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Observed Eelgrass Beds

Metadata:


Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Dr. Charles Yarish, University of Connecticut Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (compiler)
Originator: Mary DiGiacomo-Cohen, Long Island Sound Resource Center (editor)
Originator: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection (publisher)
Publication_Date: 1997
Title:
Observed Eelgrass Beds
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Hartford, Connecticut, USA
Publisher: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Other_Citation_Details:
This layer is not updated and does not represent current conditions.
Online_Linkage: http://www.ct.gov/deep
Description:
Abstract:
Observed Eelgrass Beds is a 1:24,000 scale, polygon feature-based layer that depicts the locations of observed eelgrass beds in Long Island Sound, in major rivers, and within bays, harbors and other waterbodies along Connecticut's coast.  The layer is based on information from the Eelgrass Sample Points layer.  It represents conditions at a particular point in time (1993 to 1995).  During the 1993-95 field seasons a team of researchers from the University of Connecticut Dept. of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology led by Charles Yarish, equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS), SCUBA, and a 20' boat surveyed over 800 potential eelgrass locations.  Their GPS coordinates and field notes were used to create a point coverage entitled Eelgrass Sample Points, which was plotted and checked on a 1:24000 scale base map of the Connecticut shore.  These point locations, observations, and the nearshore bathymetry were then used to delineate areas representing both observed and potential eelgrass beds.  Eelgrass beds were initially digitized at 1:24,000 scale, but have been edited and revised on screen at higher resolution.  Keeping in mind the temporal and spatial variability of eelgrass, beds may vary in size, shape, and density from year to year.  

Feature locations may not always be exact due to equipment failure or lack of satellite reception.  In those cases, points were estimated from field notes.  It should be noted that the Observed Eelgrass Beds layer is not a complete dataset of all observed eelgrass sites in Connecticut and/or Long Island Sound.  This layer was published in 1997 and is not updated.  It does not represent current conditions.  

There are 101 polygon features representing observed eelgrass beds in this layer.  Geographic locations are as follows:  westernmost areas:  Clinton Harbor;  easternmost areas:  Little Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island waters.  Observed beds range in size from .003 acre (131 sq. ft.) to 49 acres (2,136,608 sq. ft.).  The total area of observed beds is 632.6 acres.
Purpose:
Observed Eelgrass Beds is 1:24,000-scale data.  The purpose of this datalayer is to depict the locations of observed eelgrass along Connecticut's coast.  The polygons in this layer were created from the Eelgrass Sample Points layer.  This layer is not intended for maps printed at map scales greater or more detailed than 1:24,000 scale (1 inch = 2,000 feet.)
Supplemental_Information:
For more information, refer to the Eelgrass Sample Points and Potential Eelgrass Beds layers.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 1993
Ending_Date: 1995
Currentness_Reference:
ground condition
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned
Spatial_Domain:
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -72.540127
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.872764
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.368846
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.254379
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: Eelgrass
Theme_Keyword: Observed Eelgrass
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: Long Island Sound
Place_Keyword: Connecticut River
Place_Keyword: Little Narragansett Bay
Place:
Place_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_Keyword: Connecticut
Place_Keyword: CT
Place_Keyword: Rhode Island
Place_Keyword: RI
Place:
Place_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.
Place_Keyword: United States of Connecticut
Place_Keyword: USA
Access_Constraints: None. The data is in the public domain and may be redistributed.
Use_Constraints:
None. No restrictions or legal prerequisites for using the data.  Note, the data is not intended for maps printed at map scales greater or more detailed than 1:24,000 scale (1 inch = 2,000 feet.)  Once acquired, any modification made to the data must be noted in the metadata. When printing this information 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.
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Contact_Person: Kevin O'Brien
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address:
79 Elm Street
City: Hartford
State_or_Province: Connecticut
Postal_Code: 06106-5127
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 860-424-3034
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 860-424-4054
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: dep.gisdata@ct.gov
Hours_of_Service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time
Browse_Graphic:
Browse_Graphic_File_Name: http://www.cteco.uconn.edu/metadata/dep/browsegraphic/eelgrassbedobpotfullview.gif
Browse_Graphic_File_Description:
Full view of Observed and Potential Eelgrass Beds 1993-1995
Browse_Graphic_File_Type: GIF
Browse_Graphic:
Browse_Graphic_File_Name: http://www.cteco.uconn.edu/metadata/dep/browsegraphic/eelgrassbedobpotdetailview.gif
Browse_Graphic_File_Description:
Detail view of Observed and Potential Eelgrass Beds 1993-1995
Browse_Graphic_File_Type: GIF
Native_Data_Set_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.
