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Connecticut Critical Habitats
SDE Feature Class - depgis.DEP.CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY
FGDC, ESRI Metadata
DescriptionGraphicSpatialData StructureData QualityData SourceData DistributionMetadata
+ Resource Description
Citation
Information used to reference the data.
Title: Connecticut Critical Habitats
Originators: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection (data compiler, editor and publisher)
Publisher: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Publication place: Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Publication date: 20090701
Data type: vector digital data
Data location: http://www.ct.gov/deep
Other citation details:
The State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection is the collector of the data (compiler), the creator and maintainer of the data layer (editor), and producer (publisher) of this information for use. 

Funding for this project was provided by Governor M. Jodi Rell's Executive Order 15 regarding Responsible Growth and Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy.  Please visit  http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=1719&Q=320908 and/or www.ct.gov/deep for more information about this initiative.
Description
A characterization of the data, including its intended use and limitations.
Abstract:
Connecticut Critical Habitats is a polygon feature-based layer with a resolution of +/- 10 meters that represents significant natural community types occurring in Connecticut. This layer is a subset of habitat-related vegetation associations, described in Connecticut's Natural Vegetation Classification, that were designated as key habitats for species of Greatest Conservation Need in the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. These habitats are known to host a number of rare species including highly specialized invertebrates with very specific habitat associations.  Some key habitats are broken into subtypes based on natural variations in plant species dominance and/or vegetation structure. These differences are apparent in the subtype names. Connecticut Critical Habitats can serve to highlight ecologically significant areas and to target areas of species diversity.
Purpose:
Connecticut Critical Habitats feature class depicts the location and distribution of selected Critical Habitats in the state of Connecticut. This layer can be used to perform various spatial analyses that pertain to Critical Habitats, to aid in determining site management and conservation priorities, prioritizing field surveys, and to further document the distribution and abundance of State-listed and/or rare vertebrate and invertebrate species within the significant habitats. Use this layer appropriately with data maintaining similar resolution.  Not intended for maps printed at a resolution greater or more detailed than 1:2000.
Supplemental information:
For additional information, refer to the following publications:

Metzler, Kenneth J. and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification. 2006. State Geological and Natural History Survey of Connecticut.  Report of Investigations #12.  Hartford
 
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. 2004. Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Species. 

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources. 2006. Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy.
Language of dataset: en
Point Of Contact
Contact information for the individual or organization that is knowledgeable about the data.
Person: Karen Zyko
Organization: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division
Phone: 860-424-3011 Wildlife Division Main Line
Fax: 860-424-4078 Wildlife Fax
Email: karen.zyko@ct.gov
Hours of service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time
Address type: mailing and physical address
Address:
79 Elm Street
City: Hartford
State or Province: Connecticut
Postal code: 06106-5127
Country: USA
Data Type
How the data are represented, formatted and maintained by the data producing organization.
File or table name: depgis.DEP.CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY
Data type: vector digital data
Data format: SDE Feature Class
Native dataset environment: These data are maintained by the State of Connecticut using ArcGIS software developed by Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) in a Microsoft Windows operating system environment.
Time Period of Data
Time period(s) for which the data corresponds to the currentness reference.
Beginning date: 2004
Ending date: 20091231
Currentness reference:
ground condition
Status
The state of and maintenance information for the data.
Data status: Complete
Update frequency: None planned
Key Words
Words or phrases that summarize certain aspects of the data.
Theme:
Keywords: habitat, critical habitat, species, endangered species, special concern species, conservation, natural community
Keyword thesaurus: none
Theme:
Keywords: biota, environment
Keyword thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Place:
Keywords: Connecticut, CT
Keyword thesaurus: U.S. Department of Commerce, 1987, Codes for the Identification of the States, the District of Columbia and the Outlying Areas of The United States, and Associated Areas (Federal Information Processing Standard 5-2): Washington, DC, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Place:
Keywords: United States of America, USA
Keyword thesaurus: U.S. Department of Commerce, 1995, Countries, Dependencies, Areas of Special Sovereignty, and Their Principal Administrative Divisions (Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 10-4): Washington, D.C., National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Data Access Constraints
Restrictions and legal prerequisites for accessing or using the data after access is granted.
Access constraints:
None. No restrictions or legal prerequisites for accessing the data. The data is in the public domain and may be redistributed.
Use constraints:
None. No restrictions or legal prerequisites for using the data after access is granted. The data is suitable for use at appropriate scale, and is not intended for maps printed with a resolution greater or more detailed than 1:2000. Although this data set  has been used by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection as to the accuracy of the data and or related materials.  The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection in the use of these data or related materials. The user assumes the entire risk related to the use of these data. Once the data is distributed to the user, modifications made to the data by the user should be noted in the metadata. When printing this data on a map or using it in a software application, analysis, or report, please acknowledge the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection as the source for this information. For example, include the following data source description when printing this layer on a map: Connecticut Critical Habitat delineations are from the Critical_habitat_poly layer, compiled and published by the Geologic and Natural History Survery of the CT Department of Environmental Protection .
Data Security Information
Handling restrictions imposed on the data because of national security, privacy or other concerns.
Security classifiction system: None
Security classification: None
Security handling: No restrictions for handling the data.
+ Graphic Example
Browse Graphic
Graphic illustration of the data.
Browse graphic 1
Open - Full view of Connecticut Critical Habitats
Graphic Image

Browse graphic 2
Open - Detailed view of Connecticut Critical Habitats
Graphic Image
+ Spatial Reference Information
Horizontal Coordinate System
Reference system from which linear or angular quantities are measured and assigned to the position that a point occupies.
Projected coordinate system:
Name: NAD 1983 StatePlane Connecticut FIPS 0600 Feet
Map units: survey feet
Geographic coordinate system:
Name: GCS North American 1983
Coordinate System Details
Map projection
Map projection name: Lambert Conformal Conic
Standard parallel: 41.200000
Standard parallel: 41.866667
Longitude of central meridian: -72.750000
Latitude of projection origin: 40.833333
False easting: 999999.999996
False northing: 499999.999998
Planar Coordinate Information
Planar coordinate encoding method: coordinate pair
Coordinate representation:
Abscissa resolution: 0.000328
Ordinate resolution: 0.000328
Planar distance units: survey feet
Geodetic model
Horizontal datum name: North American Datum of 1983
Ellipsoid name: Geodetic Reference System 80
Semi-major axis: 6378137.000000
Denominator of flattening ratio: 298.257222
Vertical Coordinate System
Reference system from which vertical distances (altitudes or depths) are measured.
Altitude system definition:
Altitude resolution: 1.000000
Altitude encoding method: Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates
Spatial Domain
The geographic areal domain of the data that describes the western, eastern, northern, and southern geographic limits of data coverage.
