Terrestrial Resources GIS Data
The Fish and Wildlife
Research Institute serves a variety of terrestrial related data through
our Terrestrial Resources Geographic Information System (TRGIS)
Internet Map Server (IMS). This page provides a short description of
each layer with links to Federal Geographic Data Clearinghouse (FGDC)
compliant metadata and zipped files for download. The datum for all
files is NAD83, using a customized Albers projection, in meters.
RETURN TO TRGIS MAPPING SERVICE
The zipped shapefiles provided below can be uncompressed using shareware programs Winzip or IZArc. ArcExplorer, a lightweight GIS data viewer, can be used to view these shapefiles. A free copy of ArcExplorer may be downloaded from the ESRI Web site.
Many
GIS data layers from the Center For Spatial Analysis have been
converted to Google Earth files for easy viewing within the free Google
Earth viewer. Google Earth requires an Internet connection. In order to
view these files, you must have Google Earth installed on the computer
you are using. If you do not have Google Earth, you can download it
from the Google Earth web site.
Google Earth requires an Internet connection, so if you do not have
one, you will not be able to view these files. If you do and Google
Earth is installed on your computer, you can simply click on the
highlighted links below and choose "open" or "save" when you are
prompted.
See the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute's "Quick Maps" page for additional zipped KMLs.
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Bog Frog
Collection of known Bog Frog locations compiled for the FWC Wildlife Habitat Conservation Needs report
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~10KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Black Bear Nuisance Reports
This shapefile contains the locations of calls from the public regarding human- black bear interactions in the state of Florida. This dataset limits human-bear interaction to only those which are where the bears were observed at the location or in the area of the caller. Only those records that a geographic coordinate can be obtained from the black bear database maintained by the FWC are included in this shapefile.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile <1MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Black Bear Roadkill
This dataset contains the locations of Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) roadkills within the state of Florida. In this shapefile, we used only those records maintained by the FWC from which we could obtain a geographic coordinate.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile <1MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Black Bear Telemetry
This shapefile contains telemetry data collected by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission from various black bear populations and various years.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile <1MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~1MB.
Breeding Bird Atlas
The Breeding Bird Atlas
project was a collaborative effort of Audubon of Florida, the Florida
Ornithological Society, and the Florida Fish & Wildlife
Conservation Commission. More than 1,880 participants, most of them
volunteers, were involved in conducting surveys and compiling data.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~463KB.
Download the North Central Florida zipped KML Google Earth file ~2MB.
Download the Northeast Florida zipped KML Google Earth file ~2MB.
Download the Northwest Florida zipped KML Google Earth file ~2MB.
Download the South Florida zipped KML Google Earth file ~2MB.
Download the Southwest Florida zipped KML Google Earth file ~2MB.
Florida Eagle Nesting
Known bald eagle nesting territories within the 2010-2011 survey regions were surveyed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) during the 2010 - 2011 nesting season with fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft beginning in late November 2010 and extending through mid-April 2011. Nest locations were determined with the use of aircraft-based Global Positioning System (GPS) units. Accuracy of locations is estimated to be within 0.1 miles of the true location. Locations are given in longitude and latitude to hundredths of a minute. The Township, Range, and Section of each nest location are also provided. Township, Range, and Section were determined from the Public Land Survey System grid that includes Land Grant parcels. Yearly nest activity status is listed for the 2007 through 2011 nesting seasons. "Y" denotes an active nest, "N" denotes an inactive nest, and "-" denotes an unobserved nest or a nest whose activity status is unknown.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~234KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Flatwoods Salamander - 2001 to 2005
Positive identification of Flatwoods Salamanders from a 4 year FWC
survey of ponds (2001-2005) through the range of Flatwoods Salamanders
in Florida
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~10KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Gopher Tortoise Relocation Permit Recipient Sites
This dataset is a point representation of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Gopher Tortoise standard tortoise relocation permit recipient sites.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile <1MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Panther Mortality
The Florida panther (Felis
concolor coryi) mortality database contains all known and documented
mortalities including known or likely causes.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~35KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Panther Telemetry
These data were collected by three entities: the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Everglades National Park (ENP), and Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP) and represent VHS radio-telemetry data collected since the early 1980's. Methodology for the collection of telemetry locations was previously described by Belden et al. (1988). Spatial accuracy of telemetry data has been estimated to be within 230 m (Belden et al., 1988; Dees et al. 2001). In addition, the methodology used to acquire telemetry locations likely resulted in most locations being determined when individuals were at daytime resting sites (i.e. locations were usually determined during early to mid-morning [Comiskey et al., 2002; Beier et al., 2003]).
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~3MB.
Pine Barrens Treefrog
All known
Pine Barrens Treefrog locations digitized from paper maps maintained by
Paul Moler of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~13KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Red Cockaded Woodpecker
This shapefile contains
location information on the Red Cockaded Woodpecker collected by
various state and federal agencies including the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission. There is no attribute data for these
RCW locations. Data were compiled by requesting information from a
variety of federal, state, and local biologists, RCW researchers, and
area managers who provided the information they had on hand. None of
the data were collected in any standardized format nor under any
certain protocol. Similar data, e.g., date recorded, location accuracy
level, active/inactive status, were not collected or maintained between
sites. The data set includes locations of active and inactive nest
trees and centroids of cluster locations. The best description of those
data would be as general locations of where RCWs have previously
occurred. We urge caution against their use as definitive
representation of RCW occurrence.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~126KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Reptile Regions
This GIS data set comprises a portion of the Gulf-Wide Information System (G-WIS) database for the entire coastal zone of Florida and the lower St. Johns River. These data characterize coastal environments and wildlife resources for environmental planning and natural resource management purposes. The G-WIS data include three main components: Shoreline habitats, sensitive biological resources, and human-use resources. This data set contains sensitive biological resource data for reptiles (GT-polygon)
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~12MB.
Download the American Crocodile zipped KML Google Earth file ~2MB.
Download the Atlantic Salt Marsh Snake zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Download the Eastern Indigo Snake zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Download the Florida Gopher Frog zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Download the Florida Pine Snake zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Download the Florida Scrub Lizard zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Download the Gopher Tortoise zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Download the Green Sea Turtle zipped KML Google Earth file ~9MB.
Download the Hawksbill Sea Turtle zipped KML Google Earth file ~1MB.
Download the Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle zipped KML Google Earth file ~8MB.
Download the Leatherback Sea Turtle zipped KML Google Earth file ~3MB.
Download the Loggerhead Sea Turtle zipped KML Google Earth file ~9MB.
Download the Mangrove Terrapin zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Download the Spotted Turtle zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Sand Skink
All known Sand Skink
locations digitized from paper maps maintained by Paul Moler of the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~9KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Scrub Jay - 1992 to 1993
This shapefile plots
the locaitons of all Florida Scrub-Jays in 1992-1993 including the size
(numbers) of individual families wherever possible. Participants in
this project revistited known Florida Scrub-Jay localities to determine
their current status; searched new, previously unsurveyed scrub patches
for the presence of Florida Scrub-Jays; and compiled and attempted to
confirm all existing information on recent Florida Scrub-Jay
localities. Information was compiled from reliable , published or
unpublished Florida Scrub-Jay surveys.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~146KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Turtle Stranding
Coordinated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission -
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), the Florida Sea Turtle
Stranding and Salvage Network (STSSN) is responsible for gathering
standardized data on stranded marine turtles throughout the state. The
Florida STSSN functions as a part of an eighteen state network led by
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). In Florida, strandings
are documented by FWRI staff biologists and by a network of permitted
participants located around the state. Live strandings are rescued and
transported to properly permitted rehabilitation facilities. Data from
strandings are collected on a standardized reporting form and include
date, species, location, carapace length and width, carcass condition,
carcass disposition, and information on anomalies (e.g., entanglement,
propeller damage, fibropapillomas). Additionally, certain carcasses are
regularly collected by FWRI staff for gross or detailed necropsy. Each
week, FWRI reports Florida strandings to NMFS as a part of a management
plan that is intended to reduce the incidental take of turtles in the
shrimp fishery. FWRI also generates monthly and yearly stranding
summary reports to monitor mortality and to detect and describe any
unusual stranding events. Stranding data collected through the Florida
STSSN have been used extensively in the identification of mortality
factors and in the development of recovery actions (e.g., Turtle
Excluder Device (TED) requirements, gill net regulations).
