gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:56002 eng UTF8 dataset GIS Files Office of Response and Restoration resourceProvider ESI Program Manager 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 orr.esi@noaa.gov pointOfContact 2026-03-04T19:17:18 ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata Part 2 Extensions for imagery and gridded data ISO 19115-2:2009(E) geometryOnly complex 1377 EPSG::4269 Louisiana and Lower Mississippi River 2014 ESI REPTILE & AMPHIBIAN Polygons 2013-12 publication NOAA/NMFS/EDM 56002 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/56002 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Full Metadata Record View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. information https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/resources/esi-guidelines WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link ESI Guidelines Guidelines for developing ESI data content and overview of ESI data structure. Useful for data collectors and users requiring more in depth information on the ESI process. download https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link ESI Overview Overview of ESI data content and uses. download mapDigital Prepared by Research Planning, Inc., Columbia, South Carolina for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration, Emergency Response Division, Seattle, Washington. This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for sea turtles, diamondback terrapin, and American alligator in coastal Louisiana, and for riverine turtles and American alligator in the Lower Mississippi River. Vector polygons in this data set represent reptile distribution and nesting areas. Species specific abundance, seasonality, status, life history, and source information are stored in relational data tables (described below) designed to be used in conjunction with this spatial data layer. This data set comprises a portion of the ESI data for Louisiana. ESI data characterize the marine and coastal environments and wildlife by their sensitivity to spilled oil. The ESI data include information for three main components: shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. The ESI data were collected, mapped, and digitized to provide environmental data for oil spill planning and response. The Clean Water Act with amendments by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 requires response plans for immediate and effective protection of sensitive resources. This project was supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R), Emergency Response Division (ERD), Seattle, Washington, and The Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard Office of Incident Management and Preparedness, Washington, D.C. completed ESI Program Manager 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 orr.esi@noaa.gov pointOfContact ESI Program Manager 7600 Sand Point Way NE Seattle WA 98115 orr.esi@noaa.gov custodian asNeeded Data content is considered static once published. However, if issues with the Geodatabase linkages or table contents are identified, the Geodatabase and/or the associated Map Document may be updated. Assure most current data is being used by downloading from https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi_download and/or comparing modification dates provided at this site. https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/ESI-Browse-Graphic.pdf Depicts the relationships between the spatial data layers and the attribute data tables for the Louisiana and Lower Mississippi River ESI data. pdf EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > REPTILES > ALLIGATORS/CROCODILES EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > REPTILES > TURTLES EARTH SCIENCE > HUMAN DIMENSIONS > ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS > OIL SPILLS theme Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords 17.0 CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > LOUISIANA OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF AMERICA place Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords 20.8 Coastal Resources Coastal Zone Management ESI Environmental Monitoring Environmental Sensitivity Index Oil spill planning Sensitivity Maps theme Gulf of Mexico Mississippi River place DOC/NOAA/NOS/ORR > Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce dataCentre Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords 2017-04-24 publication 8.5 Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords GCMD Keyword Forum Page Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords information custodian Louisiana and Lower Mississippi River, 2014 project InPort otherRestrictions Cite As: Office of Response and Restoration, [Date of Access]: Louisiana and Lower Mississippi River 2014 ESI REPTILE & AMPHIBIAN Polygons [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/56002. NOAA provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability occurring from any incomplete, incorrect, or misleading data, or from any incorrect, incomplete, or misleading use of the data. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether or not the data is suitable for the intended purpose. otherRestrictions Access Constraints: None otherRestrictions Use Constraints: DO NOT USE MAPS FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES. Management boundaries are not to be considered legal boundaries. Edges may have been altered for cartographic processes. Besides the above warnings, there are no use constraints on these data. Note that the ESI database should not be used to the exclusion of other pertinent data or information held by state or federal agencies or other organizations. Likewise, information contained in the database cannot be used in place of consultations with environmental, natural resource, and cultural resource agencies, or in place of field surveys. Recognize that the information contained in the ESI database represents known concentration areas or occurrences of natural, cultural, and human-use resources, but does not necessarily represent the