These data were automated to provide an accurate high-resolution historical shoreline of Currituck Sound to Core Sound, North Carolina suitable as a geographic information system (GIS) data layer. These data are derived from shoreline maps that were produced by the NOAA National Ocean Service including its predecessor agencies which were based on an office interpretation of imagery and/or field survey. The NGS attribution scheme 'Coastal Cartographic Object Attribute Source Table (C-COAST)' was developed to conform the attribution of various sources of shoreline data into one attribution catalog. C-COAST is not a recognized standard, but was influenced by the International Hydrographic Organization's S-57 Object-Attribute standard so the data would be more accurately translated into S-57. This resource is a member of https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/39808

These data were automated to provide an accurate high-resolution historical shoreline of Cape Henry to the Upper Part of Currituck Sound, VA/NC suitable as a geographic information system (GIS) data layer. These data are derived from shoreline maps that were produced by the NOAA National Ocean Service including its predecessor agencies which were based on an office interpretation of imagery and/or field survey. The NGS attribution scheme 'Coastal Cartographic Object Attribute Source Table (C-COAST)' was developed to conform the attribution of various sources of shoreline data into one attribution catalog. C-COAST is not a recognized standard, but was influenced by the International Hydrographic Organization's S-57 Object-Attribute standard so the data would be more accurately translated into S-57. This resource is a member of https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/39808

Summary:With funding from the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) and field and technical support from the NC Division of Marine Fisheries (NC-DMF) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Beaufort Laboratory, digital data of coastal submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) was mapped by APNEP and NOAA-Beaufort for imagery years 2012-2014. In addition to its role as critical habitat for many aquatic fauna species, SAV is an important bio-indicator of environmental health because of its sensitivity to aquatic stressors. The ability to detect SAV is critical in understanding ecosystem health and effects of restoration and protection activities. Because SAV distribution, abundance, and density varies seasonally and annually in response to climatic variability, large-scale SAV changes may occur; thus, due to its dynamic nature, these data need to be continually updated as monitoring continues in the APNEP region.This is the second mapping effort led by APNEP to map the distribution, abundance, and change of SAV in North Carolina; the first effort was mapped for imagery years 2006-2008 (those data are also publicly available).Purpose:These data were created to assist governmental agencies and others in making resource management decisions through use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) and are intended for research or planning projects that will contribute to better protection for the ecological features involved. APNEP should be contacted prior to use of this dataset to ensure and confirm its currency.Mapping Extent:Visible SAV was mapped along the coast of North Carolina. This extent encompasses the high-salinity coastal zone that lies within the APNEP regional boundary (Hwy. 64 Bridge of Roanoke Sound south to Bogue Inlet).Completeness Report:These data represent the locations of visible SAV, as could be digitized from remotely-sensed imagery. A substantial portion of SAV beds remain invisible from remote sensing due to environmental factors above (e.g., haze and clouds), on (e.g., white caps), and below (e.g., turbidity) the water's surface.Imagery Acquisition:All imagery was collected with Intergraphs Z/I Digital Mapping Camera (DMC). Aircraft height was 3,048 m for a final imagery product with a 0.3 m pixel size.Currituck Sound, North Carolina, and Back Bay, Virginia, were collected on October 12, 2012.Bogue Sound and Back Sound were collected on May 27, 2013.Pamlico Sound from the Hwy. 64 bridge at Roanoke Sound south to Ocracoke Inlet was collected on May 30, 2013.Core Sound was collected on July 1, 2014. Map Digitization:The imagery was loaded into ArcGIS for manual on-screen digitizing using procedures described in Rohman and Monaco (2005). Digitizing scale was set between 1:2,000 and 1:3,000. Habitat boundaries were delineated around benthic habitat features (e.g., areas with visually discernible differences in color and texture patterns). The scanned images were occasionally manipulated in terms of brightness, contrast and color balance to enhance interpretability of subtle features and boundaries. The minimum mapping unit (MMU) is generally defined as the smallest feature (e.g., an individual SAV bed) or aggregate of features (e.g., SAV patches) that is delineated using a given source of imagery. For this study the MMU was approximately 0.2 ha, or in general patches that were at least 15 m across on their longest axis.Environmental conditions, including turbidity and cloud cover were determined to be insufficient for accurate delineation of 2012 imagery from Currituck Sound and Back Bay and 2014 imagery of Core Sound; thus, these areas are not included in this mapping project.Attributes/Values:CLASS: Type of classification for SAV polygonCONTINUOUS: A polygon with 70-100% SAV coveragePATCHY: A polygon with 5-70% SAV coverageACRES: SAV polygon area in acresHECTARES: SAV polygon area in hectaresCredits:NCDEQ / APNEP / NCDMF / NCDOT / NOAAFor more information, please view the metadata and visit the APNEP SAV Monitoring website.

Summary:Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) mapping data were compiled to provide a maximum historical extent of past and present visible SAV habitat within the coastal zone of the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) and southern NC region. Mapping events from multiple years have been included, with varying extents, data collection protocols, and methodology, to encompass all regions of coastal NC. Purpose:These data were created by governmental agencies and researchers to assist in making resource management decisions using a Geographic Information System (GIS). They are intended for planning projects or research that will contribute to better protection and restoration for SAV habitat.

