Baylands Habitat Map - San Francisco Bay - 2020 - SFEI [ds3190]

The Baylands Habitat Map 2020 (BHM2020) Is a fundamental component of the San Francisco Estuary Regional Wetlands Monitoring Program (WRMP), and serves as a common reference map to help coordinate baylands protection and restoration for all interests. It is intended to be used commonly by public agencies to visualize and track baylands projects in EcoAtlas. The creation of the Baylands Habitat Map was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund. The San Francisco Estuary Institute developed and refined the ruleset to produce the map through regular consultation and collaboration with the WRMP Geospatial Workgroup and WRMP Technical Advisory Committee. The dataset was developed using Object Based Image analysis and a rule based approach in Trimble eCognition and ESRI ArcGIS Pro software. The dataset was published in April 2024.

During the BHM2020 mapping effort, methods for differentiating one class from another were largely based upon relative tidal elevation, vegetation cover, and feature structure/shape. Tidal influence varies not only across the regions of the bay area, but also between bayland areas within that are constrained by levees and complex hydrological connections. To account for this variability and uncertainty, some flexibility in regard to modeled relative tidal elevation was required and adjustments based on spectral signature was necessary to accurately capture the habitats and extent of influence in areas with complex and varying tidal connections. More information can be found in the BHM2020 methods document.

The classification system used was developed in close coordination with WRMP staff and advisors and can be found more fully described in the Baylands Habitat Map 2020 Classification Key.

Data Fields:

Note that the data fields in the Baylands Habitat Map 2020 are consistent with the WRMP Habitat Type Classification System that is further detailed in the Baylands Habitat Map 2020 Classification Key document. Note that a "Level 1" class in the WRMP Habitat Type Classification System refers to "Geography" and refers to the subregion or area of interest for this mapping effort.

Level 2: Landscape Complex level of classification

Level 3: Hydrogeomorphic Setting level of classification

Level 4: Habitat Type/Ecosystem Complex level of classification

Level 5: Functional Habitat level of classification

The BHM2020 effort was funded with the goal of mapping to level 4 Ecosystem Complex/Habitat Type within the Classification System, for the purpose of monitoring change over time using primarily remote sensing data. Level 5 Functional Habitat classes, although included in the WRMP Habitat Type Classification System, require additional information to accurately map at a regional level. There are limited level 5 classes that were included in the BHM2020 mapping effort to meet the needs of a broad stakeholder group, but should be rolled up to level 4 classes when conducting accuracy assessment and change over time analysis. This is because confidence levels in the accuracy of level 5 distinctions, from using primarily remote sensing data at a regional level, are lower than the accuracy of level 4 classes. For efforts to further speciate classes to level 5 categories, additional information from other data sets and local experts is highly recommended.

This file is part of the Baylands Habitat Map 2020.

The Baylands Habitat Map 2020 is free data: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

The Baylands Habitat Map 2020 is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

More information about GNU General Public License is available at http://www.gnu.org/licenses/ . SFEI data are available without restriction upon use with the following caveats. Prudent usage, knowledge of the data quality, and professional courtesy should all be considered in obtaining and using SFEI data. As this dataset is NOT a survey document, neither use it as such nor use it beyond the limits of the source scale. Please read and fully comprehend all available metadata prior to data use. SFEI requests that the use of these data in any map, publication, or report should include citation of the data source(s) used and give proper attribution and credit to the originators of the data. Questions about SFEI data may be directed to the GIS Manager, at 510-746-7334.

Disclaimer: The State makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or adequacy of these data and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in these data. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to these data.