40516 P_Rico_esi_rsi Data Set Published / External 46683 Puerto Rico, 2000 Project Completed 2001-06 This data set comprises the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) and Reach Sensitivity Index (RSI) data for Puerto Rico. ESI data characterize estuarine environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. Most rivers and streams can be readily subdivided into clear-cut segments, or reaches (RSI), that have very distinct and uniform characteristics within that reach of the stream. The definition of reach type is usually based on whatever the intended use of the reach classification might be. In this project, stream reaches are defined as those segments where similar spill-response modes and potential ecological and/or socioeconomic impacts from the spill are to be anticipated. However defined, the boundary of the reach is usually marked by an abrupt change in the morphology of the stream, a change commonly, but not always, brought about by an alteration in the stream's gradient. This data set contains the ESI shoreline data and the RSI river and stream data. The ESI and RSI data were collected, mapped, and digitized to provide environmental data for oil spill planning and response. The Clean Water Act with amendments by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 requires response plans for immediate and effective protection of sensitive resources. 2063 Prepared by Research Planning, Inc., Columbia, South Carolina for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, Hazardous Materials Response Division, Seattle, Washington, United States Environmental Protection Agency, United States Coast Guard, Puerto Rico Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales, and United States Department of the Interior. Resource Description - ESI/RSI Atlas for Puerto Rico Theme ISO 19115 Topic Category environment Theme ISO 19115 Topic Category oceans Theme NOS Topic Category Environmental Monitoring Theme Coastal Zone Management Theme Coastal resources Theme ESI Theme Oil spill planning Theme RSI Theme Reach Theme River Theme Sensitivity maps Theme Shoreline Theme Stream Spatial Puerto Rico Office of Response and Restoration Silver Spring MD Data Set None Planned atlas Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by NOAA regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. NOAA warrants the delivery of this product in computer-readable format, and will offer a replacement copy of the product when the product is determined unreadable by computer input peripherals, or when the physical medium is delivered in damaged condition. This project was supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, Hazardous Materials Response Division, Seattle, Washington, United States Environmental Protection Agency, United States Coast Guard, Puerto Rico Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales and United States Department of the Interior. 44689 Complete Chain Published / External Completed The data layer ESI contains ESI and RSI arcs (Complete Chain) features. The ESI shoreline classification is based on Environmental Sensitivity Index Guidelines, Version 2.0 (Halls, J., J. Michel, S. Zengel, J. Dahlin, and J. Petersen, 1997, Hazardous Materials Response and Assessment Division, NOAA). The ESI classification was performed in July 1998. The RSI classification was based on a modification of the Southeastern U.S. Stream Reach Sensitivities. The RSI classification was performed in October 1998 for Puerto Rico. | Description Source: Research Planning, Inc. Converted from FGDC using 'fgdc_to_inport_xml_entity.pl' script. 1 ESI VARCHAR No No Active Prediction of the behavior and persistence of oil in intertidal habitats is based on an understanding of the dynamics of the coastal environments, not just the substrate type and grain size. The intensity of energy expended upon a shoreline by wave action, tidal currents, and river currents directly affects the persistence of stranded oil. The need for shoreline cleanup activities is determined, in part, by the slowness of natural processes in removal of oil stranded on the shoreline. The potential for biological injury, and ease of cleanup of spilled oil are also important factors in the ESI ranking. Generally speaking, areas exposed to high levels of physical energy, such as wave action and tidal currents, and low biological activity rank low on the scale, whereas sheltered areas with associated high biological activity have the highest ranking. The list below includes the shoreline habitats delineated for Puerto Rico, presented in order of increasing sensitivity to spilled oil: 1A) Exposed Rocky Cliffs; 1B) Exposed, Solid Man-made Structures; 2A) Exposed Wave-cut Platforms in Bedrock; 2B) Scarps and Steep Slopes in Muddy Sediments; 3A) Fine- to Medium-grained