Bounding Coordinates
In Projected or local coordinates
NAD 1983 StatePlane Connecticut FIPS 0600 Feet
BoundaryCoordinate
Left773598.150023 (survey feet)
Right1263079.723880 (survey feet)
Top944581.776825 (survey feet)
Bottom564745.782890 (survey feet)
In Unprojected coordinates (geographic)
GCS North American 1983
BoundaryCoordinate
West-73.583564 (longitude)
East-71.781406 (longitude)
North42.053442 (latitude)
South41.007049 (latitude)
+ Data Structure and Attribute Information
Overview
Summary of the information content of the data, including other references to complete descriptions of entity types, attributes, and attribute values for the data.
Entity and attribute overview:
'Critical_habitat_poly' features are primarily identified by the 'COMMTYP' and 'COMSUBTYP' fields. Use the 'COMMTYPE' attribute to symbolize and label features by type on a map. The 'Group_legend' attribute can be used as a simplified way to group and symbolize features. The 'SITENAME' field serves as an informal non-unique location identifier for groups of polygons, based on local place or feature names or property names. The 'ASSOCDATA' field will indicate if the polygon data was derived in part from an additional external study or project and may have further information available.
Direct spatial reference method: Vector
Attributes of depgis.DEP.CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY
Detailed descriptions of entity type, attributes, and attribute values for the data.
Name: depgis.DEP.CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY
Type of object: Feature Class
Geometry type: Polygon
Number of records: 2972
Description:
CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY represented as polygon features.
Source:
State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Attributes
OBJECTID
Definition:
Internal feature number.
Alias: OBJECTID_1 Type: OID Width: 4 Precision: 10 Scale: 0
Attribute values: Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute definition source:
ESRI
SITENAME
Definition:
This is an informal location identification using the local place or feature name or property name. The site name is not unique, there may be multiple polygons with the same site name and there may be multiple community types with the same site name.
Alias: SITENAME Type: String Width: 70 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
COMMSITEID
Definition:
A sequential number assigned when multiple polygons of the same community type occur at the same site.
Alias: COMMSITEID Type: SmallInteger Width: 2 Precision: 5 Scale: 0
COMMTYPE
Definition:
Indicates the particular natural vegetation community type the polygon represents as determined by the CT Vegetation Classification System and CT DEP field biologists, botanists, and ecologists.
Alias: COMMTYPE Type: String Width: 50 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
Attribute domain values
ValueDefinition
Acidic Atlantic White Cedar Swamp
Evergreen forested and /or shrub swamps dominated by Atlantic white cedar with stagnant or slow-moving water; in topographically defined basins; on decomposed peats and mucks. Subtypes include cedar, cedar/hardwood, cedar/great laurel, and other /unique.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 91 - Appendix II Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-22 - 4-23
Acidic Red/Black Spruce Basin Swamp
Evergreen forested and /or shrub swamps dominated by red and/or black spruce with stagnant or slow-moving water; in topographically defined basins; on decomposed peats and mucks.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 91 - Appendix II Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-23
Acidic Rocky Summit Outcrop
Dry to xeric exposed summits, ledges, and other outcrops with a vegetation of small trees, low shrubs, grasses and herbs. (gneiss, schist, granite, sandstone). Subtypes include grassy glade/bald, pitch pine, scrub oak, and other/unique.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 85 - Appendix II
Alluvial Grassland/Outcrop
Flood-scoured, rocky ledges and other outcrops with a vegetation of small trees, low shrubs, grasses and herbs. Subtypes include grassland, outcrop, and other/unique.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 40 (anecdotal)
Beachshore
Windswept and wave washed sandy beaches and their associated sand dunes. Subtypes include salt, riverine and other/unique.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 92 - Appendix II - Intertidal Beaches and Shores Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-39 - 4-40 (Intertidal Beaches and Shores) and pp 4-16 (Coastal Dunes)
Caves and other Subterranean Habitat
Natural underground habitats such as marble solution caves and crevices in boulder slopes; and man-made underground openings such as aqueducts and abandoned mines
Definition Source:
Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-82 - 4-83
Circumneutral Northern White Cedar Swamp
Evergreen forested and /or shrub swamps dominated by Northern white cedar with base-rich stagnant or slow-moving water; in topographically defined basins; on decomposed peats and mucks.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 92 - Appendix II Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-23
Circumneutral Rocky Summit Outcrop
Dry to xeric exposed summits, ledges, and other outcrops (marble) with a vegetation of small trees, low shrubs, grasses and herbs; on marble bedrock. Subtypes include grassy glade/bald, cedar woodland, Scrub oak and other/unique.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 85 - Appendix II
Circumneutral Spring Fen
Naturally open wetlands occupying high pH groundwater discharge sites; peat accumulation minimal. Subtypes include sedge, shrub thicket, phragmites, woodland, and other/unique.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 90 - Appendix II Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-32 (Calcareous Spring Fen)
Coastal Bluffs and Headlands
Dry seaside cliffs, bluffs and other open headlands, exposed to winds and salt spray. Subtypes include pitch pine/post oak, cedar bluff, outcrop, and other/unique.
Definition Source:
Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-81 - 4-82
Coastal Grasslands
Open grasslands dominated by warm season species in close proximity to Long Island Sound, exposed to wind and salt spray.
Definition Source:
(definition unpublished) Kenneth J. Metzler: Connecticut State Geological and Natural History Survey, CT Department of Environmental Protection
Coastal Woodland/Shrubland
Dry to moist open woodlands on or near the coast; often stunted by wind or salt deposition from coastal storms. Subtypes include shrubland, woodland, woodland/shrubland and other/unique.
Definition Source:
Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-13 
Dry Acidic Forest
Poorly growing deciduous forests often dominated by oaks with various mixtures of pine often with dwarf ericaceous shrubs. The only sites mapped were those occurring on stratified sand and gravel.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 86 - Appendix II Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-8 (specifically Dry Oak Forest)
Dry Circumneutral Forest
Dry, rich forests often dominated by oaks and sugar maple, generally with a diverse herbaceous layer, on marble bedrock.  Subtypes include cedar woodlands and maple/ yellow oak.
Definition Source:
Definition Source: Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett, The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 87 - Appendix II
Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy 
(CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-8 (Calcareous Forest)
Dry Subacidic Forest
Slow-growing forests, primarily on or near the summit of basalt or other mafic rocks; often dominated by white ash, hickories and hophornbeam, with few shrubs and an open grassy ground cover. Subtypes include ash/hickory woodland and other/unique.
Definition Source:
Definition Source: Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 87 - Appendix II
Floodplain Forest
Mesic forests and associated open, alluvial wetlands influenced by seasonal inundation, with flood deposited sandy or nutrient-rich silty soils. Subtypes include high floodplain, low floodplain forest, alluvial marsh, alluvial swamp, undifferientated, and other/unique.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 88 - Appendix II Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-23
Freshwater Aquatic
"Coastal Plain Pond" is the only subtype that was mapped for this project. Primarily "sandy substrate" ponds that experience a seasonal fluctuation in water level.
