Conservation Focal Areas Version 1.0, Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region, Edition 20171030 (Envr_hab_cfa_piedmont)

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, Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region, Edition 20171030 (Envr_hab_cfa_piedmont)

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: 13

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Envr_hab_cfa_piedmont

Entity_Type_Definition: Conservation Focal Areas - Piedmont

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: Arthur Kill Watershed CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

This CFA consists of five distinct locations within the Arthur Kill Watershed. The CFA includes streams, lakes, tidal rivers, and their associated wetlands and forests. Each location is relatively un-fragmented by development but separated from each other by at least two miles of developed lands. Three of the areas are a part of an Important Bird Area that is known to be habitat for breeding populations of many endangered and threatened bird species, significant congregations of breeding wading birds, and wintering waterfowl. The majority of this CFA consists of parcels owned by Union, Essex, and Middlesex counties.
Habitat quality in this CFA is generally poor. The streams are moderately to severely impaired and have poor habitat quality. Phragmites is encroaching on the CFA’s tidal marshes, which are further contaminated with mercury, sewage, and other pollutants. Very little high salt marsh habitat remains in this CFA because of Phragmites, development, and sea level rise. A few areas, such as South Mountain, have large enough mosaics of upland and wetland forests to buffer some of the effects of fragmentation from the surrounding roads and development, but they are isolated from one another.
This CFA encompasses 0.3% of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region at 1,729 hectares including 1,339 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 390 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Naval Weapons Station Earle CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

Essentially the entire CFA is a U.S. Navy base that houses ammunition and explosives. It is mostly composed of wetlands and upland forests with scattered clearings and roads, and it contains some of the headwaters for the Manasquan, Navesink, and Shark Rivers.
This CFA contains large patches of deciduous wooded wetlands and upland coniferous/mixed forests, which serve as a relatively unfragmented forested oasis in an area surrounded by development and some agriculture. Forested areas near the roads, depots, and rights-of-way are affected by fragmentation. This relatively pristine CFA borders the northern edge of the Pinelands Landscape Region, contains high-quality acid waters, and is the only location in the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region that contains habitat for the Pine Barrens bluet.
This CFA encompasses 1% of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region at 3,447 hectares including 3,428 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 20 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Lower Hudson River CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

This CFA consists of the Hudson River from the New York state line down to Jersey City. It is a tidal estuary consisting almost entirely of brackish water that is crossed by the Tappan Zee and George Washington Bridges, the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels, and the PATH and Pennsylvania railroads. The estuary is heavily traveled by ferries and boats, including barges. With the exception of the Palisades CFA, the Lower Hudson River CFA is isolated from other natural habitats as it is bounded on the east and west by heavy development. That said, the Hudson River serves as a critical corridor for anadromous fish, including Atlantic sturgeon, traveling to spawning grounds upstream.
Runoff from impervious surfaces and sewage overflows are now the main sources of pollution on this stretch of the Hudson River, though it is still contaminated with mercury, PCBs, and other pollutants from activities that occurred decades ago. However, the water quality of the Hudson River has improved, particularly in the northern part of the CFA, and supports aquatic flora and fauna as well as the terrestrial wildlife that depend on it as a food source.
This CFA encompasses 0.3% of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region at 5,276 hectares including 102 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 5,174 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Lower Inner Coastal Plain Delaware River CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

This CFA consists of riparian networks of streams and rivers, and their associated tidal and fresh wetlands, forests, and farms, which drain into the Delaware River. It includes the Alloway/Hope Creek Watershed at the southern end of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region north to the Cooper River Watershed. The majority of this CFA is tidal marsh along the Delaware River with an agriculture matrix farther east and a developed matrix farther north. This CFA is also part of eight Important Bird Areas that collectively support breeding bald eagles, northern harriers, marshbirds of regional priority, and an exceptional diversity of breeding landbirds.
This CFA is distinct because it contains the tidal portion of Delaware River, brackish water, and a mixture of salt and freshwater tidal marshes. Towards the northern boundary of this CFA, which is just south of Pennsauken Creek in Camden, water quality is severely impaired as development and impervious surfaces encroach on the small slivers of forest and shrubs that border the tributaries. The lack of vegetated buffer between development and the stream results in higher water temperatures and pollutants from run-off, resulting in a degraded water quality. Further, dams and road crossings in some areas serve as pinch points for tidal flow, depriving many upriver marshes of sediments and nutrients, and also keeping out natural flooding during tidal extremes. Farther downstream along the Delaware River, water quality is moderately impaired as the matrix of development is broken up by large patches of agricultural lands, resulting in higher quality habitat overall. Depending on what is being grown, these areas can attract many area-sensitive species that need grasslands to breed, but they can also contribute to nutrient loading of streams from runoff.
This CFA encompasses 8% of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region at 56,570 hectares including 42,679 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 13,891 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Lower Raritan Watershed CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

