Description: This shapefile was screen digitized from 'Calecoregions1.jpg' a georectified digital image of the original map of California's ecoregions, include the marine ecoregions, created by Jim Bailey of the California State Department of Parks and Recreation. The marine regions from this map picture were used as the basis for the 4 regions of the Marine Protected Areas excercise, conducted as part of compliance with AB 993 in 2001. They were digitized from this map scan since no GIS product existed.
Copyright Text: Produced by California Department of Parks and Recreation Based on Information and Maps Compiled by W. James Barry, Ph.D. Senior State Park Ecologist Certified Soil Scientist, S.S.S.A. Resource Agency, University of California Fellow For California Interagency Natural Areas Committee April 16, 1992 Scale 1 : 4,250,000 Revised 1997 by W. James Barry and John W. Foster, California Underwater Parks on Reserves Planning and Management. In: California and the World Ocean '97. Vol. 1. pg 89. American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston Virginia, 856 p.
Description: This dataset distinguishes coastal wetlands from inland wetlands while retaining the attributes from the original National Wetlands Invertory (NWI) data.
Description: Proposed and revised critical habitat for the Pacific Coast Western Snowy Plover. This dataset was created to revise the 2005 final critical habitat rule for the species. This dataset includes polygon features representing proposed unit boundaries and exempted unit boundaries from Washington, Oregon, and California (dataset was later edited to only show areas within California). There are 55 units, some containing from 2 to 10 sub-units. The units are identified by state, unit number, and sub-unit alpha character. Unit boundaries were compiled from data developed in several field offices, including the Western Washington Fish and Wildlife Office (FWO) in Lacey, WA; the Newport Field Office, Newport, OR; the Arcata FWO, Arcata CA; the Sacramento FWO, Sacramento, CA; the Ventura FWO in Ventura, CA, and the Carlsbad FWO in Carlsbad, CA. Compilation was done by the staff of the Arcata FWO.
Copyright Text: Arcata, Sacramento, Ventura, and Carlsbad Fish & Wildlife Field Offices.
Description: The linework for this layer is based on the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) 1:100,000 scale stream based routed hydrography. SWR biologists divided the routed hydrography into stream segments using the best available information to represent local Steelhead distribution and habitat. As a result, each segment has its own unique identifier (GIS_Link) and related presence and habitat information. The data set is in shapefile format and can be included as a map layer in a GIS. 'NC_Steelhead_CH_06_2005' depicts areas designated for Steelhead Critical Habitat as well as habitat type and quality in the Northern California Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). These data represent the stream segments identified as Critical Habitat by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) Southwest Regional Office (SWR). This data set is an updated, final version of 'NC_Steelhead_Proposed_Critical_Habitat''NC_Steelhead_Distribution_06_2005' depicts Steelhead presence as well as habitat type and quality in the Northern California Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). The data was compiled by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) Southwest Regional Office (SWR) in an effort to designate Critical Habitat for Steelhead in California. The data set is in shapefile format and can be included as a map layer in a GIS.This data set is an update of 'NC_Steelhead_Draft_2004''CCC_Steelhead_CH_06_2005' depicts areas designated for Steelhead Critical Habitat as well as habitat type and quality in the Central California Coast Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). This data set is an updated, final version of 'CCC_Steelhead_Proposed_Critical_Habitat''CCC_Steelhead_Distribution_06_2005' depicts Steelhead presence as well as habitat type and quality in the Central California Coast Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU).This data set is an update of 'CCC_Steelhead_Draft_2004''CC_Chinook_CH_06_2005' depicts areas designated for Chinook Critical Habitat as well as habitat type and quality in the California Coastal Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). This data set is an updated, final version of 'CC_Chinook_Proposed_Critical_Habitat''CC_Chinook_Distribution_06_2005' depicts Chinook presence as well as habitat type and quality in the California Coastal Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). This data set is an update of 'CC_Chinook_Draft_2004''SCCC_Steelhead_CH_06_2005' depicts areas designated for Steelhead Critical Habitat as well as habitat type and quality in the South-central California Coast Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). This data set is an updated, final version of 'SCCC_Steelhead_Proposed_Critical_Habitat''SCCC_Steelhead_Distribution_06_2005' depicts Steelhead presence as well as habitat type and quality in the South-central California Coast Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). This data set is an update of 'CH_SCCC_SLO_Co_Steelhead' and 'SCCC_Steelhead_less_SLO_Coast_Draft_2004''SC_Steelhead_CH_06_2005' depicts areas designated for Steelhead Critical Habitat as well as habitat type and quality in the Southern California Coast Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). This data set is an updated, final version of 'SC_Steelhead_Proposed_Critical_Habitat''SC_Steelhead_Distribution_06_2005' depicts Steelhead presence as well as habitat type and quality in the Southern California Evolutionary Significant Unit (ESU). This data set is an update of 'CH_SC_Steelhead'
Copyright Text: Data layers from the following were used as basemap layers or as detailed in the 'Process Description' section during the designation process: California Department of Fish and Game, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission,California Geospatial Information Data Library, State Coastal Conservancy, California Department of Forestry, US Geological Survey
Description: This data set depicts designated critical habitat for black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) in California, as designated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, under the Endangered Species Act. This data set is meant as a general locational reference for these designated areas. Please refer to the Federal Register Notice titled "Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Final Rulemaking to Designate Critical Habitat for Black Abalone" (Vol. 76, No. 208, Page 66806, October 27, 2011; 50 CFR Part 226.221) for details and the legal definition. (CFR = Code of Federal Regulations)
Copyright Text: National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Region
Description: Ecological areas as identified and collected by BEACON for the Santa Barbara Coastal Region Sediment Management Plan. There was no metadata with the delivered datasets, and no attribute information.