Sand Beaches; 4) Coarse-grained Sand Beaches; 5) Mixed Sand and Gravel Beaches; 6A) Gravel Beaches; 6B) Riprap; 7) Exposed Tidal Flats; 8A) Sheltered Rocky Shores; 8B) Sheltered, Solid Man-made Structures; 9A) Sheltered Tidal Flats; 9B) Sheltered, Vegetated Low Banks; 10D) Mangroves. In many cases, the shorelines are ranked with multiple codes, such as 10D/6A. The first number (10D, mangroves) is the most landward shoreline type, with gravel beach (6A) being the shoreline type closest to the water. | Description Source: Research Planning, Inc. 1A: Exposed Rocky Cliffs | 1A/2A: Exposed Rocky Cliffs/Exposed Wave-cut Platforms in Bedrock | 1A/4: Exposed Rocky Cliffs/Coarse-grained Sand Beaches | 1A/5: Exposed Rocky Cliffs/Mixed Sand and Gravel Beaches | 1A/6A: Exposed Rocky Cliffs/Gravel Beaches | 1A/7: Exposed Rocky Cliffs/Exposed Tidal Flats | 1B: Exposed, Solid Man-made Structures | 1B/2A: Exposed, Solid Man-made Structures/Exposed Wave-cut Platforms in Bedrock | 1B/3A: Exposed, Solid Man-made Structures/Fine- to Medium-grained Sand Beaches | 1B/4: Exposed, Solid Man-made Structures/Coarse-grained Sand Beaches | 1B/4/2A: Exposed, Solid Man-made Structures/Coarse-grained Sand Beaches/Exposed Wave-cut Platforms in Bedrock | 1B/5: Exposed, Solid Man-made Structures/Mixed Sand and Gravel Beaches | 1B/6A: Exposed, Solid Man-made Structures/Gravel Beaches | 1B/6B: Exposed, Solid Man-made Structures/Riprap | 1B/6B/7: Exposed, Solid Man-made Structures/Riprap/Exposed Tidal Flats | 1B/7: Exposed, Solid Man-made Structures/Exposed Tidal Flats | 2A: Exposed Wave-cut Platforms in Bedrock | 2B: Scarps and Steep Slopes in Muddy Sediments | 3A: Fine- to Medium-grained Sand Beaches | 3A/2A: Fine- to Medium-grained Sand Beaches/Exposed Wave-cut Platforms in Bedrock | 3A/6A: Fine- to Medium-grained Sand Beaches/Gravel Beaches | 3A/7: Fine- to Medium-grained Sand Beaches/Exposed Tidal Flats | 4: Coarse-grained Sand Beaches | 4/2A: Coarse-grained Sand Beaches/Exposed Wave-cut Platforms in Bedrock | 4/7: Coarse-grained Sand Beaches/Exposed Tidal Flats | 5: Mixed Sand and Gravel Beaches | 5/2A: Mixed Sand and Gravel Beaches/Exposed Wave-cut Platforms in Bedrock | 5/7: Mixed Sand and Gravel Beaches/Exposed Tidal Flats | 6A: Gravel Beaches | 6A/2A: Gravel Beaches/Exposed Wave-cut Platforms in Bedrock | 6A/4: Gravel Beaches/Coarse-grained Sand Beaches | 6B: Riprap | 6B/2A: Riprap/Exposed Wave-cut Platforms in Bedrock | 6B/3A: Riprap/Fine- to Medium-grained Sand Beaches | 6B/4: Riprap/Coarse-grained Sand Beaches | 6B/4/2A: Riprap/Coarse-grained Sand Beaches/Exposed Wave-cut Platforms in Bedrock | 6B/7: Riprap/Exposed Tidal Flats | 8A: Sheltered Rocky Shores | 8A/9A: Sheltered Rocky Shores/Sheltered Tidal Flats | 8B: Sheltered, Solid Man-made Structures | 8B/9A: Sheltered, Solid Man-made Structures/Sheltered Tidal Flats | 9B: Sheltered, Vegetated Low Banks | 10D: Mangroves | 10D/1A: Mangroves/Exposed Rocky Cliffs | 10D/3A: Mangroves/Fine- to Medium-grained Sand Beaches | 10D/4: Mangroves/Coarse-grained Sand Beaches | 10D/5: Mangroves/Mixed Sand and Gravel Beaches | 10D/6A: Mangroves/Gravel Beaches | 10D/6B: Mangroves/Riprap | 10D/7: Mangroves/Exposed Tidal Flats | 10D/8A: Mangroves/Sheltered Rocky Shores | 10D/9A: Mangroves/Sheltered Tidal Flats | U: Unranked | 2 RSI VARCHAR No No Active Where marshes, bogs, floodplain forests, swamps, and other wetlands are associated with streams, they can add measurably to the biological sensitivity of a stream reach. Many of the more extensive marsh areas of Puerto Rico are found in the coastal zone and are closely associated with the ESI classification rather than the RSI. Though many smaller, low-gradient, streams in Puerto Rico have an abundance of streamside marsh and aquatic vegetation, none of these areas were found along the inland stream reaches mapped during this project. Likewise, none of the remaining coastal Pterocarpus swamps of Puerto Rico were located directly adjacent to the streams mapped (some were mapped as rare habitats, more closely associated with the coastal ESI classification). Though once numerous, almost all of the coastal and lowland Pterocarpus swamps of Puerto Rico have been lost; only a few rare stands remain (Cintron, 1983). Though not often recognized, large portions of the inland mountain areas of Puerto Rico described as wet forest and rain forest are considered forested wetlands (Lugo and Brown, 1988). Specific wetland forest types in montane areas include Sierra palm breaks (palm slope forest), Colorado forest (titi or Cyrilla forest), and cloud forest (dwarf or elfin forest) (Lugo and Brown, 1988). The narrow floodplain forests of Sierra palm that border many montane stream reaches should also be considered wetlands, as would the rare montane Pterocarpus stands (Frangi and Lugo, 1985; Lugo and