This CFA is an interconnected riparian network of streams and rivers and their associated freshwater wetlands, low salt marshes, forests, and farms. It follows the boundary of Union and Somerset counties south through the center of Middlesex County into northern Monmouth County. Large patches of upland and wetland forests mixed with development surround most of the headwaters in the southern portion of this CFA. The headwaters in the northern portion of the CFA occur on the southeastern portion of First and Second Watchung Mountain, which support some small but intact patches of upland forest surrounded by many residential areas. Two small, isolated forests also occur in Middletown Township. Some of the salt marshes in northern Monmouth County are part of the large Raritan Bay Important Bird Area, known for breeding black skimmers, wading birds, and salt marsh/wetland birds of regional priority as well as a significant congregation of wintering waterfowl, particularly greater scaup. The majority of this CFA is owned by federal, state, county, and municipal governments, and also nonprofit organizations.
The salt marshes near the mouth of the Raritan River and tributaries to the north are riddled with Phragmites and surrounded by development and impervious surfaces, creating low quality habitats contaminated by runoff. A few patches of freshwater tidal marshes that are not overrun with Phragmites can be found farther upstream, but their water quality is still moderately to severely impaired. Isolated forest patches are large enough to buffer fragmentation effects from surrounding development, but they contain many invasive plant species and an overabundant deer population that keeps understory vegetation from growing, leaving forested habitats of generally fair quality.
This CFA encompasses 3% of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region at 21,257 hectares including 19,197 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 2,061 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Millstone and South Branch Raritan Rivers CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

This CFA is an interconnected riparian network of streams and rivers and their associated wetlands, forests, and farms set within a matrix of development. It spans across most of Somerset County and follows the border of Mercer and Middlesex counties into northern Monmouth County. Many of the brooks in this CFA are a stronghold for several rare minnow species and currently do not contain any non-native fish species. This CFA also is a part of three Important Bird Areas that are known for breeding bald eagles, kestrels, an exceptional diversity of breeding landbirds (particularly shrub birds of regional priority), breeding endangered and threatened grassland birds, and a plethora of breeding forest and shrub birds of regional priority. The CFA also has a significant stopover site for migrating landbirds in both the spring and fall, and significant congregations of wintering waterfowl and fall migrating raptors. The Millstone River and the Delaware & Raritan Canal are mostly owned by the state, serve as continuous corridors connecting the northern and southern ends of this CFA, and are central to the importance of this area.
Although the waterways in this CFA are extremely important for rare freshwater fishes, water quality along the Millstone River and its tributaries is impaired and considered to be of poor to moderate quality due to nutrient and/or bacteria loads, sedimentation, and runoff due to the increasing presence of impervious cover as farms and forests along the waterways are converted into developments. Patches of forest, agriculture, and grasslands occur at the headwaters, but they are heavily fragmented by development. Overabundant deer and invasive plants keep the diversity of shrubs at a minimum. Few patches of forest within this CFA are large enough to buffer the effects of fragmentation from the surrounding development and agriculture, resulting in poor to low quality of wildlife habitats.
This CFA encompasses 3% of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region at 21,647 hectares including 20,746 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 900 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Palisades Cliffs CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

