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Tidal Marsh Vegetation Classification, DEM, 3m, Northeast U.S. [United States]

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Open Data · 2025 Full Details

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Title
Tidal Marsh Vegetation Classification, DEM, 3m, Northeast U.S. [United States]
Description
This dataset represents salt marsh communities in the Northeast Atlantic coast. The classification was produced using a combination of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) multispectral imagery. This dataset combined with "Tidal Marsh Vegetation Classification, no DEM, 3m, Northeast U.S." provides a contiguous classification of tidal marsh cover types from coastal Maine to Virginia (see more below). The eight distinct cover/community types identified are: 1. High marsh: Area flooded during spring tides related to the lunar cycle and dominated by Spartina patens, Distichlis spicata, Juncus gerardii, and short form Spartina alterniflora. Other species include Juncus roemerianus, Scirpus pungens, Scirpus robustus, Limonium nashii, Aster tenuifolius, and Triglochin maritima 2. Low marsh: Area flooded regularly by daily tides and dominated by tall form Spartina alterniflora 3. Salt pools/pannes: Depressed, bare areas with sparse vegetation cover and extremely high soil salinities. Generally, pools retain water between high tides while pannes do not 4. Terrestrial border: Area infrequently flooded by storm and spring tides and can include areas of marsh with fresh/brackish water due to a high water table and/or runoff from impervious surfaces. Typical plant species include Typha angustifolia, Iva frutescens, Baccharis halimifolia, Solidago sempervirens, Scirpus robustus, and Spartina pectinata 5. Phragmites australis: A species of considerable management interest due to the invasive nature of an introduced form, especially in marshes with freshwater input, upland development, and/or increased nutrients 6. Mudflat: Exposed muddy areas free of vegetation 7. Open water (bordering cover type): Channels and bays leading to open ocean and 8. Upland (bordering cover type): All non-marsh terrestrial cover. Detailed zone descriptions, accuracy estimates for each cover type, and data limitation details are provided in this white paper . For more information about the development of the data please contact Mo Correll at maureen_correll@fws.gov. "Tidal Marsh Vegetation Classification, DEM, 3m, Northeast U.S.", "Tidal Marsh Vegetation Classification, no DEM, 3m, Northeast U.S.", and "DEM Difference in Tidal Marsh Vegetation Classification, 3m, Northeast U.S." are products of the Saltmarsh Habitat and Avian Research Program (www.tidalmarshbirds.org) and can all be downloaded here .
Creator
The Saltmarsh Habitat and Avian Research Program
Publisher
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Open Data
Temporal Coverage
Last Modified: 2025-03-18
Date Issued
2025-03-11
Rights
This dataset may not be used for commercial purposes. The dataset can be used free of charge with proper citation. Until publication of the data in a peer-reviewed journal, please follow the suggested citation: W Hantson, BJ Olsen, CS Elphick, WG Shriver, BB Cline, EL Tymkiw, and MD Correll, 2017. A classification of tidal marsh vegetation communities of the northeastern US. Product of the Saltmarsh Habitat and Avian Research Program (SHARP). Available at: https://www.tidalmarshbirds.org/?page_id=1871
Access Rights
Public
Format
ArcGIS ImageMapLayer
Language
English
Date Added
August 10, 2025
Provenance Statement
The metadata for this resource was last retrieved from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Open Data on 2026-01-08.

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Cite and Reference

  • Citation
    The Saltmarsh Habitat and Avian Research Program (2025). Tidal Marsh Vegetation Classification, DEM, 3m, Northeast U.S. [United States]. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Open Data. https://gis-fws.opendata.arcgis.com/content/fws::tidal-marsh-vegetation-classification-dem-3m-northeast-u-s- (web service)
  • BTAA Geoportal Link

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