EcoAtlas
California's EcoAtlas provides access to information for effective wetland management. EcoAtlas is a set of tools for generating, assembling, storing, visualizing, sharing, and reporting environmental data and information. The tools can be used individually or together, and they can be adjusted or tuned to meet the specific needs of environmental planners, regulators, managers, scientists, and educators. The maps and tools can be used to create a complete picture of aquatic resources in the landscape by integrating stream and wetland maps, restoration information, and monitoring results with land use, transportation, and other information important to the state’s wetlands.
Scientific Background and Purpose
EcoAtlas is synonymous with the framework and toolset of the Wetland and Riparian Area Monitoring Plan (WRAMP) of the California Wetland Monitoring Workgroup (CWMW). EcoAtlas operationalizes WRAMP by enabling users to assess the abundance, distribution, diversity, and condition of surface waters in the landscape or watershed context. EcoAtlas has been used to apply the WRAMP framework for wetland and stream protection in a variety of California watersheds, and it can be adjusted to more generally support natural resource planning, assessment, monitoring, and reporting (http://sfei.li/cwmw1). EcoAtlas, in essence, represents a distillation of the best science-based, rigorous thinking and planning conducted by the CWMW over the course of many years. The WRAMP Framework page, cited above, contains a trove of studies, reports, and presentations that demonstrate the support the WRAMP framework and EcoAtlas. Key definitions for the elements of the WRAMP framework are available here.
A central aspect of the WRAMP framework is a classification of environmental data, their methods of collection, and their stated purposes into three levels.
Level 1 data: Maps and spatial information
These data consist of map-based inventories of aquatic areas and related resources, including rivers, streams, lakes, bays, wetlands, and their riparian areas, plus events and activities that have a direct effect on the distribution, abundance, diversity, or condition of aquatic resources. Level 1 maps may serve to plan and conduct landscape and watershed profiles of aquatic resource condition.
Level 2 data: General wetland condition information
This extensive dataset comprises rapid, field-based semi-quantitative measures of the overall condition of aquatic resources. In California, the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) is the most widely used Level 2 method for assessing the conditions of wetlands and streams. Other Level 2 assessments exist and may also be used when needed.
Level 3 data: Specific condition information
These datasets are quantitative, field measurements of specific aspects of condition. Plant species composition, nesting bird surveys, spawning success, and groundwater recharge rates are examples of Level 3 data types. Level 3 methods can vary from site to site for the same kinds of Level 3 data (http://www.mywaterquality.ca.gov/monitoring_council/wetland_workgroup/index.html) EcoAtlas currently displays detailed condition data on water and sediment toxicity from various studies throughout the State. These data are provided by California Environmental Data Exchange Network (CEDEN) so users may view water quality data relevant to wetland condition.
Information about the data sources used on EcoAtlas is available on the Data page.
Timeline
With constant renewal and redevelopment, EcoAtlas has been serving the San Francisco Bay Region and broader California constituencies for almost 20 years.
Components
Project Tracker
The Project Tracker tracks restoration projects, including maps, habitat plans, contact information, and a library of project files.
Landscape Profile Tool
The Landscape Profile Tool summarizes ecological information at various spatial scales for assessment, planning, and reporting.
CARI Editor
The CARI Editor allows users to submit updates, deletions or new features for streams and wetlands. An email is sent to acknowledge receipt of the request, however the review and processing of edits is dependent on available resources.
Related Projects, News, and Events:
California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) (Project)
CRAM is a standardized, scientifically defensible rapid assessment method for monitoring the ecological conditions of wetlands throughout California. Because it is standardized, one can compare ecological conditions of wetlands locally, regionally and statewide.
Lahontan EcoAtlas Development (Project)
This project will create an EcoAtlas user community for the Lahontan region of the Sierra Nevada to develop capacities within the region to apply EcoAtlas through existing local, regional, state, and federal programs to track projects and summarize map-based and rapid assessment information at the watershed scale.
California Aquatic Resource Inventory (CARI) (Project)
The California Aquatic Resources Inventory (CARI) is a Geographic Information System (GIS) based map of wetlands, streams, and riparian areas within California that is hosted online through EcoAtlas.
