OVERVIEW

The DEP Wetlands datalayer comprises two feature types, polygons and arcs (lines). The attribute codes in the  polygon layer describe different types of wetland environments and the arc attributes describe line types based on adjacent polygon types or arcs defined as hydrologic connections. These layers enhance and replace the layers formerly known as 1:5,000 Wetlands and Streams. Enhancements/changes include: The features are now seamless, no longer tiled by orthophoto quad index boundaries. Features are split along OQ tile boundaries only where attributes are different; this occurs in a small number of features. Distribution is now by Watershed tiles, not by OQ tile. New items have been added to the 2 attribute tables, including PALIS and PWSID information, and codes (POLY_CODE, ARC_CODE) for more generalized symbolization, similar to the codes in the 1:25,000 Hydrography layers. Area attributes (square feet and acres) are included for polygons. (See the "ATTRIBUTES" section below). For the arcs, the "streams" from the old layer are coded as hydrologic connections, and other features are included as well, like shorelines and apparent wetland limits. The scale description in the layer name - 1:12,000 - represents that of the original stereo color-infrared photography used in the interpretation. The features that were in the old layers were copied into the new layers and then processed to produce the above changes. MassGIS stores the two layers in an Oracle-based ArcSDE format. They are named WETLANDSDEP_POLY and WETLANDSDEP_ARC. Additionally, two annotation layers featuring polygon labels is also maintained, named WETLANDSDEP_A_WET (black text) and WETLANDSDEP_A_WET_YELLOW (with yellow text for plotting atop ortho imagery).

View these Wetlands online

The wetlands are interpreted from 1:12,000 scale, stereo color-infrared (CIR) photography by staff at UMASS Amherst. The photography was captured in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1999 and 2000. See the CIR Map for dates of the photography.

The interpretation is field checked by Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Wetlands Conservancy Program (WCP). Completed interpretations are then scanned and converted into rectified polygons and lines using standard photogrametric techniques by a consultant under contract to the WCP. Final quality control is performed by WCP GIS staff. The polygons and arcs are merged into a single layer (in coverage format) and additional attributes are added for the polygon features. The arc features are coded based on the adjacent polygon types, and attributes are added to the annotation subclass wet. An overlay process using the 1:25,000 Hydrography layer codes the PALIS_ID and PWSID attributes.

The coding of the PALIS_ID and PWSID attributes was done using an overlay process and was not subject to the same quality control as the 1:25,000 Hydrography layer. Areas of wetlands in this layer may be shown as open water in the 1:25,000 Hydrography layer and so the coding of the PALIS_ID would not occur. Lines represented in the old 1:5,000 Streams layer are shown in this layer as hydrologic connections. These lines are only defined where they connect the various wetland types. These connections were not delineated within wetland areas, nor do they depict a complete stream network outside of wetland areas.

Because the source scale of the CIR’s is 1:12,000, plotting of open water features at a larger scale when overlaid onto existing 1:5,000 imagery will reveal areas of open water that are not delineated as such. It should be noted that the resulting wetlands shown in this datalayer are for planning purposes only. Wetlands boundary determination for other purposes, such as the Wetlands Protection Act MA Act M.G.L. c. 131 or local  by-laws, must use the relevant procedures and criteria.

A small number of coastal polygons in this layer outside the interpretation area originated from USGS Digital Line Graphs or data from NOAA. They have WETCODEs of 88 and POLY_CODEs assigned by DEP GIS staff. The values for IT_VALC and IT_VALDESC are blank for these features.

Wetlands Polygons

The polygon layer WETLANDSDEP_POLY attribute table is populated with these items:

ITEM NAME		TYPE (WIDTH)		DESCRIPTION
WETCODE		LONG INT (10)		WETLAND CONSERVANCY CODES
IT_VALC		TEXT (16)		WETLAND LABEL ABBREVIATIONS
IT_VALDESC		TEXT (20)		DESCRIPTION OF WETLAND LABELS
POLY_CODE		LONG INT (10)		SIMPLIFIED POLY CODE ADAPTED FROM 1:25000 HYDROGRAPHY
PALIS_ID		LONG INT (10)		DEP PALIS ID FROM 1:25000 HYDRO (PONDS AND LAKES IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM)
PWSID		TEXT (11)		DEP PWSID FROM PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY LAYER AND 1:25000 HYDROGRAPHY
SOURCE		TEXT (12)		ORIGINATOR OF FEATURE
SOURCE_SCALE		LONG INT (8)		SOURCE SCALE OF FEATURE
AREAACRES		DOUBLE		AREA OF THE FEATURE IN ACRES
AREASQMI		DOUBLE		AREA OF THE FEATURE IN SQUARE MILES

The following types of wetlands are represented in the datalayer:
 

