Shellfish Beach Closures MetaData

This window contains information about the 'Shellfish Closures' data set. This map shows the location and extent of permanent/long-term Washington Department of Health closures of beaches for shellfish harvesting in January, 2003. There may be temporary/seasonal closures that are not shown on this map and interested citizens should consult with the WA Department of Health before attempting to harvest from any Whatcom County beach. Please note that the data are plotted on top of a bathymetry base map (details available in metadata for the base map).

Source of Data

Layer Name: Public Beach Conditionally Approved
Data Type: Shapefile Feature Class
Shapefile: C:\TEMP\WC_MRC\WDOH\RECONDIT_point
Geometry Type: Point
Coordinate System: Wash State Plane South NAD 27
Data Source: Anchor Envir 2002 NWSC Maps

Layer Name: Public Beach Closed
Data Type: Shapefile Feature Class
Shapefile: C:\TEMP\WC_MRC\WDOH\reclosed_pst
Geometry Type: Point
Coordinate System: Wash State Plane South NAD 27
Data Source: Anchor Envir 2002 NWSC Maps

Layer Name: Commercial Conditionally Approved
Data Type: Shapefile Feature Class
Shapefile: C:\TEMP\WC_MRC\WDOH\Con2000g
Geometry Type: Polygon
Coordinate System: Wash State Plane South NAD 27
Data Source: Anchor Envir 2002 NWSC Maps

Layer Name: Commercial Restricted
Data Type: Shapefile Feature Class
Shapefile: C:\TEMP\WC_MRC\WDOH\Res2000g
Geometry Type: Polygon
Coordinate System: Wash State Plane South NAD 27
Data Source: Anchor Envir 2002 NWSC Maps

Layer Name: Commercial Prohibited
Data Type: Shapefile Feature Class
Shapefile: C:\TEMP\WC_MRC\WDOH\Pro2000g
Geometry Type: Polygon
Coordinate System: Wash State Plane South NAD 27
Data Source: Anchor Envir 2002 NWSC Maps

When/How was the data collected?

Data was sourced from the 2002 Anchor Environmental report to the Northwest Straits Commission based on Washington State Department of Health closures. Department of Health closure criteria are typically based on shoreline surveys for potential health risks, and water quality monitoring for indicators of fecal pollution such as fecal coliform bacteria. Beach closure status may change and this data is only provided as a guide to beach status in 2002. Always check with the Washington Department of Health website for up to date information on beach closures before harvesting shellfish from any beach in Whatcom County.

What format is the data available in?

ESRI shapefiles (points and polygons)

What do the legend designations mean?

Red areas show commercially harvested areas with a harvesting classification of 'prohibited'. Purple areas show commercial harvest areas with a classification of 'restricted'. There are currently no 'conditionally approved' commercial sites in Whatcom County. Red octagons represent public beaches that are closed to harvest activity.

What other attribute values exist in the data?

Polygon Data

Polygon ID's
Area
Acres
Perimeter

Point Data

Point ID
Name (of public park)
Classification
County
BIDN (beach identification number)
Stations (number of water quality monitoring stations at beach)

GENERAL MAP INFORMATION: Map Projection is UTM NAD 27 Zone 10. Maps Created By Applied GIS Services (W.Lynch-C.Dolphin), January 2002. Data is complete only for Whatcom County Waters- refer to original data sources for other counties.

CAUTION: Map Should Not Be Used For Navigation.

DISCLAIMER: The data shown on these maps was processed primarily for use by the Whatcom County Marine Resource Committee. The maps may contain errors of content, completeness and positional accuracy. Testing of the positional accuracy of this data with respect to National Map Accuracy Standards has not been completed and therefore assume that it does not conform to National Mapping Accuracy Standards. User assumes responsibility to assess the appropriate use of the maps and data. Whatcom County MRC and Applied GIS cannot anticipate nor assume any responsibility or liability for the subsequent, secondary uses of the maps or data.

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