55625 Data Set Published / External 53989 Louisiana and Lower Mississippi River, 2014 Project Completed 2013-12 This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, diving birds, pelagic seabirds, passerine birds, and gulls and terns in coastal Louisiana and the Lower Mississippi River. Vector polygons represent locations of wading birds, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, diving birds, pelagic birds, passerine birds, and gulls and terns that may be particularly vulnerable because of nesting, migratory staging, and wintering activities. Vector points represent locations of nesting and roosting sites for shorebirds, wading birds, diving birds, seabirds, gulls, and terns. Species specific abundance, seasonality, status, life history, and source information are stored in relational data tables (described below) designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer. This data set comprises a portion of the ESI data for Louisiana. ESI data characterize the marine and coastal 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. The ESI data are intended to provide baseline 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. The ESI data may be appropriate for many other coastal management efforts, though the original intent should be kept in mind. 1847 Prepared by Research Planning, Inc., Columbia, South Carolina for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, Emergency Response Division, Seattle, Washington. Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > BIRDS Theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > HUMAN DIMENSIONS > ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS > OIL SPILLS Theme ISO 19115 Topic Category biota Theme ISO 19115 Topic Category environment Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > LOUISIANA Spatial Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF AMERICA Theme Coastal Resources Theme Coastal Zone Management Theme ESI Theme Environmental Monitoring Theme Environmental Sensitivity Index Theme Oil spill planning Theme Sensitivity Maps Spatial Gulf of Mexico Spatial Mississippi River Office of Response and Restoration Seattle WA USA Data Set GIS Files As Needed Data content is considered static once published. However, if issues with the Geodatabase linkages or table contents are identified, the Geodatabase and/or the associated Map Document may be updated. Assure most current data is being used by downloading from https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi_download and/or comparing modification dates provided at this site. Map (digital) The primary attribute tables associated with the ESI biology data are BIOFILE, SOURCES, and BREED_DT. The geographic data layer containing biological resource information (in this case, BIRDS and BIRDPT) is linked to the BIOFILE using the RARNUM field. There is a many-to-many relationship from the data layer to the BIOFILE, as an RARNUM may be repeated in several geographic features. Likewise, in the BIOFILE, the same RARNUM may appear in multiple records, representing a unique combination of species found in that region. To be represented by the same RARNUM, these species groups must also share the same seasonality, concentration, mapping qualifier, and source information. The items in the BIOFILE are ELEMENT, SUBELEMENT, NAME, GEN_SPEC, S, F, STATE, S_DATE, F_DATE, GRANK, GRANKDATE, MAPPING_QUALIFIER, CONC, JAN, FEB, MAR, APR, MAY, JUN, JUL, AUG, SEP, OCT, NOV, DEC, BREED1, BREED2, BREED3, BREED4, BREED5, RARNUM, G_SOURCE, S_SOURCE, and BREED. The G_SOURCE and S_SOURCE fields provide links to the SOURCES table, where object level source information is available. The BREED field is the link to the BREED_DT table, where searchable breed information is provided. The links to both of these tables are also many-to-many. During the collection of the ESI data, six relational data tables are used to store the attribute data. These are the BIORES, BREED, SEASONAL, SOURCES, SPECIES, and STATUS tables. When we create new ESI data, we populate these tables to maintain the integrity of the data collected. Once completed, all information populating these tables is collapsed into the BIOFILE to ease data queries and general usability of the final product. NOAA ESI Guidelines https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi_guidelines Although these data have been processed and used successfully on a computer system at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 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. If problems are encountered in downloading the ESI data or with file corruption, contact NOAA (see Distributor). These data represent a snapshot in time and temporal changes may have occurred. The data are not intended to include all biological or human-use resources present in an area; they focus on species and resources particularly sensitive to oiling. In the event of a spill, they should be used for a first assessment only. The data providers are the experts with regard to individual resources. They should be contacted to confirm if more current data exist or if in-depth information is needed about a particular resource. This project was supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R), Emergency Response Division (ERD), Seattle, Washington, and The Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard Office of Incident Management and Preparedness, Washington, D.C. 55902 Published / External Completed The BIRDS table contains links to the attribute information for the vector polygons in this data set representing bird concentration, high ecological value, migratory staging, nesting, roosting, wintering, vulnerable occurrence, and general distribution areas. Species specific abundance, seasonality, status, life history, and source information are stored in relational data tables designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer. See the Entity_and_Attribute_Overview for a detailed description of how the primary attribute tables relate to the geographic data layers. Also see the Browse_Graphic section for a link to the entity-relationship diagram, which describes the relationships between attribute tables in the ESI data structure. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines 1 RARNUM NUMBER 9 9 Yes Yes Active A 9-digit identifier linking the record to the BIOFILE table. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines 233000001 to 233000865 55903 Published / External Completed The BIRDPT table contains links to the attribute information for the vector points in this data set representing bird nesting and roosting sites. Species specific abundance, seasonality, status, life history, and source information are stored in relational data tables designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer. See the Entity_and_Attribute_Overview for a detailed description of how the primary attribute tables relate to the geographic data layers. Also see the Browse_Graphic section for a link to the entity-relationship diagram, which describes the relationships between attribute tables in the ESI data structure. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines 1 RARNUM NUMBER 9 9 Yes Yes Active A 9-digit identifier linking the record to the BIOFILE table. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines 233000001 to 233000865 55904 Published / External Completed The data table BIOFILE contains biological attribute data and key fields for linking to the vector objects in the biological data layers and to the associated data tables, BREED_DT and SOURCES. See the Entity_and_Attribute_Overview for a detailed description of how the primary attribute tables relate to the geographic data layers. Also see the Browse_Graphic section for a link to the entity-relationship diagram, which describes the way this table relates to other attribute tables in the ESI data structure. Loaded by FGDC Metadata Uploader, batch 10436, 02-28-2018 15:23 1 ELEMENT TEXT 10 Yes No Active Major species categories of biological data. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines Upper BENTHIC: Benthic habitats | BIRD: Birds | FISH: Fish | HABITAT: Habitats and plants | HERP: Reptiles and Amphibians | INVERT: Invertebrates | M_MAMMAL: Marine mammals | T_MAMMAL: Terrestrial mammals | 2 SUBELEMENT TEXT 10 Yes No Active Element subgroup delineating a logical grouping of species that share common characteristics, habitat preference and/or food sources. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines Lower Allowed values change from atlas to atlas. 3 NAME TEXT 35 Yes No Active Species common name. This atlas contains a subset of the species found in NOAA's ESI Species List, available online at https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/maps-and-spatial-data/esi-species-list.html. For a list of the species included in this data layer, see the Completeness_Report. Mixed Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. Only the first letter of the common name is upper case, unless the common name is a proper name. 4 GEN_SPEC TEXT 45 No No Active Genus and species name. This atlas contains a subset of the species found in NOAA's ESI Species List, available online at https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/maps-and-spatial-data/esi-species-list.html. For a list of the species included in this data layer, see the Completeness_Report. Mixed Allowed values change from atlas to atlas. Only the first letter of the Genus is upper case, all else are lower case. 5 S TEXT 1 No No Active One-letter code representing sensitive status at the state level. Upper E (Endangered); T (Threatened), C (Species of Concern), X (Experimental essential population), S (Threatened or endangered due to similarity of appearance) 6 F TEXT 1 No No Active Federal threatened or endangered status. E (Endangered); T (Threatened), C (Species of Concern), X (Experimental essential population), S (Threatened or endangered due to similarity of appearance) 7 STATE TEXT 5 No No Active Two-letter state abbreviation to which state status applies; if atlas covers 2 states, each two-letter state abbreviation should be separated with a slash ('/') Upper Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. 8 S_DATE NUMBER No No Active Date the associated state status was accessed. Will commonly correspond to atlas publication date, or the date the data was acquired. YYYY, YYYYMM, or YYYYMMDD 9 F_DATE NUMBER No No Active Date the associated federal status was accessed. Will commonly correspond to atlas publication date, or the date the data was acquired. YYYY, YYYYMM or YYYYMMDD 10 GRANK TEXT 8 No No Active Global Rank of the species as defined by NatureServe Codeset: NatureServe Global Conservation Status Ranks 11 GRANKDATE TEXT 8 No No Active Date the associated GRANK was assessed YYYY, YYYYMM, YYYYMMDD 12 MAPPING_QUALIFIER TEXT 25 No No Active An indication of why this feature was mapped in the ESI. Acceptable values vary based on the ELEMENT. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines "N/A" - this attribute was not in use when the data were created 13 CONC TEXT 20 No No Active The field CONC refers to concentration, abundance or density values, and may contain counts of individuals for each species present at a particular nesting or wintering site, or a term that describes relative abundance of birds at a particular site. The field may contain values from exact counts (e.g., XX BIRDS, XX PAIRS, or XX ADULTS), or binned counts (e.g., 10S, 100S, 1,000S). In cases where no quantitative data were available, the field may contain descriptive terms, such as "HIGH" or "POSSIBLE." If no concentration information was available, the field is populated with "-". Counts were derived from a variety of surveys, and may range in date (see Lineage). Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. May be qualitative or a number of individuals. A hyphen “-“ is used to denote no data. 14 JAN TEXT 1 No No Active Presence of species in January X=present; Bank = not present 15 FEB TEXT 1 No No Active Presence of species in February X=present; Bank = not present 16 MAR TEXT 1 No No Active Presence of species in March X=present; Bank = not present 17 APR TEXT 1 No No Active Presence of species in April X=present; Bank = not present 18 MAY TEXT 1 No No Active Presence of species in May X=present; Bank = not present 19 JUN TEXT 1 No No Active Presence of species in June X=present; Bank = not present 20 JUL TEXT 1 No No Active Presence of species in July X=present; Bank = not present 21 AUG TEXT 1 No No Active Presence of species in August X=present; Bank = not present 22 SEP TEXT 1 No No Active Presence of species in September X=present; Bank = not present 23 OCT TEXT 1 No No Active Presence of species in October X=present; Bank = not present 24 NOV TEXT 1 No No Active Presence of species in November X=present; Bank = not present 25 DEC TEXT 1 No No Active Presence of species in December X=present; Bank = not present 26 BREED1 TEXT 8 No No Active Values will show a month or range of months (e.g., JAN-MAY) when a particular life stage is observed. A value of "-" indicates the life stage or activity is not present or was not reported. A value of "N/A" indicates that the breed category is not used or not appropriate for the element referenced. This attribute does not apply to the BENTHIC, HABITAT, or T_MAMMAL elements. Life history stage or activity type, varies by ELEMENT. If ELEMENT is "BIRD" then BREED1 = nesting; if ELEMENT is "FISH" or "INVERT" then BREED1 = spawning; if ELEMENT is "HERP" then BREED1 = nesting; if ELEMENT is "M_MAMMAL" then BREED1 = mating. Upper Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. 27 BREED2 TEXT 8 No No Active Values will show a month or range of months (e.g., JAN-MAY) when a particular life stage is observed. A value of "-" indicates the life stage or activity is not present or was not reported. A value of "N/A" indicates that the breed category is not used or not appropriate for the element referenced. This attribute does not apply to the BENTHIC, HABITAT, or T_MAMMAL elements. Life history stage or activity type, varies by ELEMENT. If ELEMENT is "BIRD" then BREED2 = migrating (spring); if ELEMENT is "FISH" or "INVERT" then BREED2 = eggs; if ELEMENT is "HERP" then BREED2 = hatching; if ELEMENT is "M_MAMMAL" then BREED2 = calving. Upper Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. 28 BREED3 TEXT 8 No No Active Values will show a month or range of months (e.g., JAN-MAY) when a particular life stage is observed. A value of "-" indicates the life stage or activity is not present or was not reported. A value of "N/A" indicates that the breed category is not used or not appropriate for the element referenced. This attribute does not apply to the BENTHIC, HABITAT, or T_MAMMAL elements. Life history stage or activity type, varies by ELEMENT. If ELEMENT is "BIRD" then BREED3 = molting; if ELEMENT is "FISH" or "INVERT" then BREED3 = larvae; if ELEMENT is "HERP" then BREED3 = internesting; if ELEMENT is "M_MAMMAL" then BREED3 = pupping. Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. 