Benthic data were aggregated from multiple sources to create a baywide record of seabed material in the Chesapeake Bay. Habitat polygons are classified with an adaptation of the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) Substrate Component (SC). Source data were collected during the interval 1842-2014. Because of potential temporal changes in bottom conditions and deficiencies in survey methodology, benthic habitat characterizations may be in error in some areas. These are, however, the best data currently available. This is a subset of an original dataset which may be found here: http://ftp.ncbo.cgclientx.com/ecoscience/Chesapeake_Bay_Coastal_and_Marine_Ecological_Classification_Standard_CMECS/Metadata/MD_Bay_Bottom_Survey/. This dataset contains only acoustic (SONAR) surveyed data for Maryland and Maryland Bay Bottom Survey data. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office makes no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the use or appropriateness of Spatial Data, and there are no warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use. The information contained in Spatial Data is from publicly available sources, but no representation is made as to the accuracy or completeness of Spatial Data. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office shall not be subject to liability for human error, error due to software conversion, defect, or failure of machines, or any material used in the connection with the machines, including tapes, disks, CD-ROM's or DVD-ROM's and energy. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office shall not be liable for any lost profits, consequential damages, or claims against the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office by third parties. The liability of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office for damage regardless of the form of the action shall not exceed any distribution fees that may have been paid in obtaining Spatial Data.

In June 2002, 200 1:20,000 scale conventional-color metric film diapositives for Long Island, New York were collected as part of an effort to map submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in Long Islands South Shore bays. They were provided by New York State Department of State's Division of Coastal Resources. Photographs were taken at low tide and during times that the growth stage of the SAV allowed for clear identification. Care was taken to minimize the effects of turbidity, sun glint, wind, and haze on the photos. The photos were scanned at a resolution of 15 microns. Ground control points were collected primarily from NYSDS 2 ft orthophotos. Additional control points were collected from USGS DOQQs where coverage from the primary source was lacking. All elevations were derived from USGS digital elevation models. A bundle block adjustment was performed using Albany and exterior orientation parameters were calculated. Boeing/Autometric's Softplotter was used to orthorectify the photos. The images were then dodged and mosaicked using Z/I's Orthopro. No additional color-balancing was performed as the mosaic's intended purpose was the delineation of benthic habitats. The mosaic was then output into 1000m by 1000m tiles with a 0.5m pixel resolution. The naming convention uses the first 3 numbers of the UTM x coordinate followed by the first 4 numbers in the UTM y coordinate of the southwest corner. Stereo digital images were created and the habitat features were interpreted and digitized on screen using softplotter microstation resulting in accurate and efficient 3D extraction of the data. Habitats were delineated with a high level of detail with the minimum mapping unit (MMU) being 0.01 hectares(approx.10m x 10m).The digitized polygons have the following specifications: Vertex Distance less than 1.0 m Node Snap Distance less than 4.0 m Arc Snap Distance less than 4.0 m During August 2002, NOAA staff collected 95 field observations throughout the study area and this information was incorporated into the map. In June 2003, after reviewing the photography, questionable areas were visited by Greenhorne and O'Mara staff and the findings were subsequently applied to the map. The map layers show delineated polygons and lines representing benthic habitat data. Each polygon feature is given a 1,2,3 or 4 digit number representing 11 habitats. The item numbers are stored in the attribute table under Text. The benthic data is classified according to the System for Classification of Habitats in Estuarine and Marine Environments (SCHEME). This system is fully described in "Development of a System for Classification of Habitats in Estuarine and Marine Environments (SCHEME) for Florida, Report to U.S. EPA - Gulf of Mexico Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Marine Research Institute. Review Draft 12/04/02."The collected data was converted to an ARCGIS format for quality control and delivery. The data was assessed for horizontal spatial accuracy and thematic agreement during 2003. Original contact information: Contact Org: NOAA Office for Coastal Management Phone: 843-740-1202 Email: coastal.info@noaa.gov

Data is in support of a survey of benthic communities in across a salinity gradient Pensacola Bay during Summer 2016. Data describe the fauna community composition and corresponding sediment parameters (including sediment grain size and trace metal concentrations). Benthic habitat condition is estimated using benthic index approaches developed for Gulf estuaries (GOM B-IBI and EMAP-E). All taxonomic nomenclature follows the World Register of Marine Species (http://www.marinespecies.org/). Samples were collected using a 232 cm2 surface area box corer, and 0.5-mm mesh sieve. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Nestlerode, J., M. Murrell, J. Hagy, L. Harwell, and J. Lisa. Bioassessment of a Northwest Florida Estuary Using Benthic Macroinvertebrates. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, KS, USA, 16(2): 245-256, (2020).

