52924 NCCOS Project: Saipan Lagoon Mapping Data Set Published / External 45869 NCCOS Habitat Mapping Team Project Completed 2016 2017-05-19 In 2004, shallow-water benthic habitats were mapped in Saipan Lagoon, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Since then, habitats in the lagoon have likely changed because of coral bleaching events and recent typhoons. Local resource managers requested an updated map to help better understand these habitat changes and to help inform their monitoring and management decisions. In response, we created an updated benthic habitat map for areas shallower than 30-meters inside the lagoon. Shallow-water benthic habitats in Saipan Lagoon, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) have been stressed by recent typhoons and bleaching events. In March 2015, an El Niño event began in the equatorial Pacific, resulting in increased storm activity in the region and substantial coral bleaching. Estimates suggest that approximately 85 percent of staghorn corals in Saipan Lagoon have died due to bleaching since 2013. In August 2015, Typhoon Soudelor swept through the Pacific, directly hitting Saipan. Preliminary estimates indicate that some coral reefs were severely impacted by the storm. The combination of these stressors and other human-caused threats has most likely changed the composition of habitats in Saipan Lagoon. Local resource managers from CNMI’s Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality requested that the existing habitat map - produced by the University of Guam in 2004 - be updated to better understand these and other habitat changes over the last decade. This updated map is being used to inform monitoring and management decisions in the lagoon, including updating the Saipan Lagoon Use Management Plan. The products developed during this project provide a critical spatial framework to better understand benthic habitat changes over the last decade in Saipan Lagoon. Future projects or management actions in Saipan Lagoon will benefit greatly from the updated imagery, habitat map, and underwater photos and videos compiled during this project. These data sets will inform decisions about sampling, permitting activities, management of marine protected areas (MPAs), land-based sources of pollution, fishery regulations, climate change, and scientific research. Partners: CNMI Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality (BECQ). Funding: US DOC; NOAA; NOS; National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), NCCOS Project #271, “Mapping Habitat Change in Saipan Lagoon, CNMI.” US DOC; NOAA; NOS; Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), CRCP Project #31100, “Mapping Habitat Change in Saipan Lagoon, CNMI.” doi:10.7289/V5NV9GB9 Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > MARINE ECOSYSTEMS > BENTHIC Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN > MICRONESIA > NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS > National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce Theme NCCOS Keywords NCCOS Research Data Type > Derived Data Product Theme NCCOS Keywords NCCOS Research Data Type > Field Observation Theme NCCOS Keywords NCCOS Research Data Type > Geospatial Theme NCCOS Keywords NCCOS Research Data Type > Video Theme NCCOS Keywords NCCOS Research Priority > Marine Spatial Ecology Theme NCCOS Keywords NCCOS Research Topic > Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments Theme NCCOS Keywords NCCOS Research Topic > Habitat Mapping Spatial NCCOS Keywords NCCOS Research Location > Region > Pacific Ocean Spatial NCCOS Keywords NCCOS Research Location > U.S. States and Territories > Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Spatial NODC Sea Area Names Thesaurus Lighthouse Reef Trochus Sanctuary Spatial NODC Sea Area Names Thesaurus Mañagaha Marine Conservation District Spatial NODC Sea Area Names Thesaurus Saipan Spatial NODC Sea Area Names Thesaurus Saipan Lagoon Spatial NODC Sea Area Names Thesaurus Western Pacific National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Silver Spring MD Data Set Map (digital) Video Camera Small boat Not Applicable 52965 Entity for Saipan Lagoon Mapping Published / External GIS File Seven commonly co-occurring substrate and cover types in Saipan Lagoon. Format geotiff; no compression; spatial resolution 2x2 meters; units n/a; time period 