gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:75824
eng
UTF8
dataset
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)
EPSG::4269
Lake Michigan: BENTHIC (Polygons)
2025-05
publication
NOAA/NMFS/EDM
75824
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/75824
WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link
Full Metadata Record
View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset.
information
mapDigital
This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in Lake Michigan. Vector polygons in this data set represent SAV. 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 Lake Michigan. 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.
CREDIT: This project was funded by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) LCDR Chris Duffy assisted in many aspects of the projects completion. Nicolle Rutherford with NOAAs Office of Response and Restoration (ORR), Emergency Response Division and Robb Wright with NOAAs ORR, Assessment and Restoration Division, Spatial Data Branch reviewed and approved the final products.
The biological and human-use data included on the maps were provided by numerous individuals and agencies. The individuals and agencies are listed in detail throughout the introductory pages of the ESI atlas. Staff at these organizations contributed a vast amount of information to this effort, including first-hand expertise, publications, maps, and digital data.
At Research Planning, Inc. in Columbia, South Carolina, scientific, GIS, and graphics staff were involved with all phases of the project. Mark White, GIS Director, and Christine Boring, Biology Dept. Manager, were co-Project Managers. Jennifer Horsman, Katy Beckham, Lee Diveley, and Ken Christle classified the ESI shoreline. The biological data were collected and compiled onto base maps by Christine Boring, Lauren Szathmary, and Seamus Harrison. Lee Diveley, Katy Beckham, and Jeff Dahlin processed and produced the GIS data. Wendy Early produced the final documents. ORIGINATORS: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service (NOS), Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R), Emergency Response Division (ERD), Seattle, Washington.; NOAA's Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R), Emergency Response Division (ERD).;
completed
ESI Program Manager
7600 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle
WA
98115
orr.esi@noaa.gov
custodian
Benthic
Coastal Zone Management
Coastal resources
Environmental Monitoring,ESI
Oil spill planning
Sensitivity maps
Wildlife
biota
environment
theme
Lake Michigan
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
Great Lakes - Lake Michigan ESI, 2025
project
InPort
otherRestrictions
Cite As: Office of Response and Restoration, [Date of Access]: Lake Michigan: BENTHIC (Polygons) [Data Date Range], https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/75824.
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
Use Constraints: Although these data have been processed 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
75824
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nos/orr/dmp/pdf/75824.pdf
WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link
NOAA Data Management Plan (DMP)
NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort.
information
crossReference
eng; US
biota
environment
-88.176303
-84.815632
41.546941
46.042438
The data were compiled during 2023-2025. The currentness date for this data is 2012 and is documented in the Lineage section. | Currentness: Publication Date
2012
false
eng
false
Data Table
GIS File
BIOCOMB
2025-08-07
publication
SOURCES
2025-08-07
publication
BENTHIC
2025-08-07
publication
ESRI File Geodatabase
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
WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link
https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/esi
Data access URL
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, 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 1:42,000. 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.
Meets acceptance criteria
Completeness Report
These data represent a synthesis of digital data on SAV distribution. These data do not necessarily represent all benthic occurrences in Lake Michigan. The following species are included in this data set: (Species_ID, Common Name, Scientific Name [n/a if not applicable]): 609, Submerged aquatic vegetation, n/a.
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 ESI manager, where the data are written to CD-ROM and the metadata are written. After the data are delivered to NOAA, they are again subjected to a number of quality and consistency checks. In the process of checking for topological and database consistencies, new ID's and RARNUM's or HUNUM's are also generated, while retaining the original RARNUM or HUNUM stored as MAPRAR and MAPHUN, respectively. The new ID's are a combination of atlas number, element number, and record number. In addition, the value used to represent the element is modified to reflect the type of feature being mapped. In the case of an element that is normally represented by a point or polygon, a value of 20 is added to the standard element value for mapping of linear features. In the case where an element usually mapped as a polygon is represented by a point, a value of 30 is added to the regular element value. The RARNUM's are also modified to include the atlas number, so multiple atlases can be combined and RARNUM's remain unique. RARNUM's are redefined on an element basis, so "resources at risk" groupings will contain only a single element. HUNUM's are also modified to include the atlas number.
One main source of data was used to depict benthic distribution and seasonality for this data layer: 1) digital data from the Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI). In the MTRI dataset, areas that were attributed as "less dense SAV" or "dense SAV" were combined, and these areas were used to map SAV presence. Due to the high resolution of the MTRI data, data were buffered by 20 m and smoothed by 50 m to create the final SAV areas. SAV in Lake Michigan is predominantly cladophora, a nuisance, native green alga.
The above digital and/or hardcopy sources were compiled by the project biologist to create the BENTHIC 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 1:42,000 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 BENTHIC data layer are made based on the recommendations of the resource experts, and final hardcopy maps and digital data are created.
2025-01-01T00:00:00
ESI Program Manager
orr.esi@noaa.gov
processor
Source Contribution: BENTHIC INFORMATION
DISTRIBUTION OF OPTICALLY SHALLOW AREAS OF LAKE MICHIGAN
2012-01-01
publication
MICHIGAN TECH RESEARCH INSTITUTE - R. SHUCHMAN, M. SAYERS, C. BROOKS, M. AUER, G. MEADOWS, N. JESSEE, AND A. GRIMM
originator