Data is in support of a survey of benthic communities in across a salinity gradient Pensacola Bay during Summer 2016. Data describe the fauna community composition and corresponding sediment parameters (including sediment grain size and trace metal concentrations). Benthic habitat condition is estimated using benthic index approaches developed for Gulf estuaries (GOM B-IBI and EMAP-E). All taxonomic nomenclature follows the World Register of Marine Species (http://www.marinespecies.org/). Samples were collected using a 232 cm2 surface area box corer, and 0.5-mm mesh sieve. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Nestlerode, J., M. Murrell, J. Hagy, L. Harwell, and J. Lisa. Bioassessment of a Northwest Florida Estuary Using Benthic Macroinvertebrates. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, KS, USA, 16(2): 245-256, (2020).

Data is in support of a survey of benthic communities in across a salinity gradient Pensacola Bay during Summer 2016. Data describe the fauna community composition and corresponding sediment parameters (including sediment grain size and trace metal concentrations). Benthic habitat condition is estimated using benthic index approaches developed for Gulf estuaries (GOM B-IBI and EMAP-E). All taxonomic nomenclature follows the World Register of Marine Species (http://www.marinespecies.org/). Samples were collected using a 232 cm2 surface area box corer, and 0.5-mm mesh sieve. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Nestlerode, J., M. Murrell, J. Hagy, L. Harwell, and J. Lisa. Bioassessment of a Northwest Florida Estuary Using Benthic Macroinvertebrates. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, KS, USA, 16(2): 245-256, (2020).

This is a MD iMAP hosted service layer. Find more information at http://imap.maryland.gov. Benthic data were aggregated from multiple sources to create a baywide record of seabed material in the Chesapeake Bay. Habitat polygons are classified with an adaptation of the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) Substrate Component (SC). Source data were collected during the interval 1842-2014. Because of potential temporal changes in bottom conditions and deficiencies in survey methodology - benthic habitat characterizations may be in error in some areas. These are - however - the best data currently available.This is a subset of an original dataset which may be found here: http://ftp.ncbo.cgclientx.com/ecoscience/Chesapeake_Bay_Coastal_and_Marine_Ecological_Classification_Standard_CMECS/Metadata/MD_Bay_Bottom_Survey/. This dataset contains only acoustic (SONAR) surveyed data for Maryland and Maryland Bay Bottom Survey data.The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office makes no warranty - expressed or implied - as to the use or appropriateness of Spatial Data - and there are no warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use. The information contained in Spatial Data is from publicly available sources - but no representation is made as to the accuracy or completeness of Spatial Data. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office shall not be subject to liability for human error - error due to software conversion - defect - or failure of machines - or any material used in the connection with the machines - including tapes - disks - CD-ROM's or DVD-ROM's and energy. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office shall not be liable for any lost profits - consequential damages - or claims against the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office by third parties. The liability of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office for damage regardless of the form of the action shall not exceed any distribution fees that may have been paid in obtaining Spatial Data .Last updated: 4/8/2015 Feature Service Layer Link: http://geodata.md.gov/imap/rest/services/Biota/MD_BenthicHabitat/FeatureServer/0 ADDITIONAL LICENSE TERMS: The Spatial Data and the information therein (collectively "the Data") is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind either expressed implied or statutory. The user assumes the entire risk as to quality and performance of the Data. No guarantee of accuracy is granted nor is any responsibility for reliance thereon assumed. In no event shall the State of Maryland be liable for direct indirect incidental consequential or special damages of any kind. The State of Maryland does not accept liability for any damages or misrepresentation caused by inaccuracies in the Data or as a result to changes to the Data nor is there responsibility assumed to maintain the Data in any manner or form. The Data can be freely distributed as long as the metadata entry is not modified or deleted. Any data derived from the Data must acknowledge the State of Maryland in the metadata.

