Hammar-Klose and E.Robert Thieler U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series - 68. 2001. http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1999/of99-593/
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P><SPAN>Shoreline Situation Reports (SSR) were first generated by VIMS in the 1970's to report the condition and status of the shore lands. The SSR series were published in hardcopy on a county by county basis for each Tidewater Virginia localities. The reports were intended to assist planners, managers, and regulators in decisions pertaining to management of coastal areas and natural resources therein. This Shoreline Inventory report continues a process which updates and expands the earlier reports. Data collected reports conditions surveyed in the immediate riparian zone, the bank, and along the shoreline. This dataset is the result of combining the most recent digital shoreline inventories for Virginia.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P><SPAN>Shoreline Situation Reports (SSR) were first generated by VIMS in the 1970's to report the condition and status of the shore lands. The SSR series were published in hardcopy on a county by county basis for each Tidewater Virginia localities. The reports were intended to assist planners, managers, and regulators in decisions pertaining to management of coastal areas and natural resources therein. This Shoreline Inventory report continues a process which updates and expands the earlier reports. Data collected reports conditions surveyed in the immediate riparian zone, the bank, and along the shoreline. This dataset is the result of combining the most recent digital shoreline inventories for Virginia.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P><SPAN>The 2018 Chesapeake Bay SAV Coverage was mapped from digital multispectral imagery with a 25cm GSD to assess water quality in the Bay. Each area of SAV was interpreted from the rectified imagry and classified into one of four density classes by the percentage of cover. The SAV beds were entered into an SDE GIS fetaure class using the quality control procedures documented below. The dataset contains all SAV areas that were identified from the areas flown. Some areas that are presumed to contain no SAV were not flown. Some small beds, particularly along narrow tributaries may not have been distinguishable on the aerial photography.</SPAN></P><P><SPAN /></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Copyright Text: SAV Ecology, Monitoring, & Restoration Program, Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P><SPAN>Benthic data were aggregated from multiple sources to create a baywide record of seabed material in the Chesapeake Bay. Habitat polygons are classified with an adaptation of the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) Substrate Component (SC). Source data were collected during the interval 1842-2014. Because of potential temporal changes in bottom conditions and deficiencies in survey methodology, benthic habitat characterizations may be in error in some areas. These are, however, the best data currently available.</SPAN></P><P><SPAN>This is a subset of an original dataset which may be found here: http://ftp.ncbo.cgclientx.com/ecoscience/Chesapeake_Bay_Coastal_and_Marine_Ecological_Classification_Standard_CMECS/Metadata/MD_Bay_Bottom_Survey/. This dataset contains only acoustic (SONAR) surveyed data for Maryland and Maryland Bay Bottom Survey data.</SPAN></P><P><SPAN>The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office makes no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the use or appropriateness of Spatial Data, and there are no warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use. The information contained in Spatial Data is from publicly available sources, but no representation is made as to the accuracy or completeness of Spatial Data. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office shall not be subject to liability for human error, error due to software conversion, defect, or failure of machines, or any material used in the connection with the machines, including tapes, disks, CD-ROM's or DVD-ROM's and energy. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office shall not be liable for any lost profits, consequential damages, or claims against the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office by third parties. The liability of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office for damage regardless of the form of the action shall not exceed any distribution fees that may have been paid in obtaining Spatial Data.</SPAN></P><P /></DIV></DIV></DIV>
Copyright Text: Original data created by NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office (NOAA-CBo). 410 Seven Avenue, Suite 107A, Annapolis, MD 21403. 410-267-5660
Subset data created by Eric Weissberger of Maryland DNR Fisheries, 580 Taylor Avenue B2, Annapolis, MD 21401 410-260-8344, MD iMap
Description: <DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P><SPAN>This data set represents the extent, approximate location and type of wetlands and deepwater habitats in the United States and its Territories. These data delineate the areal extent of wetlands and surface waters as defined by Cowardin et al. (1979). The National Wetlands Inventory - Version 2, Surface Waters and Wetlands Inventory was derived by retaining the wetland and deepwater polygons that compose the NWI digital wetlands spatial data layer and reintroducing any linear wetland or surface water features that were orphaned from the original NWI hard copy maps by converting them to narrow polygonal features. Additionally, the data are supplemented with hydrography data, buffered to become polygonal features, as a secondary source for any single-line stream features not mapped by the NWI and to complete segmented connections. Wetland mapping conducted in WA, OR, CA, NV and ID after 2012 and most other projects mapped after 2015 were mapped to include all surface water features and are not derived data. The linear hydrography dataset used to derive Version 2 was the U.S. Geological Survey's National Hydrography Dataset (NHD). Specific information on the NHD version used to derive Version 2 and where Version 2 was mapped can be found in the 'comments' field of the Wetlands_Project_Metadata feature class. Certain wetland habitats are excluded from the National mapping program because of the limitations of aerial imagery as the primary data source used to detect wetlands. These habitats include seagrasses or submerged aquatic vegetation that are found in the intertidal and subtidal zones of estuaries and near shore coastal waters. Some deepwater reef communities (coral or tuberficid worm reefs) have also been excluded from the inventory. These habitats, because of their depth, go undetected by aerial imagery. By policy, the Service also excludes certain types of "farmed wetlands" as may be defined by the Food Security Act or that do not coincide with the Cowardin et al. definition. Contact the Service's Regional Wetland Coordinator for additional information on what types of farmed wetlands are included on wetland maps. This dataset should be used in conjunction with the Wetlands_Project_Metadata layer, which contains project specific wetlands mapping procedures and information on dates, scales and emulsion of imagery used to map the wetlands within specific project boundaries.</SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV>