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Identifies landscape characteristics based on amounts and distribution of urbanized land. These data provide insight to existing conditions for your community and can inform decision making related to urban environmental quality and other land management issues. Additionally, association of urban land within or near the Southeastern Ecological Framework (SEF) helps identify areas that can be protected, enhanced or restored to ensure ecosystems function for the long term health of the community. Data sets in the Urban map are described below:
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 # 10.906 or Watershed)
States
The states data set shows state boundaries and serves as a visual reference to identify natural resources that may cross state lines. To adequately protect your community's resources within the SEF may require a collaborative effort with neighboring counties may be required. This is important for developing strategies for resource protection efforts in approximately 150 watersheds that cross over state lines. For additional information on counties you can link to the census bureau at Site.
Reference 1 , Funding Information (search by # 15.916 or Park, Land, Water)
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 # 10.772 or Empowerment zones)
Rivers
The rivers data set was obtained from the US Geological Survey's National Hydrologic Data (NHD) set and provides the most accurate national coverage of rivers and streams in the United States to date. For more information you can go toSite1.
Reference 1 , Funding Information (search by # 66.454 or Water Quality)
Highways
The highways data set shows the Major Highways (based upon the 1995 Tiger database) within the specific map area. Highways serve as reference points to locate areas on the map. Combining the highways set with the SEF data sets allows you to easily identify locations where ecological areas are being fragmented or will be fragmented by future highway and land development. For more information on the Tiger data base and documentation go to Site1.
Reference 1 , Funding Information 1 , Funding Information 2 , Funding Information 3
Cities
The cities data set shows municipal boundaries for cities and towns. This data can be used to identify locations where land development is moving away from the city's center and may be threatening water and ecological resources or contributing to habitat fragmentation. The data may also be used to design urban greenways and trails that tie into the larger ecological hub and corridor system. This not only provides recreational opportunities for residents and visitors, it helps maintain the health and vitality of the local watershed and surrounding habitats. For additional information on cities you can link to the census bureau at Site1.
Reference 1 , Funding Information (search by # or Keyword Brownfield)
Water_Bodies
The Water Bodies data set represents lakes, ponds and impoundments from the USGS National Hydrography Database (NHD). Up stream and surrounding development are important aspects to the health and economic viability of these resources. Additional information is available at Site1.
Reference 1 , Funding Information (search by # 66.454 or Water Quality)
Soil_Permeability
This is soil information based on STATSGO, the state level soil database. The soil permeability is in inches per hour. Permeability is how quickly water soaks into the soil. This is important when dealing with potential flooding and non-point source runoff issues that can impact the quality and quantity of water resources in your community. More information on the STATSGO attributes can be accessed by querying the database or by going to Site1.
Reference 1 , Funding Information (search by # 10.903 or Soil)
USFS_Ecoregions
Ecological Unites of the Eastern United States - First Approximation USDA Forest Service 1995. This data represents the USDA Forest Service classification of regional land types. Query on the data layer for more information about each ecoregion or visit Site1 for more information on other ecoregion designations.
Reference 1 , Funding Information (search by # 66.463 or Water Quality)
Riparian_N-index
The Natural vegetation along riparian areas in a watershed contains information showing the percentage of riparian area (i.e. the natural vegetation along stream or river bank) in a watershed that remains in a natural state. Examples of alterations along a stream include complete or partial removal of the riparian buffer or construction of retaining walls. These changes in the riparian buffer reduce or completely remove vegetation that filters pollutants and sediments from runoff and increases riverbank erosion. A low N index percentage along the riparian zone within the watershed can be an indicator for possible water quality and quantity issues. In addition, a low percentage is not always necessary for water problems. If an area's waterways are already stressed or polluted, a small percentage of human use may adversely impact the watershed. The University of Nebraska in Lincoln has excellent documentation on riparian buffers in agricultural landscapes at Site1. The National Agroforestry Center identifies 50 feet in their riparian buffer design for croplands. For more information on this issue you can read their report at Site2.
Reference 1 , Reference 2 , Funding Information (search by # 66.463 or Water Quality)
HUC_N-index
The Natural Systems Index for Watersheds contains information showing the percentage of land in a watershed that remains in a natural state. The percentage rate can be an indicator for possible water quality and quantity issues. In addition, a low percentage is not always necessary for water problems. If an area's waterways are already stressed or polluted, a small percentage of human use may adversely impact the watershed.
Reference 1 , Funding Information (search by # 10.906 or Watershed)
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 # 66.419 or Waterpollution)
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 Site1.
Reference 1 , Funding Information (search by # 66.463 or Water Quality)
Elevation
The elevation scale is in feet. Elevation is important in determining water flows, water catchment areas such as lakes and swamps, and vegetation associations that are important to local biodiversity. The elevation data is from the USGS National Elevation Data. For more information you can go to Site1.
Reference 1 , Funding Information (search by # 10.902 or Soil/ Water conservation)
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