File Geodatabase Feature Class
Tags
aquatic, biodiversity, native, richness, rare, rarity, endemic, sensitive habitat, ACE, riparian, wetland, fish, invertebrate, reptile, amphibian
Aquatic Irreplaceability Summary, Areas of Conservation Emphasis (ACE), version 3.0. Aquatic Irreplaceability is a measure of the uniqueness of habitat areas for aquatic species in the landscape, and is one measurement used to describe the distribution of overall species biodiversity in California for the California Department of Fish and Wildlifes (CDFW) Areas of Conservation Emphasis Project (ACE). Other measures of aquatic species biodiversity included in the ACE aquatic biodiversity summary are aquatic native species richness and aquatic rare species richness. Here, aquatic irreplaceability represents the relative importance of each watershed based on the uniqueness of habitat areas present for rare and endemic aquatic species. Watersheds with high irreplaceability contain species or habitat conditions that occur in few places in the landscape. These areas may be of high conservation value due to their unique contribution to biodiversity. The data provides, 1) the irreplaceability weight, based on the rarity-weighted index (RWI), which weights the species count by the extent of the distribution for each species, so watersheds providing habitat for narrowly distributed species are given a higher score, and 2) a count of the total number of endemic species per taxonomic group in each watershed based on documented species occurrence information for aquatic reptiles and amphibians. Areas with a high RWI support rare species with few documented occurrences; these areas would be expected to support unique habitats or suites of species that are limited in distribution. The data can be used to identify areas of high irreplaceability. Users can view a list of species that contribute to the biodiversity summary for each watershed. The aquatic irreplaceability summary depicts the areas of highest irreplaceability across the state. To achieve this, the data was normalized by taxonomic group (see Data Sources and Models Used, below). The aquatic irreplaceability by taxonomic group layers give a statewide overview of irreplaceability for each individual taxonomic group, showing irreplaceability weights (RWI values) for aquatic amphibians, fish, and aquatic reptiles, and counts of rare endemic aquatic amphibians and reptiles per watershed.
For more information, see the Aquatic Rarity-weighted Richness Factsheet at https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=150854 .
The California Department of Fish and Wildlifes (CDFW) Areas of Conservation Emphasis (ACE) is a compilation and analysis of the best-available statewide spatial information in California on biodiversity, rarity and endemism, harvested species, significant habitats, connectivity and wildlife movement, climate vulnerability, climate refugia, and other relevant data (e.g., other conservation priorities such as those identified in the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), stressors, land ownership). ACE addresses both terrestrial and aquatic data. The ACE model combines and analyzes terrestrial information in a 2.5 square mile hexagon grid and aquatic information at the HUC12 watershed level across the state to produce a series of maps for use in non-regulatory evaluation of conservation priorities in California. The model addresses as many of CDFWs statewide conservation and recreational mandates as feasible using high quality data sources. High value areas statewide and in each USDA Ecoregion were identified. The ACE maps and data can be viewed in the ACE online map viewer, or downloaded for use in ArcGIS. For more detailed information see: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/Analysis/ACE and https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=24326 .
ACE 3 Working Group and ACE 3 Development Team, California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Scripting and GIS data product development: Ryan Hill, Sandra Hill, and Melanie Gogol-Prokurat. ACE 3 conceptual model and source data development: Melanie Gogol-Prokurat, Sandra Hill, Diane Mastalir, Kristi Cripe, Dan Applebee, Janet Brewster, Kristina White, Patrick McIntyre, Todd Keeler-Wolf, Lisa Ohara, Steve Goldman, Peter Ode, Whitney Albright, Ryan Hill, and Karen Miner. Multiple datasets were compiled and analyzed in the development of ACE, including but not limited to California Wildlife Habitat Relationship (CWHR) species ranges and distribution models, California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) and other Biogeographic Information and Observation System (BIOS) rare species occurrence data, and Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program (VegCAMP) vegetation maps/landcover data. A full list of the datasets included in the ACE analysis is included in the technical report: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=24326.
The ACE data is subject to certain assumptions and limitations that must be considered in any use or application of the data. All ACE data layers are limited by the accuracy and scale of the input data. ACE is a compilation of the best available scientific information; however, many of these datasets are not comprehensive across the landscape, may change over time, and should be revised and improved as new data become available.
The user accepts sole responsibility for the correct interpretation and use of these data, and agrees not to misrepresent these data. CDFW makes no warranty of any kind regarding these data, express or implied. By downloading these datasets, the user understands that these data are in draft condition and subject to change at any time as new information becomes available. The user will not seek to hold the State or the Department liable under any circumstances for any damages with respect to any claim by the user or any third party on account of or arising from the use of data or maps. CDFW reserves the right to modify or replace these datasets without notification.
The ACE maps display biological and recreational values based on available data and constrained by the limitations of the data. The values may be influenced by level of survey effort in a given area. The ACE data represent broad-scale patterns across the landscape, and the value of any single watershed should be interpreted with caution. ACE is a decision-support tool to be used in conjunction with species-specific information and local-scale conservation prioritization analyses.
The ACE maps do not replace the need for site-specific evaluation of biological resources and should not be used as the sole measure of conservation priority during planning. No statement or dataset shall by itself be considered an official response from a state agency regarding impacts to wildlife resulting from a management action subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Extent
| West | -124.506169 | East | -113.497869 |
| North | 42.068507 | South | 32.423754 |
| Maximum (zoomed in) | 1:5,000 |
| Minimum (zoomed out) | 1:150,000,000 |
The ACE data is subject to certain assumptions and limitations that must be considered in any use or application of the data. All ACE data layers are limited by the accuracy and scale of the input data. ACE is a compilation of the best available scientific information; however, many of these datasets are not comprehensive across the landscape, may change over time, and should be revised and improved as new data become available.
The user accepts sole responsibility for the correct interpretation and use of these data, and agrees not to misrepresent these data. CDFW makes no warranty of any kind regarding these data, express or implied. By downloading these datasets, the user understands that these data are in draft condition and subject to change at any time as new information becomes available. The user will not seek to hold the State or the Department liable under any circumstances for any damages with respect to any claim by the user or any third party on account of or arising from the use of data or maps. CDFW reserves the right to modify or replace these datasets without notification.
The ACE maps display biological and recreational values based on available data and constrained by the limitations of the data. The values may be influenced by level of survey effort in a given area. The ACE data represent broad-scale patterns across the landscape, and the value of any single watershed should be interpreted with caution. ACE is a decision-support tool to be used in conjunction with species-specific information and local-scale conservation prioritization analyses.
The ACE maps do not replace the need for site-specific evaluation of biological resources and should not be used as the sole measure of conservation priority during planning. No statement or dataset shall by itself be considered an official response from a state agency regarding impacts to wildlife resulting from a management action subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).