29 BREED4 TEXT 8 No No Active Values will show a month or range of months (e.g., JAN-MAY) when a particular life stage is observed. A value of "-" indicates the life stage or activity is not present or was not reported. A value of "N/A" indicates that the breed category is not used or not appropriate for the element referenced. This attribute does not apply to the BIRDS, BENTHIC, HABITAT, or T_MAMMAL elements. Life history stage or activity type, varies by ELEMENT. If ELEMENT is "FISH" or "INVERT" or "HERP" then BREED4 = juveniles; if ELEMENT is "M_MAMMAL" then BREED4 = molting. Upper Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. 30 BREED5 TEXT 8 No No Active Values will show a month or range of months (e.g., JAN-MAY) when a particular life stage is observed. A value of "-" indicates the life stage or activity is not present or was not reported. A value of "N/A" indicates that the breed category is not used or not appropriate for the element referenced. This attribute does not apply to the BIRD, BENTHIC, HABITAT, or T_MAMMAL elements. Life history stage or activity type, where: if ELEMENT is "FISH" or "INVERT" or "HERP" then BREED5 = adults. Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. 31 RARNUM NUMBER 9 9 Yes Yes Active A 9-digit identifier that links records in the BIOFILE data table to related records in the biological data layers. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines 233000001- 233000865 32 G_SOURCE NUMBER 8 8 Yes No Active An 8-digit identifier linking to the SOURCES data table record providing information on the geographic source. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines 233000001 - 233000218 33 S_SOURCE NUMBER 8 8 Yes No Active An 8-digit identifier linking to the SOURCES data table record providing information on the seasonality source. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines 233000001 - 233000218 34 BREED NUMBER No No Active Identifier that links records in the BIOFILE data table to related records in the BREED_DT data table. 1 - 341 55905 Published / External Completed The data table BREED_DT identifies the monthly presence of certain life-history stages or activities for each species at a given location. This table is related to the BIOFILE data table by the field BREED, and can be used to search for monthly breeding status. See the Entity_and_Attribute_Overview for a detailed description of how the primary attribute tables relate to the geographic data layers. Also see the Browse_Graphic section for a link to the entity-relationship diagram, which describes the way this table relates to other attribute tables in the ESI data structure. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines 1 BREED NUMBER No No Active An integer that links to the BREED field in the BIOFILE. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines 1 - 341 2 MON NUMBER No No Active Two-digit calendar month. Each life history stage or activity type for a particular species can have up to 12 records to account for each month of the year. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines 1 to 12 3 BREED1 TEXT No No Active Life history stage or activity type, where: if ELEMENT is "BIRD" then BREED1 = nesting; if ELEMENT is "FISH" then BREED1 = spawning; if ELEMENT is "INVERT" then BREED1 = spawning; if ELEMENT is "HERP" then BREED1 = nesting; if ELEMENT is "M_MAMMAL" then BREED1 = mating. This attribute is not used for BENTHIC, HABITAT, or T_MAMMAL elements. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines -: Breed category not used or not appropriate for record(s) in question | N: Life-history stage or activity not present or not reported | Y: Life-history stage or activity present | 4 BREED2 TEXT No No Active Life history stage or activity type, where: if ELEMENT is "BIRD" then BREED2 = migrating; if ELEMENT is "FISH" then BREED2 = eggs; if ELEMENT is "INVERT" then BREED2 = eggs; if ELEMENT is "HERP" then BREED2 = hatching; if ELEMENT is "M_MAMMAL" then BREED2 = calving. This attribute is not used for BENTHIC, HABITAT, or T_MAMMAL elements. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines -: Breed category not used or not appropriate for record(s) in question | N: Life-history stage or activity not present or not reported | Y: Life-history stage or activity present | 5 BREED3 TEXT No No Active Life history stage or activity type, where: if ELEMENT is "BIRD" then BREED3 = molting; if ELEMENT is "FISH" then BREED3 = larvae; if ELEMENT is "INVERT" then BREED3 = larvae; if ELEMENT is "HERP" then BREED3 = internesting; if ELEMENT is "M_MAMMAL" then BREED3 = pupping. This attribute is not used for BENTHIC, HABITAT, or T_MAMMAL elements. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines -: Breed category not used or not appropriate for record(s) in question | N: Life-history stage or activity not present or not reported | Y: Life-history stage or activity present | 6 BREED4 TEXT No No Active Life history stage or activity type, where: if ELEMENT is "FISH" then BREED4 = juveniles; if ELEMENT is "INVERT" then BREED4 = juveniles; if ELEMENT is "HERP" then BREED4 = juveniles; if ELEMENT is "M_MAMMAL" then BREED4 = molting. This attribute is not used for BENTHIC, BIRD, HABITAT, or T_MAMMAL elements. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines -: Breed category not used or not appropriate for record(s) in question | N: Life-history stage or activity not present or not reported | Y: Life-history stage or activity present | 7 BREED5 TEXT No No Active Life history stage or activity type, where: if ELEMENT is "FISH" then BREED5 = adults; if ELEMENT is "INVERT" then BREED5 = adults; if ELEMENT is "HERP" then BREED5 = adults. This attribute is not used for BENTHIC, BIRD, HABITAT, M_MAMMAL, or T_MAMMAL elements. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines -: Breed category not used or not appropriate for record(s) in question | N: Life-history stage or activity not present or not reported | Y: Life-history stage or activity present | 55907 Published / External Completed The data table SOURCES contains the primary sources used to create the ESI data set. See the Browse_Graphic section for a link to the entity-relationship diagram, which describes the way this table relates to other attribute tables in the ESI data structure. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines 1 SOURCE_ID NUMBER 8 8 Yes Yes Active An 8-digit Source identifier that links records in the SOURCES data table to the items G_SOURCE and A_SOURCE in the SOC_DAT table; G_SOURCE and S_SOURCE in the BIOFILE table; SOURCE_ID and ESI_SOURCE in the ESIP and ESIL data layers, and SOURCE_ID in the HYDROL data layer. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines 233000001 - 233000218 2 ORIGINATOR TEXT 255 No No Active Author or developer of source material or data set. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. 3 DATE_PUB NUMBER No No Active Date of source material, publication, or date of personal communication with expert source. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines YYYYMM: YYYY for year and optionally MM for month 4 TITLE TEXT 255 No No Active Title of source material or data. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. 5 DATA_FORMAT TEXT 80 No No Active The format of the source material. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. 6 PUB_PLACE TEXT 255 No No Active Publication place. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. 7 PUBLISHER TEXT 255 No No Active Publisher. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. 8 PUBLICATION TEXT 255 No No Active Publication. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. 9 ONLINE_LINK TEXT 255 No No Active Online computer resource URL. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. 10 SCALE TEXT 20 No No Active Description of the source scale. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. 