Conservation Focal Areas Version 1.0, Marine Landscape Region, Edition 20171030 (Envr_hab_cfa_marine)

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Division of Fish Wildlife (DFW)

Publication_Date: 20171030

Title:

Conservation Focal Areas Version 1.0, Marine Landscape Region, Edition 20171030 (Envr_hab_cfa_marine)

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place:

P.O. Box 420 401 East State Street 1st floor , Trenton, NJ, 08625, US

Publisher:

State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Division of Information Technology (DOIT), Bureau of Geographic Information Systems (BGIS)

Other_Citation_Details:

The NJDEP may distribute GIS data in a variety of formats, such as the ESRI shapefile and/or various versions of the file geodatabase format. The data also may be available for viewing on various profiles of the NJ GeoWeb online mapping application.

Online_Linkage: <http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/listall.html>

Online_Linkage: <http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/geowebsplash.htm>

Description:

Abstract:

Conservation Focal Areas are key geographic areas for the conservation of wildlife in New Jersey. These are the portions of the landscape regions that are of particular conservation interest to the Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and its conservation partners because they have important habitats and species assemblages, and represent the best opportunities for protecting, restoring, and sustaining New Jersey's wildlife diversity. They also include important opportunities for habitat connectivity, a critical factor in increasing resilience in a changing landscape. DFW will use CFAs to further identify geographically-based threats to New Jersey’s wildlife habitats and develop actions that will address those threats. In addition, DFW will regularly review and improve CFA maps as new data become available and as new insights are shared by the public and conservation partners.

Purpose:

To address broader scale planning needs, the Division of Fish and Wildlife, with input from partners, identified Conservation Focal Areas (CFAs) in New Jersey. CFAs are specific areas of New Jersey’s geography that feature some of the state’s highest value habitats and present important opportunities for effective conservation action. They will allow for the consideration of threats and actions from a geographic perspective that will benefit key wildlife habitats generally and, in turn, virtually all Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Further, CFAs include important opportunities for habitat connectivity, a critical factor in increasing resilience in a changing landscape. With their rich mix of important habitats and diverse species assemblages, CFAs are designed to represent some of the best opportunities for protecting, restoring, and sustaining New Jersey’s wildlife diversity.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Single_Date/Time:

Calendar_Date: 20171030

Currentness_Reference: Publication Date

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -75.649146

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -73.881785

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.358459

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 38.791766

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category

Theme_Keyword: biota

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: EPA GIS Keyword Thesaurus

Theme_Keyword: Conservation

Theme_Keyword: Ecosystem

Theme_Keyword: Natural Resources

Theme_Keyword: Ecology

Theme_Keyword: Exposure

Theme_Keyword: NJDEPTrentonMetadata

Theme_Keyword: Water

Theme_Keyword: Marine

Theme_Keyword: Landscape

Theme_Keyword: Environment

Theme_Keyword: public

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: New Jersey

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

This data set is a product of New Jersey's Wildlife Action Plan. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Data Distribution Agreement. The data provided herein are distributed subject to the following conditions and restrictions: NJDEP assumes no responsibility to maintain them in any manner or form and disclaims any duty or obligation to either maintain availability of or to update the data.
Terms of Agreement
1. All data is provided, as is, without any representation or warranty of any kind, implied, expressed or statutory including, but not limited to, the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability or fitness for a particular use, freedom from computer virus nor are any such warranties to be implied with respect to the digital data layers furnished hereunder. User is responsible for understanding the accuracy limitations of all digital data layers provided herein, as documented in the accompanying cross-reference files (see SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION). Any reproduction or manipulation of the above data must ensure that the coordinate reference system remains intact.
2. Digital data received from the NJDEP may not be reproduced or redistributed without all the metadata provided.
3. Any maps, publications, reports, or other documents produced as a result of this project that utilize this digital data will credit the NJDEP's Geographic Information System (GIS) as the source of the data with the following credit/disclaimer: "This (map/publication/report) was developed using New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Geographic Information System digital data, but this secondary product has not been verified by NJDEP and is not state-authorized or endorsed."
4. NJDEP makes no warranty that digital data are free of Copyright or Trademark claims or other restrictions or limitations on free use or display. Making a copy of this data may be subject to the copyright of trademark laws.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP).