Definition Source:
Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-44
Intertidal Marsh
Regularly and irregularly flooded marshes influenced by water with varying salinity. Freshwater marsh, has salinity less than 0.5 ppt. Includes tidal woodlands. Brackish marsh has a salinity range of 0.5 to 18 ppt. Salt marsh has a salinity range greater than 18 ppt.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 93 - Appendix II Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-39 (Tidal Wetlands)
Medium Fen
Natural peatlands occupying topographically defined basins; often flooded by acidic surface water; on deep, poorly decomposed peats; dominated by sedges and/or shrubs. Subtypes include sedge, shrub thicket, and other/unique.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 90 - Appendix II
Old Growth Forest
Second growth forests that have not undergone human disturbance during their developmental cycle. Subtypes include white pine, white pine/spruce, hemlock, and other/unique.
Definition Source:
Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-9
Poor Fen
Natural peatlands (bogs) occupying topographically defined basins; influenced by acidic ground water; on deep, poorly decomposed peats; dominated primarily by ericaceous shrubs. Subtypes include dwarf shrub, shrub thicket, saturated woodland, and other/unique.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 90 - Appendix II
Rich Fen
Natural peatlands occupying topographically defined basins; influenced by base-rich waters; on deep, poorly decomposed peats; restricted to the western marble valleys. Subtypes include sedge, shrub thicket, dwarf shrub, woodland, phragmites, and other/unique.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 90 - Appendix II
Sand Barren
Dry sandy deposits with woody or grassy vegetation maintained by fire. Subtypes include sparsely vegetated sand, sandplain grassland, pitch pine scrub, riverine dredge spoils, and other/unique.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 85 - Appendix II
Sea Level Fen
Herbaceous fens occuring on salt marsh-upland transitions; influenced by groundwater discharge; on saturated mineral soils; dominated by sedges and sphagnum mosses.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 45
Subacidic Cold Talus Forest/Woodland
Dry to moist open woodlands or forests on coarse colluvial deposits of primarily basalt and other mafic rocks; with soil and humus in pockets between the rocks, cold air drainage maintains "northern" plant associations.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 86 - Appendix II
Subacidic Rocky Summit Outcrop
Dry to xeric exposed summits, ledges, and other outcrops (primarily basalt and other mafic rocks) with a vegetation of low shrubs, grasses and herbs. Subtypes include grassy glades/balds, cedar woodlands, scrub oak, and other/unique.
Definition Source:
Metzler, Kenneth J., and Juliana P. Barrett. The Vegetation of Connecticut - A Preliminary Classification; Geoglogical and Natural History Survey, CT DEP: 2006 pp 85 - Appendix II
COMMSUBTYP
Definition:
Indicates the particular community subtype of as defined by the CT Vegetation Classification System and State of CT field biologists, botanists, and ecologists. Some key habitats are broken into subtypes based on natural variations in plant species dominance and/or vegetation structure. These differences are apparent in the subtype names.
Alias: COMMSUBTYP Type: String Width: 50 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
Attribute domain values
ValueDefinition
Alluvial Marsh
Open alluvial wetlands influenced by seasonal inundation, with flood deposited sandy or nutrient-rich silty soils; Subtype of Community Type, Floodplain Forest.
Definition Source:
Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-32 (Freshwater Marsh)
Alluvial Swamp
Alluvial Swamp; Subtype of Community Type, 'Floodplain Forest.'
Ash/Hickory Glade
Ash/Hickory Glade; Subtype of Community Type, 'Dry Subacidic Forest.'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Dry Subacidic Forest'
Brackish Marsh
Regularly and irregularly flooded marshes influenced by water with a salinity range of 0.5 to 18 ppt.; Subtype of Community Type, 'Intertidal Marsh'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Intertidal Marsh'
Cave
Cave; Subtype of Community Type, 'Caves and Other Subterranean Habitat'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Caves and Other Subterranean Habitat'
Cedar Bluff
Cedar Bluff; Subtype of Community Type, 'Coastal Bluffs and Headlands' where cedar is the dominant vegetation.
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Coastal Bluffs and Headlands'
Cedar Swamp
Cedar Swamp; Subtype of Community Type, 'Acidic Atlantic White Cedar Swamp' where cedar is pure, i.e. not predominantly mixed with another species.
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Acidic Atlantic White Cedar Swamp'
Cedar Woodland
Cedar Woodland; Subtype of Community Types, 'Circumneutral Rocky Summit Outcrop,' 'Dry Circumneutral Forest,' and 'Subacidic Rocky Summit Outcrop'
Definition Source:
Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-12 - 4-13 ( Red Cedar Glades)
Cedar/Great Laurel
Cedar/Great Laurel; Subtype of Community Type, 'Acidic Atlantic White Cedar Swamp' where cedar and great laurel are co-dominant.
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Acidic Atlantic White Cedar Swamp'
Cedar/Hardwood
Cedar/Hardwood; Subtype of Community Type, 'Acidic Atlantic White Cedar Swamp' where Cedar shares dominance with Hardwood species.
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Acidic Atlantic White Cedar Swamp'
Coastal Plain Pond
"Coastal Plain Ponds" are primarily "sandy substrate" ponds that experience a seasonal fluctuation in water level. A Subtype of Community Type, 'Freshwater Aquatic'
Definition Source:
Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-66 - 4-69
Dwarf Shrub
Dwarf Shrub; A Subtype of Community Types, 'Poor Fen' and 'Rich Fen'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definitions: 'Poor Fen' and 'Rich Fen'
Freshwater Marsh
Regularly and irregularly flooded marshes influenced by water with salinity less than 0.5 ppt. Includes tidal woodlands. A Subtype of Community Type, 'Intertidal Marsh'
Definition Source:
Please see definition for 'Intertidal Marsh'
Grassland
Grassland; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Alluvial Grassland/Outcrop'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Alluvial Grassland/Outcrop'
Grassy Glade/Bald
Grassy Glade/Balds are found on dry exposed summits, ledges and outcrops. Vegetation is typically low shrubs, grasses, and herbs, including bearberry, lowbush blueberry, sand cherry, poverty grass, and little bluestem; A Subtype of Community Types, 'Acidic Rocky Summit Outcrop,' 'Circumneutral Rocky Summit Outcrop,' and 'Subacidic Rocky Summit Outcrop.'
Definition Source:
Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-17
Hemlock
A Subtype of Community Type, 'Old Growth Forest' where hemlock is the dominant tree species.
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Old Growth Forest.'
High Floodplain
A Subtype of Community Type, 'Floodplain Forest' primarily determined by the duration and frequency of flooding. "High Floodplain" refers to infrequently flooded areas dominated by a rich, diverse assemblege of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Floodplain Forest.'