full distribution or range of each species or resource. This is particularly important to recognize when considering potential impacts to protected resources, such as endangered species, wetlands, etc. Acknowledgment of the originators, publishers, contributors, and sources listed would be appreciated in products derived from these data. otherRestrictions Distribution Liability: Although these data have been processed and used successfully on a computer system at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by NOAA regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. NOAA warrants the delivery of this product in computer-readable format, and will offer a replacement copy of the product when the product is determined unreadable by computer input peripherals, or when the physical medium is delivered in damaged condition. unclassified NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA/NMFS/EDM 56002 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nos/orr/dmp/pdf/56002.pdf WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP) NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. information crossReference vector textTable eng; US biota environment The software packages used to develop the atlas are Environmental Systems Research Institute's ARC/INFO(R) (version 10.2) and SQL SERVER(R) (version 2005). The hardware configuration is PC's with Windows Operating System 7. -94 -88.0002 25.6169 31.1273 This geographic extent includes the entire coastal Louisiana and Lower Mississippi River ESI study area. The spatial extent of individual layers or feature classes may vary. The coastal Louisiana data were compiled 2012-2013, The Lower Mississippi River data were compiled in 2014. The atlas was published in 2014. | Currentness: Publication Date 2012 2014 false eng false HERP 2019-04-04 publication BIOFILE 2019-04-04 publication BREED_DT 2019-04-04 publication SOURCES 2019-04-04 publication ESRI File Geodatabase Zip Office of Response and Restoration 1305 East-West Highway Silver Spring MD 20910 https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link ORR Home Page Website listed for Office of Response and Restoration information distributor https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi_download WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Louisiana_2014_GDB.zip This feature class is part of the downloadable Esri Arc Geodatabase. download dataset Accuracy A multi-stage error checking process is used to verify both attribute accuracy and logical consistency throughout data production. The process includes a standardized data entry methodology, hardcopy data review by in-house and external resource experts, a final Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) process, and multiple automated logical consistency checks. Quantitative data (such as densities, counts, abundances, or concentrations) provided by resource experts for inclusion in the data set may vary widely in attribute accuracy, depending upon the methodology used to collect and compile such data. For a more detailed evaluation of source data attribute accuracy, contact the sources listed in the Lineage section. Horizontal Positional Accuracy Spatial components for the biological data layers can come from expert interviews, hardcopy, or digital sources. Some of the spatial components of the biological data layers may have been developed using regional experts who estimate concentration areas. It is difficult to estimate the positional accuracy of such data, except to state that they are compiled on hardcopy base maps with a scale of 1:24,000. Some of the spatial components of the biological data sets are developed from pre-existing digital or hardcopy sources and reflect the positional accuracy of these original data. Note that biological resource data by their very nature are considered "fuzzy", and this should be understood when considering the positional accuracy of vector digital objects representing these resources. See the Lineage and Process_Description sections for more information on the original source data and how these data were integrated or manipulated to create the final data set. Completeness Report These data represent a synthesis of expert knowledge, published documents, survey data, and digital data on reptile distribution and nesting areas. These data do not necessarily represent all reptile occurrences in Louisiana. The following species are included in this data set: (Species_ID, Common Name, Scientific Name [n/a if not applicable]): 2, Green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas; 3, American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis; 4, Kemp's ridley sea turtle, Lepidochelys kempii; 5, Leatherback sea turtle, Dermochelys coriacea; 6, Loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta; 7, Diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin; 9, Hawksbill sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata; 180, Alligator snapping turtle, Macrochelys temminckii; 214, Southern map turtle, Graptemys ouachitensis; 215, Smooth softshell, Apalone mutica. Conceptual Consistency A multi-stage error checking process, described in the above Attribute Accuracy Report, is used to verify both attribute accuracy and logical consistency throughout data production. This process includes multiple automated logical consistency checks that test the files for missing or duplicate data, rules for proper coding, GIS topological consistencies, and SQL SERVER(R) to ArcGIS(R) consistencies. A final review is made by the GIS manager, before the final Geodatabase and metadata are created. After the data are delivered to NOAA, they are again subjected to a several consistency checks, and processed into the final delivery format. The mapping extent for each species was dependent upon information availability and location of mapped coastal habitats and shorelines. Coastal Louisiana: For the Coastal Louisiana portion of the study area, three main sources of data were used to depict reptile distribution and seasonality for this data layer: 1) personal