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The Southeastern Ecological Framework (SEF) is a decision support tool created through systematic landscape analysis (GIS model) of ecological significance and the identification of critical landscape linkages at different scales. It is intended to provide a foundation for the adoption and implementation of effective and efficient conservation measures at all scales to minimize environmental degradation and protect important ecosystem services. It has been developed for all eight southeastern states contained within the boundaries of the Environmental Protection Agency Region 4. Reference
Watersheds
A data set used to show watershed boundaries. A watershed includes all the land where water, from rain or runoff, drains to a specific river or water body. Ridges of high land separate watersheds from each other. Also, every waterway has its own watershed and every person lives within a watershed. For example, if rain that falls on your yard flows down the street and into a creek that eventually ends in the Hillsborough River, then you live in the Hillsborough Watershed. This data set was developed using US Geological Survey data for 8-digit hydrologic unit codes (HUCs) (this size shows watersheds for large rivers). Information for smaller watersheds (i.e. 11-digit HUCs which includes smaller streams) can be found at Site1. For information on pollution sources within your watershed, check out EPA's Surf Your Watershed at Reference 2.
Reference 1 , Reference 2 , Reference 3 , Funding Information: (search by # or keyword for 10.906 or watersheds)
Counties
The county data set shows the county boundaries. This provides a visual reference for identifying locations on the map and navigating around the other data sets. To adequately protect your community's resources within the SEF may require a collaborative effort with neighboring counties may be required. For additional information on counties you can link to the census bureau at Reference 1.
Reference 1 , Funding Information: (search by # or keyword for 10.772 or roads)
Roads
All roads according to the 1995 Tiger database. This information provides reference for locating specific target areas and also identifies the principal fragmentation stressor to the landscape. For additional information on roads you can visit Reference 1.
Reference 1 , Funding Information : (search by # or keyword for 66.460 or roads)
SEF_Mask
This mask will allow the user to see what other layers exist within the Southeastern Ecological Framework for a given location. You can toggle this data layer on and off to see result. More information on the SEF can be obtained from Reference 1.
Reference 1 , Funding Information: (search by # or keyword for 66.419 or water)
Parks
The parks database represents state and federal park areas and my overlap with the managed areas database. Parks are important in the SEF as many of the locations are identified as Priority Ecological Areas that help make up the hubs of the SEF. Information on the development of the hubs in the SEF can be obtained from Reference 1.
Reference 1 , Funding Information : (search by # or keyword for 10.766 or Parks)
Managed_areas
The managed areas database represents many types of federal, state and local managed lands. These are important in the SEF as many of the locations are identified as Priority Ecological Areas that help make up the hubs of the SEF. Information on the development of the hubs in the SEF can be obtained from Reference 1.
Reference 1 , Funding Information : (search by # or keyword for 84.145 or Parks)
Conservation_lands
Conservation lands includes land in various types of management from national parks and forests to local parks and conservation areas. These were an important part of the development of the SEF.
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SEF_Detail
Identifies the hubs and connectivity of the SEF along with other areas outside the SEF designated as Priority Ecological Areas (PEA) and Significant Ecological Areas (SEA). Areas outside of the SEF that provide ecological services are displayed because of the value in connecting localized priorities within the context of the larger ecological picture. While the Hubs and Connectivity components are the backbone of the SEF, the PEA/SEA data provides the opportunity to integrate these areas into a community's overall design of greenspace protection. Visit Site1 for more information on the development of the Priority Ecological Areas, Significant Ecological Areas, and overall modeling process of the SEF.
Reference 1 , Funding Information : (search by # or keyword for 66.419 or Ecology)
SEF
The Southeastern Ecological Framework (SEF) data set identifies all lands that have been included in the SEF and does not distinguish between hubs (ecologically significant areas over 5,000 acres) and the corridors that connect them. Visit Site1 for more information on the development of this data layer.
Reference 1 , Funding Information: (search by # or keyword for 66.419 or Water Pollution)
SEF_Biodiversity
Biodiversity can be defined as the variety of life including genes, species, natural communities, and landscapes. Biodiversity is threatened by factors including habitat loss and fragmentation, negative ecological impacts associated with intensive land uses, alien or weedy species, etc. This prioritization contains an assessment relevant to identifying areas that are potentially most important for conserving biodiversity. This includes some information on areas containing the most species of conservation significance and areas that are most likely to support viable opportunities to conserve biodiversity. However, additional data on locations of species of conservation interest and natural communities and the identification of areas most important for conserving viable populations of such species will be important to enhance future iterations. This coverage is the regional biodiversity selected for the SEF. Visit Site1 for more information on the development of this data layer.
Reference 1 , Funding Information: (search by # or keyword for 66.463 or Water Quality)
Regional_Biodiversity
Biodiversity can be defined as the variety of life including genes, species, natural communities, and landscapes. Biodiversity is threatened by factors including habitat loss and fragmentation, negative ecological impacts associated with intensive land uses, alien or weedy species, etc. This prioritization contains an assessment relevant to identifying areas that are potentially most important for conserving biodiversity. This includes some information on areas containing the most species of conservation significance and areas that are most likely to support viable opportunities to conserve biodiversity. However, additional data on locations of species of conservation interest and natural communities and the identification of areas most important for conserving viable populations of such species will be important to enhance future iterations. Visit Reference1 for more information on the development of this data layer.
Reference 1 , Funding Information: (search by # or keyword for 15.632 or Conversation)
SEF_Ecosystem_Services
Ecosystem or ecological services are ecological processes and functions provided by natural and semi-natural areas that help sustain or enhance human life. Primary ecosystem services include water and air protection and purification, flood and storm protection, functional nutrient cycling, etc. The ecosystem services prioritization is based on available data and techniques. This data has been selected for the SEF. Visit Reference1 for more information on the development of this data layer.
Reference 1 , Funding Information: (search by # or keyword for 66.419 or Water Pollution)
Regional_threats
The regional threats analysis incorporates two related analyses that assess the threats from intensive land uses and roads that can both negatively affect ecological integrity existing natural and semi-natural lands, and the likelihood that such natural, semi-natural and agricultural lands will be converted to residential or urban land uses. Use the SEF_Mask to see where the threats exist within the SEF. Visit Reference1 for more information on the development of this data layer.
Reference 1 , Funding Information: (search by # or keyword for 66.463 or Water Quality)
Land_Cover
The land cover data set shows the different types of land cover within the mapped area. Land cover types vary widely and include everything from residential areas to grasslands to forests to pasture lands. This data provides you with an overview of where each land cover type is located within a watershed or county. The data also allows you to see where land uses, such as residential, are encroaching on other land types (i.e. agricultural lands). The information is obtained from the National Land Cover Data developed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For more information on the NLCD visit Reference1.
Reference 1 , Funding Information: (search by # or keyword for 66.463 or Water Quality)
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