Brown, 1988). Wetland types associated with floodplain areas would be highly vulnerable and sensitive to spilled oil released into streams, especially during flood events. Unfortunately, due to data limitations, small inland and montane floodplain wetlands could not be adequately mapped during this project, though they are included as an RSI class (RSI = 10). One montane, streamside, Pterocarpus stand was mapped as a rare habitat type on a small tributary (RSI = 9) of the R\xEDo Mameyes (map 26). When floodplain forests and other wetland areas are identified, either by resource experts or during observations in the field, the adjacent stream channel should be considered an RSI = 10 reach (especially during high water or flood conditions). The list below outlines the stream reach classification for Puerto Rico, presented in order of increasing sensitivity to spilled oil: 1) Quiet Pool, Low-sensitive Banks; 2) Straight Channel with Currents, Low-sensitive Banks (Mud Dominant); 3) Meandering Channel, Sand Point Bars; 4) Meandering Channel, Vegetated Point Bars; 5) Rapids over Bedrock; 6) Meandering Channel, Sand and Gravel Point Bars; 7) Split Channels With Coarse Gravel, Some Rapids; 8) Small Falls, Boulders in Channel; 9) Large Falls, Boulders in Channel; 10) Channels with Associated Vulnerable Wetlands. | Description Source: Research Planning, Inc. 1: Quiet Pool; Low-sensitive Banks | 2: Straight Channel with Currents; Low-sensitive Banks (Mud Dominant) | 3: Meandering Channel; Sand Point Bars | 4: Meandering Channel; Vegetated Point Bars | 5: Rapids over Bedrock | 6: Meandering Channel; Sand and Gravel Point Bars | 7: Split Channels With Coarse Gravel; Some Rapids | 8: Small Falls; Boulders in Channel | 9: Large Falls; Boulders in Channel | 10: Channels with Associated Vulnerable Wetlands | 3 LINE VARCHAR No No Active Type of geographic feature | Description Source: Research Planning, Inc. B: Breakwater | F: Flat | H: Hydrography | M: Marsh | S: Shoreline | 4 SOURCE_ID VARCHAR No No Active Data source of the ESI arcs | Description Source: Research Planning, Inc. 1: Original digital information (from NOAA, NOS T-sheets) | 2: Low-altitude overflight | 5: Digitized from scanned 1:20,000 and 1:30,000 USGS topographic quadrangle | 6: National Wetland Inventory | 8: USGS Digital Line Graph data | 12: Felix Lopez Additions and Edits to Puerto Rico Mangroves | 13: Digitized from scanned BVI topographic quadrangle | 5 ENVIR VARCHAR No No Active Regional environment | Description Source: Research Planning, Inc. E: Estuarine | R: Riverine | U: Unranked | 44690 GT-Polygon Published / External Completed The data layer ESI contains polygonal (GT-Polygon) features for the ESI shoreline classification and is based on Environmental Sensitivity Index Guidelines, Version 2.0 (Halls, J., J. Michel, S. Zengel, J. Dahlin, and J. Petersen, 1997, Hazardous Materials Response and Assessment Division, NOAA). The ESI classification was performed in July 1998 for Puerto Rico. | Description Source: Research Planning, Inc. Converted from FGDC using 'fgdc_to_inport_xml_entity.pl' script. 1 ESI VARCHAR No No Active The character item ESI contains values according to the ESI ranking of the polygons. The ESI rankings progress from low to high susceptibility to oil spills. The ESI rankings of polygons are similar to the ESI rankings of shorelines (see line attribute ESI). | Description Source: Research Planning, Inc. 2A: Exposed Wave-cut Platforms in Bedrock | 7: Exposed Tidal Flats | 9A: Sheltered Tidal Flats | U: Unranked | 2 WATER_CODE VARCHAR No No Active Specifies a polygon as either water or land | Description Source: Research Planning, Inc. L: Land | W: Water | 3 ENVIR VARCHAR No No Active Regional environment | Description Source: Research Planning, Inc. E: Estuarine | U: Unranked | Data Steward 2001-06 Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 Distributor 2001-06 Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 Metadata Contact 2001-06 Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 Point of Contact 2001-06 Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 Project time span -68.168 -65.167 18.711 17.517 Range 1998-07 2001-06 Yes Yes 2520 Yes 362968 Yes 2520 Yes 10505 Standard CC0-1.0 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ These data were produced by NOAA and are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. NOAA waives any potential copyright and related rights in these data worldwide through the Creative Commons Zero 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication (CC0-1.0). Unclassified Contact NOAA for distribution options (see Distribution_Information).; None DO NOT USE MAPS FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES. Besides the above warning, there are no use constraints on these data. Acknowledgment of the publishers and contributing sources listed in Data_Set_Credit (below) would be appreciated in products derived from these data. https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oil-spills/download-esi-maps-and-gis-data 2001-06 Position ESI Program Manager PuertoRico_2000_GDB.zip ESRI File Geodatabase https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi Online Resource 2001-06 Date that the source FGDC record was last modified. 