This CFA consists of one contiguous patch of forest and cliffs bordered on the east by the Hudson River and New York City, and on the west by a heavily developed portion of Bergen County. The cliffs are home to the last known New Jersey population of the endangered Allegheny woodrat as well as natural cliff-nesting peregrine falcons. The forests at these cliffs are also an Important Bird Area that serves as a significant fall migratory stopover for raptors and landbirds. Most of this CFA is owned by the county or the Palisades Interstate Park Commission.
This CFA is a forested and rocky haven with excellent water quality in an otherwise heavily urbanized area, though it is far from pristine. The habitat is generally of fair quality as the forest patches are narrow, separated from other forest patches by the Palisades Parkway and development, and riddled with many different invasive and exotic plant species.
This CFA encompasses 0.2% of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region at 1,403 hectares including 1,397 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 5 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Passaic and Hackensack Rivers CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

This CFA consists of seven distinct locations containing streams, lakes, and tidal rivers that are a part of or drain into the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers and their associated wetlands and forests. Each location is relatively un-fragmented by development, but is separated from others by at least 1.5 miles of developed lands. Two of the areas are a part of three Important Bird Areas that have known breeding habitats for many endangered, threatened, and regional priority bird species, as well as significant congregations of breeding wading birds, wintering waterfowl, spring and fall migrating landbirds, fall migrating waterfowl, gulls, and terns. Almost the entire CFA is owned by a variety of government bodies and nonprofits.
The largest part of this CFA is the Hackensack Meadowlands and the tidal waters and low salt marshes downstream, all of which are of poor quality, contaminated with high levels of mercury and sewage, riddled with Phragmites, and surrounded by highways, development, and landfills. The only forested part of this CFA – occurring on and around the Passaic River near the Long Hill and Riker Hill portions of Third Watchung Mountain – is narrow, surrounded by development, and prone to the effects of fragmentation, isolation, and an overabundant deer population. However, in a heavily urbanized environment, even degraded forests and marshes serve as critical refuges for wildlife.
This CFA encompasses 1% of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region at 7,963 hectares including 5,033 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 2,931 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Piedmont Delaware River CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

This CFA is the portion of the Delaware River from Trenton north to the northern boundary of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region. Its extensive riparian network and associated wetlands, forests, and farms drain into the only section of the Delaware River within the Piedmont physiographic region. The land cover in this CFA varies from a mix of agriculture and development in the eastern half and northwestern corner to mostly development in the middle. The Piedmont Delaware River CFA is New Jersey’s only known spawning and nursery area for the endangered shortnose sturgeon and is part of three different Important Bird Areas that are known for a plethora of breeding forest and shrub birds of regional priority, an exceptional diversity of breeding landbirds, particularly forest and shrub birds of regional priority, and significant congregations of spring migrating and wintering waterfowl. The majority of this CFA, other than the Delaware River, is along Assunpink Creek and is owned by state, county, and municipal governments or nonprofits.
The waterways in the middle portion of the CFA are surrounded by development and impervious surfaces and as such are generally of poor quality as they are degraded from runoff of nutrients and sediments. Forests, agriculture, and grasslands are in the eastern portion and although they are less fragmented by development, few patches of forest within this CFA are large enough to buffer the effects of fragmentation from surrounding agriculture, resulting in poor to low quality wildlife habitats. Overabundant deer and invasive plants keep the diversity of shrubs at a minimum. Large hay farms can provide suitable habitat for and attract many area-sensitive species that need grasslands to breed, but they can also contribute to nutrient loading of streams from runoff.
This CFA encompasses 1% of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region at 7,618 hectares including 6,556 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 1,063 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value:

Shark and Navesink Rivers Watershed (Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain) CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

This CFA is adjacent to the Naval Weapons Station Earle CFA in Monmouth County, and is bordered to the east by the Atlantic Coast Landscape Region’s Shark and Navesink Rivers Watershed (Atlantic Coast) CFA. It consists of three riparian networks of streams and rivers, and their associated wetlands, forests, and farms, within a primarily developed matrix. Parts of this CFA are within two different Important Bird Areas that are known for significant congregations of wintering waterfowl, particularly brant, greater scaup, American black ducks, and canvasbacks. The mouth of the Navesink River is tidal and contains some salt marsh and freshwater tidal marsh, a part of which is owned by the state. Very little of the Shark River in this CFA is tidal, and the forests, shrubs, and wetlands surrounding this river are partially owned by the county. The other portions of this CFA are narrow slivers of wetlands and forests with pockets of agriculture adjacent to rivers and lakes, all of which are surrounded by development.
Water quality in this CFA is moderately to severely impaired due to pollution from runoff. The majority of the high and low salt marshes at the mouth of the Navesink River are dominated by Phragmites, creating a monoculture of poor habitat. The Swimming River portion of the Navesink is mostly surrounded by development and impervious surfaces, with the exception of some county parks. Because of the extensive development in this CFA, most areas are of poor quality and are affected by fragmentation.
This CFA encompasses 1% of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region at 6,270 hectares including 5,827 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 443 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Sourlands CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

