Post on 30-Jan-2016
description
Seafloor Mapping in MassachusettsCZM – USGS Seafloor Mapping Cooperative
& Gulf of Maine Mapping Initiative
Anthony R. Wilbur
Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
Boston, Massachusetts
OCM Strategic Action Plan WorkshopFebruary 26 – 28, 2008
Dania Beach, Florida
Outline
I. History of CZM’s Role in Seafloor Mapping
II. CZM-USGS Seafloor Mapping Cooperative
III. Gulf of Maine Mapping Initiative (GoMMI)
IV. Challenges
Seafloor Mapping of Stellwagen Bank & Massachusetts Bay
• completed by scientists at USGS, Woods Hole
1994-1998
1994 2007
2001 2002-2004
2003 2004
Mapping Begins & Continues
2006 2008+
‘Marine Habitat Characterization and Mapping Workshop’ in Sebasco, ME
Gulf of Maine Mapping Initiative (GOMMI)
1994-1998
1994 2007
2001 2002-2004
2003 2004
Mapping Begins & Continues
2006 2008+
NOAA’s CSC FellowshipDrafted ‘Strategic Plan for Mapping Massachusetts’ Benthic Marine Habitats’ and
Published guide on types and functions of marine habitats in Massachusetts
1994-1998
1994 2007
2001 2002-2004
2003 2004
Mapping Begins & Continues
2006 2008+
Delay in gas pipeline construction resulted in monetary mitigation –
$1.5 million. Fines used to create the
Massachusetts Seafloor Mapping
Trust
1994-1998
1994 2007
2001 2002-2004
2003 2004
Mapping Begins & Continues
2006 2008+
CZM-USGS Seafloor Mapping Cooperative
1994-1998
1994 2007
2001 2002-2004
2003 2004
Mapping Begins & Continues
2006 2008+
Mapping begins in northern Massachusetts Bay in 2004
Massachusetts Ocean Management Initiative
‘In support of comprehensive management and monitoring of
ocean resources, the Commonwealth should acquire
high-resolution seafloor habitat maps.’
1994-1998
1994 2007
2001 2002-2004
2003 2004Mapping Begins & Continues
2006 2008+
Massachusetts invests $1 million to mapping cooperative
1st two seafloor mapping reports published
1994-1998
1994 2007
2001 2002-2004
2003 2004
Mapping Begins & Continues
2006 2008+
North Shore – Gloucester to Nahant Boston Harbor
1994-1998
1994 20072001 2002-2004
2003 2004
Mapping Begins & Continues
2006 2008+
$$$
Massachusetts Seafloor Mapping Trust receives additional $3 million in
mitigation funding
Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management & US Geological Survey
Seafloor Mapping Cooperative
CZM-USGS Seafloor Mapping Cooperative
• Established Partnership • Identified Goal
Produce high-resolution maps and geospatial data of seafloor geology and topography
• Determined Effective Methods • Prioritized Mapping Needs• Implement Mapping• Publish Results and Advertise Availability
Seafloor Mapping Methods
USGS
Seafloor Mapping Priorities
1
2
3
4
5 6
existing mapping data of Stellwagen Bank and Massachusetts Bay
Buzzard
s Bay
Vineyard
Sound
Completed – Ongoing Mapping1. Nahant to Gloucester2. Boston Harbor3. Cape Ann to Salisbury4. Hull to Duxbury5. Northern Cape Cod Bay6. Eastern Cape Cod
Next Mapping Areas Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound
• Area mapped 134 km2
• Water depths 5-40 m• Data collected
– bathymetry– backscatter– subbottom profiles– grabs and photography
Area 1Nahant to
Gloucester
http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1293/
Area 2Boston Harbor
• Area mapped 173 km2
• Water depths 0-32 m• NOAA data re-processed
-multibeam/single-beam bathymetry
-backscatter
• New data collection-bottom samples / photography
http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/pubs/of2006-1008/
Area 3 - Cape Ann to Salisbury Beach
• Area mapped 340 km2
• Water depths 5-90 m• Data collected
– bathymetry– backscatter– subbottom profiles– samples, photography
Cape Ann
Publication imminent
Area 4 - Hull to Duxbury
• Area mapped 190 km2
• Data collected– bathymetry (preliminary)– backscatter– subbottom profiles– samples, photography
Data collection complete (2006-2007)
Publication due in 2009
Area 5 - Northern Cape Cod Bay
• Area mapped 460 km2
• Data collected– bathymetry (preliminary)– backscatter– subbottom profiles– samples, photography
Data collection completed in Spring 2008
Publication by 2009
Area 6 Eastern Cape Cod Bay • Area mapped 153 km2
• Data collected– bathymetry– samples, photography
http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/pubs/of2005-1048/
CZM-USGS Seafloor Mapping CooperativeSummary
• Strategic plan was valuable education publication, along with organizational exercise
• Funding was key to start, maintain and expand the cooperative
• Partnership with USGS – including a 1:1 cost-share – critical for all aspects of cooperative
• Objectives identified and schedule maintained
Early decision to collect geospatial data of seafloor topography and geology in waters ≥10m using established acoustic technologies
• Strong agency leadership
• To date, ~560 square miles of the ocean bottom from the New Hampshire border to northern Cape Cod Bay are mapped
• Currently developing 5+ year plan to continue cooperative
• Communicating and sharing results key to maintaining support and initiating new partnerships
• Mapping results are stimulating new research and management strategies, while improving the understanding of the ocean environment in Massachusetts
CZM-USGS Seafloor Mapping CooperativeSummary
http://woodshole.er.usgs.gov/project-pages/coastal_mass/
Subcommittee of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment - a US and Canadian partnership
Volunteer Steering Committee & CoordinatorU.S. Federal
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries ServiceNOAA's Office of Coast Survey U.S. Geological Survey
Canada Federal Geological Survey of Canada
State ME Department of Marine ResourcesNH Department of Environmental ServicesMA Office of Coastal Zone Management
Academia Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping &
NOAA/UNH Joint Hydrographic Center
Mission: To promote mapping of the entire Gulf of Maine basin
http://www.gulfofmaine.org/gommi/
Objectives:
• Facilitate communication and collaboration within the mapping community
• Build logistical and financial support
• Make maps and data widely available
•Published a number of outreach and planning documents: - Overview of mapping technologies - User needs assessment - Strategic plan for mapping - Website
•Hired a GOMMI coordinator
•Coordinated a 2005 geophysical survey
•Groundwork established for GOMMI coordinator at UNH-NOAA CCOM
2005
Also Surveyed
In 2005
Accomplishments
Challenges & Priorities
Funding• Long-term, secured funding required for full-time
staffing and to complete mapping
CoordinationWho is responsible for coordinating mapping? Recommendations 8 & 9
• Coordination among federal agencies, especially for mapping in state waters (e.g., NOAA, ACOE and USGS)
• Coordination, communication and data sharing between federal and state agencies
• Increasing partnership for furthering the applicability of mapping data
Challenges & Priorities
Data Understanding and Availability • Providing resource managers with knowledge and tools
for appropriate application of seafloor mapping dataRecommendations 6 & 7
Technology and Standards• Develop and test shallow water mapping techniques
Recommendation 11• Standards/tools for combining datasets (e.g., Geocoder)• Establish protocols for seafloor mapping,
groundtruthing and benthic habitat mapping (CMECS, Greene et al., etc.) Recommendations 4 & 6
Academic-government partnership (possible private)