2017-04-05 Converted from Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (version FGDC-STD-001-1998) using 'fgdc_to_inport_xml.pl' script. Contact Tyler Christensen (NOS) for details. 2017-09-13 Partial upload of Spatial Info section only. 2017-11-01 Replaced entire Lineage section to populate new Source Contribution field. 2018-02-08 Partial upload of Positional Accuracy fields only. The software packages used to develop the atlas are Environmental Systems Research Institute's ARC/INFO(r) (version 8.0.2) and ORACLE(r) RDBMS (version 8.0.5.0.0). The hardware configuration is Hewlett Packard workstations (models 715/50 and 712/80i with 4 X-terminals) with UNIX operating system (HP-UX Release A.10.20). The following files are included in the data set: benthic.e00, birds.e00, bio_lut.e00, biofile.e00, biores.e00, breed.e00, breed_dt.e00, esi.e00, fish.e00, fishl.e00, habitats.e00, hydro.e00, index.e00, invert.e00, invertl.e00, karst.e00, mgt.e00, m_mammal.e00, reptiles.e00, seasonal.e00, shelfbnd.e00, soc_dat.e00, soc_lut.e00, socecon.e00, sources.e00, species.e00, stations.e00, status.e00, t_mammal.e00, wetlands.e00. The attribute accuracy is estimated to be "good" given the years of ESI experience, the data input methodology, the quality control review sessions, and the digital logical consistency checks. The ESI data use USGS 1:20,000 and 1:30,000 topographic quadrangles as the basemap. It is estimated that the ESI shoreline classification has a minimum mapping unit of 50 feet. The intertidal shoreline habitats of Puerto Rico were previously mapped during overflights and ground surveys conducted by the Puerto Rico Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales (DRNA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), published in 1984. For this project, the original ESI maps were re-examined and fully updated using the sources and methods described below. As a first step, infrared vertical aerial photographs were examined at the offices of DRNA in San Juan. The initial aerial photograph classification was followed by overflight surveys of the entire study area, flying at elevations of 400-600 feet and slow air speed. Overflights were conducted using U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) helicopters and fixed-wing Cessna 172s operated by the Puerto Rico Civil Air Patrol. During this work, an experienced coastal geologist delineated the intertidal shoreline habitats directly onto 1:20,000-scale USGS topographic maps (1:30,000 for Culebra and Vieques). Where appropriate, multiple habitats were described for each shoreline segment. Data from the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) for the coastal plain of Puerto Rico, published in draft form in 1989 (based on 1983 1:40,000 CIR photography), were also used as a supplementary data source, particularly for mangrove areas and tidal flats. In many cases, the depiction of mangroves were modified substantially from the original NWI data, based on the more recent aerial photography and overflights, as well as information provided by expert reviewers. As one progresses landward up the major rivers from the coast, the streams become so narrow and shallow that even small spills could potentially contaminate the whole system. Therefore, from that point upstream, it is not useful to classify the small individual components of the stream complex with regard to habitat sensitivity, as would be done for the shoreline segments of larger rivers mapped using the ESI scale. Rather, the sensitivity of the system as a whole should be considered. It has been suggested by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, 1994) and Hayes et al. (1997) that a watershed approach emphasizing stream reaches should be used to map the sensitivity of smaller rivers and streams. All of the rivers in Puerto Rico are small enough to be mapped using the reach concept, rather than the riverine ESI used by NOAA and others to map the Mississippi (Michel et al., 1994), Apalachicola, St. Johns (Fla.), and Columbia Rivers. Most rivers and streams can be readily subdivided into clear-cut segments, or reaches, that have very distinct and uniform characteristics within that reach of the stream. The definition of reach type is usually based on whatever the intended use of the reach classification might be. In this project, stream