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~1.3MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~2MB.
Turtle Nesting Beaches
The
State of Florida, through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission's Florida Marine Research Institute, coordinates the
Statewide Nesting Beach Survey program (SNBS). The SNBS was initiated
in 1979 under a cooperative agreement between FWC (then DNR) and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Its purpose is to document the total
distribution, seasonality, and abundance of nesting by sea turtles in
Florida. Three species of sea turtles, the loggerhead (Caretta
caretta), the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), and the leatherback
(Dermochelys coriacea), nest regularly on Florida's beaches. All the
species are listed as either Threatened or Endangered under the
Endangered Species Act. Survey data are derived from observations of
tracks and other nesting signs left on the beach by sea turtles.
Species identifications and determinations of nesting or non-nesting
emergences are based on the evaluation of features of the track and the
nest. Data are gathered through a network of permit holders consisting
of private conservation groups, volunteers, consultants, academics,
local governments, federal agencies, and the Florida Park Service.
Results are used by managers to evaluate and minimize impacts to
turtles and their nests due to human activities such as coastal
construction, beach renourishment, and recreation, as well as to
identify important areas for enhanced protection or land acquisition.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~170KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Snowy Plover Nests - 2002 to 2006
Snowy plover
nest site locations collected from a 2002-2006 FWC snowy plover status
and distribution study. The FWC initiated its snowy plover survey
project to (1) reassess the population size and distribution of snowy
plovers breeding in Florida, (2) assess the population size and
distribution of snowy plovers wintering in Florida, (3) assess
productivity of snowy plovers nesting on Florida beaches, and (4)
conduct a review of the literature on the Cuban snowy plover.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~21KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Striped Newt
Positive
identification of Striped Newts from two sources: (1) Means, D. B., and
R. C. Means. 1998. Distribution of the striped newt (Notophthalmus
perstriatus) and gopher frog (Rana capito) in Munson sand hills of the
Florida panhandle. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jackson,
Mississippi, USA. (2) Johnson, S. A., and R. D. Owen. 2005. Status of
historical striped newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus) locations in
peninsular Florida and some "new" locations. Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~9KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Wading Bird Rookeries - 1999
This shapefile
contains a range map of wading bird rookeries located in 1999 by the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission conducted a statewide aerial survey
during 26 January-25 June 1999 to locate waterbird (herons, egrets,
ibises, spoonbills, storks, anhingas, cormorants, and pelicans)
breeding colonies and estimate colony size and species composition.
Fixed-wing aircraft were used to fly statewide East-West survey
transects at 5-km intervals. Survey routes deviated at times to allow
inventory of previously known colonies from earlier surveys. This
database contains records for all known and verified colonies in the
state of Florida that were surveyed by the FWC during the period 1999
nesting season. Nests discovered more recently than this are not
included in the database. Each year, a number of new colony sites are
found. For this reason, users of this database are cautioned that the
absence of a colony record for a given property does not necessarily
mean wading birds are not present. This colony locator service is not
meant to replace a specific on-the-ground survey. Disturbance to the
colony may occur if a visit is made, and many of the colonies are
located on private land. Providing these locations does not confer any
permission by FWC to access private property.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~86KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
FWC Wildlife Observations
This is a point
shapefile created from the qryLipExport2 query of the FWC WildObs
database. The WildObs database provides a standardized format for
recording and managing incidental, casual, or short-term systematic
observations of wildlife. Various information on geographic location,
species (number, age, sex, etc.), habitat and activities can be
recorded on wildlife observation forms using Microsoft Access 2000.
Suggested target species and groups vary with the seasons. This system
is defined to be useful to biologists to maintain species lists or to
track wildlife populations in protected or managed areas. The Nongame
Wildlife program is interested in maintaining current records of
species distributions within Florida. This database is used as a
repository for both data from planned surveys, contracted projects, and
casual observations. The manual, available from the contact, provides
details of each table and field of the database structure as well as
overview of the contents. All data included in the database is recorded
as points.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~178KB.
Download the NE Florida Observations zipped KML Google Earth file ~2MB.
Download the NC Florida Observations zipped KML Google Earth file ~1MB.
Download the NW Florida Observations zipped KML Google Earth file ~2MB.
Download the SW Florida Observations zipped KML Google Earth file ~2MB.
Download the S Florida Observations zipped KML Google Earth file ~1MB.
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Scrub Jay Habitat - 1992 to 1993
This shapefile
contains a Florida Scrub-Jay species-wide distribution map which plots
the locaion of all Florida Scrub-Jay populations adn their occuped
habitat still extant as of 1992-1993 as well as identifies tracts of
apparently suitable or restorable habitat that were not occupied by
Florida Scrub-Jays in 1992-1993.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~2MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Florida Black Bear Range
This shapefile contains
a range map of the Florida Black Bear created in 2004 and updated in
2005, 2007, and 2008. The range map was created by the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~345KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Panther Habitat Zones
Panther habitat zones were
developed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service's panther subteam of
Multi-Species/Ecosystem Recovery Implementation Team (MERIT). Members
of the MERIT panther recovery subteam identified lands essential to the
long-term survival of the Florida panther. The MERIT subteam defined
the Primary Zone as "all lands essential for the survival of the
Florida panther in the wild." A Secondary Zone includes "lands
contiguous with the Primary Zone, and areas which panthers may
currently use, and where expansion of the Florida panther population is
most likely to occur". Lastly, a Dispersal Zone was identified as an
area needed for panthers to disperse north of the Caloosahatchee River.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~76KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Panther Habitat Preservation Plan
The Florida
Panther Interagency Committee (FPIC), comprised of the FWS, NPS, GFC,
and DEP, was established in 1986 to coordinate recovery of the Florida
panther. A Habitat Preservation Plan (HPP), prepared in 1993 for the
FPIC, identified 374,868 ha of occupied and potential habitat
considered essential to maintaining a minimum viable population of 50
breeding adult panthers in South Florida. These data represent Priority
1 and Priority 2 areas identified by the FPIC
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~47KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
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Strategic Habitat Conservation Areas (grids)
Strategic Habitat Conservation Areas (SHCA), serve as a foundation for conservation planning in Florida and depict the need for species protection through habitat conservation.
More information can be found in Wildlife Habitat Conservation Needs in Florida: Updated Recommendations for Stretegic Habitat Conservation Areas.
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Wildlife Habitat Ranking System
Go to the current Wildlife Habitat Ranking System site.
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Florida Forever
FLORIDA FOREVER BOT PROJECTS (layer name FFBOT): This is a polygon data layer for Florida Forever Board of Trustees (BOT) projects (formerly known as CARL projects). This data layer is site-based and contains boundaries of all Florida Forever BOT projects approved by the State's Acquisition and Restoration Council as of 14 August 2009. These lands have been proposed for acquisition because of outstanding natural resources, opportunity for natural resource-based recreation, or historical and archaeological resources. However, these areas may not be currently managed for their resource value. Portions of these projects may have already been acquired by the State and/or its acquisition partners.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~4MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~5MB.
