This project is a cooperative effort among the National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment; the University of Hawaii; BAE Systems Spectral Solutions; and Analytical Laboratories of Hawaii, LLC. The goal of the work was to incorporate previously developed mapping methods to produce benthic habitat maps generated by photo interpreting georeferenced IKONOS satellite imagery. These point data were generated to conduct ground validation during map preparation.

This project is a cooperative effort between the National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment, the University of Hawaii, BAE Systems Spectral Solutions and Analytical Laboratories of Hawaii, LLC. The goal of the work was to incorporate previously developed mapping methods to produce benthic habitat maps generated by photo interpreting georeferenced IKONOS satellite imagery. These point data were generated to conduct ground validation during map preparation.

This project is a cooperative effort among the National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment; the University of Hawaii; BAE Systems Spectral Solutions; and Analytical Laboratories of Hawaii, LLC. The goal of the work was to incorporate previously developed mapping methods to produce coral reef habitat maps for American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. GPS field observations were used to establish the thematic accuracy of this thematic product. 651 benthic habitat characterizations were completed for this work.

This project is a cooperative effort among the National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment; the University of Hawaii; BAE Systems Spectral Solutions; and Analytical Laboratories of Hawaii, LLC. The goal of the work was to incorporate previously developed mapping methods to produce coral reef habitat maps for American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. GPS field observations were used to establish the thematic accuracy of this thematic product. 1113 benthic habitat characterizations were completed for this work.

This shapefile denotes the location of underwater photos and videos taken in shallow water (0-35m) benthic habitats surrounding Northeast Puerto Rico and Culebra Island. The area includes the nearshore waters of Fajardo and Luqillo to the Former Roosevelt Roads Navy Base, the Vieques Sound, La Cordillera Reserve, the Luis Pena Reserve, and the waters around Culebra Island. The GV data contains GPS-positioned underwater photo/videos of selected benthic habitats that were used to enhance thematic maps created by the Biogeography Team. The observations from the videos are used to classify seafloor features and develop a benthic habitat map. The GV data was collected in July 8 - 24, 2013 and October 22- November 7, 2013. The field work was conducted by NOAA together with local DRNA and NOAA contractors.

The Data Layers include the following.Flooding: Regions that flood during heavy rainfall.Intermittent Streams: Areas flow as streams during heavy rainfall.Community drinking Water Sources: Locations where villagers used to collect water for drinking, most do not use anymore and only use ASPA water.Trash Accumulation: Locations where trash accumulates in streams and other accumulated locations within the village such as corners of roads where water pools.Cultivated Lands: Areas used for cultivation mostly small local cultivations behind households only a few larger cultivated areas.Cesspools: Areas that are not on sewer and still have cesspools. Other Pollution Sources: This category is for other land sources of pollution. Village Clean Up: These areas are designated as village cleanup areas and have a regular schedule for cleanup. Also included in this layer or in a separate layer is information on Government cleanup which happens primarily along the main road.Informal Dump Sites: These data layers indicate where people dump trash within the village, sometimes it is overflow from dumpsters while other points reperesent where trash is commonly dumped.Important Fishing Areas: Indicate regions of important fishing as outlined by the villagers.

Benthic habitat maps of the nearshore marine environment of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands were created by visual interpretation of remotely sensed imagery. The objective of this effort, conducted by NOAA's Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment - Biogeography Branch in partnership with the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), was to provide spatially-explicit information on the habitat types, biological cover and live coral cover of St. John's coral reef ecosystem. The data described herein represent evaluation transects of ground validation (GV) sites explored by NOAA field scientists to further refine habitat map classification. Considering vessel drift during habitat characterization, the entire evaluation period was most accurately represented by a series of GPS points logged at five-second intervals.

PIRO Fishery Biologist with local agency partners from Guam Environmental Protection Agency and University of Guam Marine Laboratory gathered photographic and GPS data to document impacts to the reef and evaluate removal methods.

This project is a cooperative effort among the National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment; the University of Hawaii; BAE Systems Spectral Solutions; and Analytical Laboratories of Hawaii, LLC. The goal of the work was to incorporate previously developed mapping methods to produce coral reef habitat maps for American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. GPS field observations were used to establish the thematic accuracy of this thematic product. Control GPS data was collected on registered survey markers and RMS circular error was calculated to establish the quality of the GPS collected during field surveys.