reaches are defined as those segments where similar spill-response modes and potential ecological and/or socioeconomic impacts from the spill are to be anticipated. However defined, the boundary of the reach is usually marked by an abrupt change in the morphology of the stream, a change commonly, but not always, brought about by an alteration in the stream's gradient. Sixteen major river systems were mapped using the Reach Sensitivity Index (RSI) for Puerto Rico (listed alphabetically): R\xEDo A\xF1asco, R\xEDo Camuy, R\xEDo Cibuco, R\xEDo Culebrinas, R\xEDo Espiritu Santo, R\xEDo Fajardo, R\xEDo Grande de Arecibo, R\xEDo Grande de Loiza, R\xEDo Grande de Manati, R\xEDo Guajataca, R\xEDo Guanajibo, R\xEDo Guyanilla, R\xEDo La Plata, R\xEDo Loco, R\xEDo Mameyes, and R\xEDo Yauco. Local project sponsors chose these river systems based on size, presumed spill risk, and potential environmental consequences. The river systems included numerous tributaries to each of the individual rivers listed above. The RSI classification was continued upstream as far as possible, stopping where reaches could not be observed in the air photos, flown over, or easily accessed by land. The first step in the mapping process for the Puerto Rico rivers was ground inspection in October 1998. During this preliminary examination, a ranking scale for the different reaches of the streams was devised. This scale was based partially on work previously carried out by NOAA/EPA for river systems in the piedmont and coastal plain of the southeastern U.S. (Hayes et al., 1997). However, the fact that the rivers in Puerto Rico are primarily montane streams, not piedmont or coastal plain rivers, necessitated some modification of the ranking system previously used in the southeastern U.S. Once the ranking scale was determined, infrared vertical aerial photographs of the watersheds of the rivers under study were inspected at the offices of the Puerto Rico DRNA in San Juan. The work on the aerial photographs was followed by aerial surveys of several of the rivers using USCG helicopters. Finally, a second field trip was conducted in December 1998 to ground-truth overflight observations and to examine stream reaches that could not be mapped from the air because of their small size, vegetative cover, or hazardous flying conditions. The RSI classification scale was also finalized at this time. Detailed ground observations were made at 70 field stations during the two field surveys. In addition to reach classification, some sites that would be acceptable collection points during a spill were noted and are recorded on the maps in the atlas. These sites have ready access for vehicular equipment, workable current velocities, and relatively low-sensitive banks and channel margin sediments. In many instances, these are places where the oil would be accumulated naturally by currents. Also, noted on the maps are some areas where leakage of water, and hence floating oil if present, from the main channel would occur during normal high flow conditions. For ease of use, the division or break between the ESI and RSI classifications is defined using a line segment and special icon. The sensitivity of stream and river reaches for Puerto Rico is based on the: 1) Degree of difficulty anticipated for the containment and recovery of the spilled oil from the water surface; 2) Degree of mixing of oil into the water column; 3) Potential for retention of the oil (e.g., by penetration of the oil into coarse-grained sediments on bars in the stream, or between large boulders; trapping of oil by vegetation on bars and banks); 4) Ease of cleanup; 5) Sensitivity and vulnerability of associated wetlands; 6) Human use; and 7) Sensitivity and vulnerability for native stream biota. All of these factors have been used to determine the relative sensitivity of the stream reaches in the development of the RSI. The strength of currents and the fall of the water dictates the degree of mixing of oil and its toxic aromatic fractions into the water column, and, hence, the potential for causing the mortality of fish, shrimp, crabs, aquatic insects, and other stream biota. Therefore, in general, such kills are more likely to occur in streams with rapids and waterfalls than in smooth flowing, low-gradient coastal streams. The success of attempts to contain and recover oil from the water surface is impaired where: a) currents are too strong or follow complex paths within the channel; b) channel leakage and bifurcation allow oil to spread and/or escape; c) access is limited by steep banks or other factors; d) sediment is too coarse-grained to manipulate; and e) oil is mixed into the water column. The ease of cleanup of spilled oil and the potential for biological injury are also important factors in the RSI ranking. Cleanup is