North Central Coast-Phase 2 (Bolinas to Bodega Bay: A01-A11) GIS Products Metadata
Compiled by Seafloor Mapping Lab at California State University Monterey Bay

This document provides a general metadata summary of the marine habitat mapping data for the North Central Coast (Bolinas to Bodega Bay: A01-A11) collected for the California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP). Detailed metadata are provided in xml format with each individual data file. Products are the result of shallow water data collected in 2010, 2009, and 2008 merged with the previously-released 2007 data. Due to time elapsed between seabed surveys, temporal change may be observed in the surface models in some sedimented areas. Because these vertical differences in seafloor elevation are due to movement of sediment over time, and thus represent the true bottom character at the time of each survey, no attempt was made to minimize or adjust these vertical differences along survey boundaries in combined data products. The provided survey footprint polygons illustrate the extent of data collected in individual years, and can be used to discern if an elevation difference observed in the DEM or other products is due to temporal change. 

Marine data offered here represent the efforts of a comprehensive state waters mapping program for California launched by the California State Coastal Conservancy, Ocean Protection Council, Department of Fish and Game, and the NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program. The ultimate goal is the creation of a high-resolution 1:24,000 scale geologic and habitat base map series covering all of California's 14,500 km2 state waters out to the 3 mile limit, and support of the state's Marine Life Protection Act Initiative (MLPA) goal to create a statewide network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This statewide project requires, involves and leverages expertise from industry, resource management agencies and academia. The tiered mapping campaign involves the use of state-of-the-art sonar, LIDAR (aerial laser) and video seafloor mapping technologies; computer aided classification and visualization; expert geologic and habitat interpretations codified into strip maps spanning California's land/sea boundary; and the creation of an online, publicly accessible data repository for the dissemination of all mapping products. 

Data products are presented at distinct spatial resolutions based on discrete depth ranges: 2m resolution for data from the 0-85m depth range, 5m resolution for 80-250m depth range, and 10m resolution from depths of 230-1500m. 

Surveys were conducted on:
Block A01	June 6, 2010; August 3, 2010; June 18, 21-23, 26-27; July 6, 11-14; August 2, 2009; February 12-13; April 2, 2007 
Block A02	June 2, 5-6, 2010
Block A03	June 5, 2010; February 14-16, 2007; April 2, 4, 2007   
Block A04	June 1, 3-5, 2010; September 20, 22-23, 28, 2009; February 18-19, 2007; March 17-18, 2007; April 2, 2007   
Block A05	September 9, 2008; February 16, 23, 2007; March 2, 16, 18, 2007; April 2, 2007
Block A06	No inshore block. Habitat analysis and tracklines added, plus data reprojected from WGS84 to NAD83
Block A07	July 29, 2010; August 20, 2008; September 5, 2008; March 2, 16, 19, 2007; April 2, 2007     
Block A08	September 4, 6, 2008; March 2-3, 15-16, 19, 2007; April 2, 2007     
Block A09	September 6-7 2008; March 3, 14-15, 19-20, 2007  
Block A10	September 7-9, 2008; March 3, 14, 19-20, 2007
Block A11	July 29, 2010; September 16-19, 24-27, 2009; March 3, 7, 13-14, 20, 28-29, 2007; April 2, 2007

MBES and side scan data for the North Central Coast (NCC/CC2) nearshore region were acquired using a combination of several sonars (200 KHz/ 400 KHz Reson 7125, 468 KHz SEA SWATHPlus) collected aboard the R/V VenTresca by the Seafloor Mapping Lab at California State University Monterey Bay.  Prior to data collection, a series of planned survey lines were created using the survey navigation and planning software Hypack 2008 from Hypack, Inc. An Applanix POS/MV 320 v4 system was used to provide position and attitude data during data collection and accounted for vessel motion such as heave, pitch, and roll (position accuracy ± 2m, pitch, roll and heading accuracy ±0.02°, heave accuracy ± 5% or 5cm) with input from a NAVCON 2050 GPS. KGPS altitude data were used to account for tide cycle fluctuations and sound velocity profiles were collected with an Applied Microsystems SVPlus sound velocimeter. Data acquisition, post-processing, and final products derived from multibeam bathymetry data were handled by the Seafloor Mapping Lab at CSUMB.