Copyright Text: Beach Erosion Authority for Clean Oceans and Nourishment (BEACON), California Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup
Description: Ecological areas as identified and collected by BEACON for the Santa Barbara Coastal Region Sediment Management Plan. There was no metadata with the delivered datasets, and no attribute information.
Copyright Text: Beach Erosion Authority for Clean Oceans and Nourishment (BEACON), California Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup
Description: Specific concerns relate to the threatened snowy plover’s critical habitat, including nesting and wintering locations, as well as the endangered least tern’s nesting locations. Least terns are visual predators on small schooling fish and their chicks are vulnerable when left unattended at nesting sites. The potential for construction-related disturbance or turbidity generated during sediment placement to interfere with nesting or foraging success are concerns that require protective measures when these protected species are nearby. The suitability of habitat for grunion spawning or their presence during beach nourishment needs to be evaluated and protective measures implemented if necessary. While other sensitive biota may be present at or near project locations, measures implemented to protect water quality and sensitive habitats are generally protective of other species.
Copyright Text: Science Applications International Corporation (2008), San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), California Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup
Description: This data layer was provided to CSMW by Moffatt Nichol as part of their efforts related to compiling the San Diego Coastal RSM Plan. The data was reportedly collected by Thales Geosolutions, Inc as High Resolution Multibeam acoustic Backscatter and processed by KTU+A for the San Diego Region Nearshore Coastal Zone Program.
Copyright Text: KTU+A Landscape Architecture & Planning, San Diego Nearshore Habitat Mapping Program (http://nearshore.ucsd.edu/), San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)
Description: Giant kelp forests, with their extensive vertical structure, represent the most diverse of the marine habitats and support commercial fisheries, education, and recreation. Kelp forests/beds are dynamic, with substantial variability in extent of surface canopy between years associated with storms and other oceanographic conditions (e.g., El Niño Southern Oscillation). Although many functional values are tied to the presence of kelp canopy, habitat values persist in the absence of canopy (e.g., understory and bottom-dwelling algae, invertebrates, and cryptic fish species). Therefore, constraints maps in this document are based on historic occurrence and substrate.Kelp plants are vulnerable to vessel impacts (propellers, anchoring) resulting in frond entanglement or dislodgement of holdfasts. Kelp forest and associated understory vegetation also are sensitive to changing light levels and are limited when light transmission is substantially impaired. Light reduction does not have an impact on adult plants with surface canopies, but can reduce establishment of early life stages and growth of juvenile plants. Therefore, turbidity from sand management is of potential concern if substantial or prolonged. Kelp forests are highly vulnerable to sedimentation impacts, which can potentially damage plants from abrasion and scour or preclude recruitment when sediment accumulates on hard substrate. Kelp forests primarily occur outside the littoral zone, but may experience sedimentation during high wave conditions (e.g., storms, El Niño). Inshore boundaries of kelp forests, which may extend to shallower waters during mild oceanographic conditions, are most vulnerable to sedimentation and dislodgement during storms.Understory kelp occurring inshore of kelp forests are adapted to the relatively harsh environmental conditions in the littoral zone, including sedimentation. However, inshore kelp requires hard substrate for attachment; therefore, persistent sedimentation may lead to habitat degradation or loss. Long-term impacts would not be expected from transient sedimentation given the opportunistic life histories of many inshore kelp species.Sediment management impact considerations for kelp forests/beds include:§ Potential for substantial sedimentation based on sand volume and proximity of kelp forests/beds;§ Potential for prolonged turbidity over kelp bed areas; and§ Potential for equipment damage from vessels and anchoring.