Eelgrass Data Management and Project Tracking (Project)
Eelgrass (Zostera marina and Z. pacifica) is recognized as an important ecological resource in nearshore open coast areas, shallow bays, and estuaries throughout coastal California.
Visualizing and Sharing Intensive Data Assessments (Project)
With California's drought rapidly changing the outlook for natural resources, decision-makers must be equipped with information and tools that facilitate clear and rapid decisions. The proposed grant would fund the standardization, visualization, and sharing of Level 3 data.
Online 401 Application Tool (Project)
This tool provides a permit negotiation tool for applicants and Regional Water Board staff to work together on preparing a permit for a 401 Water Quality Certification or Waste Discharge Report for projects impacting waters of the US or California. The application tool will streamline 401 Certification applications, provide access to historical 401 cases, and enable standardized reports on the status and trends of 401 projects and ambient conditions for watersheds, regions, and statewide.
Wetland Portal Data Entry for the San Diego Region (Project)
Information and maps for 168 projects from the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board were uploaded to the Project Tracker database. These projects can be viewed on EcoAtlas and the California Wetlands Portal. This project also provided guidance and training to support the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board's participation in the Online 401 Pilot Study.
California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM): Bar-Built Estuarine Wetlands (Project)
The CRAM Bar-Built Estuarine module is used for assessing reaches of coastal rivers and streams that are ecologically influenced by seasonal closures of their tidal inlets.
Contaminant Data Download and Display (CD3) (Project)
Contaminant Data Display and Download Tool or CD3 is an innovative visualization tool for accessing water quality data for the San Francisco Bay-Delta and northern montane regions. It is the primary tool for accessing and downloading the San Francisco Bay Regional Monitoring Program’s (RMP) long-term dataset and other project data stored in SFEI's Regional Data Center (RDC).
Developing a Sustainable Business Model for the EcoAtlas Toolset (Project)
This project is funded by a USEPA wetland development grant (2015-2017) to develop a recommended funding and business model for the EcoAtlas toolset. EcoAtlas is a framework and toolset recommended in the State's Wetland and Riparian Area Monitoring Plan (WRAMP) of the California Wetland Monitoring Workgroup (CWMW). The tools enable users to visualize and assess the distribution, abundance, diversity, and condition of surface waters in a landscape or watershed context. The Business Plan project is developing several overview and planning memos and a final, compiled recommendation for an EcoAtlas business plan. Those documents are made available here as they are completed.
Dashboards track cumulative benefits on the landscape (News)
EcoAtlas dashboards are comprehensive views of qualified information provided by Project Tracker and the California Aquatic Resource Inventory (CARI). These dynamic visualizations help measure the cumulative benefits of public policies and programs for California's aquatic resources.
Russian River Watershed Atlas helps track and coordinate post-fire activities (News)
Fire recovery in the Russian River Watershed will benefit from a common online platform for compiling, visualizing, and interpreting many kinds of environmental data available from diverse federal, state, regional, and local sources. Providing such a platform is one objective of the Russian River Regional Monitoring Program (R3MP).
New Project Tracker online forms (News)
New Project Tracker online forms enhance EcoAtlas' regional capacity for habitat restoration project tracking, assessment and reporting. Partners can now upload and edit project information and approve projects for display on EcoAtlas. Project Tracker meets the important need of providing tools for partners to manage their projects and display information on EcoAtlas, a tool for visualizing the condition and extent of California's aquatic resources.
The key benefits of Project Tracker include:
SFEI Announces New Wetlands Web Tools (News)
SFEI, on behalf of the Wetland Monitoring Workgroup is releasing a series of technology tools to help with aquatic resource protection and management. “These new online tools will empower Californians to access information about the value and health of their wetlands,” said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld. “The release of the Wetlands Portal and EcoAtlas represents a multi-agency collaborative effort to inform the public and support better aquatic resource management.”