Low Floodplain
A Subtype of Community Type, 'Floodplain Forest', primarily determined by the duration and frequency of flooding. "Low Floodplain" refers to areas regularly flooded for longer periods into the growing season. Dominated primarily by silver maple and cottonwood, few shrubs and a dense ground cover of herbaceous plants and ferns.
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Floodplain Forest.'
Maple/Yellow Oak
Maple/Yellow Oak; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Dry Circumneutral Forest'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Dry Circumneutral Forest'
Other/Unique
A Subtype of a given Community Type where the habitat does not coincide with the other Subtypes specified. When this is used, it is usually further defined in the 'COMMENTS' field.
Outcrop
A Subtype of Community Type, 'Alluvial Grassland/Outcrop' and 'Coastal Bluffs and Headlands'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Alluvial Grassland/Outcrop'
Phragmites
A Subtype of Community Types, 'Rich Fen' and 'Circumneutral Spring Fen' distinguished for a high restoration priority.
Definition Source:
see Community Type definitions: 'Rich Fen' and 'Circumneutral Spring Fen'
Pitch Pine
Pitch Pine; A Subtype of Community Type 'Acidic Rocky Summit Outcrop'
Definition Source:
Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-13
Pitch Pine Scrub
Pitch Pine Scrub; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Sand Barren'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Sand Barren'
Pitch Pine/Post Oak
Pitch Pine/Post Oak; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Coastal Bluffs and Headlands'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Coastal Bluffs and Headlands'
Riverine
A Subtype of Community Type, 'Beachshore.' Indicative of a beachshore community within a riverine system.
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Beachshore'
Riverine Dredge Spoil
Riverine Dredge Spoil; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Sand Barren.'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Sand Barren'
Salt
A Subtype of Community Type, 'Beachshore.' Indicative of a beachshore community within a salt water habitat.
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Beachshore'
Salt Marsh
Regularly and irregularly flooded marshes influenced by water with a salinity range greater than 18 ppt. A Subtype of Community Type, 'Intertidal Marsh'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Intertidal Marsh'
Sandplain Grassland
Sandplain Grassland; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Sand Barren'
Definition Source:
Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-17
Saturated Woodland
Saturated Woodland; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Poor Fen'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Poor Fen'
Scrub Oak
Scrub Oak; A Subtype of Community Types, 'Acidic Rocky Summit Outcrop,' 'Circumneutral Rocky Summit Outcrop,' and 'Subacidic Rocky Summit Outcrop.'
Sedge
Sedge; A Subtype of Community Types, 'Circumneutral Spring Fen,' 'Medium Fen,' and 'Rich Fen.'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definitions: 'Circumneutral Spring Fen,' 'Medium Fen,' and 'Rich Fen.'
Shrub Thicket
Shrub Thicket; A Subtype of Community Types, 'Circumneutral Spring Fen,' 'Medium Fen,' 'Poor Fen,' and 'Rich Fen.'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definitions: 'Circumneutral Spring Fen,' 'Medium Fen,' 'Poor Fen,' and 'Rich Fen.'
Shrubland
Shrubland; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Coastal Woodland/Shrubland.'
Definition Source:
Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-13
Sparsely Vegetated Sand
Sparsely Vegetated Sand; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Sand Barren'
Definition Source:
Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CCWCS); State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Natural Resources: pp 4-17 - 4-18
Stratified Sand and Gravel
Stratified Sand and Gravel; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Dry Acidic Forest'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Dry Acidic Forest'
Undifferentiated
A Subtype of Community Type 'Floodplain Forest' used when making no distinction within the mapped habitat of high or low floodplain and/or alluvial marsh and swamp.
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Floodplain Forest'
White Pine
A Subtype of Community Type, 'Old Growth Forest' where white pine is the dominant tree species.
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Old Growth Forest'
White Pine/Spruce
A Subtype of Community Type, 'Old Growth Forest' where white pine/spruce are the co-dominant tree species.
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Old Growth Forest'
Woodland
A Subtype of Community Type, 'Rich Fen'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Rich Fen'
Woodland/Shrubland
A Subtype of Community Type, 'Coastal Woodland/Shrubland'
Definition Source:
see Community Type definition: 'Coastal Woodland/Shrubland'
ACREAGE
Definition:
Size in acres of the given polygon calculated by dividing 43560 by the value generated in the SHAPE_Area field.
Alias: ACREAGE Type: Double Width: 8 Precision: 38 Scale: 8
LASTVISIT
Definition:
The date in which the site was last visited by a DEP field biologist, botanist, and/or ecologist. (It should be noted that a date of 1/1/year is indicative only of the specific year, not the month or day)
Alias: LASTVISIT Type: Date Width: 36 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
DATA_METHD
Definition:
Addresses the method used to create the polygon. Either aerial photo interpretation or GPS field data collection will be indicated.
Alias: DATA_METHD Type: String Width: 50 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
Attribute domain values
ValueDefinition
GPS Field Data
Data was collected on site using GPS equipment to delineate boundaries.
Aerial Photo Interpretation
Data was created by heads-up digitizing boundaries using digital orthoimagery. Characteristic vegetation was identified by aerial photo interpretation by qualified biologists.
Aerial Photo Interpretation based on GPS Field Data
Data was originally collected on site using GPS equipment, and was further refined by aerial photo interpretation of digital orthoimagery.
DATA_SOURC
Definition:
Denotes the base map imagery used to create the polygon, when the data method indicates that the polygon was created using aerial photo interpretation.
Alias: DATA_SOURC Type: String Width: 50 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
DATA_EQUIP
Definition:
When GPS field equipment is used, this field specifies the make and model of the unit.
Alias: DATA_EQUIP Type: String Width: 50 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
DATA_EDTR
Definition:
Indicates the group responsible for the data's current representation.
Alias: DATA_EDTR Type: String Width: 30 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
DATA_DATE
Definition:
The date in which the polygon was created or last edited (It should be noted that a date of 1/1/year is indicative only of the specified year and not the month and day)
Alias: DATA_DATE Type: Date Width: 36 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
ASSOCDATA
Definition:
Indicates other data sources or projects that contributed data used to create the feature, or other data sources that may have additional information about the feature or site.
Alias: ASSOCDATA Type: String Width: 150 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
SPECIESDAT
Definition:
Indicates species that occur on site, this may include dominant vegetation and/or rare species, as well as component plant associations.
Alias: SPECIESDAT Type: String Width: 254 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
COMMENTS
Definition:
Miscellaneous information and or data pertinent to the site the polygon represents. May include information on site conditions, invasives species, and plant associations.
Alias: COMMENTS Type: String Width: 254 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
ELCODE
Definition:
An internal DEP code, developed by the state heritage program and NatureServe, used to identify the habitat type within the Biotics database.
Alias: ELCODE Type: String Width: 25 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
EONMBR
Definition:
An internal DEP identification number assigned to an area of habitat within the Biotics database.
