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Connecticut Critical Habitats

Frequently-asked questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title:
Connecticut Critical Habitats

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.

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.

  1. How should this data set be cited?

    State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection (data compiler, editor and publisher), 20090701, Connecticut Critical Habitats: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Hartford, Connecticut, USA.

    Online links:
    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.

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    Bounding coordinates:
    West: -73.583564
    East: -71.781406
    North: 42.053442
    South: 41.007049

  3. What does it look like?

    http://www.cteco.uconn.edu/metadata/dep/browsegraphic/criticalhabitatfullview.gif (GIF)
    Full view of Connecticut Critical Habitats

    http://www.cteco.uconn.edu/metadata/dep/browsegraphic/criticalhabitatdetailview.gif (GIF)
    Detailed view of Connecticut Critical Habitats

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning date: 2004
    Ending date: 20091231
    Currentness reference:
    ground condition

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial data presentation form: vector digital data

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):
      • G-polygon (2972)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      The map projection used is Lambert Conformal Conic.

      Projection parameters:
      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 coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair.
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000328.
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.000328.
      Planar coordinates are specified in survey feet.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1983.
      The ellipsoid used is Geodetic Reference System 80.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257222.

      Vertical coordinate system definition:
      Altitude system definition:
      Altitude resolution: 1.000000
      Altitude encoding method: Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    depgis.DEP.CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY
    CRITICAL_HABITAT_POLY represented as polygon features. (Source: State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection)

    OBJECTID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)
                      

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    SITENAME
    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.

    COMMSITEID
    A sequential number assigned when multiple polygons of the same community type occur at the same site.

    COMMTYPE
    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.

    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    Beachshore
    Windswept and wave washed sandy beaches and their associated sand dunes. Subtypes include salt, riverine and other/unique.
    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
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    Coastal Grasslands
    Open grasslands dominated by warm season species in close proximity to Long Island Sound, exposed to wind and salt spray.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.
    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.

    COMMSUBTYP
    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.

    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.
    Alluvial Swamp
    Alluvial Swamp; Subtype of Community Type, 'Floodplain Forest.'
    Ash/Hickory Glade
    Ash/Hickory Glade; Subtype of Community Type, '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'
    Cave
    Cave; Subtype of Community Type, 'Caves and Other Subterranean Habitat'
    Cedar Bluff
    Cedar Bluff; Subtype of Community Type, 'Coastal Bluffs and Headlands' where cedar is the dominant vegetation.
    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.
    Cedar Woodland
    Cedar Woodland; Subtype of Community Types, 'Circumneutral Rocky Summit Outcrop,' 'Dry Circumneutral Forest,' and 'Subacidic Rocky Summit Outcrop'
    Cedar/Great Laurel
    Cedar/Great Laurel; Subtype of Community Type, 'Acidic Atlantic White Cedar Swamp' where cedar and great laurel are co-dominant.
    Cedar/Hardwood
    Cedar/Hardwood; Subtype of Community Type, 'Acidic Atlantic White Cedar Swamp' where Cedar shares dominance with Hardwood species.
    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'
    Dwarf Shrub
    Dwarf Shrub; A Subtype of Community Types, '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'
    Grassland
    Grassland; A Subtype of Community Type, '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.'
    Hemlock
    A Subtype of Community Type, 'Old Growth Forest' where hemlock is the dominant tree species.
    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.
    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.
    Maple/Yellow Oak
    Maple/Yellow Oak; A Subtype of Community Type, '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'
    Phragmites
    A Subtype of Community Types, 'Rich Fen' and 'Circumneutral Spring Fen' distinguished for a high restoration priority.
    Pitch Pine
    Pitch Pine; A Subtype of Community Type 'Acidic Rocky Summit Outcrop'
    Pitch Pine Scrub
    Pitch Pine Scrub; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Sand Barren'
    Pitch Pine/Post Oak
    Pitch Pine/Post Oak; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Coastal Bluffs and Headlands'
    Riverine
    A Subtype of Community Type, 'Beachshore.' Indicative of a beachshore community within a riverine system.
    Riverine Dredge Spoil
    Riverine Dredge Spoil; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Sand Barren.'
    Salt
    A Subtype of Community Type, 'Beachshore.' Indicative of a beachshore community within a salt water habitat.
    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'
    Sandplain Grassland
    Sandplain Grassland; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Sand Barren'
    Saturated Woodland
    Saturated Woodland; A Subtype of Community Type, '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.'
    Shrub Thicket
    Shrub Thicket; A Subtype of Community Types, 'Circumneutral Spring Fen,' 'Medium Fen,' 'Poor Fen,' and 'Rich Fen.'
    Shrubland
    Shrubland; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Coastal Woodland/Shrubland.'
    Sparsely Vegetated Sand
    Sparsely Vegetated Sand; A Subtype of Community Type, 'Sand Barren'
    Stratified Sand and Gravel
    Stratified Sand and Gravel; A Subtype of Community Type, '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.
    White Pine
    A Subtype of Community Type, 'Old Growth Forest' where white pine is the dominant tree species.
    White Pine/Spruce
    A Subtype of Community Type, 'Old Growth Forest' where white pine/spruce are the co-dominant tree species.
    Woodland
    A Subtype of Community Type, 'Rich Fen'
    Woodland/Shrubland
    A Subtype of Community Type, 'Coastal Woodland/Shrubland'

