Description: This geodatabase contains several feature classes representing a reconstruction of the historical landscape and prevailing conditions of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in the early 1800s, prior to significant Euro-American modification. The data were created as part of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Historical Ecology Study, which was funded by the Ecosystem Restoration Program (ERP). This dataset integrates many sources of data in order to describe the historical features of the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta. Paired with the project report, these datasets provide detailed information about early geomorphic and ecological characteristics of this region. Extensive documentation, including details and descriptions not available in the GIS, bibliographic references, analyses, and research methods, can be found in the report: Whipple AA, Grossinger RM, Rankin D, Stanford B, Askevold RA. 2012. Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Historical Ecology Investigation: Exploring Pattern and Process. Prepared for the California Department of Fish and Game and Ecosystem Restoration Program. A Report of SFEI-ASC’s Historical Ecology Program, SFEI-ASC Publication #672, San Francisco Estuary Institute-Aquatic Science Center, Richmond, CA. 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 and orthorectified, 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. The GIS was also used to capture a synthesis of the historical landscape as GIS vector layers. By using the various georeferenced maps and photographs combined with narrative sources, we constructed a synthesis layer representing the historical landscape. Polygons, lines, and point layers were developed to depict features in the historical landscape. The layers making up the historical habitat map include Historical_Habitats, Historical_Creeks, and Historical_Features.See the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta historical ecology report for a detailed description of the historical habitats and the methods that were used to map them. The report can be downloaded from http://www.sfei.org/DeltaHEStudy.
Definition Expression: N/A
Copyright Text: San Francisco Estuary Institute-Aquatic Science Center and The California Department of Fish and Game