Agriculture - Citrus Grove
This GIS data set represents the citrus habitat type reselected from the fl_veg03 data set (2003).
In 1990, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) completed a project to map Florida vegetation and land cover using 1985-89 Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. The resulting digital database contained 17 natural and semi-natural land cover types, 4 land cover types indicative of human disturbance, and 1 water class. By 2003 (the year of the imagery used in this project), the earlier data set (comprised mostly of 1986-87 imagery) was about 16-17 years old, and could no longer be considered current. Not only was the earlier vegetation and land cover data set becoming out of date, but so were the wildlife and strategic habitat models that were based on that data. In order to keep our vegetation, land cover, and wildlife habitat models current, FWC staff realized the need to develop a new, updated vegetation and land cover map for Florida.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~4MB.
Agriculture - Row Field Crops
This GIS data set
represents the row/field crops habitat type reselected from the
fl_veg03 data set (2003). In 1990, the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC) completed a project to map Florida
vegetation and land cover using 1985-89 Landsat Thematic Mapper
satellite imagery. The resulting digital database contained 17 natural
and semi-natural land cover types, 4 land cover types indicative of
human disturbance, and 1 water class. By 2003 (the year of the imagery
used in this project), the earlier data set (comprised mostly of
1986-87 imagery) was about 16-17 years old, and could no longer be
considered current. Not only was the earlier vegetation and land cover
data set becoming out of date, but so were the wildlife and strategic
habitat models that were based on that data. In order to keep our
vegetation, land cover, and wildlife habitat models current, FWC staff
realized the need to develop a new, updated vegetation and land cover
map for Florida. Row crops are agricultural fields in which rows remain
well defined even after crops have been harvested. Typical row crops in
Florida include corn, tomatoes, potatoes, cotton, and beans. Field
crops are agricultural croplands not planted in rows. Typical field
crops in Florida include hay and grasses.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~8.76GB.
Agriculture - Sugar Cane
This GIS data
set represents the sugar cane habitat type reselected from the fl_veg03
data set (2003). In 1990, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) completed a project to map Florida vegetation and land
cover using 1985-89 Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. The
resulting digital database contained 17 natural and semi-natural land
cover types, 4 land cover types indicative of human disturbance, and 1
water class. By 2003 (the year of the imagery used in this project),
the earlier data set (comprised mostly of 1986-87 imagery) was about
16-17 years old, and could no longer be considered current. Not only
was the earlier vegetation and land cover data set becoming out of
date, but so were the wildlife and strategic habitat models that were
based on that data. In order to keep our vegetation, land cover, and
wildlife habitat models current, FWC staff realized the need to develop
a new, updated vegetation and land cover map for Florida.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~1.48MB.
Agriculture - Other
This GIS data set represents
the other agriculture habitat type reselected from the fl_veg03 data
set (2003). In 1990, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) completed a project to map Florida vegetation and land
cover using 1985-89 Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. The
resulting digital database contained 17 natural and semi-natural land
cover types, 4 land cover types indicative of human disturbance, and 1
water class. By 2003 (the year of the imagery used in this project),
the earlier data set (comprised mostly of 1986-87 imagery) was about
16-17 years old, and could no longer be considered current. Not only
was the earlier vegetation and land cover data set becoming out of
date, but so were the wildlife and strategic habitat models that were
based on that data. In order to keep our vegetation, land cover, and
wildlife habitat models current, FWC staff realized the need to develop
a new, updated vegetation and land cover map for Florida. Agricultural
lands other than pasture land, sugar cane fields, citrus groves, and
croplands. Types of agricultural lands included in this category are
peach orchards, pecan and avocado groves, nurseries and vineyards,
specialty farms, aquaculture, fallow cropland, and unidentified
agricultural uses.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~2.35MB.
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Mangrove - poly
These dense, brackish water swamps
occur along low-energy shorelines and in protected, tidally influenced
bays of southern Florida. This community is composed of
freeze-intolerant tree species that are distributed south of a line
from Cedar Key on the Gulf coast to St. Augustine on the Atlantic
coast. These swamp communities are usually dominated by red, black, and
white mangroves that progress in a sere from seaward to landward areas,
respectively, while buttonwood trees occur in areas above high tide.
Openings and transitional areas in mangrove swamps sometimes contain
glasswort, saltwort, and other salt marsh species. All three major
species of mangroves are mapped as a single class with no effort made
to differentiate these species into separate zones.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the Zipped Shapefile ~29.3MB.
Download the Mangroves - Florida Atlantic zipped KML Google Earth file ~2MB.
Download the Mangroves - Florida Keys zipped KML Google Earth file ~6MB.
Download the Mangroves - Florida Southwest zipped KML Google Earth file ~17MB.
Download the Mangroves - Florida Gulf zipped KML Google Earth file ~6MB.
Mangrove - arc
This GIS data set represents mangroves in the coastal areas of Florida as mapped in the September 2003 delivery of Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) shoreline classification arcs. This GIS data set was reselected from the shoreline classification based on the MANGROVE attribute equal to "Y" (yes). Research Planning Inc. (RPI) developed the ESI classification arcs based on the 1994-1995 land use and land cover for all of Florida's water management districts, with the exception of the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), which was classified based on 1999 DOQQs. At FMRI's request, RPI also reworked some shoreline in the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), which had poor positional accuracy.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the Zipped Shapefile ~15MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~17MB.
Coastal Strand
Coastal strand occurs on well-drained sandy soils and typically
includes the zoned vegetation of the upper beach, nearby dunes, or on
coastal rock formations. This community generally occurs in a long,
narrow band parallel to the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf
of Mexico, and along the shores of some saline bays or sounds in both
north and south Florida. This community occupies areas formed along
high-energy shorelines, and is strongly affected by wind, waves, and
salt spray. Vegetation within this community typically consists of low
growing vines, grasses, and herbaceous plants with very few small trees
or large shrubs. Pioneer or early successional herbaceous vegetation
characterizes the foredune and upper beach, while a gradual change to
woody plant species occurs in more protected areas landward. Typical
plant species include beach morning glory, railroad vine, sea oats, saw
palmetto, Spanish bayonet, yaupon holly, wax myrtle, along with sea
grape, cocoplum, and other tropicals in southern Florida. The coastal
strand community only includes the zone of early successional
vegetation that lies between the upper beach, and more highly developed
communities landward. Adjacent or contiguous community types such as
xeric oak scrubs, pinelands, or hardwood forests would therefore be
classified and mapped accordingly.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~460KB.
Sand Beaches
This GIS data set represents the sand/beach habitat type reselected from the fl_veg03 data set (2003).
In 1990, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) completed a project to map Florida vegetation and land cover using 1985-89 Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. The resulting digital database contained 17 natural and semi-natural land cover types, 4 land cover types indicative of human disturbance, and 1 water class. By 2003 (the year of the imagery used in this project), the earlier data set (comprised mostly of 1986-87 imagery) was about 16-17 years old, and could no longer be considered current. Not only was the earlier vegetation and land cover data set becoming out of date, but so were the wildlife and strategic habitat models that were based on that data. In order to keep our vegetation, land cover, and wildlife habitat models current, FWC staff realized the need to develop a new, updated vegetation and land cover map for Florida.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the Zipped Shapefile <1MB.
Tidal Flats
This GIS data set represents the
tidal flat habitat type reselected from the fl_veg03 data set (2003).
Tidal flats are areas composed of that portion of the shore environment
protected from wave action and primarily composed of muds transported
by tidal channels.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~334KB.
Download the Florida Atlantic zipped KML Google Earth file ~2MB.