2016-03 to 2016-08; data source Kendall et al. 2017. See https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0107/0162517/1.1/data/0-data/Saipan-Lagoon-Mapping_DataDocumentation/Saipan-Lagoon-Mapping_Data-Documentation_D_Habitat-Prediction-Maps.pdf Data Steward 2017 Position NCCOS Scientific Data Coordinator NCCOS.data@noaa.gov Distributor 2017 Position NCCOS Scientific Data Coordinator NCCOS.data@noaa.gov Distributor 2017 Organization NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information NCEI ncei.info@noaa.gov https://ror.org/04r0wrp59 https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/contact NCEI Contact Information Information for contacts at NCEI. Online Resource Metadata Contact 2017 Position NCCOS Scientific Data Coordinator NCCOS.data@noaa.gov Point of Contact 2017 Person Sautter, Will will.sautter@noaa.gov Principal Investigator 2015 2017 Person Costa, Bryan bryan.costa@noaa.gov Principal Investigator 2015 2017 Person Kendall, Matt matt.kendall@noaa.gov 145.684723941 145.794770192 15.2742160669 15.1209203637 Range 2015-12 2017-03 Unclassified Download from website None None https://doi.org/10.7289/V5NV9GB9 2017 Organization NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information https://ror.org/04r0wrp59 Saipan Lagoon Benthic Habitat Map Data Kendall, M., B. Costa, S. McKagan, and L. Johnston. 2017. Benthic habitat maps of Saipan Lagoon, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (NCEI Accession 0162517). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5NV9GB9 NCEI Data Archive Accession https://gis.ngdc.noaa.gov/arcgis/rest/services/nccos/BenthicMapping_Saipan_Dynamic/MapServer 2017 Organization NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information https://ror.org/04r0wrp59 Saipan Lagoon MapServer Web Service CNMI's Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality (BECQ) and NOAA's Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) partnered with NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) to develop updated habitat maps and assess habitat changes in Saipan Lagoon,CNMI. NCCOS developed these spatially resolved maps using environmental predictors, underwater videos/photos and mathematical modeling techniques. The new maps were designed to inform the Saipan Lagoon Use Management Plan (SLUMP), which is being updated in response to changes in lagoon habitats, user activities, and increases in tourism. Understanding the present spatial distribution of benthic habitats is an important part of the Territorial Government's process to evaluate zoning scenarios, minimize user conflicts, ensure public safety, and prevent environmental degradation inside the lagoon. Products from this assessment may also support coastal and ocean management efforts by other territorial and federal agencies working in Saipan. This work was funded by NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP Project #31100). ESRI Map Service ESRI REST Service https://maps.coastalscience.noaa.gov/biomapper/biomapper.html?id=Saipan 2017 Position NCCOS Scientific Data Coordinator Saipan Lagoon BIOMapper Web Application A free, fully interactive, user friendly, online platform designed to let users explore benthic habitat mapping data. Users can create fully customizable maps by clicking on a data layer in the table of contents and display aerial and acoustic imagery rasters, benthic habitat and geographic zone shapefiles, and ground validation/accuracy assessment video sites. Ground validation and accuracy assessment videos are available for viewing (streaming) and for download in standard or high resolution. Web Application https://nccos-coastalscience-products-web.azurewebsites.net/biomapper_explorer/index.php?path=QW40VlZlN1g5VS9FSlBmaHRSd1BIZz09 2017 Position NCCOS Scientific Data Coordinator Saipan Lagoon Video Explorer Online directory containing video files. MP4 MP4 https://nccos-coastalscience-products-web.azurewebsites.net/biomapper_explorer/index.php?path=RHE5YWlxN1p2bkpSb2xtd2xxRW42MjFSNFdwdGR4cFQ0d05Fdm92ektZdWdYN2p2QkZDZi80SDFMNEpYWlBaY2RaRWJZOGswbFZpUUl4R05sd0MrQnc9PQ==&uri=YmdISDNIakc0a2poU1hsN 2017 Position NCCOS Scientific Data Coordinator Data Index for Saipan Lagoon Video Data index containing file-level documentation for all video including benthic habitat characteristics: FID; PROJECT; GEOGRAPHIC REGION; SITE TYPE; ASSESSMENT