interviews with resource experts from Texas A&M (TAMU), Galveston, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS); 2) published reports provided by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), LDWF, and NMFS; and 3) digital survey data provided by LDWF. Sea turtles - Green (FT/ST), hawksbill (FE/SE), Kemp's ridley (FE/SE), leatherback (FE/SE), and loggerhead (FT/ST) sea turtles were included in this atlas. Polygons displayed represent in-water presence and concentration areas. While loggerhead sea turtle nests have occurred on the Chandeleur Islands in the past, they are very rare and it is not considered nesting habitat. Diamondback terrapin - LDWF provided survey data for terrapin nests and capture locations (traps) from 2012-2013. Alligators - Relative abundance and distribution data for the American alligator was provided by LDWF. Distribution and abundance polygons were derived by LDWF based on 2008-2012 nesting surveys and extrapolated to habitat polygons. Polygons considered to be 'medium', 'high' or 'excellent' habitat were included in the ESI. Density information in the form of acres per nest was provided by LDWF for each of the three habitat categories. 2013-12-01T00:00:00 ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov processor Lower Mississippi River: For the Lower Mississippi River portion of the study area, two main sources of data were used to depict reptile distribution and seasonality for this data layer: 1) digital data provided by LDWF-Louisiana Natural Heritage Program (LNHP) depicting the distribution of riverine turtles and 2) digital survey data provided by LDWF depicting alligator nest densities. Riverine turtles - The distribution of the smooth softshell, Alligator snapping turtle and the Ouachita map turtle were provided by LNHP. Alligators - Estimated American alligator nest densities were provided by LDWF, based on 2008-2012 surveys. LDWF ranked habitat quality based on nest density, and areas considered to be "excellent", "high", or "medium" quality habitat were included in the atlas. Alligators may be found in lower densities throughout the area of interest. The LDWF-LNHP provided information for some of the federally and state listed species and species of conservation concern for display in the ESI atlas and accompanying digital data in 2014. The available LNHP data sets are to be used for oil spill response and spill response planning only. These data represent existing information known to the LNHP at the time of the request and should never be substituted for consultation with the LNHP. 2014-05-01T00:00:00 ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov processor The above digital and/or hardcopy sources were compiled by the project biologist to create the REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS data layer. Depending on the type of source data, three general approaches are used for compiling the data layer: 1) information gathered during initial interviews and from hardcopy sources are compiled onto U.S. Geological Survey 1:24,000 topographic quadrangles and digitized; 2) hardcopy maps are digitized at their source scale; 3) digital data layers are evaluated and used "as is" or integrated with the hardcopy data sources. See the Lineage section for additional information on the type of source data for this data layer. The ESI, biology, and human-use data are compiled into the standard ESI digital data format. A second set of interviews with participating resource experts are conducted to review the compiled data. If necessary, edits to the REPTILES data layer are made based on the recommendations of the resource experts, and final hardcopy maps and digital data are created. 2014-05-01T00:00:00 ESI Program Manager orr.esi@noaa.gov processor Source Contribution: REPTILES INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: HARDCOPY TEXT | Type of Source Media: online APPENDIX A1. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PLANNING AID INPUT FOR LCA COMPREHENSIVE STUDY 2003-01-01 publication U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) 2003 Source Contribution: REPTILES INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DIAMONDBACK TERRAPIN SEASONALITY 2013-01-01 publication LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES (LDWF) - STEVEN PEARSON 2013 Source Contribution: REPTILES INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DISTRIBUTION OF MARINE MAMMALS AND SEA TURTLES IN THE GULF OF MEXICO 2013-01-01 publication MULLIN, KEITH (NOAA) 2013 Source Contribution: REPTILES INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: EXPERT KNOWLEDGE | Type of Source Media: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DISTRIBUTION OF SEA TURTLES IN THE GULF OF MEXICO 2013-01-01 publication LANDRY, A.(TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, GALVESTON, RETIRED) 2013 Source Contribution: REPTILES INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL FIVE YEAR (2008-2012) AVERAGE ALLIGATOR NEST DENSITY 2012-01-01 publication LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES (LDWF), COASTAL AND NONGAME RESOURCES DIVISION'S ALLIGATOR PROGRAM 2008 2012 Source Contribution: REPTILES INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: document | Type of Source Media: online NATURESERVE EXPLORER 2013-01-01 publication NATURESERVE http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/index.htm WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link Source Citation URL Source Citation URL information 2012 Source Contribution: REPTILES INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: vector digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL RIVERINE TURTLE DISTRIBUTION 2014-01-01 publication LOUISIANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM (LNHP) originator 2014 Source Contribution: REPTILES INFORMATION | Source Geospatial Form: tabular digital data | Type of Source Media: EMAIL TERRAPIN CAPTURE LOCATIONS FOR ESI 2013-01-01 publication LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES (LDWF) - STEVEN PEARSON 2012 2013