Pacific Northwest Physiographic Habitat

This data set delineates geological seafloor characteristics of the continental margin of the United States West Coast adjacent to Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. The data set depicts seafloor substrate types as interpreted from a multitude of seafloor mapping surveys, including multibeam sonar, sidescan sonar, sediment grab samples, cores samples, seismic reflection profiles, and still or video images. Seafloor types are classified according to three unique classification schemes: (1) The Active Tectonics and Seafloor Mapping Lab's SGH codes, (2) Greene et. al. (1999) deep-water marine benthic habitat scheme, and (3) the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard's Substrate Component. This dataset has been developed since 2002 and is now at version 4.0. Version 4.0 SGH Map provides significant changes and modifications from previous versions. The major modifications from previous versions are as follows: 1. Merged in new local-scale habitat maps from detailed mapping at 13 sites over Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. 2. Implemented numerous attribute table clarifications and modifications including a clarification of the use of primary, secondary lithologic type. 3. CMECS Substrate Component codes added by crosswalking SGH codes to CMECS SC codes. 4. Appended habitat polygons for Northern California from the 2005 EFH Consolidated GIS Volume 1 (2004) data set geohab_woc.shp developed by Gary Greene and the Center For Habitat Studies at Moss landing Marine Labs. Significant modifications or updates to continental shelf and slope habitat types of Northern California were made to the Greene et al. map based upon newly available bathymetry in the region. 5. Appended California State Waters mapping Program Tier II map products for northern California. The Tier II habitat maps used in this regional habitat map were acquired, processed, archived, and distributed by the Seafloor Mapping Lab of California State University Monterey Bay and are available in their origianal form at: http://seafloor.otterlabs.org/SFMLwebDATA.htm