The Klawock River on Alaska's Prince of Wales Island drains a 29,061 acre watershed with 132 miles of streambed habitat supporting seven salmon and trout species. Traditionally the river and lagoon supported salmon harvests exceeding 30,000 fish annually. The salmon fishery is an important economic factor and food source in the Klawock area. It is also an important cultural resource to local inhabitants. In 1964 a causeway was constructed blocking access to the lagoon from adjacent Klawock Bay. This has resulted in dramatic decreases in salmon harvests. The Nature Conservancy has lead a broad partnership to construct a culvert through the causeway thus re-establishing free passage between the river and Klawock Bay which is expected to help restore a full use of the river as spawning habitat by salmon and generally improve the quality of the lagoon. Benthic habitats in the lagoon and adjacent Klawock Bay and Klawock Harbor were mapped in spring 2011 to establish a baseline of benthic communities in the area with emphasis on eelgrass beds which are essential to the early survival of salmon fry. The habitat map will guide ongoing monitoring activities in the lagoon and form the basis of future change detection efforts. Aerial multi-spectral imagery was collected over the lagoon, bay, and harbor during the week of April 19, 2011. The mission was timed to coincide with the breaching of the causeway. The environmental considerations important to successful benthic mapping were incorporated into the mission planning. These included, imagery to be collected within 1.5 hours of a zero or negative tide, clear water conditions (no algal blooms, or sediment plumes from runoff), low winds to avoid surface waves, and sufficient solar illumination to image submerged areas. These collection parameters were defined by the Office for Coastal Management prior to collection of the imagery. Despite weather and water conditions which were not ideal, imagery adequate to map most of the habitats in the lagoon was successfully collected on April 19, 2011. Eelgrass habitats in the Lagoon did not have sufficient biomass or illumination through the water column at the time of the aerial mission to be mapped from that source so eelgrass habitats were determined by two field-digitizing processes, one in August 2010 and one in September 2011. The final hybrid map captures habitats 10m x 10m or larger and has the same positional accuracy as the source imagery. Field data to guide the mapping was supplied by several project partners. A comparison between the field data and the map shows high levels of agreement, although no traditional quantitative accuracy assessment was conducted. Original contact information: Contact Org: NOAA Office for Coastal Management Phone: 843-740-1202 Email: coastal.info@noaa.gov

These data provide several geoform data products for the Gulf of Maine derived from NOAA's BlueTopo bathymetric grid products. The spatial domain of these data extends from the landward limit of BlueTopo tiles seaward to the 24-nautical-mile Contiguous Zone boundary. These data support coordinated ocean planning among three state partnership agencies, between state and federal organizations, and for the public at large. The Gulf of Maine is an area rich in history, natural resources, and ocean uses. Effective planning for new infrastructure and changes in ocean use requires accurate data and collaboration among multiple stakeholders and resource management organizations. To address long-expressed regional needs, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management collaborated with the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts to develop a regional geomorphology dataset. This dataset serves as a framework for collaborative planning and assessment. Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) geoforms for the area were generated using NOAA's BlueTopo bathymetric products. Semiautomated methods were employed to ensure consistent mapping of features across the region. Following the semiautomated process, additional interpretation, guided by regional marine geology and mapping experts, was conducted to add and refine features of interest not detected automatically. Efforts to expand and update this product are planned. The layers available within the data download include: confidence_update, geoform, geoform_interpreted, and isobath. Partners: Maine Coastal Program, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, New Hampshire Coastal Program, and NOAA Office of Coast Survey

These data were developed to support ecosystem-based management in the Humboldt Bay region. The focus of the mapping effort was on shallow water benthic habitats with particular concern for eelgrass meadows. The study area covers Arcata (North) Bay, Entrance Bay, South Bay, and the Eel River Delta in Humboldt County, California. Humboldt Bay is the largest estuary north of San Francisco Bay and represents a significant resource for the north coast region. Beginning in 2007, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management, in partnership with the California Sea Grant Program and other local organizations, initiated an ecosystem-based management project for the bay. A key component of this project was the establishment of subtidal habitat goals to guide long-term management and provide a framework for conservation efforts across the land-sea interface. The collection of imagery and subsequent delineation of benthic habitat were essential steps for developing and implementing ecosystem-based management in Humboldt Bay's subtidal zone. Collectively, these efforts establish an important and replicable data and information framework crucial for ecosystem-based coastal and marine conservation planning and implementation. The layers available within the data download include biotic, field_point_sample, geoform, and substrate. Partners: California Sea Grant, Humboldt State University, California State University, California Department of Fish and Game, California Coastal Conservancy, California Sea Grant, The Nature Conservancy, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and United States Geological Survey

These data were collected under a cooperative mapping program between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), NOAA's Office for Coastal Management, and the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve. The primary objectives of this program were to collect marine geophysical data to develop a suite of seafloor maps that would better define the extent of oyster habitats and the overall seafloor geology of the bay and provide updated information for management of this resource. In addition to their value for management of the bay's oyster resources, the maps also provide a geologic framework for scientific research and the public. The study focused on the Apalachicola Bay and western St. George Sound portions of the estuary, mostly in depths greater than 2 meters. High-resolution bathymetry, backscatter intensity, and seismic profile data were collected over 230 square kilometers of the bay. The interpretation of sidescan sonar imagery, bathymetry, available sediment sample information, and seafloor observations provided a detailed interpretation of the surficial geology of Apalachicola Bay and western portions of St. George Sound, Florida. The initial surficial geologic interpretations were translated by the Office for Coastal Management into the Florida System for Classifying Habitats in Estuarine and Marine Environments (SCHEME). No sediment classes were lost during this process. The layers available within the data download include biotic, geoform, and substrate. Partners: United States Geological Survey, Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve

These data provide a baseline inventory of submerged aquatic vegetation within Long Island's South Shore bays. The data were derived from conventional-color metric film diapositives obtained in June 2002 from the New York Department of State's Division of Coastal Resources. Benthic classifications follow the System for Classification of Habitats in Estuarine and Marine Environments (SCHEME). The study area spans approximately 443 square kilometers, extending from the west end of Long Beach Island in Nassau County eastward to Heady Creek at the east end of Shinnecock Bay in Suffolk County. The creation of this baseline inventory was a critical need identified in the Comprehensive Management Plan for the Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve. Established following the state legislature's passage of the Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve Act in 1993, the management plan aimed to protect and improve the estuary's ecosystem, enhance public access, and support sustainable economic activities. Ultimately, the goal was to sustain existing high-quality habitats and restore degraded areas to support the productivity of commercially and ecologically important estuarine species. The management plan also mandated a long-term monitoring program to evaluate progress toward estuarine resource improvement goals, building upon this foundational benthic habitat data. The layers available within the data download include biotic, geoform, and substrate. Partners: New York Department of State's Division of Coastal Resources

From 2006 to 2007, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management led the effort to process existing digital multispectral imagery (ADS-40) and generate digital benthic habitat data, primarily focusing on Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) for specific bays along the Texas coastal bend. The resulting data were intended to support the state's Seagrass Monitoring Program, which requires regional SAV mapping for status and trends assessment. The geographic extent of these data include Corpus Christi Bay, Redfish Bay, Aransas Bay, Copano Bay, Lower Laguna Madre, Upper Laguna Madre, and Baffin Bay, covering approximately 2,200 square miles. Benthic habitat data were generated for all estuarine lands below mean high water within the study area. No benthic data were produced for the marine side of the barrier island beaches. The layers available within the data download include area, biotic, geoform, and substrate. Partners: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas A&M University Center for Coastal Studies

These data provide benthic habitat maps for a 42-square-kilometer area at South Manitou Island in Lake Michigan. This joint pilot project between NOAA's Office for Coastal Management and the National Park Service applies the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) in the Great Lakes region and, specifically, the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The project primarily focuses on mapping lakeshore substrates to assess their value as fisheries habitat. Additionally, the mapping effort aims to determine the distribution and extent of the widespread nuisance filamentous algae, Cladophora sp., found in the area. The workflow combined photo interpretation, object-based image analysis, field verification, and expert manual interpretation. These data include CMECS substrate and biotic components, classified to at least the subclass level. Co-occurring elements and modifiers (e.g., percent cover, induration, surface pattern) were also included for both components. Example images and corresponding CMECS classifications are available in the project report. These data also include GPS navigation tracks for each field site, video clips for many sites, and field validation points conducted over two days in August 2017 to ensure the accuracy of the map products. Source data for the mapping included underwater photography, aerial imagery, acoustic backscatter (side-scan and multibeam sonar), and high-resolution lidar data collected around the island in 2016. The layers available within the data download include: biotic, field_point, substrate, and transect. Partners: National Park Service

From 2006 to 2007, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management led the effort to process existing digital multispectral imagery (ADS-40) and generate digital benthic habitat data, primarily focusing on Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) for specific bays along the Texas coastal bend. The resulting data were intended to support the state's Seagrass Monitoring Program, which requires regional SAV mapping for status and trends assessment. The geographic extent of these data include San Antonio Bay and Espiritu Santo Bay, covering approximately 134 square miles. Benthic habitat data were generated from 2007 orthoimagery for all estuarine lands below mean high water within the study area. No benthic data were produced for the marine side of the barrier island beaches. The layers available within the data download include area, biotic, geoform, and substrate. Partners: Fugro EarthData, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and Texas A&M University Center for Coastal Studies

These data are a collection of regional GIS (Arcview shapefiles and associated Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) metadata) benthic habitat files from studies conducted in specific locations within Florida. Data were collected in partnership with the NOAA Office for Coastal Management (formerly the Coastal Services Center) following the guidelines detailed by the NOAA Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP). Each regions's data is held in a separate subdirectory within this dataset. These GIS benthic data vary in type and attributes depending on the purpose of the study for each region as follows - Apalachicola Bay, sediment profiling data and benthic community information gathered from grab sampling, Dry Tortugas, RoxAnn single-beam acoustic surveys which were part of a larger biogeographic characterization effort intended to characterize benthic habitats and ocean circulation patterns in the newly established Tortugas Ecological Reserve, Florida Bay, habitat polygons developed from National Geodetic Survey aerial photography according to NOAA Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP) protocol, and Indian River Lagoon, mapping SAV beds and benthic habitat according to C-CAP protocol. Each set of benthic data was developed according to protocols described in the associated FGDC metadata for each regional study. A generalized browse graphic was generated at the NODC for each region and included with these data.

This data set contains a single table of descriptions of benthic samples collected in 1998 at Nelson and Izembek lagoons, Alaska. This includes: the weight of the sample, the species or species group of benthic animals (also vegetation) and their number, size and weight, and the amount of sand and gravel. These data provide a basis for additional studies that includes sampling of the benthos in Nelson and/or Izembek lagoons. These data are important as historic information useful in examining long-term changes in the lagoons in light of changing climate.