Contact_Person: Patrick Woerner

Contact_Position: GIS Specialist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

Address: 1 Eldridge Road

City: Upper Freehold Township, Robbinsville

State_or_Province: NJ

Postal_Code: 08691

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 609-259-6967

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 609-259-8155

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Patrick.Woerner@dep.nj.gov

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows 7 Version 6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1; Esri ArcGIS 10.3.1.4959

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)

Publication_Date: 20150217

Title: NJDEP 2012 Land Use/Land Cover Update

Edition: 20150217

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Trenton, NJ

Publisher: NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)

Online_Linkage: <http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/lulc12.html>

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

ESRI's Summary Statistics tool was run to ensure no inappropriate or duplicate records. Frequencies were run on all fields for Null or inappropriate values.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Tests for integrity have been performed. ESRI's Repair Geometry was run on this feature class, no errors were encountered.

Completeness_Report: Repair Geometry was run on data to ensure topological accuracy.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Data of different scales and accurracies were converted to a 30' grid. Features mapped from digital imagery having a ground accuracy of +/- four feet.

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Phase 1 Process Summary: Compiled ~40 inputs spanning terrestrial, freshwater aquatic and marine environments from state and regional sources Performed conversion, re-scaling and reclassification so that each input was standardized into 30’ cells Categorized data into five geodatabases: Ecological Condition, Conservation Infrastructure, Fish and Wildlife Habitats, Biodiversity, and Negative Influences Assigned relative importance (weights) to each input

Process_Date: 20170503

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Phase 2 Process Summary: Performed weighted co-occurrence analysis that combines inputs to identify areas where several different qualities are present (“resource-rich” areas). Stratified by Landscape Regions (calculated percentile ranks relative to each region) in order to have even distribution of areas between regions

Process_Date: 20170504

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Phase 3 Process Summary: Extracted percentile > 70 in each Landscape Region Applied minimum size criteria to identify core areas Applied connectivity rules to select key connections between high value areas Ran basic generalization/simplification processes to provide protective buffers and smooth boundaries of areas Utilized Nature’s Network (<http://naturesnetwork.org/>) data on terrestrial and aquatic cores as guide to add in areas not captured Erased all areas coded as “urban” in 2012 land-use/land-cover Applied minimum size criteria to all contiguous areas

Process_Date: 20170505

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Complete chain

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 8

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Envr_hab_cfa_marine

Entity_Type_Definition: Conservation Focal Areas - Marine

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: OBJECTID

Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Shape

Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: CFA_ID (Alias: Conservation Focal Area ID)

Attribute_Definition: Unique ID assigned to each Conservation Focal Area

Attribute_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Unique numeric ID assigned to each Conservation Focal Area

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: CFA_Name (Alias: Conservation Focal Area)

Attribute_Definition: Name of Conservation Focal Area

Attribute_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Raritan Bay/Sandy Hook CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

The Raritan Bay/Sandy Hook CFA encompasses portions of Raritan and Sandy Hook bays, and the surrounding Gateway National Recreation Area. It extends from estuarine waters off Union Beach Borough to Middletown Township and south along the coast to the marine waters just off Monmouth Beach. The area is part of an important travel corridor between the ocean and Raritan Bay/River, which is critical to the life history of a multitude of fish species for spawning and migration. The CFA serves as a critical overwintering area for seals and is migratory habitat for humpback, fin, and right whales and three species of sea turtles. It is also a migrating shorebird concentration site. An artificial reef within the CFA provides shelter, nursery, and feeding habitat for numerous marine fish and macroinvertebrate species. Varying substrate types and depths are present in this CFA.
The area is threatened by a myriad of anthropogenic sources, including point and nonpoint source pollution. Nutrient loading may lead to algal blooms within the bays, which can be harmful to marine organisms or transfer toxins up through the food chain, and regional industrial development has led to elevated PCB levels in fish. Sea level rise may impact islands serving as seal haul out sites.
This CFA encompasses 5% of the Marine Region with 15,417 hectares of estuarine and marine habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Asbury Park CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

The Asbury Park CFA extends from the shoreline into marine waters off Long Branch City south to Spring Lake Borough. It is an important feeding area for species such as great blue herons and black crown night herons, and is migratory habitat for humpback, fin, and right whales. Varying substrate types and depths are present in this CFA. As noted in the overview for the Marine Landscape Region, habitat conditions are highly variable.
This CFA encompasses 1% of the Marine Region with 4,074 hectares of estuarine and marine habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Mantoloking CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

