1997 Louisiana Coastal Marsh Vegetative Type Map, Geographic NAD83, LDWF, NWRC, LSU (1997) [salinity]

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Fur and Refuge Division

Originator:

U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division's National Wetlands Research Center

Originator:

Department of Geology and Anthropology, Louisiana State University

Publication_Date: 19970601

Title:

1997 Louisiana Coastal Marsh Vegetative Type Map, Geographic NAD83, LDWF, NWRC, LSU (1997) [salinity]

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Map

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Lafayette, Louisiana, US

Publisher:

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Fur and Refuge Division, and the U.S. Geological Survey's National Wetlands Research Center.

Description:

Abstract:

This is a polygon data set delineating vegetation and salinity regimes in coastal Louisiana. Vegetation types are a good long-term indicator of average salinity.

The original data set was collected through visual field observation by Greg Linscombe of LDWF and Robert H. Chabreck of LSU Agricultural Center. The observations were made while flying over the study area (Louisiana Coastal Zone) in a Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter. Flight was along north/south transects spaced 1.87 miles apart from the Texas State line to the Mississippi State line. Vegetative data was obtained at pre-determined stations spaced at 0.5 miles along each transect. The stations were located using a Trimble Ag 122 Global Positioning system (GPS) and a computer running Dynamo GIS by GeoFocus. This information was recorded manually into filed tally sheets and later this information was entered into a Microsoft Access Database. At this point, this information was brought into a GIS application by converting the file to a database format (dbf). The marsh type delineation lines were produced by freehanding contours through on-screen interpretation. The flight line data was used as a guide for drawing the lines. The new data set resulted in a line coverage delineating vegetative marsh types. Coverage is of the coastal region of the State of Louisiana.

Purpose:

To update the Louisiana Coastal Marsh Vegetative Type Map of 1988, which was compiled with the base maps that were complied from the 1978 USFWS Ecological Characterization Maps in digital format, with 1997 data from the LDWF by creating a digital version of this information.

Supplemental_Information:

The metadata for this data set are encapsulated into several documents and graphics files. The metadata are not complete if you did not receive the following files along with the data set:

salinity.mtd - this metadata in mp (metadata parser) compatible ASCII text form
salinity.html - this metadata in HTML form
salinity_faq.html - this metadata presented as Questions and Answers
salinity.sgml - this metadata in SGML form
salinity1.gif - thumbnail graphic of data set

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 19970601

Ending_Date: 19971031

Currentness_Reference:

Date of source data (actual date that the data was collected in the field).

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: none planned

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -93.905

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -88.758

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.482

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 28.854

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: Coastal

Theme_Keyword: Marsh

Theme_Keyword: Vegetation

Theme_Keyword: Delineation lines

Theme_Keyword: Ecological characterization

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: Coastal Louisiana

Place_Keyword: Louisiana Coastal Zone

Access_Constraints:

NWRC Standard Data Liability Disclaimer (April 1997): Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the National Wetlands Research Center, 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. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. It is strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired from a Biological Resource Division server, and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. It is also strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. NWRC shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. So, these data are provided "as is" and without any express or implied warranties, including, without limitation, the implied warranties or merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Also, use of trade names or commercial products in this metadata is solely for the purpose of providing specific information, and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Government. Any downloading and use of these data signifies a user's agreement to comprehension and compliance of the NWRC Standard Disclaimer. Insure all portions of metadata are read and clearly understood before using these data in order to protect both user and NWRC interests. See Distribution Liability for additional information.

Use_Constraints:

Acknowledgement of the National Wetlands Research Center as a data source would be appreciated in products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment as is standard for citation and legal practices for data source is expected by users of this data. Sharing new data layers developed directly from these data would also be appreciated by NWRC staff. Users should be aware that comparison with other data sets for the same area from other time periods may be inaccurate due to inconsistencies resulting from changes in mapping conventions over time. These data are not legal documents and are not to be used as such.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Fur and Refuge Division

Contact_Person: Greg Linscombe

Contact_Position: Biologist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: 2415 Darnall Road

City: New Iberia

State_or_Province: LA

Postal_Code: 70560

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 318-373-0032

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 318-373-0181

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: linscombe_rg@wlf.state.la.us

Browse_Graphic:

Browse_Graphic_File_Name: <URL:salinity1.gif>

Browse_Graphic_File_Description: thumbnail view of data set

Browse_Graphic_File_Type: GIF

Data_Set_Credit:

The National Wetlands Research Center acknowledges the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for use of data derived from the Louisiana Coastal marsh Vegetative Type Maps 1988 (Port Arthur-Lake Charles, White Lake-Crowley, Morgan City, Atchafalaya Bay, Pontchatoula, New Orleans, Terrebonne Bay, Gulfport, Black Bay, Mississippi River Delta) and raw (vegetative marsh study) data collected by Robert H. Chabreck and Greg Linscombe along flight lines over the coastal zone region. These data were collected with the support of the Minerals Management Service through the Coastal and Marine Institute Program of the Gulf of Mexico Regional Office and with the support of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District.