impaired by many of the factors that hinder containment and recovery of surface oil, as well as by penetration of the oil into stream sediments and heavy oiling of riparian vegetation. The digitization of shoreline types, biological resources, and human-use resources is a complex and highly quality-controlled process. Existing digital shoreline data are integrated into a study-wide basemap. In order to facilitate digitizing, the entire study area is split into individual quadrangles using the INDEX data layer. The first layer of information digitized is the ESI shoreline classification. The ESI and RSI habitat ranking is compiled onto 1:20,000 and 1:30,000 USGS topographic quadrangles by a geomorphologist. The hardcopy maps are then digitized and checked using both on-screen and hardcopy reviews. The edited maps are updated and checked once again for completeness and topological and logical consistency. Any errors in the shoreline classification are updated prior to digitization of the biological and human-use layers. All layers use the shoreline as the geographic reference so that there are no slivers in the geographic coordinates. The hardcopy biological information is compiled onto 1:20,000 and 1:30,000 USGS topographic quadrangles by a biological expert using data from regional specialists in the form of maps, tables, charts, written descriptions of wildlife distributions, and personal interviews. Concurrently, digital data sources are imported, projected, checked for quality control, and integrated into the data structure. The hardcopy data are digitized, checked using both digital and on-screen procedures, integrated with existing data, plotted, and sent out for review by the regional specialists. The edited maps are updated, checked once again, and the final product plotted (at approximately 1:55,000 scale). A team of specialists reviews the entire series of maps, checks all data, and makes final edits. The data are then merged to form the study-wide layers. The data merging includes a final quality control check where labels, chains, and polygons are checked for attribute accuracy. To finalize the data checking process, each data layer is checked using a standardized form by two GIS personnel (a technician and the GIS manager), and each attribute database is checked using several programs that test the files for missing or duplicate data, rules for proper coding, GIS topological consistencies (such as dangles, unnecessary nodes, etc.), and ORACLE(r) to ARC/INFO(r) consistencies. A final review is made by the GIS manager, where the data are written to CD-ROM and the metadata are written. ESI data are processed into multiple formats to make them useful to a wider community of GIS/mapping users. Distribution formats include ARC export, MOSS and Shape files, and MARPLOT map folders. An ArcView ESI project and ESI_Viewer product are also included on the CDs for ease of use of the ESI data. The database files are distributed both in the NOAA standard relational database format (see NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS ORCA 115) and in a simplified desktop flat file format. This metadata document includes information on both of these database formats. The section Spatial_Data_Organization_Information refers to the source files in ARC export format only. DLG's USGS Discrete 2000 ESI shoreline data | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: Online and CD-ROM Digital NOS T-sheets NOAA, NOS Discrete 2000 ESI shoreline information | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: CD-ROM Nationa Wetlands Inventory National Wetlands Inventory Discrete 1998 ESI information | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: online Overflight maps Research Planning, Inc. Discrete 1998 ESI information from overflight | Source Geospatial Form: Maps | Type of Source Media: paper 1 All the digital data were checked using both digital and on-screen procedures, plotted, checked by the biological expert, edited to remove any errors, and plotted for review by the regional specialists. The reviewed maps were updated on the computer, checked once again, and plotted at final map scale. A team of specialists reviewed the entire series of maps, checked all data, and made final edits. The data were merged to form the study-wide layers that are described in the document. The data merging included a final quality control check where topological consistency, rules for geography, and database to geography were checked and validated for all relationships. 2001-06-01T00:00:00 44689 Entity 44690 Entity gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:40516 Tyler Christensen 2017-04-05T14:52:14 SysAdmin InPortAdmin 2026-07-09T18:26:03 2018-02-08 Office of Response and Restoration ORR 1002 Public No No 2018-02-08 1 Year 2019-02-08