    ACREAGE
    Size in acres of the given polygon calculated by dividing 43560 by the value generated in the SHAPE_Area field.

    LASTVISIT
    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)

    DATA_METHD
    Addresses the method used to create the polygon. Either aerial photo interpretation or GPS field data collection will be indicated.

    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
    Denotes the base map imagery used to create the polygon, when the data method indicates that the polygon was created using aerial photo interpretation.

    DATA_EQUIP
    When GPS field equipment is used, this field specifies the make and model of the unit.

    DATA_EDTR
    Indicates the group responsible for the data's current representation.

    DATA_DATE
    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)

    ASSOCDATA
    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.

    SPECIESDAT
    Indicates species that occur on site, this may include dominant vegetation and/or rare species, as well as component plant associations.

    COMMENTS
    Miscellaneous information and or data pertinent to the site the polygon represents. May include information on site conditions, invasives species, and plant associations.

    ELCODE
    An internal DEP code, developed by the state heritage program and NatureServe, used to identify the habitat type within the Biotics database.

    EONMBR
    An internal DEP identification number assigned to an area of habitat within the Biotics database.

    IS_QAQC
    Indicates whether the polygon's area and attributes have been quality controlled by State of CT professional staff.

    GPS_PDOP
    Indicates the dilusion of precision for GPS field collected data. All PDOP values listed are max values.

    GPS_HDOP
    Indicates the horizontal dilusion of precision for GPS field collected data. All HDOP values listed are max values.

    GPS_HRZPR
    Indicates the horizontal precision for GPS field collected data. All horizontal precision data are averaged values.

    Group_legend
    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.

    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
    Polygon centroid X coordinate in CT State Plane (feet).

    Centroid_Y
    Polygon centroid Y coordinate in CT State Plane (feet).

    COMLABEL
    Abbreviation of Community Type used to label polygons.

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)
                      

    Coordinates defining the features.

    Shape.area
    Polygon area in square feet.

    Shape.len
    Perimeter in feet.

    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.
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Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)


  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Karen Zyko
    State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division
    79 Elm Street
    Hartford, Connecticut 06106-5127
    USA

    860-424-3011 Wildlife Division Main Line (voice)
    860-424-4078 Wildlife Fax (FAX)
    karen.zyko@ct.gov
    Hours of Service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time
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Why was the data set created?

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.

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How was the data set created?

  1. Where did the data come from?

    Source 1 - National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) (source 1 of 10)

    US Fish and Wildlife Service (data compiler, editor and publisher), Unknown, Source 1 - National Wetlands Inventory (NWI): US Fish and Wildlife Service, .

    Online links:
    Type of source media: paper
    Source scale denominator: 1:24,000
    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 (source 2 of 10)

    CT DEP, State of Connecticut (data compiler, editor and publisher), Unpublished Material, Source 2 - DEP updated NWI data.

    Type of source media: shapefile
    Source scale denominator: 1:12,000
    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 (source 3 of 10)

    CT DEP, State of Connecticut (data compiler, editor and publisher), Unknown, Source 3 - CT DEP In-house NWI updates: CT DEP, CT DEP.

    Type of source media: shapefile
    Source scale denominator: 1:24,000
    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 (source 4 of 10)

    CT DEP, State of Connecticut (data compiler, editor and publisher), 2007 (updated continually), Source 4 - Natural Diversity Database: CT DEP, CT DEP.