WETCODE		IT_VALC		IT_VALDESC
1		BA		COASTAL BANK BLUFF OR SEA CLIFF
2		BB		BARRIER BEACH SYSTEM
3		BE		COASTAL BEACH
4		BG		BOG
5		CB		CRANBERRY BOG
6		D		COASTAL DUNE
7		DM		DEEP MARSH
8		M		SHALLOW MARSH, MEADOW, OR FEN
9		OW		OPEN WATER
10		RS		ROCKY INTERTIDAL SHORE
11		SM		SALT MARSH
12		SS		SHRUB SWAMP
13		TF		TIDAL FLAT
14		WS1		WOODED SWAMP DECIDUOUS
15		WS2		WOODED SWAMP CONIFEROUS
16		WS3		WOODED SWAMP MIXED TREES
17		BB-BE		BARRIER BEACH-COASTAL BEACH
18		BB-BG		BARRIER BEACH-BOG
19		BB-D		BARRIER BEACH-COASTAL DUNE
20		BB-DM		BARRIER BEACH-DEEP MARSH
21		BB-M		BARRIER BEACH-MARSH
22		B-OW		BARRIER BEACH-OPEN WATER
23		BB-SS		BARRIER BEACH-SHRUB SWAMP
24		BB-WS1		BARRIER BEACH-WOODED SWAMP DECIDUOUS
25		BB-WS2		BARRIER BEACH-WOODED SWAMP CONIFEROUS
26		BB-WS3		BARRIER BEACH-WOODED SWAMP MIXED TREES
27		BB-SM		BARRIER BEACH-SALT MARSH
88		N/A		NOT INTERPRETED

The codes for the POLY_CODE item in WETLANDSDEP_POLY are:
 

POLY_CODE		WETCODES		DESCRIPTION
1		9.22		RESERVOIR (PWSID CODED)
2		4,7,8,20,21,23		MARSH
3		12,14,15,16,24,25,26		WOODED SWAMP
4		5		CRANBERRY BOG
5		11,27		SALT MARSH
6		9,22		OPEN WATER
7		10,13		TIDAL FLAT/ROCKY SHORE
8		1,2,3,6,17,18,19		BEACH/DUNES
9		9		OPEN WATER TIDAL, BRACKISH, SALT POND
10		9		OPEN WATER OCEAN
88		88		NOT INTERPRETED

Linear Features

The WETLANDSDEP_ARC attribute table is populated with these items:
 

ITEM NAME		TYPE (WIDTH)		DESCRIPTION
ARC_CODE		LONG INT (10)		SIMPLIFIED ARC CODE ADAPTED FROM 1:25000 HYDROGRAPHY
SOURCE		TEXT (12)		ORIGINATOR OF FEATURE
SOURCE_SCALE		LONG INT (8)		SOURCE SCALE OF FEATURE

The codes for the ARC_CODE item in WETLANDSDEP_ARC are:
 

ARC_CODE		DESCRIPTION
1		SHORELINE
2		CLOSURE LINE
3		APPARENT WETLAND LIMIT
7		HYDROLOGIC CONNECTION
8		MEAN LOW WATER LINE
88		EDGE OF INTERPRETED AREA, EXCEPT OCEAN

A closure line is defined as a boundary between similar polygon types that has no linear significance. Polygons with a POLY_CODE of 2 or 3 are considered the same so lines between them are coded as closure lines.

Annotation

The IT_VALC codes are incorporated as annotext in the ArcSDE layer WETLANDSDEP_A_WET.

Note that theese hydrography layers do not have feature names (e.g., "Quabbin Reservoir" or "Connecticut River") as attributes. To label the features in these layers, use the annotation in the HYDRO subclass of the Geographic Place Names layer.

This datalayer is being developed by the DEP GIS group. Distribution is through MassGIS. Questions may be directed to DEP Wetlands Conservancy Program at 617-292-5907.

Individual tile completion dates are stored in the DATEWET item in the statewide Orthophoto Index layer.

In the March 2006 update, the following coding changes were made: ARC_CODE 99 no longer exists, as all OQ index tile boundaries have been removed and all features edge-matched and dissolved based on attributes, and attribute discrepancies have been resolved. ARC_CODE 88 defines the edge of the layer except for ocean areas. Two POLY_CODEs were added as the open water areas have been further broken down with areas of tidal influence or salt ponds given a POLY_CODE of 9 and areas considered open ocean given a POLY_CODE of 10; the wetcode remains the same (9). Additionally, features outside of the delineated areas have been removed, though no clipping or extending to the state boundary has been done. The coding for reservoirs was checked against the USGS 1:25,000 Hydrography coding and is accurate. The coding for Palis_ID was checked also, but is still not considered to be complete. Two areas of missing data on the east and west sides of the Quabbin Reservoir project area have been completed. With the December 2006 update the layer is complete statewide; this updated filled in pieces of tiles 197918 and 197922, which cover parts of the towns of Ayer, Groton, Harvard, and Littleton.

In January 2007 some missing arcs and a missing polygon comprising open water in the Housatonic Watershed were added. In April 2007 edits were mode to coastal areas (both polygon and arc layers). All watershed-based shapefiles along the coast and the statewide shapefiles were replaced on the MassGIS ftp site at this time.

For other hydrographic features, also see the Hydrography (1:25,000), Hydrography (1:100,000) and Major Ponds and Major Streams layers. Also see the Title 5 Setback Areas layer.

Last Updated 4/9/2007
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