Copyright Text: KTU+A Landscape Architecture & Planning, San Diego Nearshore Habitat Mapping Program (http://nearshore.ucsd.edu/), San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)
Description: NMFS does not have a GIS-based database for all of the pinniped haulout sites in California. Much of the information is known through word of mouth or in unpublished literature (e.g., academic research) that may be lost over time. In the past, many projects occurring along the California coastline included components that impacted marine mammals. However, determining whether a project may impact marine mammals, specifically pinnipeds, has been challenging for those unfamiliar with pinniped behavior. As a result, NMFS is providing interested parties with a map depicting pinniped haul-out areas and rookeries in California. By having distribution data available to the public, interested parties may be directed to a website that contains the necessary information regarding possible permits and will also inform them if they need to contact NMFS before starting their project (i.e., avoid illegal takes under the Marine Mammal Protection Act or Endangered Species Act).These points were digitized manually by E.Vandebroek at ESA PWA in January 2012 using the coordinates listed on NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service California Pinniped Map (http://swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/psd/rookeryhaulouts/). Only the points located within the study reaches for the San Francisco Littoral Cell Coastal Regional Sediment Management Plan (CRSMP) were digitized. This dataset is no intended for us in any other study area.Dataset was submitted to CSMW as part of the San Francisco Littoral Cell Coastal Regional Sediment amanagement Plan (2012).
Copyright Text: NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southwest Region (SWR), ESA and Philip Williams & Associates, Ltd. (ESA PWA), California Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup
Description: Ecological regions of interest as identified in the San Francisco Coastal Region Sediment Management Plan.NPS identifies several special management areas within the study area, including a portion of Ocean Beach that is managed as wintering habitat for the western snowy plover; San Francisco lessingia recovery areas near Baker Beach and Fort Funston (NPS, 2002), and; a seasonal bank swallow closure area (NPS, 2010) at Fort Funston. This figure also shows Pinneped haul-out areas describe by NOAA (2007) to include single-event haul-out locations and areas with continual Pinneped use, and citizen-monitored snowy plover wintering areas at Linda Mar Beach (Pacifica Riptide, 2011). The shapefile was compiled from multiple shapefiles from ESA PWA which were submitted to CSMW as part of the San Francisco Littoral Cell Coastal Regional Sediment amanagement Plan (2012).
Copyright Text: National Parks Service, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, US Fish and Wildlife Service, ESA PWA (ESA and Philip Williams & Associates, Ltd.), California Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup
Description: San Francisco baywide eelgrass layer with density attributes developed from data collected in October and November of 2009.This data was shared via email on December 14th, 2011 from NOAA.
Description: Very little is known about the distribution or characteristics of eelgrass beds within the Bay because while much attention has been paid to the management and restoration of marshlands, subtidal habitats such as eelgrass have generally escaped the consideration of resource managers. Although approximately 20,000 acres of deep and shallow bay habitats have been lost since the 1800's as a result of bay fill and sediment deposition, the need for management of subtidal resources has only recently become clear. In 2003, Caltrans and NOAA/Fisheries contracted with Merkel & Assoc iates, Inc. to map eelgrass location and density in San Francisco Bay. The baywide eelgrass theme is compiled from 56 source themes that were created from sidescan sonar data, visual observations, and GPS. This data was shared via email on December 14th, 2011. Data was missing metadata and is assumed to match the dataset described here: http://mapping2.orr.noaa.gov/website/portal/pies/meta/nmfs/merkel/ee_baywide_merge.htm
Description: High resolution vegetation polygons mapped by the National Park Service. The vegetation units of this map were determined through stereoscopic interpretation of aerial photographs supported by field sampling and ecological analysis. The vegetation boundaries were identified on the photographs by means of the photographic signatures and collateral information on slope, hydrology, geography, and vegetation in accordance with the Standardized National Vegetation Classification System (October 1995). The mapped vegetation primarily reflects conditions that existed during 1994 and 1995. Several sets of aerial photography were utilized for this project: 1) NOAA 1:24,000 March 1994 Natural Color Prints (Leaf Off) covering Point Reyes NS, the northern portion and southern coastal portions of Golden Gate NRA, and the western two thirds of Mt. Tamalpais State Park; 2) Pacific Aerial Survey 1:24,000 August 1995 Natural Color Prints (Leaf On) covering the southern portions of Golden Gate NRA and the San Francisco Watershed district; 3) Pacific Aerial Survey 1:24,000 November 1995 Natural Color Prints (Leaf Change) covering Samuel P. Taylor State Park and portions of the GGNRA; 4) 1:36,000 August 1991 Natural Color Prints (Leaf On) covering the eastern portion of Mt. Tamalpais State Park; 5) 1:12,000 August 1990 Natural Color Prints (Leaf On) covering Samuel P. Taylor State Park. (Supplemental data set - not interpreted off of); 6) 1:12,000 June 1993 Natural Color Prints (Leaf On) covering coastal portions of Mt. Tamalpais State Park (Supplemental data set - not interpreted off of); 7) Hammon-Jensen-Wallen 1:12,000 August 1996 CIR Prints and Diapositives (Leaf On) covering the Vision Fire Burn Area; 8) 1:12,000 April 1984 CIR Prints were provided to fill in small gaps in the Drakes Bay area; 9) Radman Aerial Surveys 1:12,000 April 1993 Natural Color Prints covering Angel Island; 10) Only the Black and White DOQQ (San Francisco NE) was available for Alcatraz Island. Additionally, suplemental DAIS imagery for October 2001 was acquired after the project was started, which was then used to re-interpret some of the original work. There is an inherent margin of error in the use of aerial photography for vegetation delineation and classification.See full metadata here: https://irma.nps.gov/App/Reference/Profile/2168967. Data symbolized according to species of interest by ESA PWA. Dataset was submitted to CSMW as part of the San Francisco Littoral Cell Coastal Regional Sediment amanagement Plan (2012).