11 TIME_PERIOD TEXT 22 No No Active Date(s) of data collection that the source material is based upon. | Description Source: NOAA ESI Guidelines Acceptable values change from atlas to atlas. Data Steward 2013-12 Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 Distributor 2013-12 Organization Office of Response and Restoration ORR https://ror.org/03g5tqa50 1305 East-West Highway Silver Spring MD 20910 https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ ORR Home Page Online Resource Metadata Contact 2013-12 Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 Point of Contact 2013-12 Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 Publication Date -94 -88.0002 31.1273 25.6169 This geographic extent includes the entire coastal Louisiana and Lower Mississippi River ESI study area. The spatial extent of individual layers or feature classes may vary. Range 2012 2014 The coastal Louisiana data were compiled 2012-2013, The Lower Mississippi River data were compiled in 2014. The atlas was published in 2014. Yes Yes Geometry Only Yes 3259 Yes 173 Geographic 2D EPSG:4269 NAD83 North American Datum 1983 GRS 1980 6378137 298.257222101 1 Geodetic Latitude Lat degree north 1 Geodetic Latitude Lat degree north 2 Geodetic Longitude Lon degree east 2 Geodetic Longitude Lon degree east 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 Data can be accessed by downloading the zipped ArcGIS geodatabase from the Download URL (see Distribution Information). Questions can be directed to the ESI Program Manager (Point Of Contact). None DO NOT USE MAPS FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES. Management boundaries are not to be considered legal boundaries. Edges may have been altered for cartographic processes. Besides the above warnings, there are no use constraints on these data. Note that the ESI database should not be used to the exclusion of other pertinent data or information held by state or federal agencies or other organizations. Likewise, information contained in the database cannot be used in place of consultations with environmental, natural resource, and cultural resource agencies, or in place of field surveys. Recognize that the information contained in the ESI database represents known concentration areas or occurrences of natural, cultural, and human-use resources, but does not necessarily represent the full distribution or range of each species or resource. This is particularly important to recognize when considering potential impacts to protected resources, such as endangered species, wetlands, etc. Acknowledgment of the originators, publishers, contributors, and sources listed would be appreciated in products derived from these data. https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi_download 2013-12 Organization Office of Response and Restoration https://ror.org/03g5tqa50 Louisiana_ESI_2014_GDB This feature class is part of the downloadable Esri Arc Geodatabase. 2014-05-01T00:00:00 Arc Geodatabase ESRI File Geodatabase 354 MB Zip https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/ESI-Browse-Graphic.pdf ESI Browse Graphic Browse Graphic PDF Depicts the relationships between the spatial data layers and the attribute data tables for the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi River ESI data. https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi ESI Overview Online Resource html Overview of ESI data content and uses. https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/resources/esi-guidelines ESI Guidelines Online Resource PDF Guidelines for developing ESI data content and overview of ESI data structure. Useful for data collectors and users requiring more in depth information on the ESI process. 2013-12 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 10.2) and SQL SERVER(R) (version 2005). The hardware configuration is PC's with Windows Operating System 7. A multi-stage error checking process is used to verify both attribute accuracy and logical consistency throughout data production. The process includes a standardized data entry methodology, hardcopy data review by in-house and external resource experts, a final Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) process, and multiple automated logical consistency checks. Quantitative data (such as densities, counts, abundances, or concentrations) provided by resource experts for inclusion in the data set may vary widely in attribute accuracy, depending upon the methodology used to collect and compile such data. For a more detailed evaluation of source data attribute accuracy, contact the sources listed in the Lineage section. Spatial components for the biological data layers can come from expert interviews, hardcopy, or digital sources. Some of the spatial components of the biological data layers may have been developed using regional experts who estimate concentration areas. It is difficult to estimate the positional accuracy of such data, except to state that they are compiled on hardcopy base maps with a scale of 1:24,000. Some of the spatial components of the biological data sets are developed from pre-existing digital or hardcopy sources and reflect the positional accuracy of these original data. Note that biological resource data by their very nature are considered "fuzzy", and this should be understood when considering the positional accuracy of vector digital objects representing these resources. See the Lineage and Process_Description sections for more information on the original source data and how these data were integrated or manipulated to create the final data set. These data represent a synthesis of expert knowledge, published and unpublished reports, published literature, survey data, maps, and digital data on bird nesting, roosting, migratory staging, wintering, and general distribution. These data do not necessarily represent all bird occurrences in coastal Louisiana and the Lower Mississippi River. The following species are mapped as polygons (Species_ID, Common Name, Scientific Name [n/a if not applicable]): 1, Common loon, Gavia immer; 8, Double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus; 14, Greater white-fronted goose, Anser albifrons; 15, Snow goose, Chen caerulescens; 16, Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos; 17, Northern pintail, Anas acuta; 18, Green-winged teal, Anas crecca; 20, Northern shoveler, Anas clypeata; 21, Canvasback, Aythya valisineria; 23, Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis; 26, Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola; 34, American coot, Fulica americana; 35, Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus; 38, Herring gull, Larus argentatus; 40, Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis; 42, Bonaparte's gull, Larus philadelphia; 45, Common tern, Sterna hirundo; 52, Wilson's phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor; 53, Red-necked phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus; 55, Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus; 56, Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia; 58, Greater yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca; 59, Lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes; 60, Red knot, Calidris canutus; 61, Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos; 62, Least sandpiper, Calidris minutilla; 63, Dunlin, Calidris alpina; 64, Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus; 65, Long-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus; 66, Western sandpiper, Calidris mauri; 67, Sanderling, Calidris alba; 69, Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus; 70, Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus; 71, Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola; 73, Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres; 76, Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus; 