The Mantoloking CFA is located below Manasquan Inlet, from the marine waters off Point Pleasant Beach to just off Brick Township. The area serves as critical feeding habitat for ospreys, black crowned night herons, and snowy egrets. It also serves as a migratory area for humpback, fin, and right whales, harbor porpoises, and bottlenose dolphins. Numerous shipwrecks within the CFA area provide shelter and feeding opportunities for a variety of marine fish and macroinvertebrate species. This CFA includes a variety of habitats and depths. As noted in the overview for the Marine Landscape Region, habitat conditions are highly variable.
This CFA encompasses 0.01% of the Marine Region with 888 hectares of estuarine and marine habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Barnegat Light CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

The Barnegat Light CFA extends from the shoreline into the marine waters off Berkeley Township to Long Beach Township. The CFA provides important feeding habitat for bird species such as roseate tern, black skimmer, little blue heron, and snowy egret. It also serves as a migratory corridor for leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles, humpback, fin, and right whales, and overwintering seals that haul out on shore near the mouth of the Barnegat Inlet. The area is part of an important travel corridor between the ocean and Barnegat Bay, which is critical to the life history of a multitude of fish species for spawning and migration. Varying substrate types and depths are present in this CFA. As noted in the overview for the Marine Landscape Region, habitat conditions are highly variable. Sea haul out sites may be inundated as sea level rises.
This CFA encompasses 2% of the Marine Region with 6,698 hectares of estuarine and marine habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Jacques Cousteau CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

The Jacques Cousteau CFA extends from the shoreline into marine waters off Beach Haven Borough to Little Egg Inlet and south to Brigantine City. It serves as an important feeding area for bird species such as osprey, little blue heron, and Caspian tern. It is a migratory corridor for leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles, humpback, fin, and right whales, and bottlenose dolphins and harbor porpoises. The CFA is part of an important travel corridor between the ocean and the estuarine waters of Great Bay, which are critical to the life history of a multitude of fish species for spawning and migration. It is also an important corridor for overwintering seals that feed in deep channels and haul out on the sandy beaches of bay islands. Varying substrate types and depths are present in this CFA.
This CFA encompasses 3% of the Marine Region with 7,212 hectares of estuarine and marine habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Ocean City CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

The Ocean City CFA is located from the shoreline into marine waters off Longport Borough and extends south to Ocean City. The area is part of an important travel corridor between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Egg Harbor estuary and river, which are critical to the life history of a numerous fish species for spawning and migration. It is an important feeding area for black crowned night herons and black skimmers. It is also serves as important habitat for migrating leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles, humpback, fin, and right whales, and harbor porpoises and bottlenose dolphins. Varying substrate types and depths are present in this CFA.
This CFA encompasses 0.01% of the Marine Region with 1,172 hectares of estuarine and marine habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Sea Isle/Stone Harbor CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

The Sea Isle/Stone Harbor CFA extends from the shoreline into marine waters off Ocean City south to North Wildwood, and includes Townsends Inlet and Hereford Inlet. It serves as an important feeding area for bird species such as osprey, black skimmer, and great blue heron. Coastal waters of the CFA provide migratory habitat for humpback, fin, and right whales, bottlenose dolphin, harbor porpoise, leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles, and Atlantic sturgeon. Varying substrate types and depths are present in this CFA.
This CFA encompasses 3% of the Marine Region with 7,667 hectares of estuarine and marine habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Delaware Bay CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

The Delaware Bay CFA is the largest in the Marine Landscape Region, extending from the shoreline into saline waters off Cape May City, surrounding Cape May point, and continuing northwest to the Heislerville Wildlife Management Area in Lower Alloway Creek Township. The area serves as an important habitat and travel corridor for migrating fish species such as striped bass, Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon, and alewife and blueback herring that spawn in the freshwater reaches of the Delaware River. Estuarine waters provide feeding areas for four species of migrating sea turtles. In addition, the CFA lies within a known migrating shorebird concentration area, providing critical stopover habitat to species such as red knot. Humpback and fin whales, along with other marine mammals, have also been documented within the CFA. A variety of depths and fluctuations in salinity and other factors create highly variable and ever-changing habitat conditions in this CFA.
As in the Sandy Hook 1 CFA and Sandy Hook 2 CFA, offshore and on-land human activities threaten this CFA. For example, excessive nutrient loading from both point and nonpoint source pollution can lead to harmful algal blooms, which can kill other marine organisms and/or transfer toxins up through the foodchain. Aquaculture practices imperil wildlife within a portion of the intertidal zone by disturbing feeding shorebirds and blocking horseshoe crabs from reaching beach habitat to lay eggs. Ghost crab pots can inflict long- term harm to wildlife, such as diamondback terrapins, by continuously entrapping organisms. Boat strikes remain a serious threat to Atlantic sturgeons, sea turtles, and other marine wildlife. Since the Delaware Bay and river serve as the largest oil transfer port on the East Coast, the potential for catastrophic oil spills is an ever-present threat to aquatic habitats and wildlife.
This CFA encompasses 16% of the Marine Region with 46,418 hectares of estuarine and marine habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: VERSION