Alias: EONMBR Type: String Width: 10 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
IS_QAQC
Definition:
Indicates whether the polygon's area and attributes have been quality controlled by State of CT professional staff.
Alias: IS_QAQC Type: String Width: 10 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
GPS_PDOP
Definition:
Indicates the dilusion of precision for GPS field collected data. All PDOP values listed are max values.
Alias: GPS_PDOP Type: String Width: 15 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
GPS_HDOP
Definition:
Indicates the horizontal dilusion of precision for GPS field collected data. All HDOP values listed are max values.
Alias: GPS_HDOP Type: String Width: 15 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
GPS_HRZPR
Definition:
Indicates the horizontal precision for GPS field collected data. All horizontal precision data are averaged values.
Alias: GPS_HRZPR Type: String Width: 15 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
Group_legend
Definition:
A general organization of the critical habitats by vegetation structure such as a dominance of trees, shrubs, or herbaceous plants and hydrology such as the influence of salt water versus fresh water.
Alias: Group_legend Type: String Width: 50 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
Attribute domain values
ValueDefinition
Estuarine
Estuarine habitats include salt, brackish and freshwater tidal marshes. Also included are intertidal beaches and shores and their associated sand dunes.
Palustrine Forested
Palustrine habitats include swamps that are seasonally and/or permanently flooded by freshwater. Forest habitats are characterized by a dominance of trees with overlapping crowns forming between 60-100% canopy cover.
Palustrine Non-forested
Palustrine habitats include marshes, bogs and fens that are seasonally and/or permanently flooded by freshwater. Also included are riverine beach strands that are exposed during low-flow conditions along the banks of major rivers. Non-forested habitats are characterized by a dominance of shrubs and herbaceous plants, with or without scattered trees.
Terrestrial Forested
Terrestrial habitats include upland forests and woodlands that are not influenced by surface or groundwater flooding. Forest habitats are characterized by a dominance of trees with overlapping crowns forming between 60-100% canopy cover.
Terrestrial Non-forested
Terrestrial habitats include upland shrublands and herbaceous and/or sparsely vegetated areas that are not influenced by surface or groundwater flooding. Non-forested habitats are characterized by a dominance of shrubs and herbaceous plants, with or without scattered trees.
Centroid_X
Definition:
Polygon centroid X coordinate in CT State Plane (feet).
Alias: Centroid_X Type: Double Width: 8 Precision: 38 Scale: 8
Centroid_Y
Definition:
Polygon centroid Y coordinate in CT State Plane (feet).
Alias: Centroid_Y Type: Double Width: 8 Precision: 38 Scale: 8
COMLABEL
Definition:
Abbreviation of Community Type used to label polygons.
Alias: COMLABEL Type: String Width: 20 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
Shape
Definition:
Feature geometry.
Alias: Shape Type: Geometry Width: 4 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
Attribute values: Coordinates defining the features.
Attribute definition source:
ESRI
Shape.area
Definition:
Polygon area in square feet.
Alias: Shape.area Type: Double Width: 0 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
Shape.len
Definition:
Perimeter in feet.
Alias: Shape.len Type: Double Width: 0 Precision: 0 Scale: 0
ESRI Feature Description
Description of spatial objects in the data using the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) terminology.
Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) terms
depgis.DEP.CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY
ESRI feature type: Simple
Geometry type: Polygon
Topology: FALSE
Feature count: 2972
Spatial index: TRUE
Linear referencing: FALSE
XY Rank: 1
Z Rank: 1
Topology weight: 5.000000
Events on validation: FALSE
Participates in topology rules:
Rule Id: 7, 5, 6
SDTS Feature Description
Description of point and vector spatial objects in the data using the Spatial Data Transfer Standards (SDTS) terminology.
Spatial data transfer standard (SDTS) terms
depgis.DEP.CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY
Type: G-polygon
Count: 2972
+ Data Quality and Accuracy Information
General
Information about the fidelity of relationships, data quality and accuracy tests, omissions, selection criteria, generalization, and definitions used to derive the data.
Logical consistency report:
Polygon features conform to the following topological rules. Polygons are single part. Polygons do not overlap other polygons. 

Establishment of logical consistency was performed by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection using ESRI ArcGIS software to create and control feature topology in Geodatabase format.  Rules were applied to test topological integrity.
Completeness report:
The completeness of the data reflects the feature content of the data sources, which include the original feature classes, maps, field data sheets, and GPS data files. The Critical_Habitat_poly layer represents only a subset of Connecticut's critical habitats, as identified in Connecticut's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy and is complete in the sense that it accurately reflects the contents of the information available to the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection at the time of its creation. 

There is inherent variation in both the accuracy and completeness of each community type. For example, habitats such as Atlantic white cedar swamps, poor fens and tidal marshes have a long history of data collection and are nearly complete in both their depicted distribution and delineation accuracy. In contrast, the distribution of habitats such as dry acidic forests and dry circumneutral forests is reasonably known, but is incompletely mapped due to difficulty in delineating these habitats using remote data.  Known locations of these and other critical habitat types that were not mapped as polygons are included in the CritHab_AdditSites layer within the geodatabase.
Attribute Accuracy
Accuracy of the identification of data entities, features and assignment of attribute values.
Attribute accuracy report:
The habitat_poly layer retains the feature types and information identified by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection and obtained from the XYZ orginal feature classes, maps, field data sheets, and GPS data files.  All attributes have valid values. Values are within defined domains.  The values present in 'ACREAGE' were manually calculated using the generated 'SHAPE_Area' value that contains the area of the polygon in square feet.  This value was then manually divided by the value, 43560, to obtain the area value in acres.
Positional Accuracy
Accuracy of the positional aspects of the data.
Horizontal accuracy report:
The horizontal positional accuracy of this data is based on +/-0.8 feet resolution Ortho Photos.  Many of the locations may lie within 1.6 feet of their real world location, however, due to inconsistencies with the photo imagery and due to the nature of the entity being mapped (being dynamic in many cases), we maintain the horizontal positional accuracy be between 3 and 10 meters or 10 and 30 feet.


Polygon features are approximate representations for small and large area objects having defined boundaries best identified by a professional field biologist, botanists or ecologist versed in the classifications of the ecologic communities of CT.  
 

Features are accurately positioned as they were well documented by CT DEP field biologists, botanists, and/or ecologists, were easily identifiable using 2004 BW Orthophoto imagery and other DEP datalayers such as topography or soils, or were field delineated by way of GPS.  
+ Data Source and Process Information
Data Sources
Information about the source data used to construct or derive the data.
Data source information
Source 1 - National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
Title: Source 1 - National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
Originators: US Fish and Wildlife Service (data compiler, editor and publisher)
Publisher: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Publication date: Unknown
Data type: shapefile
Map scale denominator: 1:24,000
Media: paper
Source contribution:
Poor Fen and Cedar Swamp polygons on which more current Poor Fen and Cedar Swamp polygons were based.
