me_eelgrass

Abstract:

MEGRASS is a POLYGON coverage that represents Maine's eelgrass meadows, which form an important aquatic habitat for the state. These meadows
provide shelter for juvenile fish, and invertebrates. In certain locations
they also help stabilize unconsolidated sediments and shorelines.

As a continuing project, sections of the coast have been flown and
photographed using Kodak 2448 film at a scale of 1:12000. This photography
has been supplemented in the Penobscot Bay region by 1992 flights using
Kodak 2445 film. The Penobscot Bay flights were contracted by the Maine
Department of Transportation and interpreted by Dr.Fred Short of
University of New Hampshire. Areas in the present study were flown in the
July to October period during 1993 to 1997. When possible, photography was
at the time of extreme low tides, low wind velocity, good water clarity,
and maximum biomass of eelgrass. These factors aid in the detection of the
subtidal portion a bed.

Transparencies from the 1993-1997 flights were oriented beneath and
eelgrass bed locations compiled on stable-base manuscripts containing the
coastline and other basemap features from the 1:24000 scale USGS
topographic maps. Polygons delineating stands of eelgrass were digitized
and coded using a four category scale of percent cover.

Verification has been carried out by boat, on foot, and by plane. Though
dense patches of eelgrass approximately 6 meters in diameter and less can
be identified under good conditions, a conservative estimate of the
minimum mapping unit is 150 square meters. This represents a stand of
approximately 14 meters in diameter.

Purpose:

Eelgrass beds along the Maine coast are being mapped in order to better
understand the present day distribution and to aid in the identification
of sensitive coastal areas for protection in the case of an oil spill.

Supplemental_Information:

This dataset appears to be identical to the "Coastal Maine Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Data 1993-1997" dataset available for download from the NOAA Coastal Services Center. 

This dataset is part of the Condition Assessment project for the National Park Service.  It currently does not have full Metadata.  This metadata provides minimal information on the dataset until further information can be provided.

There were several reasons we did not receive metadata with these data.
1. Legacy Data
2. Incomplete dataset.
3. Documentation was provided in an incompatible format.

This is version 1 of this metadata document.  As additional information become available it will be added.

Please read the distribution liability section before using this data.

Currentness_Reference:

publication date