SFEI Releases New Wetlands Web Tools

  • by BPC Staff
  • on June 27, 2013
  • 0 Comments
www.sfei.org
 
 

SFEI Releases New Websites to Support Wetland Management and Protection

SFEI, on behalf of the Wetland Monitoring Workgroup is releasing a series of technology tools to help with aquatic resource protection and management. “These new online tools will empower Californians to access information about the value and health of their wetlands,” said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld. “The release of the Wetlands Portal and EcoAtlas represents a multi-agency collaborative effort to inform the public and support better aquatic resource management.” These versatile, statewide tools will help a range of users: the public can learn about wetlands and wetlands protection, resource managers can find information needed to make key decisions, and scientists will have a new critical resource for studying wetland ecosystems. Furthermore, the new tools mutually enhance one another.

 
Lets users integrate data and information about aquatic resources and the factors that influence them. More below…
 
Information for the public about wetland health.
More below…
 
Revamped website for the California Rapid Assessment method for wetland health Data entry, training information, and field books.
More below…
 
A new base map of streams, rivers, and wetlands throughout the state. More below…

 
EcoAtlas
Successful wetland protection is complex and requires consideration of aquatic and terrestrial resources, natural and human influences. Those interested in protecting these important resources must decide where to prioritize wetland restoration, what the likelihood of success is, and what tradeoffs should be considered, such as development needs, species protection, flood control, etc. EcoAtlas is designed to support these decisions. By compiling state and federal maps and data about wetlands, EcoAtlas gives site visitors access to salient information about the condition and extent of streams, wetlands, lakes, and their surrounding riparian areas. It serves wetland practitioners through its advanced features and depth of detail needed for wetlands management. When using the exploratory features, EcoAtlas users benefit from relevant spatial context for the information they access.
More Info: www.ecoatlas.org 
 
Wetlands Portal
The Wetlands Portal is the latest in the series of My Water Quality Portals (www.MyWaterQuality.ca.gov) designed to help the general public find answers to fundamental questions related to water quality both in their communities and across the state as a whole. Initially launched in 2009 by the Monitoring Council, this website houses a wide collection of water quality and aquatic ecosystem health data about our state’s lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and ocean waters. The goal is to provide timely information in an easy-to-understand manner for the public, environmental organizations, and water resource professionals. This is the third portal for which SFEI helped to develop either content or spatial data display.

  • The Safe to Eat portal lets the public know if the fish found in various water bodies in
    California are known to have accumulated contaminants at Levels of Concern.
  • The Healthy Streams portal answers questions about the extent and condition
    of California streams.   
  • And the new Wetlands portal answers the questions: Where are our wetlands and how
    are they doing? 
 
CRAM
The California Rapid Assessment Method is a cost-effective and scientifically sound method for monitoring wetland condition. It is designed for assessing ambient conditions within watersheds, regions, and throughout the State. It has also been used to assess the performance of compensatory mitigation projects and restoration projects.
More info: http://www.cramwetlands.org/
CARI
The California Aquatic Resource Inventory is a standardized statewide map of wetlands, streams, and riparian areas. This Geographic Information System (GIS) dataset provides accurate and detailed information about wetland and riparian extent for management, planning, and scientific study of the State’s aquatic resources.
More info: http://www.sfei.org/it/gis/cari
 
EcoAtlas replaces the “Wetland Tracker” tool at www.californiawetlands.net which has been providing online access to wetland restoration project information for a decade. Once a regional tool, the Wetland Tracker was expanded statewide five years ago and includes project details for 895 projects in 18 counties of the State. The modern and historical baylands data from the 1999 Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals report, formerly housed at ecoatlas.org, can be obtained per request. Contact Kristen Cayce, kristen@sfei.org.

EcoAtlas was developed by the San Francisco Estuary Institute – Aquatic Science Center under the direction of the California Water Quality Monitoring Council’s California Wetland Monitoring Workgroup. Workgroup participants are from a variety of organizations with special expertise in wetland monitoring and assessment. Major funding for these tools was provided by the EPA. The State Water Resources Control Board also provided critical funding.