Download the South Florida zipped KML Google Earth file ~8MB.
Download the Tampa Bay zipped KML Google Earth file ~9MB.
Download the Panhandle zipped KML Google Earth file ~6MB.
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Disturbed or Transitional
Bare Soil and Clearcut
Areas of bare soil
representing recent timber cutting operations, areas devoid of
vegetation as a consequence of recent fires, natural areas of exposed
bare soil (e.g., sandy areas within xeric communities), or bare soil
exposed due to vegetation removal for unknown reasons.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~33.2MB.
Shrub Brushland
This association includes a
variety of situations where natural upland community types have been
recently disturbed through clear-cutting commercial pinelands, land
clearing, or fire, and are recovering through natural successional
processes. This type could be characterized as an early condition of
old-field succession, and various shrubs, tree saplings, and lesser
amounts of grasses and herbs dominate the community. Common species
include wax myrtle, saltbush, sumac, elderberry, saw palmetto,
blackberry, gallberry, fetterbush, staggerbush, broomsedge, dog fennel,
together with oak, pine and other tree seedlings or saplings.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~85.8MB.
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Australian Pine
This GIS data set represents the
Australian pine habitat type reselected from the fl_veg03 data set
(2003). In 1990, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) completed a project to map Florida vegetation and land cover
using 1985-89 Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. The resulting
digital database contained 17 natural and semi-natural land cover
types, 4 land cover types indicative of human disturbance, and 1 water
class. By 2003 (the year of the imagery used in this project), the
earlier data set (comprised mostly of 1986-87 imagery) was about 16-17
years old, and could no longer be considered current. Not only was the
earlier vegetation and land cover data set becoming out of date, but so
were the wildlife and strategic habitat models that were based on that
data. In order to keep our vegetation, land cover, and wildlife habitat
models current, FWC staff realized the need to develop a new, updated
vegetation and land cover map for Florida. This habitat type is
represented by sites known to be dominated by Australian pine through
field inspection.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the Zipped Shapefile ~11KB.
Brazilian Pepper
This GIS data set represents the
Brazilian pepper habitat type reselected from the fl_veg03 data set
(2003). In 1990, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) completed a project to map Florida vegetation and land cover
using 1985-89 Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. The resulting
digital database contained 17 natural and semi-natural land cover
types, 4 land cover types indicative of human disturbance, and 1 water
class. By 2003 (the year of the imagery used in this project), the
earlier data set (comprised mostly of 1986-87 imagery) was about 16-17
years old, and could no longer be considered current. Not only was the
earlier vegetation and land cover data set becoming out of date, but so
were the wildlife and strategic habitat models that were based on that
data. In order to keep our vegetation, land cover, and wildlife habitat
models current, FWC staff realized the need to develop a new, updated
vegetation and land cover map for Florida. Sites known to be dominated
by Brazilian pepper through field inspection.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~13KB.
Melaleuca
This GIS data set represents the
melaleuca habitat type reselected from the fl_veg03 data set (2003). In
1990, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
completed a project to map Florida vegetation and land cover using
1985-89 Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. The resulting
digital database contained 17 natural and semi-natural land cover
types, 4 land cover types indicative of human disturbance, and 1 water
class. By 2003 (the year of the imagery used in this project), the
earlier data set (comprised mostly of 1986-87 imagery) was about 16-17
years old, and could no longer be considered current. Not only was the
earlier vegetation and land cover data set becoming out of date, but so
were the wildlife and strategic habitat models that were based on that
data. In order to keep our vegetation, land cover, and wildlife habitat
models current, FWC staff realized the need to develop a new, updated
vegetation and land cover map for Florida. Sites known to be dominated
by melaleuca through field inspection.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~10KB.
Exotics - Other
This GIS data set represents the exotic plants habitat type reselected from the fl_veg03 data set (2003).
In 1990, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) completed a project to map Florida vegetation and land cover using 1985-89 Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. The resulting digital database contained 17 natural and semi-natural land cover types, 4 land cover types indicative of human disturbance, and 1 water class. By 2003 (the year of the imagery used in this project), the earlier data set (comprised mostly of 1986-87 imagery) was about 16-17 years old, and could no longer be considered current. Not only was the earlier vegetation and land cover data set becoming out of date, but so were the wildlife and strategic habitat models that were based on that data. In order to keep our vegetation, land cover, and wildlife habitat models current, FWC staff realized the need to develop a new, updated vegetation and land cover map for Florida.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~2MB.
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Bottomland Hardwood Forests
These wetland forests
are composed of a diverse assortment of hydric hardwoods which occur on
the rich alluvial soils of silt and clay deposited along several
Pandhandle rivers including the Apalachicola, Choctawhatchee, and
Escambia. These communities are characterized by an overstory that
includes water hickory, overcup oak, swamp chestnut oak, river birch,
American sycamore, red maple, Florida elm, bald cypress, blue beech,
and swamp ash .
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~916KB.
Hardwood Hammock Forests
This hardwood hammock
and forest class includes the major upland hardwood associations that
occur statewide on fairly rich sandy soils. Variations in species
composition, and the local or spatial distributions of these
communities are due in part to differences in soil moisture regimes,
soil type, and geographic location within the state. Mesic and xeric
variations are included within this association. The mesic hammock
community represents the climax vegetation type within many areas of
northern and central Florida. Characteristic species in the extreme
north include American beech, southern magnolia, Shumard oak, white
oak, mockernut hickory, pignut hickory, sourgum, basswood, white ash,
mulberry, and spruce pine. Mesic hammocks of the peninsula are less
diverse due to the absence of hardwood species that are adapted to more
northerly climates, and are characterized by laurel oak, hop hornbeam,
blue beech, sweetgum, cabbage palm, American holly, and southern
magnolia. Xeric hammocks occur on deep, well-drained, sandy soils where
fire has been absent for long periods of time. These open, dry hammocks
contain live oak, sand-live oak, bluejack oak, blackjack oak, southern
red oak, sand-post oak, and pignut hickory
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~49.6MB.
Mixed Hardwood - Pine Forests
This mixed
pine-hardwood forest community is the southern extension of the
Piedmont southern mixed hardwoods, and occurs mainly on the clay soils
on the northern Pandhandle. Younger stands may be predominantly pines,
while a complex of various hardwoods become co-dominants as the system
matures over time through plant succession. The overstory consists of
shortleaf and loblolly pine, American beech, mockernut hickory,
southern red oak, water oak, American holly, and dogwood. Also included
in this category are other upland forests that occur statewide and
contain a mixture of conifers and hardwoods as the co-dominant
overstory component. These communities contain longleaf pine, slash
pine, and loblolly pine in mixed association with live oak, laurel oak,
and water oak, together with other hardwood species characteristic of
the upland hardwood hammocks and forests class.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~62.9MB.
Mixed Wetland and Forests
This category includes
mixed wetland forest communities in which neither hardwoods nor
conifers achieve dominance. The mix can include hardwoods with pine or
cypress and can represent a mixed hydric site or a transition between
hardwoods and conifers on hydric/mesic sites.
View the full Metadata
Download the zipped shapefile ~73MB.
Natural Pinelands
This data set was originally
part of a raster data set called "terr_sub" used in the CWCS Strategy.
"Terr_sub" was reclassified from the 2003 Landcover data set.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~104.3MB.
Commercial Pinelands
This class represents a
subset of the Pinelands class in the FWC 2003 Florida Vegetation and
Land Cover. Areas identified as Tree Plantations on private lands
(using the Water Managmement Districts Land Use Land Cover data) were
removed from the Pineland class of the FWC 2003 data and classified as
Indusrial/Commercial Pinelands.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~29.3MB.