New data layers and Landscape Profile mode added to EcoAtlas (News)
New data layers and Landscape Profile mode have been added to EcoAtlas (ecoatlas.org), an online tool for visualizing the abundance, diversity, and condition of wetlands, along with the project activities that are affecting the landscape. Enhancements include:
Advancing Performance Measures (Project)
This project consists of an effort to enhance EcoAtlas to serve as the shared and primary point of collection for project data, then actively transfer the data to Delta View.
Habitat Restoration Project Tracking (Project)
This project expands the current capabilities of the wetland project tracking system for the monitoring and assessment of California’s aquatic resources to meet the project tracking, assessment, and reporting needs for current and planned habitat restoration in the San Francisco Bay-Delta and Central Valley.
Get on the curve: Habitat Development Curves help determine the performance of on-the-ground projects (News)
How do you know whether your project assessment, conducted by the California Rapid Assessment Method, reflects an improvement that is aligned with ecosystem goals? Habitat Development Curves (HDCs) help to visualize and measure the performance of on-the-ground projects relative to ecosystem goals.
CRAM Bar-Built Estuarine (BBE) module now available to expand the applicability of CRAM (News)
With funding from the State Coastal Conservancy, SFEI staff developed the eCRAM data entry forms for uploading BBE assessments into the CRAM database. Public assessments can be viewed on EcoAtlas' interactive map and downloaded using the CRAM filter tool.
New GIS Datasets in EcoAtlas (News)
In addition to making water quality data accessible, SFEI’s GIS Team compiles spatial datasets and metadata that are available for downloading from SFEI’s Data Center page.
Evaluation of CRAM performance for assessing wetland stress, small wetlands, and wetland habitat development (Project)
Caltrans funded this wetlands research to fill important gaps in knowledge about the ability of the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) to assess small wetlands, wetlands stress, and the rate at which wetland restoration projects develop into mature habitats. Caltrans proposed specific tasks based on the research priorities provided by the CRAM Commitee of the statewide California Wetlands Monitoring Workgroup.
Montezuma Technical Review Team (Project)
The Montezuma wetland restoration project is returning ~2,000 acres of diked baylands to tidal, seasonal, and managed wetlands in an eastern portion of Suisun Bay near the town of Collinsville, California in Solano County.
California Wetlands Portal (Project)
The California Wetlands Portal, one of the State of California’s My Water Quality portals, is the common data management system for the State’s primary wetland protection policies and programs, including the 401 Certification and WDR Programs, the proposed Wetland and Riparian Protection Policy, and the State’s No-Net-Loss Policy.
Statewide Wetland Tracking, Science, and Policy Development Support (Project)
SFEI’s Wetland Science Focus Area’s Director, Josh Collins, is a leader in the coordination of statewide science advisory teams and acquiring funding to develop monitoring and assessment tools that support the State’s Wetland and Riparian Area Protection Policy.
Santa Rosa Plain Wetlands Profile: A Demonstration of WRAMP (Project)
The Santa Rosa Plain WRAMP project demonstrated the use of the State’s standardized monitoring and assessment tools in a North Coast watershed setting and described how the results can support watershed based management and planning decisions to protect and manage the state’s wetlands at a landscape scale.
USGS StreamStats API available in EcoAtlas (News)
How can someone click on a map and almost immediately determine the upstream catchment area to that designated point? StreamStats is a web service provided by the US Geological Survey to perform that critical function.
The service can be seamlessly incorporated into web maps to enhance their catchment-finding abilities. In July 2015, USGS released a new version of their StreamStats service, which SFEI recently incorporated into EcoAtlas.
EcoAtlas: New Map Enhancements (News)
The latest release of EcoAtlas (v4.1) includes two new map enhancements:
EcoAtlas: New CARI Editor and Modern Delta Habitat Types (News)
An accurate basemap is fundamental to watershed planning and assessments. The California Aquatic Resources Inventory, or CARI, offers such a basemap for aquatic resource identification and classification. But to keep it current and enhance its details, SFEI-ASC must leverage local knowledge. The new CARI Editor promotes regional stewardship and allows users to submit updates, deletions or new features for streams and wetlands.