Source 2 - DEP updated NWI data
Title: Source 2 - DEP updated NWI data
Originators: CT DEP, State of Connecticut (data compiler, editor and publisher)
Publication date: Unpublished Material
Data type: shapefile
Map scale denominator: 1:12,000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from "DEP updated NWI data" serves as the source for most of the Cedar Swamp and Poor Fen polygons in the geodatabase.
Source 3 - CT DEP In-house NWI
Title: Source 3 - CT DEP In-house NWI updates
Originators: CT DEP, State of Connecticut (data compiler, editor and publisher)
Publisher: CT DEP
Publication place: CT DEP
Publication date: Unknown
Data type: shapefile
Map scale denominator: 1:24,000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from the CT DEP In-house NWI serves as the source data for various Cedar Swamp and Poor Fen site areas within the geodatabase.
Source 4 - Natural Diversity Data Base
Title: Source 4 - Natural Diversity Database
Originators: CT DEP, State of Connecticut (data compiler, editor and publisher)
Publisher: CT DEP
Publication place: CT DEP
Publication date: 2007 (updated continually)
Data type: shapefile
Map scale denominator: 1:12.000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from the National Diversity Data Base collected and maintained by State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection biologists serves as the source data for various critical habitat site areas providing general locations and historical field data that were improved upon once added to the geodatabase.
Source 5 - Farmington Valley Biodiversity Project (2002)
Title: Source 5 - Farmington Valley Biodiversity Project (2002)
Originators: Farmington River Watershed Association (data compiler, editor and publisher)
Publication date: 2002
Data type: shapefile
Map scale denominator: 1:12,000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from the FRWA 2002 Biodiverisity Project serves as the data source for many of the critical habitats present within the Farmington River Watershed area. This project provided detailed mapping and vegetation descriptions.  Hard copy mapping from this project proved to be more reliable than the digital source data. 
Date: unknown
Currentness reference:
publication date
Source 6 - Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Study (2003)
Title: Source 6 - Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Study 2003
Originators: The Nature Conservancy (data compiler, editor and publisher)
Publication date: 2003
Data type: shapefile
Map scale denominator: 1:12,000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from the Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Study 2003 serves as the data source for many of the critical habitats present within the Eightmile River Watershed area. This project provided detailed mapping and vegetation descriptions.
Source 7 - The Sand Plain Communities of the Connecticut River Valley: Sand Plain Distribution (2003)
Title: Source 7 - The Sand Plain Communities of the Connecticut River Valley: Sand Plain Distribution Study 2003
Originators: David Wagner, PhD, University of Connecticut, Storrs, and Justin L. Smith, University of Connecticut, Storrs
Publication date: 2003
Data type: shapefile
Map scale denominator: 1:12,000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from the Sand Plain Distribution Study serves as the data source for many of the Sand Barrens inherent within the geodatabase. This project provided the most comprehensive look at the distribution of sand plains in the Connecticut River Valley and included a habitat evaluation and information on associated invertebrate species.
Source 8 - Canaan Mountain Natural Area Preserve, Litchfield County, Connecticut. A Survey of Rare Vascular Plant Species and Natural Communities and Provisional Classification and Mapping of Vegetation and Natural Communities. (2000).
Title: Source 8 - Canaan Mountain Natural Area Preserve, Litchfield County, Connecticut. A Survey of Rare Vascular Plant Species and Natural Communities and Provisional Classification and Mapping of Vegetation and Natural Communities. (2000).
Originators: Moorhead, William H. III
Publication date: 2000
Map scale denominator: 1:12,000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from the Canaan Mountain Vegetation survey serves as the data source for many of the Critical Habitats in the Canaan Mountain Natural Area Preserve. 
Source 9 - Rare Plant Survey and Plant Community Classification. Groton - New London Airport. Groton, Connecticut. Moorhead (2007)
Title: Source 9 - Rare Plant Survey and Plant Community Classification. Groton - New London Airport. Groton, Connecticut. (2007).
Originators: Moorhead, William H. III
Publication date: 2007
Map scale denominator: 1:2,000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from the Groton - New London Airport Vegetation survey serves as the data source for many of the Critical Habitats in the Groton - New London Airport.
Source 10 - Coastal Features - Coastal Barriers/Unditched Marshes
Title: Source 10 - Coastal Features - Coastal Barriers/Unditched Marshes
Originators: Rozsa, Ron
Publication date: Unpublished Material Publication time: Unknown
Map scale denominator: 1:12,000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from the Coastal Features collected and maintained by State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Long Island Sound biologists serves as the source data for intertidal marshes and beachshores providing general locations and historical field data that were improved upon once added to the geodatabase.  This data set includes coastal sites with exceptional habitat qualities such as natural dunes and unditched tidal marshes and/or State listed species.  Research and restoration sites are also included.
Process Steps
Information about events, parameters, tolerances and techniques applied to construct or derive the data.
Process step information
Process Step 1
Process description:
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) original polygons were photo interpreted using 1980 1:80,000 BW diapositives.  These were then updated and hand transferred onto 1:24,000 USGS topographic paper maps using a Stereo Zoom Transfer Scope.  The hand drawn polygons were further updated and were manually digitized using a digitizing tablet and stored in the form of a shapefile.
Organization: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Instructions:
http://www.fws.gov
Country: USA
Process date: Unknown
Data Source used
Source 1 - National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
Title: Source 1 - National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
Originators: US Fish and Wildlife Service (data compiler, editor and publisher)
Publisher: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Publication date: Unknown
Data type: shapefile
Map scale denominator: 1:24,000
Media: paper
Source contribution:
Poor Fen and Cedar Swamp polygons on which more current Poor Fen and Cedar Swamp polygons were based.
Process Step 2
Process description:
CT DEP In-house NWI were photo interpreted using 1980 1:80,000 BW diapositives.  These were then updated and hand transferred onto 1:24,000 USGS topographic paper maps using a Stereo Zoom Transfer Scope.
Organization: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Phone: 860.424.3011 Wildlife Main Line
Fax: 860.424.4078 Wildlife Fax
Email: dep.webmaster@po.state.ct.us
Hours of service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time
Address type: mailing and physical address
Address:
79 Elm Street
City: Hartford
State or Province: Connecticut
Postal code: 06106
Country: USA
Process date: Unknown
Data Source used
Source 1 - National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
Title: Source 1 - National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
Originators: US Fish and Wildlife Service (data compiler, editor and publisher)
Publisher: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Publication date: Unknown
Data type: shapefile
Map scale denominator: 1:24,000
Media: paper
Source contribution:
Poor Fen and Cedar Swamp polygons on which more current Poor Fen and Cedar Swamp polygons were based.