Pine and Rocklands
This class represents a subset of the Pinelands class in the FWC 2003 Florida Vegetation and Land Cover. This data set was originally part of a raster data set called "terr_sub" used in the CWCS Strategy. "Terr_sub" was reclassified from the 2003 Landcover data set.
Areas of Pinelands, Hardwood Hammock and Forest and Mixed Hardwood-Pine Forest found within 1,000 meters of an identified pine rockland or rockland hammock (Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Element Occurrence data) or remaniing areas of pine rockland as identified in Cox et al. (1994). Pine Rockland is a unique type of pine flatwoods that is found exclusively on limestone substrate in the Florida Keys, the Big Cypress Swamp, and the Miami Rock Ridge (the limestone outcropping that rises from the Everglades to heights of 23 feet (7 m) above sea level). The overstory of Pine Rockland habitat contains a single canopy species, South Florida slash pine. The dominant pines tower over a savanna-like understory of saw palmettos, locust berry, willow bustic, beauty berry, broom grasses, silver palms, and a rich herbaceous layer. This community is often associated with rockland hammock and other short-hydroperiod freshwater wetland communities. These sub-tropical pine trees and understory plants have adapted to seasonal wildfires and the lack of soil on the exposed limerock. Pine Rockland communities are globally imperiled and support federal and state listed plant species, such as deltoid spurge and Small?s milkwort which only occur in this habitat.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile <1MB.
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Cattail Marsh
Freshwater marsh habitat areas dominated by cattails.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~1.5MB.
Dry Prairie
Dry prairies are large native grass
and shrublands occurring on very flat terrain interspersed with
scattered cypress domes and strands, bayheads, isolated freshwater
marshes, and hardwood hammocks. This community is characterized by many
species of grasses, sedges, herbs, and shrubs, including saw palmetto,
fetterbush, staggerbush, tar flower, gallberry, blueberry, wiregrass,
carpet grasses, and various bluestems. The largest areas of these
treeless plains historically occurred just north of Lake Okeechobee,
and they were subject to annual or frequent fires. Many of these areas
have been converted to improved pasture. In central and south Florida,
palmetto prairies, which consist of former pine flatwoods where the
overstory trees have been thinned or removed, are also included in this
category. These sites contain highly scattered pines that cover less
than 10 to 15 percent of an area.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~44.6MB.
Freshwater Marsh and Wet Prairie
These freshwater
marsh and wet prairie wetland communities are dominated by a wide
assortment of herbaceous plant species growing on sand, clay, marl, and
organic soils in areas of variable water depths and inundation regimes.
Generally, freshwater marshes occur in deeper, more strongly inundated
situations and are characterized by tall emergents and floating-leaved
species. Freshwater marshes occur within flatwoods depressions, along
broad, shallow lake and river shorelines, and scattered in open areas
within hardwood and cypress swamps. Also, other portions of freshwater
lakes, rivers, and canals that are dominated by floating-leaved plants
such as lotus, spatterdock, duck weed, and water hyancinths are
included in this category. Wet prairies commonly occur in shallow,
periodically inundated areas and are usually dominated by aquatic
grasses, sedges, and their associates. Wet prairies occur as scattered,
shallow depressions within dry prairie areas and on marl prairie areas
in south Florida. Also included in this category are areas in Southwest
Florida with scattered dwarf cypress having less than 20 percent canopy
coverage, and a dense ground cover of freshwater marsh plants. Various
combinations of pickerel weed, sawgrass, maidencane, arrowhead, fire
flag, cattail, spike rush, bulrush, white water lily, water shield, and
various sedges dominate freshwater marshes and wet prairies. Many marsh
or wet prairie types, such as sawgrass marsh or maidencane prairie,
have been described and so-named based on their dominant plant species.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~54.7MB.
Grassland
These are upland communities where the
predominant vegetative cover is very low growing grasses and forbs.
This very early successional category includes all sites with
herbaceous vegetation during the time period between bare ground, and
the shrub and brush stage. It also includes areas that may be
maintained in this stage through periodic mowing, such as along dikes
or levees.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~2.9MB.
Improved Pasture Land
This GIS data set represents the improved pasture habitat type reselected from the fl_veg03 data set (2003).
In 1990, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) completed a project to map Florida vegetation and land cover using 1985-89 Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. The resulting digital database contained 17 natural and semi-natural land cover types, 4 land cover types indicative of human disturbance, and 1 water class. By 2003 (the year of the imagery used in this project), the earlier data set (comprised mostly of 1986-87 imagery) was about 16-17 years old, and could no longer be considered current. Not only was the earlier vegetation and land cover data set becoming out of date, but so were the wildlife and strategic habitat models that were based on that data. In order to keep our vegetation, land cover, and wildlife habitat models current, FWC staff realized the need to develop a new, updated vegetation and land cover map for Florida.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~20MB.
Unimproved Woodland Pasture
This GIS data set represents the unimproved/woodland pasture habitat type reselected from the fl_veg03 data set (2003).
In 1990, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) completed a project to map Florida vegetation and land cover using 1985-89 Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. The resulting digital database contained 17 natural and semi-natural land cover types, 4 land cover types indicative of human disturbance, and 1 water class. By 2003 (the year of the imagery used in this project), the earlier data set (comprised mostly of 1986-87 imagery) was about 16-17 years old, and could no longer be considered current. Not only was the earlier vegetation and land cover data set becoming out of date, but so were the wildlife and strategic habitat models that were based on that data. In order to keep our vegetation, land cover, and wildlife habitat models current, FWC staff realized the need to develop a new, updated vegetation and land cover map for Florida.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~4MB.
Salt Marsh
This GIS data set represents Florida's salt marsh areas. These data are intended as a general reference map only.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~23.2MB.
Download the Atlantic Areas zipped KML Google Earth file ~6MB.
Download the South Florida zipped KML Google Earth file ~7MB.
Download the Southwest Florida zipped KML Google Earth file ~2MB.
Download the Big Bend zipped KML Google Earth file ~11MB.
Download the Panhandle zipped KML Google Earth file ~3MB.
Sawgrass Marsh
Freshwater marshes dominated by sawgrass.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~9.49MB.
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Sand Scrub Pine
Sand pine scrub occurs on
extremely well drained, sorted, sterile sands deposited along former
shorelines and islands of ancient seas. This xeric plant community is
dominated by an overstory of sand pine and has an understory of myrtle
oak, Chapman's oak, sand-live oak, and scrub holly. Ground cover is
usually sparse to absent, especially in mature stands, and rosemary and
lichens occur in some open areas. Sites within the Ocala National
Forest that have an overstory of direct seeded sand pine, and an intact
understory of characteristic xeric scrub oaks, are also included in
this category. Fire is an important ecological management tool, and
commonly results in even-aged stands within regenerated sites. The
distribution of this community type is almost entirely restricted to
within the state of Florida.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~2.9MB.
Xeric Scrub Oak
Xeric oak scrub is a xeric
hardwood community typically consisting of clumped patches of low
growing oaks interspersed with bare areas of white sand. This community
occurs on areas of deep, well-washed, sterile sands, and it is the same
understory complex of scrubby oaks and other ground cover species that
occurs in the sand pine scrub community. This condition frequently
occurs when the short time periods between severe fires results in the
complete removal of sand pine as an overstory species. Also included in
this category are sites within the Ocala National Forest which have
been clear-cut, and are sometimes dominated during the first one to
five years by the xeric oak scrub association. The xeric oak scrub
community is dominated by myrtle oak, Chapman's oak, sand-live oak,
scrub holly, scrub plum, scrub hickory, rosemary, and saw palmetto.
Fire is important in setting back plant succession and maintaining
viable oak scrubs
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~3.9MB.
