FWS ACJV NE marsh digitized ditches [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service] {2022} Full Details

Full Details

Title:

FWS ACJV NE marsh digitized ditches [U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service] {2022}

Description:

Ditches were mapped within a subset of the Priority Saltmarsh Sparrow patches identified by the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture (2022; available at https://acjv.org/saltmarsh-sparrow/restoration-priorities/)which are based on the National Wetland Inventory Estuarine Emergent Wetland (E2EM) delineation. A total of 17 patches were comprehensively mapped for major/primary ditches and 1 patch [Barnstable Marsh, MA] was partially mapped for major/primary ditches. The mapping procedure followed two main steps: 1) obtain historical and current imagery and topographic maps of priority marshes for restoration identified by the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture to benefit the Saltmarsh Sparrow, and 2) digitize the locations of ditches in these marshes based on visible signatures. Each marsh had at least 10 years of historical aerial imagery available and the oldest year of clear/quality imagery ranged from 1931 to 1985. When identifying ditches, we always referred to the oldest year of clear/quality imagery in conjunction with recent imagery. We only digitized ditches for which we could see a visible signature in at least one year of aerial imagery; we did not infer the location of a ditch without a visible indication of its presence. For example, if a ditch appeared to end in the middle of a marsh, we mapped it as such and did not assume it continued to the marsh edge or nearest water feature. Aerial imagery (of any year) was used as the primary source of information when identifying ditches. Topographic maps were used as supporting information in specific cases: 1) If we were uncertain of the full original extent of a ditch due to low image resolution or other factors, 2) If we observed an unusual interruption in the "normal" grid pattern of ditches, or 3) If we observed an area of unusually low ditch density.A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) containing the full methodology can be accessed at:https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/Reference/Profile/150234

Creator:

Department of the Interior

Provider:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Open Data

Resource Class:

Datasets and Web services

Resource Type:

Vector data

Temporal Coverage:

2022

Date Issued:

2022-11-15

Place:

United States

Rights:

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. While the Service makes every reasonable effort to ensure the accuracy and completeness of data provided for distribution, it may not have the necessary accuracy or completeness required for every possible intended use. The Service recommends that data users consult the associated metadata record to understand the quality and possible limitations of the data. The Service creates metadata records in accordance with the standards endorsed by the Federal Geographic Data Committee. As a result of the above considerations, the Service gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the data. It is the responsibility of the data user to use the data in a manner consistent with the limitations of geospatial data in general and these data in particular. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the Service, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding the utility of the data on another system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This applies to the use of the data both alone and in aggregate with other data and information.

Access Rights:

Public

Format:

Shapefile

Language:

English

Date Added:

2023-08-11