In 2006 and 2007 the NOAA Office for Coastal Management purchased services to process existing digital multi-spectral imagery (ADS-40) and create digital benthic habitat data from this imagery for selected Texas coastal bend bays.The Center worked cooperatively with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas A and M University Center for Coastal Studies to develop benthic habitat data, primarily Submerged Aquatic Vegetation(SAV) for several coastal bays. This data will support the state's recently adopted Seagrass Monitoring Program which calls for regional mapping of SAV for status and trends assessment. The Center, Texas A and M, and TPWD have coordinated on the requirements of this project. Original contact information: Contact Org: NOAA Office for Coastal Management Phone: 843-740-1202 Email: coastal.info@noaa.gov

In June 2002, 200 1:20,000 scale conventional-color metric film diapositives for Long Island, New York were collected as part of an effort to map submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in Long Islands South Shore bays. They were provided by New York State Department of State's Division of Coastal Resources. Photographs were taken at low tide and during times that the growth stage of the SAV allowed for clear identification. Care was taken to minimize the effects of turbidity, sun glint, wind, and haze on the photos. The photos were scanned at a resolution of 15 microns. Ground control points were collected primarily from NYSDS 2 ft orthophotos. Additional control points were collected from USGS DOQQs where coverage from the primary source was lacking. All elevations were derived from USGS digital elevation models. A bundle block adjustment was performed using Albany and exterior orientation parameters were calculated. Boeing/Autometric's Softplotter was used to orthorectify the photos. The images were then dodged and mosaicked using Z/I's Orthopro. No additional color-balancing was performed as the mosaic's intended purpose was the delineation of benthic habitats. The mosaic was then output into 1000m by 1000m tiles with a 0.5m pixel resolution. The naming convention uses the first 3 numbers of the UTM x coordinate followed by the first 4 numbers in the UTM y coordinate of the southwest corner. Stereo digital images were created and the habitat features were interpreted and digitized on screen using softplotter microstation resulting in accurate and efficient 3D extraction of the data. Habitats were delineated with a high level of detail with the minimum mapping unit (MMU) being 0.01 hectares(approx.10m x 10m).The digitized polygons have the following specifications: Vertex Distance less than 1.0 m Node Snap Distance less than 4.0 m Arc Snap Distance less than 4.0 m During August 2002, NOAA staff collected 95 field observations throughout the study area and this information was incorporated into the map. In June 2003, after reviewing the photography, questionable areas were visited by Greenhorne and O'Mara staff and the findings were subsequently applied to the map. The map layers show delineated polygons and lines representing benthic habitat data. Each polygon feature is given a 1,2,3 or 4 digit number representing 11 habitats. The item numbers are stored in the attribute table under Text. The benthic data is classified according to the System for Classification of Habitats in Estuarine and Marine Environments (SCHEME). This system is fully described in "Development of a System for Classification of Habitats in Estuarine and Marine Environments (SCHEME) for Florida, Report to U.S. EPA - Gulf of Mexico Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Marine Research Institute. Review Draft 12/04/02."The collected data was converted to an ARCGIS format for quality control and delivery. The data was assessed for horizontal spatial accuracy and thematic agreement during 2003. Original contact information: Contact Org: NOAA Office for Coastal Management Phone: 843-740-1202 Email: coastal.info@noaa.gov

In 2006 and 2007 the NOAA Office for Coastal Management purchased services to process existing digital multi-spectral imagery (ADS-40) and create digital benthic habitat data from this imagery for selected Texas coastal bend bays.The Center worked cooperatively with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas A and M University Center for Coastal Studies to develop benthic habitat data, primarily Submerged Aquatic Vegetation(SAV) for several coastal bays. This data will support the state's recently adopted Seagrass Monitoring Program which calls for regional mapping of SAV for status and trends assessment. The Center, Texas A and M, and TPWD have coordinated on the requirements of this project. Original contact information: Contact Org: NOAA Office for Coastal Management Phone: 843-740-1202 Email: coastal.info@noaa.gov

In 2006 and 2007 the NOAA Office for Coastal Management purchased services to process existing digital multi-spectral imagery (ADS-40) and create digital benthic habitat data from this imagery for selected Texas coastal bend bays.The Center worked cooperatively with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas A and M University Center for Coastal Studies to develop benthic habitat data, primarily Submerged Aquatic Vegetation(SAV) for several coastal bays. This data will support the state's recently adopted Seagrass Monitoring Program which calls for regional mapping of SAV for status and trends assessment. The Center, Texas A and M, and TPWD have coordinated on the requirements of this project. Original contact information: Contact Org: NOAA Office for Coastal Management Phone: 843-740-1202 Email: coastal.info@noaa.gov