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Bay Swamp
These hardwood swamps contain broadleaf
evergreen trees that occur in shallow, stagnant drainages or
depressions often found within pine flatwoods, or at the base of sandy
ridges where seepage maintains constantly wet soils. The soils, which
are usually covered by an abundant layer of leaf litter, are mostly
acidic peat or muck that remains saturated for long periods but over
which little water level fluctuation occurs. Overstory trees within
bayheads are dominated by sweetbay, swamp bay, and loblolly bay.
Depending on the location within the state, other species including
pond pine, slash pine, blackgum, cypress, and Atlantic white cedar can
occur as scattered individuals, but bay trees dominate the canopy and
characterize the community. Understory and gound cover species may
include dahoon holly, wax myrtle, fetterbush, greenbriar, royal fern,
cinnamon fern, and sphagnum moss.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~8.8MB.
Cypress Swamp
Cypress swamps are regularly
inundated wetlands form a forested border along large rivers, creeks,
and lakes, or occur in depressions as circular domes or linear strands.
These communities are strongly dominated by either bald cypress or pond
cypress, with very low numbers of scattered black gum, red maple, and
sweetbay. Understory and ground cover are usually sparse due to
frequent flooding but sometimes include such species as buttonbush,
lizard's-tail, and various ferns.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~52.3MB.
Hardwood Swamp
These wooded wetland communities
are composed of either pure stands of hardwoods, or occur as a mixture
of hardwoods and cypress where hardwoods achieve dominance. This
association of wetland-adapted trees occurs throughout the state on
organic soils and forms the forested floodplains of non-alluvial
rivers, creeks, and broad lake basins. Tree species include a mixed
overstory containing black gum, water tupelo, bald cypress, dahoon
holly, red maple, swamp ash, cabbage palm, and sweetbay.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~52.2MB.
Mangrove Swamp
This GIS data set represents the mangrove swamp habitat type reselected from the fl_veg03 data set (2003).
In 1990, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) completed a project to map Florida vegetation and land cover using 1985-89 Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. The resulting digital database contained 17 natural and semi-natural land cover types, 4 land cover types indicative of human disturbance, and 1 water class. By 2003 (the year of the imagery used in this project), the earlier data set (comprised mostly of 1986-87 imagery) was about 16-17 years old, and could no longer be considered current. Not only was the earlier vegetation and land cover data set becoming out of date, but so were the wildlife and strategic habitat models that were based on that data. In order to keep our vegetation, land cover, and wildlife habitat models current, FWC staff realized the need to develop a new, updated vegetation and land cover map for Florida.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~5MB.
Shrub Swamp
Shrub swamps are wetland communities
dominated by dense, low-growing, woody shrubs or small trees. Shrub
swamps are usually characteristic of wetland areas that are
experiencing environmental change, and are early to mid-successional in
species complement and structure. These changes are a result of natural
or man-induced perturbations due to increased or decreased hydroperiod,
fire, clear cutting or land clearing, and siltation. Shrub swamps
statewide may be dominated by one species, such as willow, or an array
of opportunistic plants may form a dense, low canopy. Common species
include willow, wax myrtle, primrose willow, buttonbush, and saplings
of red maple, sweetbay, black gum, and other hydric tree species
indicative of wooded wetlands. In northern Florida, some shrub swamps
are a fire-maintained subclimax of bay swamps. These dense shrubby
areas are dominated by black titi, swamp cyrilla, fetterbush, sweet
pepperbush, doghobble, large gallberry, and myrtle-leaf holly.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~52.3MB.
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Extractive
These areas encompass surface and
subsurface mining operations. Areas included are sand, gravel and clay
pits, phosphate mines, and limestone quarries. Industrial complexes
were the extracted material is refined, packaged or further processed
may also be included in this category.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~1.7MB.
High Impact - Urban
Unvegetated areas such as roads, residential and commercial buildings, parking lots, etc.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~54.3MB.
Low Impact - Urban
Disturbed areas within
urbanized areas that may or may not be vegetated. Examples of land uses
included in this category are lawns, golf courses, road shoulders,
grassy areas surrounding places such as airports, park facilities, etc.
Many secondary roads, such as forest roads, are included in this
category.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~49.9MB.
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Uncategorized Terrestrial Landcover
Cabbage Palm - Live Oak Hammock
This plant
community is characterized by cabbage palms and live oaks occurring in
small clumps within prairie communities. These hammocks typically have
an open understory which may include such species as wax myrtle, water
oak, and saw palmetto. Cabbage palm-live oak hammocks are often found
bordering large lakes and rivers, and are distributed throughout the
prairie region of south central Florida and extend northward in the St.
John's River basin. Cabbage palms often form a fringe around hardwood
islands located within improved pastures.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~477KB.
Cypress-Pine-Cabbage Palms
This community
includes cypress, pine and/or cabbage palm in combinations in which
none of the species achieves dominance. This assemblage forms a
transition between moist upland and hydric sites.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~3.78MB.
Hydric Hammocks
Hydric hammocks occur on soils
that are poorly drained or have high water tables. This association is
a still-water wetland, flooded less frequently and for shorter periods
of time than mixed hardwood and cypress swamps. Outcrops of limestone
are common in the gulf coastal area. Typical plant species include
laurel oak, live oak, cabbage palm, southern red cedar, and sweetgum.
Canopy closure is typically 75-90%. The sub-canopy layer and ground
layer vegetation is highly variable between sites. Wax myrtle is the
most frequent shrub in hydric hammock. Other shrubs include yaupon,
dahoon, and swamp dogwood. Ground cover may be absent or consist of a
dense growth of ferns, sedges, grasses, and greenbriars. Sites are
usually between mesic hammocks or pine flatwoods and river swamp, wet
prairie, or marsh. This hammock type is found in a narrow band along
parts of the Gulf coast and along the St. Johns river where they often
extend to the edge of coastal salt marshes.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~623KB.
Sandhill
Sandhill communities occur in areas of
rolling terrain on deep, well-drained, white to yellow, sterile sands.
This xeric community is dominated by an overstory of scattered longleaf
pine, along with an understory of turkey oak and bluejack oak. The
park-like ground cover consists of various grasses and herbs, including
wiregrass, partridge pea, beggars tick, milk pea, queen's delight, and
others. Fire is an important factor in controlling hardwood competition
and other aspects of sandhill ecology. Although many of these sites
throughout the state have been modified through the selective or severe
cutting of longleaf pine, these areas are still included in the
sandhill category.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~9.5MB.
Scrub Mangrove
This GIS data set represents the scrub mangrove habitat type reselected from the fl_veg03 data set (2003).
In 1990, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) completed a project to map Florida vegetation and land cover using 1985-89 Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. The resulting digital database contained 17 natural and semi-natural land cover types, 4 land cover types indicative of human disturbance, and 1 water class. By 2003 (the year of the imagery used in this project), the earlier data set (comprised mostly of 1986-87 imagery) was about 16-17 years old, and could no longer be considered current. Not only was the earlier vegetation and land cover data set becoming out of date, but so were the wildlife and strategic habitat models that were based on that data. In order to keep our vegetation, land cover, and wildlife habitat models current, FWC staff realized the need to develop a new, updated vegetation and land cover map for Florida.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile <1MB.
Tropical Hardwood Hammock
These upland hardwood
forests occur in extreme south Florida and are characterized by tree
and shrub species on the northern edge of a range that extends
southward into the Caribbean. These communities are sparsely
distributed along coastal uplands south of a line from about Vero Beach
on the Atlantic coast to Sarasota on the Gulf coast. They occur on many
tree islands in the Everglades and on uplands throughout the Florida
Keys. This cold-intolerant tropical community has very high plant
species diversity, sometimes containing over 35 species of trees and
about 65 species of shrubs. Characteristic tropical plants include
strangler fig, gumbo-limbo, mastic, bustic, lancewood, ironwoods,
poisonwood, pigeon plum, Jamaica dogwood, and Bahama lysiloma. Live oak
and cabbage palm are also sometimes found within this community.