82, Glaucous gull, Larus hyperboreus; 86, Least tern, Sternula antillarum; 87, Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea; 88, Great egret, Ardea alba; 96, Leach's storm-petrel, Oceanodroma leucorhoa; 98, Laughing gull, Larus atricilla; 115, White ibis, Eudocimus albus; 118, Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis; 119, Magnificent frigatebird, Fregata magnificens; 121, Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga; 124, Redhead, Aythya americana; 126, Brown noddy, Anous stolidus; 127, Sooty tern, Onychoprion fuscatus; 128, Masked booby, Sula dactylatra; 133, Black skimmer, Rynchops niger; 134, Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica; 135, Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis; 136, Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia; 137, Royal tern, Thalasseus maximus; 138, Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri; 139, Snowy plover, Charadrius alexandrinus; 141, American avocet, Recurvirostra americana; 142, Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus; 149, White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi; 152, American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus; 153, Piping plover, Charadrius melodus; 154, Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia; 155, Willet, Catoptrophorus semipalmatus; 156, Semipalmated sandpiper, Calidris pusilla; 160, Red phalarope, Phalaropus fulicaria; 162, Gadwall, Anas strepera; 163, Reddish egret, Egretta rufescens; 164, American golden-plover, Pluvialis dominica; 167, Northern gannet, Morus bassanus; 169, American wigeon, Anas americana; 173, American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos; 180, Ring-necked duck, Aythya collaris; 181, Northern harrier, Circus cyaneus; 189, Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis; 190, Blue-winged teal, Anas discors; 193, Black tern, Chlidonias niger; 198, Hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus; 199, Pomarine jaeger, Stercorarius pomarinus; 209, Long-billed curlew, Numenius americanus; 210, Marbled godwit, Limosa fedoa; 211, Mottled duck, Anas fulvigula; 213, Stilt sandpiper, Calidris himantopus; 214, Solitary sandpiper, Tringa solitaria; 223, Upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda; 237, Baird's sandpiper, Calidris bairdii; 238, White-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis; 241, Franklin's gull, Larus pipixcan; 253, Manx shearwater, Puffinus puffinus; 261, Brown booby, Sula leucogaster; 283, Bridled tern, Onychoprion anaethetus; 284, Buff-breasted sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis; 286, Dowitchers, Limnodromus spp.; 287, Audubon's shearwater, Puffinus lherminieri; 299, Scaup, Aythya spp.; 301, Mergansers, n/a; 339, Band-rumped storm-petrel, Oceanodroma castro; 342, Red-billed tropicbird, Phaethon aethereus; 343, Long-tailed jaeger, Stercorarius longicaudus; 393, Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus; 445, Wilson's storm-petrel, Oceanites oceanicus; 529, Cory's shearwater, Calonectris diomedea; 596, Purple martin, Progne subis; 603, Black-capped petrel, Pterodroma hasitata; 849, Wilson's snipe, Gallinago delicata; 865, Great shearwater, Puffinus gravis; 1001, Gulls, n/a; 1003, Waterfowl, n/a; 1004, Wading birds, n/a; 1005, Raptors, n/a; 1006, Diving birds, n/a; 1008, Terns, n/a; 1013, Dabbling ducks, n/a; 1014, Diving ducks, n/a; 1019, Sea ducks, n/a; 1035, Pelicans, Pelecanus spp.; 1037, Cormorants, Phalacrocorax spp. The following species were mapped as points (Species_ID, Common Name, Scientific Name [n/a if not applicable]): 8, Double-crested cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus; 38, Herring gull, Larus argentatus; 54, Great blue heron, Ardea herodias; 86, Least tern, Sternula antillarum; 87, Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea; 88, Great egret, Ardea alba; 89, Snowy egret, Egretta thula; 90, Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax; 93, Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis; 94, Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor; 98, Laughing gull, Larus atricilla; 115, White ibis, Eudocimus albus; 116, Roseate spoonbill, Ajaia ajaja; 118, Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis; 120, Yellow-crowned night-heron, Nyctanassa violacea; 121, Anhinga, Anhinga anhinga; 133, Black skimmer, Rynchops niger; 134, Gull-billed tern, Gelochelidon nilotica; 135, Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis; 136, Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia; 137, Royal tern, Thalasseus maximus; 138, Forster's tern, Sterna forsteri; 139, Snowy plover, Charadrius alexandrinus; 149, White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi; 152, American oystercatcher, Haematopus palliatus; 154, Wilson's plover, Charadrius wilsonia; 325, Neotropic cormorant, Phalacrocorax brasilianus; 617, White-faced or Glossy ibis, Plegadis spp. A multi-stage error checking process, described in the above Attribute Accuracy Report, is used to verify both attribute accuracy and logical consistency throughout data production. This process includes multiple automated logical consistency checks that test the files for missing or duplicate data, rules for proper coding, GIS topological consistencies, and SQL SERVER(R) to ArcGIS(R) consistencies. A final review is made by the GIS manager, before the final Geodatabase and metadata are created. After the data are delivered to NOAA, they are again subjected to several consistency checks, and processed into the final delivery format. Process Steps 1 - 7 apply primarily to the birds mapped as polygons along coastal Louisiana. Process Step 8 applies to birds mapped as polygons in the lower Mississippi River. Process Step 9 applies to birds mapped as points in coastal Louisiana. Process Step 10 applies to birds mapped as points in the lower Mississippi River. 2005 LOUISIANA AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER PAIRS BARATARIA-TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (BTNEP) - RICHARD DEMAY 2005-01-01 Discrete 2005 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL 2005 LOUISIANA LEAST TERN CENSUS BARATARIA-TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (BTNEP) - RICHARD DEMAY 2005-01-01 Discrete 2005 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL 2005 LOUISIANA SNOWY PLOVER PAIRS Person BARATARIA-TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (BTNEP) - RICHARD DEMAY Publisher 2005-01-01 Discrete 2005 NESTS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL 2005 LOUISIANA WILSON'S PLOVER PAIRS BARATARIA-TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (BTNEP) - RICHARD DEMAY 2005-01-01 Discrete 2005 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL 2006 BTNEP SEABIRD AND WADING BIRD NESTING SURVEY Person BARATARIA-TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (BTNEP) - RICHARD DEMAY Originator 2006-01-01 Discrete 2006 NESTS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: EMAIL 2011 LOUISIANA WATERBIRD NESTING COLONY POLYGONS LOUISIANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM (LNHP) 2013-01-01 Discrete 2011 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL A CATALOG OF LOUISIANA'S NESTING SEABIRD COLONIES FONTENOT, W.R., S.W. CARDIFF, R.A. DEMAY, D.L. DITTMANN, S. HARTLEY, C.W. JESKE, N. LORENZ, T.C. MICHOT, R.D. PURRINGTON, M. SEYMOUR, AND W.G. VERMILLION 2012-01-01 Discrete 2012 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: document | Type of Source Media: online AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN LOCATIONS MICHOT, TOMMY (UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA - LAFAYETTE) 2013-01-01 Range 1997 1998 