Native_Data_Set_Environment: NT Arc/Info

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

The accuracy is not based on a formal quantitative assessment and was based on the judgement of the data collector in the field. To attain a better estimate of accuracy, a formal re-evaluation of the Louisiana coastal marsh vegetative types would be necessary to see if there are areas where discrepancies exist.

Logical_Consistency_Report: none

Completeness_Report:

All data was derived in the same general format, through freehand contouring in ArcView by on-screen interpretation utilizing transect point data as a guide for contouring. During the freehand contouring of the lines between marsh types, if a levee existed, the line would follow the levee. If no levee existed, the line would split the space between the two marsh types. If a body of water existed between the marsh types, the boundary of the water body would be used to split the two categories.

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Publication_Date: 19970601

Title: Louisiana Coastal Marsh Vegetative Type Data Set

Edition: 1997

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: New Iberia, LA

Publisher: Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Type_of_Source_Media: Digital Database file

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 19970601

Ending_Date: 19971031

Source_Currentness_Reference: Date of source data

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: LDWF

Source_Contribution: Primary data for the Vegetative Marsh Type Map

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: National Wetlands Inventory

Publication_Date: 19880101

Title: NWI Digital Vector Wetlands Data

Edition: Varies

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Map

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: St. Petersburg, FL

Publisher: USFWS National Wetlands Inventory

Source_Scale_Denominator: 24000

Type_of_Source_Media: Digital database file

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 19880101

Source_Currentness_Reference: Date of photography source data

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: NWI

Source_Contribution: Data was used to create an Upland/Marsh boundary.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Earth Observation Satellite Company

Publication_Date: 1992

Title: Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) Color Raster Imagery

Edition: Varies

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Remote-Sensing Image

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Lanham, MD

Publisher: Earth Observation Satellite Company

Type_of_Source_Media: Digital Database file

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 19921101

Ending_Date: 19930301

Source_Currentness_Reference: Date of imagery source data

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: EOSAT

Source_Contribution: Data was used to create a Coast/Water boundary.

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Satellite Pour L'Observation de la Terre

Publication_Date: 1990 - 1995

Title: Black and White Digital Raster SPOT Imagery

Edition: Varies

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Remote-Sensing Image

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Toulouse, France

Publisher: Satellite Pour L'Observation de la Terre

Type_of_Source_Media: Digital database file

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 19900101

Ending_Date: 19950101

Source_Currentness_Reference: Date of imagery source data

Source_Citation_Abbreviation: SPOT

Source_Contribution: Data was used to create a Coast/Water boundary.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The original data set was collected through visual field observation by Greg Linscombe of LDWF and Robert H. Chabreck of LSU Agricultural Center. The observations were made while flying over the study area (Louisiana Coastal Zone) in a Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter. DynaMo software (GeoFocus, Inc) and a differential GPS (Trimble Ag 122) were used to navigate the helicopter along the transect lines. Attribute information was recorded manually in a field tally sheet at stations along the transects. This information was then entered in a Microsoft Access Database containing all the attribute information for subsequent transfer into the GIS dataset. Digital imagery (TM/SPOT Merge), NWI habitat vector data, and the collected data were utilized to create a line for the Coast/Water boundary and a line for the Upland/Marsh boundary. The marsh type delineation lines were produced by freehanding contours through on-screen interpretation. The flight data was used as a guide for delineating the marsh type lines. The shapefile containing the contour information was created in ArcView and later converted to a coverage in ARC/INFO. The coverage was subsequently cleaned, assigned polygon topology, and assigned attributes. Attributes assigned included: Fresh Marsh, Intermediate Marsh, Brackish Marsh, Salt Marsh, Non-Marsh/Other, and Water. The vegetative type was an indicator of soil and water salinity of an area and was comprised of an association of plant species having similar salt tolerances.

Process_Date: 19980101

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The data set was projected to geographic coordinates, NAD83 by LSU Department of Geography and Anthropology.

