Atlantic sturgeon Chesapeake Bay DPS critical habitat for use in ESA/FIFRA consultations

Beginning in 2010 and in response to mounting requests for digital depictions of NMFS Regulated Areas in Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic Waters (Regulated Areas), the NMFS Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) and Southeast Regional Office Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Committee launched a project to standardize the development, publication and regular updating of GIS files depicting Regulated Area boundaries. This dataset is a product of that initiative. This dataset was created to depict the boundaries of NMFS Regulated Areas in Mid-Atlantic Waters (Regulated Areas) only. For information on the proper use of the dataset refer to the Use Constraints metadata section.This dataset depicts the river lengths along which Critical Habitat has been designated (82 FR 39160, August 17, 2017) for the Chesapeake Bay distinct population segment (DPS) of Atlantic Sturgeon. Critical habitat includes all of the river along the specified segment, from the ordinary high water mark of one riverbank to the ordinary high water mark of the opposing riverbank of the mainstem of the river, to the downstream limit at the bank-to-bank transect of the specified segment. For clarification of the critical habitat definition, please refer to the maps and narrative descriptions in the CFR. It is a product of the NOAA Fisheries Service’s Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO). This dataset includes boundaries for the following Regulated Areas: - Critical Habitat for Chesapeake Bay Distinct Population Segment of Atlantic Sturgeon: Nanticoke River, Potomac River, Rappahannock River, York River, and James River. Because GIS projection and topology functions can change or generalize coordinates, these GIS files are considered to be approximate representations and are NOT an OFFICIAL record for the exact Area boundaries. For information on the official legal definition refer to the Use Constraints metadata section.

This spatial data file was modified from NMFS’s “agency-official” species critical habitat data to aid in the ESA/FIFRA section 7 pesticide consultation process. For example, existing data were adapted to incorporate associated watersheds where applicable, based on the USGS Watershed Boundary Dataset HUC-12 data (https://www.usgs.gov/national-hydrography/watershed-boundary-dataset). The modifications to the NMFS critical habitat spatial data make the data more compatible for future analyses with EPA’s Use Data Layers (UDLs). The following “Description” is from the original, “agency-official” data that was used to make this HUC-based map. Most of the metadata record for this species matches the “agency-official” record; however, NMFS added a new "Citation", "File Identifier", “Credits”, “Point of Contact”, and “Lineage Process Step” that are unique to this HUC-based critical habitat data.

The user assumes the entire risk related to use of these data. NMFS is providing these data "as is," and NMFS disclaims any and all warranties, whether express or implied, including (without limitation) any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. It is strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data to evaluate dataset limitations, restrictions or intended use. In no event will NMFS be liable to you or to any third party for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special or exemplary damages, or lost profit resulting from any use or misuse of this data

Microsoft Windows 10 Version 10.0 (Build 19045) ; Esri ArcGIS 12.6.0.24783

Data were collected using methods that are accurate to within 2-5 meters (EPA National Geospatial Data Policy [NGDP] Accuracy Tier 2). For more information, please see EPA's NGDP at http://epa.gov/geospatial/policies.htmlConformance Check2017-08-17T00:00:00Data were collected using methods that are accurate to within 2-5 meters (EPA National Geospatial Data Policy [NGDP] Accuracy Tier 2). For more information, please see EPA's NGDP at http://epa.gov/geospatial/policies.html1

Check Geometry test has been performed in ArcGIS.Conformance Check2017-08-17T00:00:00Check Geometry test has been performed in ArcGIS.1