Tropical hammocks in the Florida Keys may also contain several plants,
including lignum vitae, mahogany, thatch palms, and manchineel, which
are extremely rare within the United States.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~178KB.
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Lake Cypress - 2009
This dataset serves as documentation of vegetation in the littoral zones around Lake Tiger, Lake Istokpoga, Lake Kissimmee, Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake Hatchineha, and Lake Cypress, Florida using digital aerial photography. The Vegetation communities were mapped using digital aerial imagery acquired from a Vexcel UltraCamX (UCX) Sensor in April of 2009. Mapping was accomplished through the use of SocetSet Stereo workstations and Esri software supplimented with fieldwork. Each distinct community of emergent and floating vegetation was mapped according to the Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System (FLUCCS) as detailed below.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~834KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~1MB.
Lake Hatchineha - 2009
This dataset serves as documentation of vegetation in the littoral zones around Lake Tiger, Lake Istokpoga, Lake Kissimmee, Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake Hatchineha, and Lake Cypress, Florida using digital aerial photography. The Vegetation communities were mapped using digital aerial imagery acquired from a Vexcel UltraCamX (UCX) Sensor in April of 2009. Mapping was accomplished through the use of SocetSet Stereo workstations and Esri software supplimented with fieldwork. Each distinct community of emergent and floating vegetation was mapped according to the Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System (FLUCCS) as detailed below.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~1.3MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~2MB.
Lake Istokpoga - 2009
This dataset serves as documentation of vegetation in the littoral zones around Lake Tiger, Lake Istokpoga, Lake Kissimmee, Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake Hatchineha, and Lake Cypress, Florida using digital aerial photography. The Vegetation communities were mapped using digital aerial imagery acquired from a Vexcel UltraCamX (UCX) Sensor in April of 2009. Mapping was accomplished through the use of SocetSet Stereo workstations and Esri software supplimented with fieldwork. Each distinct community of emergent and floating vegetation was mapped according to the Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System (FLUCCS) as detailed below.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~7.4MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~9MB.
Lake Kissimmee - 2009
This dataset serves as documentation of vegetation in the littoral zones around Lake Tiger, Lake Istokpoga, Lake Kissimmee, Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake Hatchineha, and Lake Cypress, Florida using digital aerial photography. The Vegetation communities were mapped using digital aerial imagery acquired from a Vexcel UltraCamX (UCX) Sensor in April of 2009. Mapping was accomplished through the use of SocetSet Stereo workstations and Esri software supplimented with fieldwork. Each distinct community of emergent and floating vegetation was mapped according to the Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System (FLUCCS) as detailed below.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~4.2MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~5MB.
Newnans Lake - 2007
This dataset serves as
documentation of vegetation in the littoral zone within Newnans Lake,
Alachua County, Florida using digital aerial photography. The
Vegetation communities were mapped using digital aerial imagery
acquired from a DMC camera in June of 2007 at a scale of 1 foot pixel
resolution. Fieldwork was documented of vegetative species and
communities to ensure that imagery signatures correlated to field
conditions. Photointerpretation was completed through mono-viewing of
imagery. Each distinct community of emergent and floating vegetation
was mapped according to the Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms
Classification System (FLUCCS) as detailed in the full metadata file.
Each polygon was also assigned a "OCBWG" code which corresponded to the
classification system used by the Orange Creek Basin Working Group,
within FL Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) - also
defined in the full metadata file.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~2.2MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~3MB.
Orange Lake - 2007
This dataset serves as
documentation of vegetation in the littoral zones around Lake Lochloosa
, Lake Istokpoga, East Tohopekaliga, Lake Tohopekaliga and Orange Lake,
Florida using digital aerial photography. The Vegetation communities
were mapped using digital aerial imagery acquired from a DMC camera in
June of 2007 at a scale of 1 foot pixel resolution. Fieldwork was
documented of vegetative species and communities to ensure that imagery
signatures correlated to field conditions. Photointerpretation was
completed steroscopically on stereo workstations. Each distinct
community of emergent and floating vegetation was mapped according to
the Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System (FLUCCS) as
detailed in the full metadata file. The existing HABITAT field was
edited to match the desired classification system for this lake. FWC
edited the HABITAT field to correspond with a classification system
used by the Orange Creek Basin Working Group. All other fields were
completed by Avineon.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~5MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~6MB.
Lake Tohopekaliga - 2009
This dataset serves as documentation of vegetation in the littoral zones around Lake Tiger, Lake Istokpoga, Lake Kissimmee, Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake Hatchineha, and Lake Cypress, Florida using digital aerial photography. The Vegetation communities were mapped using digital aerial imagery acquired from a Vexcel UltraCamX (UCX) Sensor in April of 2009. Mapping was accomplished through the use of SocetSet Stereo workstations and Esri software supplimented with fieldwork. Each distinct community of emergent and floating vegetation was mapped according to the Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System (FLUCCS) as detailed below.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~9.8MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~12MB.
Lake Tohopekaliga (east) - 2007
This dataset
serves as documentation of vegetation in the littoral zones around Lake
Lochloosa , Lake Istokpoga, East Tohopekaliga, Lake Tohopekaliga and
Lake Orange, Florida using digital aerial photography. The Vegetation
communities were mapped using digital aerial imagery acquired from a
DMC camera in June of 2007 at a scale of 1 foot pixel resolution.
Fieldwork was documented of vegetative species and communities to
ensure that imagery signatures correlated to field conditions.
Photointerpretation was completed steroscopically on stereo
workstations.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~3.9MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~5MB.
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Rivers, Streams, and Lakes
This dataset contains the best available locations of springs that have had some data collection activities by various government entities in the State of Florida. Currently, 756 unique spring vents recognized in Florida are represented in this dataset.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~99KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
This GIS data set represents NHDFlowline in Florida - The core linear network of the surface-water drainage system primarily consisting of streams, and artificial paths through polygons.
The National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) is a feature-based database that interconnects and uniquely identifies the stream segments or reaches that make up the nation's surface water drainage system. NHD data was originally developed at 1:100,000-scale and exists at that scale for the whole country. This high-resolution NHD, generally developed at 1:24,000/1:12,000 scale, adds detail to the original 1:100,000-scale NHD. (Data for Alaska, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands was developed at high-resolution, not 1:100,000 scale.)
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~70MB.
This GIS data set represents National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) Subbasins. Subbasins are subdivisions of the basins. Subbasins are the fourth level (8 digit) of the hydrologic unit hierarchy, formerly called "cataloging units".
This file contains Hydrologic Unit boundaries and codes for the Florida. The NHD data set is a seamless National representation of Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) boundaries at HUC2 to HUC12 levels compiled from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) and U.S. Department of Agricultural (USDA) National Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) Watershed Boundary Dataset (WBD) sources.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~2MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~9MB.
This GIS data set represents FDEP's statewide lakes coverage rectified to the DOQQs. Lakes data will likely be updated in the future to include FDEP-developed waterbody IDs for each lake. Also, USGS GNIS naming board will be given the chance to check and approve the determined lake names. If/as this effort is accomplished, GNIS IDs may be added to the attribute data by FDEP. Check with FDEP for the most recent updates.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~7MB.