TYPE; SITE ID; DATE COLLECTED; TIME COLLECTED; LATITUDE; LONGITUDE; NORTHING; EASTING; DEPTH; URL LINK; CORAL REEF; PAVEMENT; RHODOLITH; SAND; HARD CORAL; SOFT CORAL; MACROALGAE; SPONGE; SEAGRASS; ARTIFICIAL; UNKNOWN; NOTES (from the field or the data managers). CSV CSV - Comma Separated Values (Text) https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0107/0162517/1.1/about/0162517_preview.jpg Preview graphic for Saipan Lagoon Benthic Habitat Map Data Browse Graphic Preview graphic for Saipan Lagoon Benthic Habitat Map Data https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/project/mapping-habitat-change-saipan-lagoon-cnmi/ NCCOS Research Project Webpage: Mapping Habitat Change in Saipan Lagoon, CNMI Online Resource NCCOS Research Project Webpage: Mapping Habitat Change in Saipan Lagoon, CNMI https://products.coastalscience.noaa.gov/collections/benthic/default.aspx NCCOS Data Collections: Benthic Habitat Mapping Online Resource NCCOS Data Collections: Benthic Habitat Mapping Substrate and cover predictions and the composite habitat map were reviewed and accepted by local subject matter experts and resource managers in Saipan, CNMI. The performance of these predictions and the accuracy of this habitat map were also assessed using an independent dataset. Please see the following publication for more details: Kendall et al. (2017). For details of data quality control methods, see Kendall et al. (2017). All users should independently analyze the dataset according to their own needs and standards to determine data usability. No Unknown Yes No Two months Not Applicable NCEI-MS Two months NCCOS IT Policy Houk, P., and R. van Woesik. 2008. Dynamics of shallow-water assemblages in the Saipan Lagoon. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 356:39-50. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07252 https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07252 Houk and van Woesik, 2008 Houk and van Woesik, 2008 Kendall, M.S., B. Costa, S. McKagan, L. Johnston, and D. Okano. 2017. Benthic habitat maps of Saipan Lagoon. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 229. Silver Spring, MD. 77 pp. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/TM-NOS-NCCOS-229 https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/TM-NOS-NCCOS-229 NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 229 NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 229 National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. 2018. NCCOS Assessment: Underwater Video and Photographs for Ground Validation and Accuracy Assessment of Benthic Habitat Maps of Saipan Lagoon, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 2016-07-28 to 2016-08-09. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/52923 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/52923 Video Metadata Video Metadata 1 We used multispectral imagery to produce an updated, shallow-water benthic habitat map for Saipan Lagoon. A new satellite image of the lagoon was collected in February 2016. This remote sensing data was used to develop a new habitat map. The resulting habitat map depicts the distribution of key biological and geomorphological habitats using a classification scheme comparable to Houk and van Woesik, 2008. We collected underwater photos and videos in partnership with local experts in CNMI. These photos and videos were used to improve the quality of the habitat map. A separate accuracy assessment was conducted to independently assess the thematic accuracy of the resulting habitat map. Local experts from the jurisdictional community evaluated the habitat map products before they were finalized. The final habitat map and associated products are publicly available for download and for viewing online. Person Sautter, Will will.sautter@noaa.gov Kendall, M.S., B. Costa, S. McKagan, L. Johnston, and D. Okano. 2017. Benthic habitat maps of Saipan Lagoon. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 229. Silver Spring, MD. 77 pp. https://doi.org/10.7289/V5/TM-NOS-NCCOS-229 Not Applicable Not Applicable 52965 Entity 52923 Data Set Cross Reference gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:52924 Jessica Morgan 2018-06-25T15:42:31 SysAdmin InPortAdmin 2026-08-19T18:33:27 2021-04-07 National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NCCOS 1002 Public No No 2021-04-07 1 Year 2022-04-07