This CFA lies at the boundary of Hunterdon, Mercer, and Somerset counties and supports large forests fragmented by development and large, relatively un-fragmented farms on the forest peripheries. The forests are the largest in the region and contain both Sourland and Baldpate mountains, parts of which are owned by the state, county, municipalities, and nonprofits. The forests and farms in this CFA also contain the headwaters for the Stony Brook, Millstone, and Neshanic rivers. The Sourlands CFA is also an Important Bird Area with breeding habitat for an exceptional diversity of landbirds, including regional priority forest and shrub species, and is a significant spring migration stopover for landbirds.
Roads and residential areas crisscross the forests, which are bordered by agricultural lands and development, while overabundant deer, invasive plants, and lack of disturbances (natural or manmade) keep the diversity of the forest understory at a minimum. Water quality in this CFA is mostly moderately impaired with a few unimpaired areas. While the overall habitat quality is moderate, it is the highest quality forest in the region. Large hay farms can provide suitable habitat for and attract many area-sensitive species that need grasslands to breed, but they can also contribute to nutrient loading of streams from runoff.
This CFA encompasses 3% of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region at 17,270 hectares including 17,137 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 133 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Upper Inner Coastal Plain Delaware River CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

This CFA consists of four riparian networks of streams and rivers, and their associated wetlands, forests, and farms, which are part of or drain into the Delaware River. It includes the Pennsauken Creek Watershed north to the northern border of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region. The majority of this CFA is developed along the Delaware River but is more of a mix of developed and agriculture matrix farther east. It includes parts of six Important Bird Areas that are known for breeding threatened and endangered birds like peregrine falcons and grasshopper sparrows, forested wetland birds of regional priority, and significant stopovers for spring and fall migrating waterfowl and landbirds.
Tidal waters and freshwater tidal wetlands occur along the Rancocas Creek and part of Assicunk Creek, but the largest area of high quality freshwater tidal wetlands in the Piedmont Region that is not dominated by Phragmites occurs at the mouth of Crosswicks Creek. The locations with non-tidal waters are narrow riparian corridors surrounded by development, and are degraded due to pollution from runoff. At the headwaters, large patches of agriculture are buffered by small patches of forest that help maintain higher water quality. Two very small headwater areas associated with this CFA are mapped within the Pinelands Landscape Region’s Upper Inner Coastal Plain Delaware River (Pinelands) CFA, but are functionally equivalent to the headwater habitats described here.
This CFA encompasses 4% of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region at 29,772 hectares including 25,728 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 4,033 hectares of aquatic habitats.

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: NJDEP

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value:

Upper Maurice River Watershed (Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain) CFA

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition:

This CFA consists of a riparian network and its associated wetlands, forests, and farms in a predominately agricultural matrix. It includes the western parts of the Still/Little Ease Run and Muddy Run watersheds that drain into the Maurice River.
The CFA’s upland and wetland riparian forest patches are mostly narrow and fragmented by surrounding agriculture and some development making them of poor quality and limited use to wildlife. Water quality is also moderately impaired. Large hay farms can provide suitable habitat for and attract many area-sensitive species that need grasslands to breed, but they can also contribute to nutrient loading of streams from runoff. This CFA drains to the Delaware Bay Landscape Region’s Lower Maurice River Watershed CFA. Please refer to that section for additional information on habitats and their condition.
This CFA encompasses 1% of the Piedmont/Inner Coastal Plain Landscape Region at 5,755 hectares including 5,577 hectares of terrestrial habitats and 178 hectares of aquatic 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