Copyright Text: National Park Service, ESA and Philip Williams & Associates, Ltd. (ESA PWA), California Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup
Description: This feature class depicts coastal areas where habitat function has been impaired by a sediment-related issue. This often involves the loss of the majority of sediment exchange between a coastal marsh and the open coast due to the presence of infrastructure such as a highway. Locations of habitats digitized by James Zoulas (CESPN-ET-EI) using NAIP 2010 imagery at a scale of 1:1,000. Digitized areas were validated using California Coastal Records Project (http://www.californiacoastline.org/) oblique aerial photos and Google Earth imagery.
Copyright Text: US Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District, California Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup, California Coastal Records Project
Description: One of the most important functions of the southern Monterey Bay coastal system is its role as a habitat for a unique flora and fauna. The beaches are habitat for numerous invertebrate species, which provide an important food source for shorebirds, seabirds, marine mammals, and fish. The beaches are also important to the endangered western snowy plover for foraging, nesting, and wintering. Subtidal areas contain kelp, eelgrass, and rocky reef, which provide habitat for marine mammals and fish. Dune areas provide habitat for many native plants and the endangered black legless lizard and Smith’s blue butterfly. A key factor that needs to be considered as part of any beach nourishment project is the potential for smothering or temporary loss of marine life or habitats when placing the sand.Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is considered important submerged aquatic vegetation of special interest in California, special aquatic sites (vegetated shallows) under the federal Clean Water Act (SAIC, 2008), and Essential Fish Habitat (NOAA Fisheries and federal and state agency designation). Cutting and disturbing eelgrass is prohibited by California fishing regulations. Eelgrass provides habitat for a variety of invertebrates and fish, including nursery habitat. The primary factors controlling eelgrass growth are light availability, substrate composition, temperature, salinity, nutrient availability, and wave/current energy. Light affects the depth distribution of eelgrass through its role in photosynthesis. The degree to which light is attenuated with depth in the water column is a strong determinant of the lower limit to which eelgrass can grow. Eelgrass can grow in a wide variety of substrates, but generally they flourish in medium to fine sands that contain relatively high levels of organic matter and nutrients. Prior to 1993, the Del Monte eelgrass meadow covered a continuous 0.1 square miles of the seabed in water depths of 20-30 feet inshore and west of the rocky reef and kelp forest. Zimmerman et al. (2001) indicated that the meadow was fragmented and reduced to less than 50% of its total size following heavy grazing by a southern species of limpet that began in 1993. The prospects for recovery of the meadow to its former size were not considered favorable due to the limpet grazing. However, data after 2001 are limited and the status of this eelgrass meadow was not known as of 2005 (CDFG, 2005).
Copyright Text: Zimmerman, R.C., Steller, D.L., Kohrs, D.G. and Alberte, R.S. (2001), The Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG), California Coastal Sediment Management Workgroup
Description: This raster was optimized for web display by reprojecting to WGS 1984 and applying a hillshade (Azimuth 325 degrees, Altitude 42 degrees, Model Shadows, Z Factor = 3) using the Hillshade Spatial Analyst Tool. Please note that the values do not represent real elevations. See Monterey_Shalebeds_2m in the CSMW database for the original raster.Description of the original raster: The purpose of this project was to produce high-resolution marine habitat maps of nearshore sites deemed critical to the implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) and Marine Life Management Act (MLMA) by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Marine Region management team. The main goal was to provide high-resolution (1-3m grid) multibeam bathymetry and sonar-derived habitat map products for a.Central California (one-third of total sites), b.Southern Mainland California (two-thirds of total sites).
Copyright Text: Original data used in this study were acquired, processed, archived, and distributed by the Seafloor Mapping Lab of California State University Monterey Bay. Hillshade created by USACE.