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Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
Attribute accuracy is unknown.
Logical_Consistency_Report:
Logical consistency for this layer is not known.
Completeness_Report:
The completeness of the data reflects the feature content of the data sources, which includes the GPS data files and field notes.  This layer is complete in the sense that it accurately reflects the contents of the above referenced source information available at the time the State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection created the layer. However, compared to current conditions, this layer is incomplete and is not updated.
Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
The horizontal positional accuracy of this data is unknown.
Lineage:
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Originator: University of Connecticut, Long Island Sound Resource Center
Publication_Date: 1997
Title:
Eelgrass Sample Points
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Online_Linkage: http://www.ct.gov/deep
Source_Scale_Denominator: 24000
Type_of_Source_Media: disc
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Single_Date/Time:
Calendar_Date: 1997
Source_Currentness_Reference:
publication date
Source_Citation_Abbreviation:
Source 1 - Eelgrass Sample Points Coverage
Source_Contribution:
This source served as the major source of base data for the creation of Observed Eelgrass Beds.  GPS coordinates and field notes were used to create the Eelgrass Sample Points coverage, which was plotted and checked on a 1:24000 scale base map of the Connecticut shore.  These point locations, observations, and the nearshore bathymetry were then used to delineate areas representing both observed and potential eelgrass beds.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Originator: University of Connecticut, Long Island Sound Resource Center
Publication_Date: 1997
Title:
Observed Eelgrass Beds Coverage
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Online_Linkage: http://www.ct.gov/deep
Source_Scale_Denominator: 24000
Type_of_Source_Media: disc
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Single_Date/Time:
Calendar_Date: 1997
Source_Currentness_Reference:
publication date
Source_Citation_Abbreviation:
Source 2 - Observed Eelgrass Beds Coverage
Source_Contribution:
This data source refers to all features combined in one statewide layer. Since initial publication in 1997, subsequent publication of the layer was generated by the State of Connecticut in order to convert from NAD 27 to NAD 83. Consequently, a different copy of this layer was produced, representing the change in the state plane coordinate system.  Changes made to the entire layer are reflected in metadata process steps where this particular data source is cited as both the Source Used and the Source Produced.
Source_Information:
Source_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Publication_Date: 1997
Title:
Observed Eelgrass Beds Shapefile
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Online_Linkage: http://www.ct.gov/deep
Source_Scale_Denominator: 24000
Type_of_Source_Media: disc
Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Single_Date/Time:
Calendar_Date: 1997
Source_Currentness_Reference:
publication date
Source_Citation_Abbreviation:
Source 3 - Observed Eelgrass Beds Shapefile
Source_Contribution:
This source represents the final form of Observed Eelgrass Beds and was produced from the Observed Eelgrass Beds ArcInfo Coverage.
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Feature Creation and Attribution - During the 1993-95 field seasons a team of researchers led by Charles Yarish, equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS), SCUBA, and a 20' boat surveyed over 800 potential eelgrass locations.  Their GPS coordinates and field notes were used to create a point coverage entitled Eelgrass Sample Points (Source 1), which was plotted and checked on a 1:24000 scale base map of the Connecticut shore.  These point locations, observations, and the nearshore bathymetry were then used to delineate areas representing both observed eelgrass beds (Source 2) and potential eelgrass beds.  Eelgrass beds were initially digitized at 1:24,000 scale, but have been edited and revised on screen at higher resolution.
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation:
Source 1 - Eelgrass Sample Points Coverage
Process_Date: 1997
Source_Produced_Citation_Abbreviation:
Source 2 - Observed Eelgrass Beds Coverage
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: University of Connecticut, Long Island Sound Resource Center
Contact_Person: Mary DiGiacomo-Cohen
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 860-405-9015
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Datum conversion - Using ESRI ArcInfo software, the Observed Eelgrass Beds layer was converted from the Connecticut State Plane Coordinate System of 1927 (NAD27) to the Connecticut State Plane Coordinate System of 1983 (NAD83). The NADCON (North American Datum CONversion) data transformation was used.