Attribute_Definition: Number used to track version

Attribute_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Version 1.0

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: REGION_ID

Attribute_Definition: Unique ID for each Landscape Region

Attribute_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Unique ID for each Landscape Region

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: REGION

Attribute_Definition: The Landscape Region name of the polygon

Attribute_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Coastal

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Atlantic Coastal Landscape Region

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Delaware Bay

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Delaware Bay Landscape Region

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Piedmont Plains

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Piedmont/Plains Landscape Region

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Pinelands

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Pinelands Landscape Region

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Skylands

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Skylands Landscape Region

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Marine

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Marine Landscape Region

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP FISH AND WILDLIFE

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: HECTARES

Attribute_Definition: hectares of feature

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ACRES

Attribute_Definition: acres of feature

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Shape_Length

Attribute_Definition: Length of feature in internal units.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Shape_Area

Attribute_Definition: Area of feature in internal units squared.

Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

Delineating Conservation Focal Areas
The DFW enlisted internal and external stakeholders to inform the selection of GIS data and the method of analysis employed to delineate Conservation Focal Areas (CFAs). A wide variety of GIS data addressing biodiversity and habitat quality, connectivity, rarity and/or impairment within terrestrial, freshwater aquatic, and marine environs were found to be available at statewide and regional scales. To provide a regional context, the Department utilized a variety of conservation planning data compiled by the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative (NALCC). Relevant regional data developed by NALCC partners included TNC’s Geospatial Condition Analysis and UMass’s Northeast Index of Ecological Integrity. These and other regional datasets served to complement the host of publicly available conservation-relevant state and local data in New Jersey. As applicable, a number of unpublished or derivative datasets were also utilized in developing CFAs.
The DFW decided to employ a weighted co-occurrence analysis that combines many independent datasets with different metrics to identify areas of high resource value. With some additional spatial optimization techniques, this approach allowed for the identification of specific geographic areas of agreement across a diverse set of geospatial data and metrics. These areas will be the focus of the DFW’s assessment of threats and actions affecting New Jersey’s wildlife habitats, and will identify locations where conservation actions can be carried out to benefit high priority fish and wildlife resources throughout the state.
General GIS Method – Phase 1 Once specific datasets were identified as having significant relevance to the CFA mapping objectives, data was acquired and necessary conversion and standardization processes were carried out in preparation for conducting a co-occurrence analysis. Where necessary, data were rescaled to New Jersey and reclassified into 30’ grid cells. Inputs were then organized by three environments (terrestrial, freshwater aquatic, and marine) and into five categories (ecological condition, conservation infrastructure, fish and wildlife habitats, biodiversity, and negative influences). For each input, metrics were reviewed by DFW biologists and converted into a standard weighting system which normalized all datasets to address the objectives of the CFA mapping process. Accordingly, weights were assigned following a standardized five tier scale (“5” being the highest value and “1” being the lowest) based upon factors which included (but were not limited to): the relevance of the data layer to our CFA mapping objectives, the degree to which the "regional" datasets addressed habitat values or conditions that were specific to New Jersey, and the original range of the source dataset values. The exception to the positive five tier scale included negative weights that ranged from -10 to -1 and a “restricted” category that excluded an area from being mapped as a CFA regardless of its intersection with one or more resource elements with positive values. Additionally, as the final mapping effort was based upon the “additive mapping” of valued habitats, the proportion to which any one dataset addressed a specific mapping objective needed to be factored in (i.e., if several datasets existed that were correlated with one specific issue, individual dataset weights were reduced to address confounding influences).
Phase 1 Process Summary: Compiled ~40 inputs spanning terrestrial, freshwater aquatic and marine environments from state and regional sources Performed conversion, re-scaling and reclassification so that each input was standardized into 30’ cells Categorized data into five geodatabases: Ecological Condition, Conservation Infrastructure, Fish and Wildlife Habitats, Biodiversity, and Negative Influences Assigned relative importance (weights) to each input
General GIS Method – Phase 2 Once inputs were reclassified according to assigned weights into 30’ grid cells, a (weighted) co- occurrence analysis was performed that calculated the sum of all inputs. The resultant grid was then stratified by Landscape Region and rescaled by calculating percentile values for each cell relative to every other cell within the region. Cells were reclassified according to percentile ranks. For example, percentile values 0.90-1.00 were classified as the 90th percentile, 0.80-0.89 were classified as the 80th percentile and so forth.
Phase 2 Process Summary: Performed weighted co-occurrence analysis that combines inputs to identify areas where several different qualities are present (“resource-rich” areas). Stratified by Landscape Regions (calculated percentile ranks relative to each region) in order to have even distribution of areas between regions
General GIS Method – Phase 3 Areas that represented the top 70 percent of the data within each region were extracted and converted to vector data made up of contiguous polygons. Terrestrial areas smaller than 3.14 acres were removed from the result (there was no size threshold applied to aquatic areas). The remaining polygons served as core areas from which geoprocessing routines were applied to identify key connections (e.g., riparian corridors) and proximate areas within the 50th percentile or above. Identified areas were combined/dissolved with the core areas and generalization routines were run to create protective buffers and smooth boundaries of resultant contiguous polygons. Nature’s Network (<http://naturesnetwork.org/>) data on terrestrial, wetland and aquatic cores developed during the process of creating CFAs was used as a guide to incorporate some additional areas that were not captured in the initial CFA delineation. Lastly, urban areas were erased from the result and a minimum size threshold of 3.14 acres was applied to all contiguous areas.
Phase 3 Process Summary: Extracted percentile > 70 in each Landscape Region Applied minimum size criteria to identify core areas Applied connectivity rules to select key connections between high value areas Ran basic generalization/simplification processes to provide protective buffers and smooth boundaries of areas Utilized Nature’s Network (<http://naturesnetwork.org/>) data on terrestrial and aquatic cores as guide to add in areas not captured Erased all areas coded as “urban” in 2012 land-use/land-cover Applied minimum size criteria to all contiguous areas
A graphic that depicts the Conservation Focal Area development process is available at: <http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/wap/pdf/cons_focal_areas.pdf>