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: EMAIL ATLAS AND CENSUS OF WADING BIRD AND SEABIRD NESTING COLONIES IN LOUISIANA, 1990 MARTIN, R.P. AND G.D. LESTER 1990-01-01 Discrete 1990 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: document | Type of Source Media: EMAIL AUDUBON COASTAL BIRD SURVEY LOUISIANA AUDUBON - ERIK JOHNSON 2013-01-01 Range 2011 2013 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: EMAIL BALD EAGLE DISTRIBUTION IN LOUISIANA LOUISIANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM (LNHP) 2013-01-01 Discrete 2013 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL BEACH-NESTING BIRD CENSUS AND REPORT FOR COASTAL MISSISSIPPI, LOUISIANA, AND TEXAS AUDUBON COASTAL BIRD CONSERVATION PROGRAM 2005-01-01 Discrete 2005 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: EMAIL BIRDS IN THE MISSSISSIPPI RIVER ALLUVIAL VALLEY Person LOUISIANA AUDUBON - ERIK JOHNSON AND MELANIE DRISCOLL Originator 2014-01-01 Discrete 2014 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION BIRDS OF LOUISIANA DEMAY, RICHARD 2013-01-01 Discrete 2013 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION BIRDS OF LOUISIANA JOHNSON, ERIK - LOUISIANA AUDUBON 2013-01-01 Discrete 2013 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION BRETON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) 2013-01-01 Discrete 2013 http://www.fws.gov/breton/ BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: WEBSITE | Type of Source Media: online CETACEANS OF OCEANIC NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO: DISTRIBUTIONS, GROUP SIZES, AND INTERSPECIFIC ASSOCIATIONS MAZE-FOLEY, K. AND K.D. MULLIN 2006-01-01 Discrete 2006 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: HARDCOPY TEXT | Type of Source Media: paper COASTAL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA (WMA) AERIAL WATERFOWL SURVEY DATA LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES (LDWF) - L. REYNOLDS (WATERFOWL SURVEY LEADER) 2013-01-01 Range 1990 2007 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: EMAIL COLONIAL WATERBIRD NESTING AREAS IN LOUISIANA Organization LOUISIANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM (LNHP) Publisher 2014-01-01 Discrete 2014 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF BIRDS IN LOUISIANA IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS LOUISIANA AUDUBON - MELANIE DRISCOLL 2013-01-01 Discrete 2013 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: EMAIL DISTRIBUTION OF BIRDS IN LOUISIANA MICHOT, TOMMY (UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA - LAFAYETTE) 2013-01-01 Discrete 2013 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DISTRIBUTION OF GULF OF MEXICO SEABIRDS HANEY, J. CHRISTOPHER (DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE) 2013-01-01 Discrete 2013 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DISTRIBUTION OF SEABIRDS IN THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO IN RELATION TO MESOSCALE FEATURES: INITIAL OBSERVATIONS RIBIC, C.A., R. DAVIS, N. HESS, AND D. PEAKE 1997-01-01 Discrete 1997 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: HARDCOPY TEXT | Type of Source Media: online EBIRD: AN ONLINE DATABASE OF BIRD DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE WEB APPLICATION EBIRD 2012-01-01 Discrete 2013 http://www.ebird.org BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: document | Type of Source Media: online ESTIMATING THE POPULATION OF GREATER AND LESSER SCAUP DURING WINTER IN OFF-SHORE LOUISIANA (MASTERS THESIS) KINNEY, SEAN D. 2004-01-01 Range 2000 2002 http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-07032004-112854/ BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: document | Type of Source Media: online INTERIOR LEAST TERN NESTING COLONY Organization U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) Publisher 2014-01-01 Discrete 2014 NESTS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL LEAST TERN COLONIES, 2010-2012 LOUISIANA AUDUBON - ERIK JOHNSON 2013-01-01 Range 2010 2012 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION LOUISIANA NESTING BIRD SEASONALITIES LORENZ, N. (LOUISIANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM) 2013-01-01 Discrete 2013 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: EMAIL LOUISIANA WATERFOWL LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES (LDWF) - L. REYNOLDS (WATERFOWL SURVEY LEADER) 2013-01-01 Discrete 2013 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER RESOURCES - LEAST TERN AND PALLID STURGEON Person U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) - PAUL HARTFIELD Originator 2014-01-01 Discrete 2014 NESTS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION MIDWINTER WATERFOWL SURVEY LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES (LDWF) - LARRY REYNOLDS 2013-01-01 Range 1997 2007 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: tabular digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL PIPING PLOVER DISTRIBUTION BASED ON CRITICAL HABITAT AND LNHP OBSERVATIONS LOUISIANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM (LNHP) 2013-01-01 Discrete 2013 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL REDHEAD MIDWINTER GULF COAST SURVEY, 1981-2010 U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) - FRED ROETKER 2010-01-01 Range 2002 2010 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: document | Type of Source Media: EMAIL SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF BIRDS IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA BARATARIA-TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (BTNEP) - RICHARD DEMAY 2008-01-01 Discrete 2008 BIRDS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: document | Type of Source Media: EMAIL TEXAS COLONIAL WATERBIRD SURVEY Organization TEXAS COLONIAL WATERBIRD SOCIETY (TCWS) AND UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) Publisher 2012-01-01 Range 2002 2011 NESTS INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: spreadsheet | Type of Source Media: EMAIL 1 Process steps 1-7 apply primarily to the birds mapped as polygons along coastal Louisiana. The mapping extent was dependent upon information availability and location of mapped coastal habitats and shorelines. Three main sources of data were used to depict bird distribution and seasonality for this data layer: 1) interviews conducted at workshops and via phone and email with resource experts from: Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP), Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), LDWF-Louisiana Natural Heritage Program (LNHP), Louisiana Audubon, Defenders of Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and University of Louisiana - Lafayette (ULL); 2) numerous published and unpublished reports, published literature, and books; 3) survey data and vector digital data provided by: BTNEP, LDWF, LDWF-LNHP, Louisiana Audubon, eBird, USFWS, NMFS. Survey data on locations of breeding, wintering, and resident birds were provided via shapefiles, tabular digital data, or reports for the following species and species groups: snowy plover, Wilson's plover, piping plover, least tern, waterfowl, seabirds, bald eagle, redhead, scaup, colonial nesting waterbirds, white pelican, and beach-nesting birds. Polygon data were mostly displayed as received from the data providers. Survey data in point format that were located along the coast were often diplayed as buffers 50 m on and off the shoreline for cartographic purposes. Processing methods for data sets that required additional processing are described in this Atlas' Introduction. Data sets were supplemented with information provided in hardcopy documents and by local resource experts. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 10 The following step applies to the birds mapped as points in the lower Mississippi river. Two main sources of data were used to depict nest distribution and seasonality for this data layer. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) provided a point location of a historical nest site for Interior least tern. \x96In addition, Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) provided 2006 nesting survey data with geographic locations of nesting waterbird colonies. The above digital and/or hardcopy sources were compiled by the project biologist to create the NESTS data layer. Depending on the type of source data, three general approaches are used for compiling the data layer: 1) information gathered during initial interviews and from hardcopy sources are compiled onto U.S. Geological Survey 1:24,000 topographic quadrangles and digitized; 2) hardcopy maps are digitized at their source scale; 3) digital data layers are evaluated and used "as is" or integrated with the hardcopy data sources. See the Lineage section for additional information on the type of source data for this data layer. The ESI, biology, and human-use data are compiled into the standard ESI digital data format. A second set of interviews with participating resource experts are conducted to review the compiled data. If necessary, edits to the NESTS data layer are made based on the recommendations of the resource experts, and final hardcopy maps and digital data are created. Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 11 The above digital and/or hardcopy sources were compiled by the project biologist to create the BIRDS and BIRDPT data layers. Depending on the type of source data, three general approaches are used for compiling the data layer: 1) information gathered during initial interviews and from hardcopy sources are compiled onto U.S. Geological Survey 1:24,000 topographic quadrangles and digitized; 2) hardcopy maps are digitized at their source scale; 3) digital data layers are evaluated and used "as is" or integrated with the hardcopy data sources. See the Lineage section for additional information on the type of source data for this data layer. The ESI, biology, and human-use data are compiled into the standard ESI digital data format. A second set of interviews with participating resource experts are conducted to review the compiled data. If necessary, edits to the BIRDS and BIRDPT data layers are made based on the recommendations of the resource experts, and final hardcopy maps and digital data are created. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 2 Breeding and wintering shorebirds, diving birds, and terns: Survey data on locations of breeding and wintering shorebirds, diving birds, and terns were provided via shapefiles, tabular digital data, and expert local knowledge for the following species and species groups: snowy, Wilson's, and piping plovers; least tern; American oystercatcher; American white pelican; and migratory shorebirds. For areas where dense point data fell along the coast, or where polygonal coastal bird data was inconsistent with the boundaries of the current ESI shoreline, 50 meter on/off shoreline buffers or larger drawn-on polygons were created to simplify the digital and cartographic products. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 3 Nesting seabird and waterbird colonies: Two distinct data sets were used to map colonial nesting seabirds and waterbirds. BTNEP provided two products: 1) a published document (Fontenot et al. 2012. A catalog of Louisiana's nesting seabird colonies. Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, Thibodaux, LA. Report Number 34, hereafter referred to as 'the seabird compendium'); and 2) an accompanying spreadsheet of seabird/wading bird nest site locations from the 2006 nesting survey ONLY (the compendium presents additional years of data). The GPS locations from the seabird compendium were mapped as point locations throughout the atlas. The accompanying tabular data includes species present at each colony and a single count (pairs) per species. The majority of count data for the colonial nesting points were from the 2006 survey data, as provided via the compendium and spreadsheet (same data). There are a few records from 2008 that replaced 2006 counts ONLY when the 2008 counts were higher than the 2006 counts AND were published in seabird compendium. LNHP provided a polygonal waterbird nesting colony data set based on 2011 count data. These data were delivered as 1-mile grid cells; if any 2011 nesting colonies fell within a grid cell, it is mapped as a nesting polygon. The tabular information includes generalized species groups (anhinga, cormorants, pelicans, gulls, terns, wading birds) with aggregated counts per species group per grid, or group of connected grids. In many instances, the BTNEP 2006 point data overlaps the LNHP 2011 polygon data. The display of these two data sets does not imply that either or both sets of polygons or points (especially if counts are aggregated across the two data sets) reflect current nest locations or counts, but rather are to be used as a guide to what species could be present and what counts have been observed at colonies over two recent years. Resource experts should be contacted in the event of a spill. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 4 Wetland-associated waterfowl: Waterfowl data was provided by LDWF with analytical assistance from the Gulf Coast Joint Venture. LDWF conducts aerial waterfowl surveys of coastal Louisiana using 27 systematically placed N-S transect lines in September, November, December, and January. This survey has been conducted since 1969, and ducks are counted by habitat type (agricultural/swamp, fresh marsh, intermediate marsh, brackish marsh, and saline marsh) along transects, then extrapolated to estimates in SW and SE Louisiana for reporting purposes. The Gulf Coast Joint Venture overlaid the transect data with the following data set: Sasser et al. 2008, Vegetation Types in Coastal Louisiana in 2007: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1224, 1 sheet, scale 1:550,000, and calculated duck density estimates by habitat type (e.g., salt marsh, brackish marsh, intermediate marsh, and fresh marsh) for SE and SW LA. An additional waterfowl data set, also provided by LDWF, 'Coastal WMA Aerial Waterfowl Survey Data' was used to supplement the statewide data set in Wildlife Management Areas where more intensive surveys are conducted. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 5 Redhead and scaup: Redhead were mapped along the Chandeleur Islands. Concentration estimates were based on data collected during 1981-2010 redhead midwinter gulf coast surveys. Scaup (greater and lesser) were mapped in nearshore Gulf of Mexico waters and in all of the major bay and lake systems throughout coastal LA. The spatial and tabular information for scaup displayed in the ESI was based on data collected for a 2004 LSU thesis. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 6 Bald eagles: LNHP provided a generalized polygon that represents bald eagle nesting habitat in coastal LA. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 BALD EAGLE DISTRIBUTION IN LOUISIANA 7 Gulf of Mexico seabirds: Information on the distribution of nearshore and offshore pelagic birds, gulls, terns, diving birds, etc. in the Gulf of Mexico was acquired through discussions with resource experts and published literature. The LDWF-LNHP provided information for some of the federally and state listed species and species of conservation concern for display in the ESI atlas and accompanying digital data in 2013. The available LNHP data sets are to be used for oil spill response and spill response planning only. These data represent existing information known to the LNHP at the time of the request and should never be substituted for consultation with the LNHP. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 8 The following applies to the birds mapped as polygons in the lower Mississippi river. Three main sources of data were used to depict bird distribution and seasonality for this data layer: 1) interviews conducted via teleconference, phone, and email with resource experts from: Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP), LDWF-Louisiana Natural Heritage Program (LNHP), Louisiana Audubon, University of Louisiana - Lafayette, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); 2) reports, published literature, and books and; 3) survey data and vector digital data provided by: BTNEP, LDWF, LDWF-LNHP, Louisiana Audubon, eBird, and USFWS. Interior least tern: LNHP provided a polygon representing the distribution of interior least tern during the nesting season. Nesting waterbird colonies: LNHP provided a polygonal waterbird nesting colony dataset based on 2004-2011 nesting survey data. These data were delivered as 1-mile grid cells; if any nesting colonies fell within a grid cell, it is mapped as a nesting polygon. The tabular information includes generalized species groups (cormorants, wading birds) with aggregated counts per species group per grid, or group of connected grids. Wetland-associated waterfowl: Waterfowl density data in coastal marshes were provided by LDWF with analytical assistance from the Gulf Coast Joint Venture (GCJV). LDWF conducts aerial waterfowl surveys of coastal Louisiana using 27 systematically placed N-S transect lines in September, November, December, and January. Ducks are counted by habitat type (agricultural/swamp, fresh marsh, intermediate marsh, brackish marsh, and salt marsh) along transects. LDWF and GCJV derived waterfowl densities by habitat types as defined by the habitat map of coastal LA (Sasser et al. 2008) The maximum density of each species in each habitat in each region, observed from 1997-2010, was mapped in the ESI using the habitat boundaries from Sasser et al. (2008). Of the habitats mapped, only fresh marsh occurs in the Lower Mississippi River ESI area of interest. Bald Eagles: LNHP provided a generalized polygon that represents bald eagle nesting habitat for the area of interest. Habitat-based polygons: Information from eBird and expert opinion from Louisiana Audubon was used to delineate the following areas and derive corresponding species lists and concentrations: Bonnet Carre and Morganza spillways, riverine sandbars, and river bend wetlands. Polygons were also delineated for the Mississippi river and outlying wetlands representing the upper reaches of the Maurepas swamp, Barataria-Terrebonne basin, and Atchafalaya basin. Species lists were derived from eBird survey data and adjusted based on expert knowledge provided by Louisiana Audubon. The LDWF-LNHP provided information for some of the federally and state listed species and species of conservation concern for display in the ESI atlas and accompanying digital data in 2014. The available LNHP data sets are to be used for oil spill response and spill response planning only. These data represent existing information known to the LNHP at the time of the request and should never be substituted for consultation with the LNHP. Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 9 The following applies to birds mapped as points in the coastal Louisiana. The mapping extent was dependent upon information availability and location of mapped coastal habitats and shorelines. Three main sources of data were used to depict bird distribution and seasonality for this data layer: 1) interviews conducted at workshops and via phone and email with resource experts from: Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP), Louisiana Audubon, and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF); 2) published and unpublished reports and books; and 3) survey data and vector digital data provided by BTNEP and Louisiana Audubon. Survey data on locations of breeding and roosting birds were provided via shapefiles, tabular digital data, or reports for the following species and species groups: American oystercatcher, colonial nesting wading birds, seabirds, diving birds, gulls, and terns, snowy plover, and Wilson's plover. Point data were mostly displayed as received from the data providers. Processing methods for data sets that required additional processing are described in this Atlas' Introduction. Data sets were supplemented with information provided in hardcopy documents and by local resource experts. Breeding and wintering shorebirds, diving birds, and terns: Survey data on locations of breeding and wintering shorebirds, diving birds, and terns were provided via shapefiles, tabular digital data, and expert local knowledge for the following species and species groups: snowy, Wilson's, and piping plovers; least tern; American oystercatcher; American white pelican, and migratory shorebirds. For areas where dense point data fell along the coast, or where polygonal coastal bird data was inconsistent with the boundaries of the current ESI shoreline, 50 meter on/off buffers or larger drawn on polygons were created to simplify the digital and cartographic products. Nesting seabird and waterbird colonies: Two distinct data sets were used to map colonial nesting seabirds and waterbirds. BTNEP provided two products: 1) a published document (Fontenot et al. 2012. A catalog of Louisiana's nesting seabird colonies. Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, Thibodaux, LA. Report Number 34, hereafter referred to as 'the seabird compendium'); and 2) an accompanying spreadsheet of seabird/wading bird nest site locations from the 2006 nesting survey ONLY (the compendium presents additional years of data). The GPS locations from the seabird compendium were mapped as point locations throughout the atlas. The accompanying tabular data includes species present at each colony and a single count (pairs) per species. The majority of count data for the colonial nesting points were from the 2006 survey data, as provided via the compendium and spreadsheet (same data). There are a few records from 2008 that replaced 2006 counts ONLY when the 2008 counts were higher than the 2006 counts AND were published in seabird compendium. LNHP provided a polygonal waterbird nesting colony data set based on 2011 count data. These data were delivered as 1-mile grid cells; if any 2011 nesting colonies fell within a grid cell, it is mapped as a nesting polygon. The tabular information includes generalized species groups (anhinga, cormorants, pelicans, gulls, terns, wading birds) with aggregated counts per species group per grid, or group of connected grids. In many instances, the BTNEP 2006 point data overlaps the LNHP 2011 polygon data. The display of these two data sets does not imply that either or both sets of polygons or points (especially if counts are aggregated across the two data sets) reflect current nest locations or counts, but rather are to be used as a guide to what species could be present and what counts have been observed at colonies over two recent years. Resource experts should be contacted in the event of a spill. Position ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 55904 Entity 55903 Entity 55902 Entity 55905 Entity 55907 Entity gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:55625 Jill Petersen 2019-02-25T15:50:43 SysAdmin InPortAdmin 2026-07-09T18:26:04 2019-04-04 Office of Response and Restoration ORR 1002 Public No No 2019-04-04 1 Year 2020-04-04