    Type of source media: shapefile
    Source scale denominator: 1:12.000
    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) (source 5 of 10)

    Farmington River Watershed Association (data compiler, editor and publisher), 2002, Source 5 - Farmington Valley Biodiversity Project (2002).

    Online links:
    Type of source media: shapefile
    Source scale denominator: 1:12,000
    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. 

    Source 6 - Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Study (2003) (source 6 of 10)

    The Nature Conservancy (data compiler, editor and publisher), 2003, Source 6 - Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Study 2003.

    Online links:
    Type of source media: shapefile
    Source scale denominator: 1:12,000
    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) (source 7 of 10)

    David Wagner, PhD, University of Connecticut, Storrs, and Justin L. Smith, University of Connecticut, Storrs, 2003, Source 7 - The Sand Plain Communities of the Connecticut River Valley: Sand Plain Distribution Study 2003.

    Type of source media: shapefile
    Source scale denominator: 1:12,000
    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). (source 8 of 10)

    Moorhead, William H. III, 2000, 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)..

    Type of source media: shapefile
    Source scale denominator: 1:12,000
    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) (source 9 of 10)

    Moorhead, William H. III, 2007, Source 9 - Rare Plant Survey and Plant Community Classification. Groton - New London Airport. Groton, Connecticut. (2007)..

    Type of source media: shapefile
    Source scale denominator: 1:2,000
    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 (source 10 of 10)

    Rozsa, Ron, Unpublished Material, Source 10 - Coastal Features - Coastal Barriers/Unditched Marshes.

    Type of source media: shapefile
    Source scale denominator: 1:12,000
    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.

  2. What changes have been made?

    Date: Unknown (change 1 of 3)
    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.

    Person responsible for change:
    US Fish and Wildlife Service
    USA

    Contact Instructions:
    http://www.fws.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • Source 1 - National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)

    Date: Unknown (change 2 of 3)
    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.

    Person responsible for change:
    State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
    79 Elm Street
    Hartford, Connecticut 06106
    USA

    860.424.3011 Wildlife Main Line (voice)
    860.424.4078 Wildlife Fax (FAX)
    dep.webmaster@po.state.ct.us
    Hours of Service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time

    Data sources used in this process:
    • Source 1 - National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)

    Data sources produced in this process:
    • Source 3 - CT DEP In-house NWI

    Date: 2007 (change 3 of 3)
    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.

    Person responsible for change:
    State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection
    79 Elm Street
    Hartford, Connecticut 06106
    USA

    860.424.3011 Wildlife Main Line (voice)
    860.424.4078 Wildlife Fax (FAX)
    dep.webmaster@po.state.ct.us
    Hours of Service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time

    Data sources used in this process:
    • Source 2 - DEP updated NWI data
    • Source 3 - CT DEP In-house NWI
    • 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)
    • 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).
    • Source 9 - Rare Plant Survey and Plant Community Classification. Groton - New London Airport. Groton, Connecticut. Moorhead (2007)
    • Source 10 - Coastal Features - Coastal Barriers/Unditched Marshes

    Data sources produced in this process:
    • 'Critical_Habitat_poly' feature class as part of CT Critical Habitat Geodatabase

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How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    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.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    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.  

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    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.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    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.

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How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

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 .

Distributor 1 of 1

  1. Who distributes the data set?

    State of Connecticut, Department of Enviromental Protection
    79 Elm Street
    Hartford, Connecticut 06106-5127
    USA

    860.424.3540 (voice)
    860.424.4058 (FAX)
    dep.webmaster@po.state.ct.us DEP Main E Mail
    Hours of Service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    Connecticut Critical Habitats

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    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.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

    • Availability in digital form:


    • Data format:
      in format Shapefile, Feature Class (version ArcGIS)
      Network links:http://www.ct.gov/deep

    • Cost to order the data: An online copy of the data may be accessed without charge.


  5. Is there some other way to get the data?

    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.

  6. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

    Geographic information sytem (GIS), computer-aided drawing or other mapping software is necessary to display, view and access the information.

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Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 20111207

Metadata author:
Karen Zyko
State of Connecticut, Department of Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division
79 Elm Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06106-5127
USA

860.424.3011 Wildlife Division Main Line (voice)
860.424.4078 Wildlife Fax (FAX)
karen.zyko@ct.gov
Hours of Service: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30 Eastern Standard Time

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata(FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Metadata extensions used:
  • http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html

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