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: <http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/waphome.htm>

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Planar:

Grid_Coordinate_System:

Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: State Plane Coordinate System 1983

State_Plane_Coordinate_System:

SPCS_Zone_Identifier: 2900

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Division of Information Technology (DOIT), Bureau of Geographic Information Systems (BGIS)

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

Address: 401 East State Street

City: Trenton

State_or_Province: NJ

Postal_Code: 08625

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 609-777-0672

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 609-292-7900

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gisnet@dep.nj.gov

Contact_Instructions: <http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/ensphome.htm>

Distribution_Liability:

This data set is a product of New Jersey's Wildlife Action Plan. The State of New Jersey makes great effort to provide secure, accurate, and complete data and metadata. However, portions of the data and metadata may be incorrect or not current. Any errors or omissions should be reported for investigation. The State of New Jersey, its officers, employees or agents shall not be liable for damages or losses of any kind arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of data and metadata, including but not limited to, damages or losses caused by reliance upon the accuracy or timeliness of any such data and metadata, or damages incurred from the viewing, distributing, or copying of those materials. The data and metadata are provided "as is." No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to the data and metadata, or its hyperlinks to other Internet resources. The State disclaims any duty or obligation either to maintain availability of or to update the data and metadata.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name:

DEP distributes ESRI .SHP and/or GDB. Some data may be NJ GeoWeb "display only" layers.

Format_Version_Number: latest version

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: <http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/listall.html>

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: <http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/geowebsplash.htm>

Fees: none

Ordering_Instructions: none

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20170911

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP).

Contact_Person: Patrick Woerner

Contact_Position: GIS Specialist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

City: Upper Freehold Township, Robbinsville

State_or_Province: NJ

Postal_Code: 08691

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 609-259-6967

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 609-259-8155

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Patrick.Woerner@dep.nj.gov

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Time_Convention: local time