Process_Date: 19990500

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Geographic:

Latitude_Resolution: 0.000005

Longitude_Resolution: 0.000005

Geographic_Coordinate_Units: decimal degrees

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983

Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: salinity.dbf

Entity_Type_Definition: table for attributes of salinity data set polygons

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: 3001, Inc.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: CODE

Attribute_Definition: Vegetative Marsh type

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Louisiana Coastal Marsh Vegetative Type Map 1988, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: F

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Typical vegetation is maiden cane (Panicum hemitomon), pennywort (Hydrocotyle spp.), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides), and bulltongue (Sagittaria lancifolia).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Louisiana Coastal Marsh Vegetative Type Map 1988, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: I

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Intermediate Marsh. Marshes of low salinity with typical vegetation consisting of wiregrass (Spartina patens), deer pea (Vigna luteola), bulltongue, wild millet (Echinochloa walteri), bullwhip (Scirpus californicus), and sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Louisiana Coastal Marsh Vegetative Type Map 1988, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: B

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Brackish Marsh. Marshes of moderate salinity with typical vegetation consisting of wiregrass, three cornered grass (Scirpus olneyi), saltmarsh bulrush (Scirpus maritimus), and widgeongrass (Ruppia maritima).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Louisiana Coastal Marsh Vegetative Type Map 1988, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: S

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Salt Marsh. Typical vegetation is oystergrass (Spartina alterniflora), glasswort (Avicennia germinans), and saltgrass (Distichlis spicata).

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Louisiana Coastal Marsh Vegetative Type Map 1988, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: O

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Non-Marsh/Other

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Louisiana Coastal Marsh Vegetative Type Map 1988, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: W

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Water

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source:

Louisiana Coastal Marsh Vegetative Type Map 1988, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: salinity

Attribute_Definition: description of the nominal salinity

Attribute_Definition_Source: 3001, Inc.

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Brackish

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: self evident

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Fresh

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: self evident

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Intermediate

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: self evident

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Out

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Non-marsh area

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Saline

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: self evident

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Water

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: water, not vegetated

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: area_sqm

Attribute_Definition: area of polygon in square meters

Attribute_Definition_Source: LSU Department of Geography and Anthropology

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 11023

Range_Domain_Maximum: 17822185464

Attribute_Units_of_Measure: square meters

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: perim_m

Attribute_Definition: perimeter of polygon in meters

Attribute_Definition_Source: LSU Department of Geography and Anthropology

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 426

Range_Domain_Maximum: 9314530

Attribute_Units_of_Measure: meters

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: area_ac

Attribute_Definition: area of 3.75 minute tile in acres

Attribute_Definition_Source: LSU Department of Geography and Anthropology

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum: 3

Range_Domain_Maximum: 4403940

Attribute_Units_of_Measure: acres

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: USGS National Wetlands Research Center

Contact_Person: Steve Hartley

Contact_Position: Senior Geographer/GIS Analyst

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: 700 Cajundome Blvd.

City: Lafayette

State_or_Province: LA

Postal_Code: 70506

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 318-266-8543

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 318-266-8616

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: steve_hartley@usgs.gov

Hours_of_Service:

8 AM to 4 PM CST for phone calls. Any hours for e-mail or fax transmittal.

Resource_Description: Louisiana Coastal Zone 1997 Vegetative Marsh Type Map

Distribution_Liability:

The distributor shall not be liable for improper or incorrect use of this data, based on the description of appropriate/inappropriate uses described in this metadata document. It is strongly recommended that this data is directly acquired from the distributor described above or from another USGS Biological Resource Division server and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. This data was developed for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The distributor makes no claims as to the data's suitability for other purposes. These data are not legal documents and are not to be used as such. Users should be aware that comparison with other data sets for the same area from other time periods may be inaccurate due to inconsistencies resulting from changes in mapping conventions over time. For the NWRC Standard Data Liability Disclaimer, see Access Constraints.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 19991129

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Susan Touba Wagner

Contact_Organization: USGS National Wetlands Research Center

Contact_Position: Geographer

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: 700 Cajundome Blvd

City: Lafayette

State_or_Province: LA

Postal_Code: 70506

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 318-266-8544

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 318-266-8616

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: susan_wagner@usgs.gov

Hours_of_Service:

8 AM to 4 PM CST for phone calls. Any hours for e_mail or fax transmittals.

Metadata_Standard_Name:

Draft Content Standard for National Biological Information Infrastructure Metadata, National Biological Service

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998