Data Source produced
Source 3 - CT DEP In-house NWI
Title: Source 3 - CT DEP In-house NWI updates
Originators: CT DEP, State of Connecticut (data compiler, editor and publisher)
Publisher: CT DEP
Publication place: CT DEP
Publication date: Unknown
Data type: shapefile
Map scale denominator: 1:24,000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from the CT DEP In-house NWI serves as the source data for various Cedar Swamp and Poor Fen site areas within the geodatabase.
Process Step 3
Process description:
Data from the listed data sources was compiled and loaded into a geodatabase.  The data was organized  collectively under one set of attributes.  Polygons were edited and quality controlled using the 2004 BW Digital Ortho Photos to further refine the boundaries of each polygon.  

Some areas were refined by way of a GPS and field visit and are noted as such within the attributes.  Polygons collected using a GPS would be post-processed using Pathfinder Office v.2.8 software, differentially corrected using the CORS Guilford, CT location, and exported into ArcMap to be added into the 'habitat_sites' feature class.
Organization: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Phone: 860.424.3011 Wildlife Main Line
Fax: 860.424.4078 Wildlife Fax
Email: dep.webmaster@po.state.ct.us
Hours of service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time
Address type: mailing and physical address
Address:
79 Elm Street
City: Hartford
State or Province: Connecticut
Postal code: 06106
Country: USA
Process date: 2007
Data Source used
Source 2 - DEP updated NWI data
Title: Source 2 - DEP updated NWI data
Originators: CT DEP, State of Connecticut (data compiler, editor and publisher)
Publication date: Unpublished Material
Data type: shapefile
Map scale denominator: 1:12,000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from "DEP updated NWI data" serves as the source for most of the Cedar Swamp and Poor Fen polygons in the geodatabase.
Source 3 - CT DEP In-house NWI
Title: Source 3 - CT DEP In-house NWI updates
Originators: CT DEP, State of Connecticut (data compiler, editor and publisher)
Publisher: CT DEP
Publication place: CT DEP
Publication date: Unknown
Data type: shapefile
Map scale denominator: 1:24,000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from the CT DEP In-house NWI serves as the source data for various Cedar Swamp and Poor Fen site areas within the geodatabase.
Source 4 - Natural Diversity Database
Source 6 - Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Study 2003
Source 7 - Sand Plain Distribution Study
Source 5 - Farmington Valley Biodiversity Project (2002)
Title: Source 5 - Farmington Valley Biodiversity Project (2002)
Originators: Farmington River Watershed Association (data compiler, editor and publisher)
Publication date: 2002
Data type: shapefile
Map scale denominator: 1:12,000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from the FRWA 2002 Biodiverisity Project serves as the data source for many of the critical habitats present within the Farmington River Watershed area. This project provided detailed mapping and vegetation descriptions.  Hard copy mapping from this project proved to be more reliable than the digital source data. 
Date: unknown
Currentness reference:
publication date
Source 8 - Canaan Mountain Natural Area Preserve, Litchfield County, Connecticut. A Survey of Rare Vascular Plant Species and Natural Communities and Provisional Classification and Mapping of Vegetation and Natural Communities. (2000).
Title: Source 8 - Canaan Mountain Natural Area Preserve, Litchfield County, Connecticut. A Survey of Rare Vascular Plant Species and Natural Communities and Provisional Classification and Mapping of Vegetation and Natural Communities. (2000).
Originators: Moorhead, William H. III
Publication date: 2000
Map scale denominator: 1:12,000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from the Canaan Mountain Vegetation survey serves as the data source for many of the Critical Habitats in the Canaan Mountain Natural Area Preserve. 
Source 9 - Rare Plant Survey and Plant Community Classification. Groton - New London Airport. Groton, Connecticut. Moorhead (2007)
Title: Source 9 - Rare Plant Survey and Plant Community Classification. Groton - New London Airport. Groton, Connecticut. (2007).
Originators: Moorhead, William H. III
Publication date: 2007
Map scale denominator: 1:2,000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from the Groton - New London Airport Vegetation survey serves as the data source for many of the Critical Habitats in the Groton - New London Airport.
Source 10 - Coastal Features - Coastal Barriers/Unditched Marshes
Title: Source 10 - Coastal Features - Coastal Barriers/Unditched Marshes
Originators: Rozsa, Ron
Publication date: Unpublished Material Publication time: Unknown
Map scale denominator: 1:12,000
Media: shapefile
Source contribution:
The data from the Coastal Features collected and maintained by State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Long Island Sound biologists serves as the source data for intertidal marshes and beachshores providing general locations and historical field data that were improved upon once added to the geodatabase.  This data set includes coastal sites with exceptional habitat qualities such as natural dunes and unditched tidal marshes and/or State listed species.  Research and restoration sites are also included.
Data Source produced
'Critical_Habitat_poly' feature class as part of CT Critical Habitat Geodatabase
ESRI geoprocessing history
Description of ESRI geoprocessing commands, settings, and tolerances applied to the data.
