The goal of this project is to use
Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and the Internet to create
and distribute maps of the critical natural resources for every town and
watershed in Rhode Island. The maps are designed to assist land use managers
in planning and development activities, and are easily interpretable for
use by the general public. Maps are available in two sizes (8.5" x 11"
and 20" x 20") and can be viewed on the screen or downloaded in GIF format
(by right clicking while viewing the map) to the user's computer for incorporation
into text documents or presentations.
The data to develop the atlas were obtained
from the State of Rhode Island's Geographic Information System (RIGIS)
database (www.edc.uri.edu/rigis).
This project was supported by the Environmental Protection Agency, the
USDA Renewable Resource Extension Act, USDA Natural Resource Conservation
Service, URI Cooperative Extension, RI Agricultural Experiment Station,
The URI Department of Natural Resources Science, The RI Natural History
Survey, and the URI Environmental Data Center. The members of the
RI Digital Atlas Design Team can be seen by clicking here.
If you have questions or comments, contact
us at webmaster@edc.uri.edu.
General Description
Digital Atlas of Rhode
Island's Natural Resources
Overview
-- This map provides a general overview of the town or watershed and shows
roads, public facilities, and major protected areas (e.g. DEM Wildlife
Management Areas, US Fish and Wildlife Services Refuges).
Forests and
Wetlands -- This map shows the extent of deciduous and coniferous
upland forests and freshwater and saltwater wetlands (including forested
wetlands). The forest data were obtained from the RIGIS land cover dataset
(based on 1995 aerial photography). The wetlands data were taken from the
RIGIS wetlands data based on 1988 aerial photography.
Land Use
-- This map shows generalized land use categories for the town or watershed
and is based on the 1995 RIGIS land use dataset.
Groundwater
Resources -- This map shows the extent of groundwater resources
in the town or watershed. Groundwater aquifers are areas of significant
volume of groundwater. Recharge areas show the drainage region that provides
rain infiltration into the aquifer. Wellhead protection areas are areas
that provide groundwater for large public water supply wells. Groundwater
data are from RIGIS and developed by the RI Department of Environmental
Management Groundwater Division.
Soil Hydrology
-- This map shows general soil wetness categories for the town or watershed.
Wet or moist areas have limited potential for development because of the
likelihood of septic system failure or seasonal flooding. Data were derived
from the USDA NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service) soils data.
Wetness classes extracted from the URI Cooperative Extension MANAGE model
of water resource protection.
Watershed Drainage
Sub-basins -- This map shows the major drainage basins for Rhode
Island and the sub-basins that comprise them. Drainage basins are the area
of land that drain into rivers, streams, ponds, and estuaries. Basin data
from the RIGIS database and delineated by the RI Department of Environmental
Management and the United States Geological Survey.
Biodiversity
-- This map shows important habitats for the fauna and flora of Rhode Island
as determined by the Rhode Island Heritage Program in the RI Department
of Environmental Management. Also shown are large areas of protected land
(including DEM Wildlife Management Areas, US Fish and Wildlife Services
Refuges, Audubon Society of RI property, and The Nature Conservancy property).
Coastal Wetlands
-- This map shows detailed information on the extent of coastal wetlands
for communities along Narragansett Bay. The wetlands data were developed
by RI Department of Environmental Management Narragansett Bay Estuary
Program from 1996 aerial photography and include 9 classes of coastal wetlands
along with other coastal features. Detailed information on this project
and database can be obtained here.