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Eco-Regions
Ecoregions denote areas of general similarity in ecosystems and in the type,quality, and quantity of environmental resources. They are designed to serve as a spatial framework for the research, assessment, management, and monitoring of ecosystems and ecosystem components.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile <1MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
City Limits as of 2010
This GIS data set represents city boundaries information based on 2000 Census TIGER file entities. The extent is the entire state of Florida. Places reported in the decennial census data include census-designated places, consolidated cities, and incorporated places.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~3MB.
Districts - US Congress
The 112th Congressional District Boundaries data set contains geographic information for the political entities in Florida of the 112th Congressional districts. This is an update to the usdist_2009 layer.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile <1MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Districts - State Senate
This dataset contains the boundaries for the State of Florida Senate Voting Districts, as redrawn by the Florida Legislature in 2002. This layer is an update of the previous
version in FGDL and consists only of attribute updates. Linework for districts changes
every 10 years based on the census. Senators listed are for the 2009 regular session.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~1MB. Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~1MB.
Districts - State House
This dataset contains the boundaries for the State of Florida House Voting Districts, as redrawn by the Florida Legislature in 2002. This layer is an update of the previous
version in FGDL and consists only of attribute updates. Linework for districts changes
every 10 years based on the census. House members listed are for the regular session
2009.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~2MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~2MB.
FWC Regional Boundaries
This GIS data set shows the FWC regions with a generalized shoreline.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~1.5MB. Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~1.5MB.
Florida Water Management Districts
This is a Florida GIS data set containing the boundaries of the five
water management districts, reflecting the boundary change effective
July 1, 2003. FMRI obtained these data from the Southwest Florida Water
Management District (SWFWMD.) Although only the region polygon
shapefile is served on the ArcIMS site, an arc version is also
available. The arcs have been coded so that they may be drawn with or
without the coastline. This data set is intended for cartographic
purposes only.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~300KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~357KB.
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Facilities and Transportation
Boat Ramps - Freshwater
Shows the locations of freshwater boat ramps managed by the FWC in Florida.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile <1MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
FWC Facilities
This GIS layer consists of points representing facilities of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, including the Main Headquarters, Regional Offices, Division of Wildlife, Freshwater Fisheries, and Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile <1MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Placenames
This GIS data set represents the geographic names of places in the state of Florida. FWRI staff downloaded this data set as a delimited text file from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Geographic Names Information System (GNIS).The GNIS is developed by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), and it contains information about physical and cultural geographic features in the United States and associated areas, both current and historical, but not including roads and highways.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~4MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~5MB.
Railroads
The Rail Network is a comprehensive database ofthe railway system of the United States at the1:100,000 scale. The data set covers the 48 contiguous States plus the District of Columbia. This particular set covers the state of Florida.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile <1MB. Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Roads - Interstate
The Interstates feature class covers the state of Florida at a scale of 1:24,000 with a projection system of Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) 17 North zone and a horizontal datum of North American 1983 (NAD 1983). The map units are in meters.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile <1MB.
Wildlife Crossings - FL
his dataset contains Wild Life Crossings from the FEBRUARY 2010 version of the Florida Department of Transportation Roads Characteristics inventory (RCI) dataset. The dataset has been updated from the previous versions of FGDL.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~11KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~8KB.
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Florida Managed Areas
This is a polygon data
layer for public (and some private) lands that the Florida Natural
Areas Inventory (FNAI) has identified as having natural resource value
and that are being managed at least partially for conservation
purposes. The term "Managed Area" refers to a managed conservation
land.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~18MB.
Download the NE Florida zipped KML Google Earth file ~6MB.
Download the NC Florida zipped KML Google Earth file ~10MB.
Download the NW Florida zipped KML Google Earth file ~4MB.
Download the SW Florida zipped KML Google Earth file ~6MB.
Download the So Florida zipped KML Google Earth file ~4MB.
Critical Wildlife Areas
(1) Critical wildlife
areas may be established by the Commission with prior concurrence in
such designation by the owner of the property wherein the area is
situated. All areas shall be described in the order with sufficient
specificity as to permit identification and shall be posted by the
Commission so as to provide due notice as to the identity and status of
the area. The order establishing the critical wildlife area shall
contain the dates during which the tract shall be accorded maximum
protection from human or vehicular disturbance. (2) No person shall
take or disturb any wildlife within any critical wildlife area during
the period designated by the order establishing such area. No person
shall enter or operate a vehicle within any critical wildlife area
during any period in which public access is prohibited by the order
establishing such area. No person shall knowingly allow a dog under
their care to enter or remain upon a critical wildlife area during any
period in which public access is prohibited by the order establishing
such area.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~9KB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Hunting Areas
This GIS data set represents the 2008-2009 Hunting Areas administered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and other associated public use areas. These data are intended as a general reference map only. More information on activities permitted in individual areas can be found on the FWC hunting information Web site: http://myfwc.com/recreation/hunt_index.aspx
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~4MB.
Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~5MB.
Marine Protected Areas
The MPA Inventory is a comprehensive catalog that provides detailed information for existing marine protected areas in the United States. The inventory provides geospatial boundary information (in polygon format) and classification attributes that seek to define the conservation objectives, protection level, governance and related management criteria for all sites in the database.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~66MB. Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Fish Management Areas
This GIS data set represents boundaries of Fish Management Areas (FMA) administered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). These data are intended as a general reference map only. More information on activities permitted in individual areas can be found on the FWC Division of Freshwater Fisheries Web site: http://floridafisheries.com/fma/index.html.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile <1MB. Download the zipped KML Google Earth file <1MB.
Florida Wildlife Management Areas
This GIS data
set represents the 2007-2008 Wildlife Management Areas administered by
the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and other
associated public use areas. These data are intended as a general
reference map only. More information on activities permitted in
individual areas can be found from the links on FWC's Web site.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~1MB. Download the zipped KML Google Earth file ~1.2MB.
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Florida Counties(1:24,000)
This GIS data set contains Florida county boundaries found on the most recent 7.5-minute USGS (1:24000 scale) quadrangles available in 1997. The county borders extend to the state water line. The linework along the state borders with Alabama and Georgia exactly matches FWRI's 1:40K shoreline.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~2MB.
Florida Counties(1:100,000)
This GIS data set represents the counties and shoreline of the state of Florida, including inland lakes and rivers, at a 1:100,000 scale. Data obtained from US census 2000 files were downloaded by county from ESRI's ArcData Online and MAPJOINed to form the statewide data set. The "water polygons" and "counties" data were used to create this data set.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~6MB.
Southeast US Counties(1:100,000)
This GIS data set represents the counties of the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic ocean, from Delaware to Texas. This data set also includes a general shoreline of eastern Mexico.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~16MB.
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Florida Shoreline(1:40,000) - large scale
This GIS data set
represents the Florida shoreline as polygons and lines. Initially
digitized in 1990 by USFWS under FMRI contract, the data set was
created from the most current National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Nautical Charts available at the time. The scale
of the source charts varied from 1:10,000 in some harbors to 1:80,000
in the Big Bend area. However, most of the source scale is 1:40,000.
The current data set is the result of revisions to the 1990 version.
Some areas, including inland areas where there is no chart coverage and
areas that have needed more accuracy for individual projects, have been
digitized from USGS 7.5-minute Quadrangles and Digital Orthophoto
Quarter Quadrangles (DOQQs).
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~19MB.
Gulf of Mexico Shoreline - small scale
This GIS data set represents the shoreline of the state of Florida, including inland lakes and rivers, at a 1:100,000 scale. The data were obtained from US census 2000 files. The census data downloaded by county from ESRI's ArcData Online, were MAPJOINed to form a statewide data set. The "water polygons" and "counties" data were used to create the shoreline data set.
View the full Metadata report.
Download the zipped shapefile ~5MB.
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