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation:
Source 2 - Observed Eelgrass Beds Coverage
Process_Date: 1997
Source_Produced_Citation_Abbreviation:
Source 2 - Observed Eelgrass Beds Coverage
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Organization: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Using ArcView software, the Observed Eelgrass Beds Coverage was converted to Shapefile format.
Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation:
Source 2 - Observed Eelgrass Beds Coverage
Process_Date: 1997
Source_Produced_Citation_Abbreviation:
Source 3 - Observed Eelgrass Beds Shapefile
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Organization: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
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Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
Indirect_Spatial_Reference_Method:
State of Connecticut, United States of America
Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
SDTS_Terms_Description:
SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: G-polygon
Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 101
SDTS_Terms_Description:
SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Point
Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 216
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Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Planar:
Map_Projection:
Map_Projection_Name: Lambert Conformal Conic
Lambert_Conformal_Conic:
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: 0.000250
Ordinate_Resolution: 0.000250
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_Definition:
Altitude_System_Definition:
Altitude_Resolution: 1.000000
Altitude_Encoding_Method: Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates
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Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: Observed Eelgrass Beds
Entity_Type_Definition:
Observed Eelgrass Areas stored as digital vector data
Entity_Type_Definition_Source:
State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: OBJECTID
Attribute_Definition:
Internal feature number.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Shape
Attribute_Definition:
Feature geometry.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Coordinates defining the features.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: AV_LEGEND
Attribute_Definition:
ArcView Legend field (decodes TYPE attribute).  Density of the eelgrass bed.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: Low
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Low density of eelgrass bed.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: Medium
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Medium density of eelgrass bed.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: High
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
High density of eelgrass bed
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: Absent
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Eelgrass is absent in bed
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: ACREAGE
Attribute_Definition:
Area of feature in acres (SHAPE_AREA divided by 43560).
Attribute_Definition_Source:
State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Number generated by dividing Shape_Area by 43,560.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: TYPE
Attribute_Definition:
Describes density of the eelgrass bed.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: L
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Low density of eelgrass bed.
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: M
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Medium density of eelgrass bed
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: H
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
High density of eelgrass bed
Enumerated_Domain:
Enumerated_Domain_Value: A
Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:
Absent.  Eelgrass is absent.
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Coordinates defining the features.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: SHAPE
Attribute_Definition:
Feature geometry.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
ESRI
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Coordinates defining the features.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: FREQUENCY
Attribute_Definition:
Number of point locations (Eelgrass Sample Points) within the polygon.
Attribute_Definition_Source:
State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Whole numbers from 0 to 69.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: SHAPE.area
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: SHAPE.len
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Includes Observed Eelgrass Bed polygon features such as eelgrass density (AV_LEGEND), code for eelgrass density (TYPE), point frequency within each polygon (FREQUENCY), size of the feature in acres (ACREAGE), size of the feature in square feet (SHAPE_AREA), and perimeter of feature area (SHAPE_LENGTH).  Use the AV_LEGEND attribute to symbolize features by density on a map.  The AV_LEGEND attribute decodes the TYPE attribute.  
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Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: State of Connecticut, Department of Enviromental Protection
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address:
79 Elm Street
City: Hartford
State_or_Province: Connecticut
Postal_Code: 06106-5127
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 860-424-3034
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 860-424-4054
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: dep.gisdata@ct.gov
Hours_of_Service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time
Resource_Description: Observed Eelgrass Beds
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: Shapefile, Feature Class
Format_Version_Number: ArcGIS
File_Decompression_Technique: Zip file
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_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:
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.
Technical_Prerequisites:
Geographic information sytem (GIS), computer-aided drawing or other mapping software is necessary to display, view and access the information.
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Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20120119
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
Contact_Person: Jacqueline Mickiewicz, Mary DiGiacomo-Cohen
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address:
79 Elm Street
City: Hartford
State_or_Province: Connecticut
Postal_Code: 06106-5127
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 860-424-3540
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 860-424-4058
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: dep.gisdata@ct.gov
Hours_of_Service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
Metadata_Time_Convention: local time
Metadata_Extensions:
Online_Linkage: http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html
Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile
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