ESRI geoprocessing command information
1 Process
Date: 20091203 Time: 151048
Tool location: C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\ArcToolbox\Toolboxes\Analysis Tools.tbx\SpatialJoin
Command issued: SpatialJoin CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY CRITICAL_HABITAT_CENTROID D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY_Spatia JOIN_ONE_TO_ONE KEEP_ALL "OBJECTID 'OBJECTID' true true false 4 Long 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,OBJECTID,-1,-1;SITENAME 'SITENAME' true true false 70 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,SITENAME,-1,-1;COMMSITEID 'COMMSITEID' true true false 2 Short 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,COMMSITEID,-1,-1;COMMTYPE 'COMMTYPE' true true false 50 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,COMMTYPE,-1,-1;COMMSUBTYP 'COMMSUBTYP' true true false 50 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,COMMSUBTYP,-1,-1;ACREAGE 'ACREAGE' true true false 8 Double 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,ACREAGE,-1,-1;LASTVISIT 'LASTVISIT' true true false 8 Date 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,LASTVISIT,-1,-1;DATA_METHD 'DATA_METHD' true true false 50 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,DATA_METHD,-1,-1;DATA_SOURC 'DATA_SOURC' true true false 50 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,DATA_SOURC,-1,-1;DATA_EQUIP 'DATA_EQUIP' true true false 50 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,DATA_EQUIP,-1,-1;DATA_EDTR 'DATA_EDTR' true true false 30 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,DATA_EDTR,-1,-1;DATA_DATE 'DATA_DATE' true true false 8 Date 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,DATA_DATE,-1,-1;ASSOCDATA 'ASSOCDATA' true true false 150 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,ASSOCDATA,-1,-1;SPECIESDAT 'SPECIESDAT' true true false 254 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,SPECIESDAT,-1,-1;COMMENTS 'COMMENTS' true true false 254 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,COMMENTS,-1,-1;ELCODE 'ELCODE' true true false 25 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,ELCODE,-1,-1;EONMBR 'EONMBR' true true false 10 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,EONMBR,-1,-1;IS_QAQC 'IS_QAQC' true true false 10 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,IS_QAQC,-1,-1;GPS_PDOP 'GPS_PDOP' true true false 15 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,GPS_PDOP,-1,-1;GPS_HDOP 'GPS_HDOP' true true false 15 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,GPS_HDOP,-1,-1;GPS_HRZPR 'GPS_HRZPR' true true false 15 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,GPS_HRZPR,-1,-1;ORIG_FID 'ORIG_FID' true true false 4 Long 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,ORIG_FID,-1,-1;Shape_Length 'Shape_Length' false true true 8 Double 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,Shape_Length,-1,-1;Shape_Area 'Shape_Area' false true true 8 Double 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,Shape_Area,-1,-1;Group_legend 'Group_legend' true true false 50 Text 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,Group_legend,-1,-1;Centroid_X 'Centroid_X' true true false 8 Double 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,Centroid_X,-1,-1;Centroid_Y 'Centroid_Y' true true false 8 Double 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY,Centroid_Y,-1,-1;POINT_X 'POINT_X' true true false 0 Double 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_CENTROID,POINT_X,-1,-1;POINT_Y 'POINT_Y' true true false 0 Double 0 0 ,First,#,D:\Critical_Habitat_Map\CTCriticalHabitat__92_topology.mdb\criticalhabitat\CRITICAL_HABITAT_CENTROID,POINT_Y,-1,-1" CONTAINS "0 Feet" #
2 CopyFeatures_1
Date: 20100211 Time: 132420
Tool location: C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\ArcToolbox\Toolboxes\Data Management Tools.tbx\CopyFeatures
Command issued: CopyFeatures Y:\Workspaces\GIS_Staging\Bioscience\CTCriticalHabitat__92.mdb\CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY "Database Connections\10.18.8.60.depgis@dep_92dc.sde\depgis.DEP.CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY" DEPFEATUREDYNAMIC 0 0 0
+ Data Distribution Information
General
Description of the data known by the party from whom the data may be obtained, liability of party distributing data, and technical capabilities required to use the data.
Resource description:
Connecticut Critical Habitats
Distribution liability:
Although this data set  has been used by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection as to the accuracy of the data and or related materials.  The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection in the use of these data or related materials. The user assumes the entire risk related to the use of these data. Once the data is distributed to the user, modifications made to the data by the user should be noted in the metadata.
Technical prerequisites:
Geographic information sytem (GIS), computer-aided drawing or other mapping software is necessary to display, view and access the information.
Distribution Point of Contact
Contact information for the individual or organization distributing the data.
Organization: State of Connecticut, Department of Enviromental Protection
Phone: 860.424.3540
Fax: 860.424.4058
Email: dep.webmaster@po.state.ct.us DEP Main E Mail
Hours of service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time
Address type: mailing and physical address
Address:
79 Elm Street
City: Hartford
State or Province: Connecticut
Postal code: 06106-5127
Country: USA
Standard Order Process
Common ways in which data may be obtained.
Digital form:
Format name: Shapefile, Feature Class
Format version number: ArcGIS
File decompression technique: Zip file
Digital transfer option:
Online option:
Computer information:
Network address:
Network resource name: http://www.ct.gov/deep
Fees: An online copy of the data may be accessed without charge.
Custom Order Process
Description of custom distribution services available.
Custom order process:
The data distributor does not provide custom GIS analysis or mapping services. Data is available in a standard format and may be converted to other formats, projections, coordinate systems, or selected for specific geographic regions by the party receiving the data.
+ Metadata Reference
Metadata Date
Dates associated with creating, updating and reviewing the metadata.
Last updated: 20111207
Language of metadata: en
Metadata Point of Contact
Contact information for the individual or organization responsible for the metadata information.
Person: Karen Zyko
Organization: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division
Phone: 860.424.3011 Wildlife Division Main Line
Fax: 860.424.4078 Wildlife Fax
Email: karen.zyko@ct.gov
Hours of service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time
Address type: mailing and physical address
Address:
79 Elm Street
City: Hartford
State or Province: Connecticut
Postal code: 06106-5127
Country: USA
Metadata Access Constraints
Restrictions and legal prerequisites for accessing or using the data after access is granted.
Access constraints:
None. No restrictions or legal prerequisites for accessing the metadata.
Use constraints:
None. No restrictions or legal prerequisites for using the metadata after access is granted.
Metadata Security Information
Handling restrictions imposed on the metadata because of national security, privacy or other concerns.
Security classifiction system: None
Security classification: None
Security handling: No restrictions for handling the metadata.
Metadata Standards
Description of the metadata standard used to document the data and reference to any additional extended profiles to the standard used by the metadata producer.
Standard name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Standard version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
Time convention: local time
Metadata profiles defining additonal information:
Profile: ESRI Metadata Profile
FGDC Plus Metadata Stylesheet
Stylesheet: FGDC Plus Stylesheet
File name: FGDC Plus.xsl
Version: 2.2
Description: This metadata is displayed using the FGDC Plus Stylesheet, which is an XSL template that can be used with ArcGIS software to display metadata. It displays metadata elements defined in the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (CSDGM) - aka FGDC Standard, the ESRI Profile of CSDGM, the Biological Data Profile of CSDGM, and the Shoreline Data Profile of CSDGM. CSDGM is the US Federal Metadata standard. The Federal Geographic Data Committee originally adopted the CSDGM in 1994 and revised it in 1998. According to Executive Order 12096 all Federal agencies are ordered to use this standard to document geospatial data created as of January, 1995. The standard is often referred to as the FGDC Metadata Standard and has been implemented beyond the federal level with State and local governments adopting the metadata standard as well. The Biological Data Profile broadens the application of the CSDGM so that it is more easily applied to biological data that are not explicitly geographic (laboratory results, field notes, specimen collections, research reports) but can be associated with a geographic location. Includes taxonomical vocabulary. The Shoreline Data Profile addresses variability in the definition and mapping of shorelines by providing a standardized set of terms and data elements required to support metadata for shoreline and coastal data sets. The FGDC Plus Stylesheet includes the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set. It supports W3C DOM compatible browsers such as IE7, IE6, Netscape 7, and Mozilla Firefox. It is in the public domain and may be freely used, modified, and redistributed. It is provided "AS-IS" without warranty or technical support.
Instructions: On the top of the page, click on the title of the dataset to toggle opening and closing of all metadata content sections or click section links listed horizontally below the title to open individual sections. Click on a section name (e.g. Description) to open and close section content. Within a section, click on a item name (Status, Key Words, etc.) to open and close individual content items. By default, the Citation information within the Description section is always open for display.
Download: FGDC Plus Stylesheet is available from the ArcScripts downloads at www.esri.com.