Survey Methods for Shallow Water Habitat Mapping in Northeast National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, and Estuarine Research Prese
Hart T, Roman C, Tyrrell M. 2011. Survey Methods for Shallow Water Habitat Mapping in Northeast National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, and Estuarine Research Prese. Northeast Region
On September 30, 2009, thirty-six participants convened at the University of New Hampshire Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping (UNH CCOM) for a workshop focusing on Survey Methods for Shallow Water Habitat Mapping In Northeast National Parks, Wildlife Refuges & National Estuarine Research Reserve. The aim of this workshop was to provide federal natural resource managers with an opportunity for collaborative training on methods to increase understanding of nearshore natural and cultural resources in the Northeast region. The focus of the workshop was related to a primary data need to develop seamless geologic framework and habitat maps extending from land and offshore extents of Park, Refuge, and Reserve holdings in this region. A series of prior multi-agency efforts (see Section III) have identified the need for benthic nearshore data as a top priority need. The specific objectives of the workshop were to provide regional scientists and managers from the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERRS) with: An overview of shallow water habitat mapping techniques, including their capabilities, limitations, and costs specific to the environmental conditions represented in this region; An opportunity to assess the regional resource management, monitoring, research, outreach, and education applications of shallow water benthic data; A technical foundation enabling informed interactions with collaborators; and An opportunity to interact with technical experts and initiate agency and multi-agency collaboration The event was supported by the National Park Service North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) and coordinated by the Gulf of Maine Mapping Initiative (GOMMI), in cooperation with a multi-agency steering committee. UNH CCOM hosted the workshop and coordinated additional learning opportunities including a tour of the Center’s visualization lab1 and a GeoWall demonstration.