Culvert upgrade impacts

/in , /by

This layer scores potential sites for culvert upgrade by the relative improvement in aquatic connectedness (component of ecological integrity; defined in connectivity documentation).  It compares values between the assumed culvert or aquatic passage structure and a structure that would impose no restrictions to aquatic passage, such as an overhead bridge. It also takes into account the index of ecological integrity (IEI) scores for the surrounding cells, so that culvert upgrades that improve connectedness in areas with high ecological integrity score higher than those in areas with low ecological integrity. As with other model-based assessments, a field survey of potential culvert upgrade sites should precede any implementation. In addition, it should be noted that scores did not take into account socioeconomic considerations, such as the construction cost of implementation, which would ultimately have to be considered before undertaking any restoration action.

View this product as a web map on Data Basin.

Access this data as a GIS download from the North Atlantic LCC website.

Read the Technical Abstract for this data layer (culverts.shp).

Dam removal effects

/in , /by

This layer scores potential sites for dam removal by the relative improvement in local aquatic connectedness (component of ecological integrity; defined in connectivity documentation).  It takes into account the Index of Ecological Integrity (IEI) scores for the surrounding cells, so that dam removals that improve connectedness in areas with high ecological integrity score higher than those in areas with low ecological integrity. As with other model-based assessments, field survey of potential dam removal sites should precede any implementation. This tool is not designed to quantify benefits to anadromous fish from dam removal; users interested in tools that address anadromous fish may wish to investigate other products such as the Northeast Aquatic Connectivity Project led by The Nature Conservancy along with Northeast state fish and wildlife agencies. In addition, dam removal scores did not take into account socioeconomic considerations, such as impoundments for drinking water, flood control, etc., which would ultimately have to be considered before undertaking any restoration action.

View this product as a web map on Data Basin.

Access this data as a GIS download from the North Atlantic LCC website.

Read the Technical Abstract for this data layer (dams.shp).

Aquatic buffers

/in , /by

Aquatic buffers surround the aquatic (both lotic and lentic) cores. Buffers represent the areas estimated to have a strong influence on the integrity of the aquatic cores based on watershed processes. They include the areas that are hydrologically connected to the cores, based on the idea that human actions (such as development or pollution) within the buffer area may impact the integrity of the aquatic cores. As a result, the buffers do not correlate with the ecological integrity of the underlying land. In this application, buffers are not a fixed entity, but rather a “zone of influence” around the cores that decreases as you move away from the stream. The zone of influence is narrower on rivers than on headwater creeks because of the relative ability of those waters to absorb impacts from human activities and maintain their integrity.

View this product as a web map on Data Basin.

Access this data as a GIS download from the North Atlantic LCC website.

Read the Technical Abstract for this data layer (aquaticBuffers.tif).