# Presentation: 455404

## Florida Marine Mapping

- Ft. Lauderdale, FLFeb 26, 2008

*Steve Wolfe – Florida DEP*

## Florida Marine Mapping

**There is a concentration of marine and coastal mapping activity in Florida.**
**A joint USGS/FDEP/SERPPAS workshop in February 2007:**
** ****provided insight on the status and trends of these efforts;**
**sought means for better coordination; **
**prioritized Florida agency mapping needs by region, and;**
**identified obstacles to mapping efforts.**

## Workshop Goals:

**Present the state-of-the-art of technology for collecting mapping data.**
**Present the mapping programs active in the waters off-lying Florida.**
**Present the mapping needs and priorities of the agencies and entities operating in Florida.**

## Workshop Goals:

**Establish the State of Florida’s overall priority for areas needing mapping (as identified by those state agencies with coastal and ocean resource-management responsibilities).**
**Examine the need to standardize terminology and data collection/storage so that data, especially that concerning habitats, can be shared.**

## Workshop Goals:

**Identify opportunities for partnering and leveraging mapping efforts among agencies/entities.**
**Identify impediments and organizational gaps that hinder collection of data for mapping.**
**Seek innovative solutions to the primary obstacles identified.**

## Workshop Goals:

**Identify the steps needed to move mapping of Florida’s oceans and coasts forward, in preparation for a better coordinated, more cost-effective mapping program to allow state and federal agencies to make better decisions on coastal resource issues.**

## Workshop Results:

**There were 86 registered attendees (plus unregistered from local agencies). Presentations and attendance had been capped because of the large response.**

## Workshop Results:Present the mapping programs active in the waters off-lying Florida.

**Many attending were surprised at the amount of mapping of which they were unaware, even in locales where they were involved.  New linkages among agency programs were obvious and common.**
**The most organized and active effort is the South Florida Shallow-Water Coral Ecosystems Mapping Project, a partnership between NOAA, FWC-FWRI, and SFWMD.**

## Florida Marine Mapping - Ongoing

**Mapping underway by many state and federal agencies, NGOs, and some local agencies.**
**These efforts typically restricted in area and differing in types of data collected.**
**Lack of standard habitat-classification system hinders creation of maps using data from multiple sources.**
**Gained initial understanding of mapping needs of agencies and entities.**
**Florida Marine Mapping website established at:     **_**[www.dep.state.fl.us/MarineMapping](http://www.dep.state.fl.us/MarineMapping)**_

## Florida Marine Mapping – Needed

**Improved linkage between mapping programs and agency needs.**
**Develop a common glossary of mapping terms.**
**Establish base map (w/projects and status).**
**Establish data portal/website**
**Establish mapping listserve/blog.**

## Florida Marine Mapping – Needed

**Additional workshops to: **
**establish Baseline Mapping Data suite (breakout group only partly successful). **
** ****finalize bioregions mapping requirements (breakout group results excellent start).**
**Adopt habitat classification system.**

## Florida Marine Mapping – Planned

**Workshop to standardize habitat classification in southeastern U.S. (via SERPPAS)**

## Workshop Results:Establish the State of Florida’s overall priority for areas needing mapping.

**A State of Florida priority order for mapping Florida waters was created.**

**1****	****  Big Bend****	****	****	****77**
**2****	****  NW Florida****	****	****71**
**3****	****  Indian River****	****	****59**
**4****	****  Key/Tortugas****	****	****58**
**5*****	****  Charlotte Harbor****	****	****54**
**5*****	****  Springs Coast****	****	****54**
**7* ****	****  NE Florida****	****	****	****46**
**7*****	****  10,000 Islands****	****	****46**
**9****	****  Florida Bay****	****	****	****40**
**10****	****  SE Florida****	****	****	****35**
**11****	****  Tampa****	****	****	****31**
**12****	****  W Florida Shelf Break****	****30**
**13****	****  Oculina Banks****	****	****19**
*** tie****	****	**

## Workshop Results:Establish the State of Florida’s overall priority for areas needing mapping.

- Workshop Results:Establish the State of Florida’s overall priority for areas needing mapping.

## More?

***Steven.Wolfe@dep.state.fl.us***

- Florida Shelf Bathymetry
- (courtesy USGS).

***Steve Wolfe***
***Florida DEP***

## Questions?

***Steven.Wolfe@dep.state.fl.us***

- Florida Shelf Bathymetry
- (courtesy USGS).

***Steve Wolfe***
***Florida DEP***

## Workshop Results:Present the mapping needs and priorities of the agencies and entities operating in Florida.

**“****Commonalities matrix” produced**

## Workshop Results:Examine the need to standardize terminology and data collection & storage so data can be shared.

**Sharing of mapping data often a problem.**
**There was general consensus on the need to adopt a single habitat classification system.  There was broad agreement at what this standard might be, but sufficient unresolved aspects remain that a separate workshop is needed to accomplish this goal.**

## Workshop Results:Identify impediments and organizational gaps that hinder collection of data for mapping.

**Lack of central mapping coordination.**
**Poor linkage exists between some mapping programs and agency needs; suggests most funding not for applied science?**
**Need mapping data repository**

## Workshop Results:Seek innovative solutions to the primary obstacles identified.

**Use GAME database to inventory mapping programs and help coordination and leveraging of funds.**
**Establish permanent organizing individual or group to maintain the communications established at workshop, serve as information clearinghouse, and maintain progress on the issues identified during the workshop.**

## Workshop Results: Present state of the art of technology for collecting mapping data.

**“****Best” choice depth and clarity dependent.**
**Aerial/satellite w/ground-truthing generally best to about 20m (limit of passive technologies) in S. Florida and ~ 10 m in north (at best time of year).**
**Acoustical best at deeper depths.**

## Workshop Results: Present state of the art of technology for collecting mapping data.

**Technology “gap” in shallow, turbid waters.  All methods less cost-effective than in other waters.**
**AUVs show promise for:**
**small areas**
**ground truthing**
**perhaps large areas in ‘solar fleets’.**
**potential to ground truth while mapping.**

## Questions?

***Steven.Wolfe@dep.state.fl.us***

- Florida Shelf Bathymetry
- (courtesy USGS).

***Steve Wolfe***
***Florida DEP***