 |
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||||
 |
||
|
The land-sea interface is a crucial realm for terrestrial and marine organisms, human activities, and dynamic processes. ShoreZone is a coastal habitat mapping and classification system that specializes in the collection and interpretation of spatially-referenced aerial imagery of the intertidal zone and nearshore environment. Its objective is to produce an integrated, searchable inventory of geomorphic and biological features which can be used as a tool for science, education, management, and environmental hazard mitigation. Coastal imagery exists for more than 43,000 km of shoreline in Alaska, from Bristol Bay to southern Southeast Alaska at the US-Canada border (view map). Video can be viewed online and digital stills downloaded at the NOAA ShoreZone web site. Mapped resources (such as shoreline sediments, eelgrass occurrence, and wetland distribution) are important tools for scientists and managers. Mapped areas include more than 26,000 km of coastline in the Gulf of Alaska and 45,000 km of coastline in British Columbia and Washington state. The mapping system (housed in ArcGIS and Access databases) provides a spatial framework for coastal and nearshore habitat assessment on local and regional scales. Physical and biological characteristics of discrete coastal habitat units are mapped both along-shore and across-shore (including wave exposure, substrate type, sediment texture, intertidal organisms, subtidal algae, and some subtidal fauna). ShoreZone coastal mapping data is used for oil spill contingency planning, conservation planning, habitat research, development evaluation, mariculture site review, and recreation opportunities. Mapped data can be viewed and queried at the NOAA ShoreZone web site. The coastal habitat mapping data is also useful for habitat suitability modeling in which mapped shorelines are examined to predict the distribution of habitats that would support a particular group or species of interest. Current interests include habitat modeling for invasive species (such as the European green crab Carcinus maenas and the saltmarsh cordgrass Spartina) in British Columbia, Washington State, and Southeast Alaska. Projects aimed at understanding nearshore habitat use by other organisms (such as Dungeness crab and spawning forage fish) are also of interest. Research reports and presentations are available on our downloads page. The ShoreZone program is a partnership of scientists, GIS specialists, web specialists, nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies. The multi-agency program offers the opportunity to build a contiguous, integrated coastal resource database that extends from the mouth of the Columbia River, through BC, the Gulf of Alaska, Bristol Bay, and northwards to the Arctic coast (on the order of 100,000 km). |
||
|
Access to Data, Imagery, and Information (Links will open in a new window) |
||
|
ShoreZone in the State of Alaska ShoreZone in the State of Washington ShoreZone in the Province of British Columbia |
||