Data Sources:

Data Source

Methodology

Mapping years included and extent

Carraway and Priddy (1983)

Maps of SAV were created from aerial natural color photography accompanied by ground truth data for verification including location and density. Link to report

1981 (May): Bogue, Back and Core sounds

Ferguson and Wood (1994)

SAV was delineated and mapped from natural color aerial photography with a minimum mapping unit of 20m. Accompanying field inventories were conducted within study regions to verify SAV signatures and species distribution and composition. Link to report

1983 (Spring): Outer Banks from Ocracoke Inlet to Oregon Inlet 1985 (Spring): Core Sound 1988 (Spring): Core Sound, and behind Cape Hatteras from Hatteras to Avon 1990 (Fall): Currituck, Albemarle, Roanoke, and Croatan sounds, and Oregon Inlet to south of Pea Island 1991 (Fall): Pamlico River Estuary, Neuse River Estuary, western Pamlico Sound and Albemarle 1992 (Fall): Pamlico River, parts of eastern and western Pamlico Sound, and Albemarle Sound (Perquimans River)

Division Water Quality (DWQ) 1998

Maps from aerial photography

1998: Neuse River and tributaries

Elizabeth City State University (ECSU)

Maps from color aerial photography, accompanied by field survey point data to aid in photo interpretation were produced by the ECSU Remote Sensing Program. SAV polygons were generated using “heads up” digitizing on the computer monitor.

2002 (October): Northern shoreline of Albemarle Sound and tributaries from Big Flatty Creek to Edenton Bay 2003 (October): Back Bay, Currituck Sound, and Kitty Hawk Bay 2006: Western Albemarle Sound

North Carolina State University (NCSU) 2005

Aerial photography from July 2005 accompanied by ground truth data.

2005 (July): Southern shore of Albemarle Sound including Bull Bay to northern Croatan Sound

Division Water Quality (DWQ) Rapid Response Team

Maps from interpolated transect data SAV was observed and collected using a garden rake from boat, traveling along the shoreline.

2005 and 2006 (June-September): field surveys were conducted for the major tributaries of Neuse and Pamlico rivers 2007 (May-August): field surveys were conducted in the Neuse and Pamlico rivers and tributaries

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point 2007

Field survey’s consisting of visual observations and underwater cameras in ≤ 6ft depth of water. Aerial survey using hyperspectral imagery, collected on May 14, 2007, was analyzed in ENVI software using the Spectral Angle Mapper Classification method to identify SAV.

May 14, 2007: imagery data of Piney Island was collected 2007 (June-July): field surveys for Piney Island and Brant Island Shoal

Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) SAV Partners – SAV 2006-2008 Mapping

SAV was mapped along the coast of NC and northward into Back Bay, VA by manually digitizing visible SAV from remotely-sensed imagery. Digitizing scale was typically set at 1:1,500 with a minimum mapping unit set at 15 m. Link to source metadata

This extent encompasses the coastal zone that lies within the APNEP regional boundary (Bogue Inlet north to Back Bay), as well as that which is outside of that boundary (Bogue Inlet south to Masonboro Inlet). 2006 (May-June): Bogue, Back, and Core sounds 2007 (September): Pamlico and Pungo rivers 2007 (October): coast wide except Bogue, Back and Core sounds 2008 (May-June): Bogue, Back and Core sounds

Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) SAV Partners – SAV 2012-2014 Mapping

SAV was mapped along the coast of NC by manually digitizing visible SAV from remotely-sensed imagery. Digitizing scale was typically set between 1:2,000 and 1:3,000 with a minimum mapping unit set at 15 m. Link to source metadata

This extent encompasses the high-salinity coastal zone that lies within the APNEP regional boundary (Hwy. 64 Bridge of Roanoke Sound south to Bogue Inlet). 2013 (May): Bogue, Back and North Pamlico sounds

Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) – SAV 2015 Mapping

SAV was mapped along the Southern coast of NC by manually digitizing visible SAV from remotely-sensed imagery. Digitizing scale was typically between 1:1,500 and 1:2,000 with a minimum mapping unit set at 15 m. Link to source metadata

This extent encompasses the high-salinity coastal zone of Onslow Bay that lies south of Bogue Sound and terminating near Mason’s Inlet (Onslow, Pender, and New Hanover counties). 2015 (May): Bear Inlet south to Mason’s Inlet

Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) SAV Partners – SAV 2019-2020 Mapping

SAV was mapped along the coast of NC by manually digitizing visible SAV from remotely-sensed imagery. Digitizing scale was typically set between 1:1,500 and 1:3,000 with a minimum mapping unit set at 15 m. Link to source metadata

This extent encompasses the high-salinity coastal zone that lies within the APNEP regional boundary (Hwy. 64 Bridge of Roanoke Sound south to Bogue Inlet), except for mainland Core Sound and multiple areas in Pamlico and Roanoke Sounds (see source metadata for detailed description).

All SAV was digitized from 2020 (May-June) imagery – 2019 imagery was uninterpretable for SAV.

Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) – SAV 2021 Mapping

SAV was mapped along the Southern coast of NC by manually digitizing visible SAV from remotely-sensed imagery. Digitizing scale was typically between 1:1,500 and 1:2,000 with a minimum mapping unit set at 15 m. Link to source metadata

This extent encompasses the high-salinity coastal zone of Onslow Bay that lies south of Bogue Sound and terminating near Mason’s Inlet (Onslow, Pender, and New Hanover counties). 2021 (May): Bear Inlet south to Mason’s Inlet