Description: OverviewThis geodatabase contains several feature classes representing a reconstruction of the historical ecological conditons of six northern San Diego County lagoons (Buena Vista Lagoon, Agua Hedionda Lagoon, Batiquitos Lagoon, San Elijo Lagoon, San Dieguito Lagoon, and Los Peñasquitos Lagoon) prior to Euro-American modification. This dataset integrates many sources of data describing the historical features of the estuaries.Extensive supporting information, including bibliographic references, analyses, and research methods, can be found in the accompanying report:Beller EE, Baumgarten SA, Grossinger RM, Longcore TR, Stein ED, Dark SJ, Dusterhoff SR. 2014. Northern San Diego County Lagoons Historical Ecology Investigation: Regional Patterns, Local Diversity, and Landscape Trajectories. Prepared for the State Coastal Conservancy. SFEI Publication #722, San Francisco Estuary Institute, Richmond, CA.The report and GIS data area available at the project website: http://www.sfei.org/HE_San_Diego_Lagoons.A geographic information system was used to collect, catalog, and analyze the spatial components of the study area. Historical maps and aerial photography were georeferenced, allowing us to compare historical layers to each other and to contemporary aerial photography and maps. Additionally, the georeferenced maps were used as a means to geographically locate information gathered from surveyor notes, early explorers' journals, travelers' accounts, and newspaper articles. Using the various georeferenced maps and photographs combined with narrative sources we constructed a series of synthesis layers representing historical ecological conditions for the six estuaries. The polygon and line layers making up the historical habitat map include Historical_Habitats, Historical_Creeks, and Historical_Distributaries.Habitat types used in the Historical_Habitats layer include Salt Marsh, Salt Flat (Seasonally Flooded), Open Water / Mud Flat, Freshwater / Brackish Wetland, Beach, and Dune. See the Northern San Diego County Lagoons Historical Ecology Investigation for a detailed description of the historical habitat types and the methods that were used to map them.Historical creeks and their distributaries were mapped as polyline features in two distinct layers. Distributary channels mark the endpoints of historically discontinuous channels.--Historical_Habitats Attribute Table Fields:Habitat_Type: The historical habitat type classification.Interp_Cert: coded H (high): feature definitely present before Euro-American modification; M (medium): feature probably present before Euro-American modification; or L (low): feature possibly present before Euro-American modification. Shape_Cert: coded H (high): mapped feature expected to be 90%-110% of actual feature size; M (medium): expected to be 50%-200% of actual size; L (low): expected to be 25%-400% of actual size. Loc_Cert: coded H (high): expected maximum horizontal displacement less than 50 m; M (medium): less than 150 m; L (low): less than 500 m.Notes: Additional documentation about the feature.S_Digitize: Source data used to digitize a feature. S_Interp1: Interpretation Source 1 - Primary data used to interpret a mapped feature if other than the digitizing source – often the earliest historical documentation/evidence found.S_Interp2: Interpretation Source 2 - Data used to support mapping of a feature – additional documentation/evidence other than Interpretation Source 1.Name: The name of the lagoon/wetland complex.Source_Quotes: Excerpt(s) from historical textual data sources used to support mapping of a feature.Source_Quotes2: Excerpt(s) from historical textual data sources used to support mapping of a feature.Notes2: Additional documentation about the feature.Shape.area: Area of the feature in square meters.Shape.len: Length of the feature in meters.--Historical_Creeks Attribute Table Fields:Interp_Cert: coded H (high): feature definitely present before Euro-American modification; M (medium): feature probably present before Euro-American modification; or L (low): feature possibly present before Euro-American modification. Shape_Cert: coded H (high): mapped feature expected to be 90%-110% of actual feature size; M (medium): expected to be 50%-200% of actual size; L (low): expected to be 25%-400% of actual size. Loc_Cert: coded H (high): expected maximum horizontal displacement less than 50 m; M (medium): less than 150 m; L (low): less than 500 m.Notes: Additional documentation about the feature.S_Digitize: Source data used to digitize a feature. S_Interp1: Interpretation Source 1 - Primary data used to interpret a mapped feature if other than the digitizing source – often the earliest historical documentation/evidence found.S_Interp2: Interpretation Source 2 - Data used to support mapping of a feature – additional documentation/evidence other than Interpretation Source 1.Marsh_Comp: Lagoon/marsh complex into which the channel drains.SHAPE.len: Length of the channel feature in meters.Flow: Channel type (Perennial, Intermittent, Unknown).--(Attribute table information not provided for Historical_Distributary layer)--Additional Bibliographic Information:For a full list of works cited in this study, please consult the References section of the Northern San Diego County Lagoons Historical Ecology Investigation. Additional information about sources cited in the GIS layers is provided below:USGS Digital Raster Graphics (DRG) for the study area were created/revised between 1975 and 1983, and are cited as USGS 1975-1983.Historical aerial photographs are cited as San Diego County 1928. In some cases, the citation is followed by a number in parentheses specifying the particular image consulted.Abbreviated source institution names and accession numbers are provided for additional photographs cited in the GIS layers. Source institutions include:Carlsbad Pub Library = Carlsbad City Library Carlsbad History RoomScripps = Scripps Institution of Oceanography Archives, UC San DiegoSDHC = San Diego History CenterSpence Air Photos = Benjamin and Gladys Thomas Air Photo Archives, UCLA Department of GeographyAdditional sources not cited in the report include:Alexander WE. n.d. Plat book of San Diego County, California. Township 13 S., R. 3 W. Township 13 S., R. 4 W. Los Angeles, CA: Pacific Plat Book Company. Courtesy of The Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley.
Copyright Text: San Francisco Estuary Institute 2014