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Environment and Recreation Data Sources |
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The following data layers are available on the DataMap Tool.
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Protected Open Space
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The Protected Open Space datalayer provides the digital polygon and line boundaries for protected open space in Massachusetts. The area of each space is provided. These data are important for agencies, researchers and policy makers on the efforts of environment protection. |
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Renewable Energy Projects
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This datalayer shows renewable energy initiatives funded by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s Renewable Energy Trust from 2001 through October 2007. Projects range from the installation of, to research on, the following technologies: advanced biomass power conversion, biodiesel cogeneration, fuel cell, geothermal, hydroelectric, landfill gas, photovoltaic, wind, and other (including hydrogen, storage and controls). This is a thematic data layer by municipality; location of the points are representative and do not necessarily impart an actual location. |
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Environmental Justice Populations
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The Environmental Justice (EJ) Populations layer represents neighborhoods across the state with high minority, non-English speaking, low-income, and foreign-born populations. Data in this layer were derived from Summary File 3 at the blockgroup level (Summary Level 150) from 2000 U.S. Census data. Such areas are the focus of EOEA's EJ Policy, which was developed to use state resources to ensure that EJ populations receive a strong voice in environmental decision-making. |
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Agricultural Activities
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This point datalayer shows the locations of agricultural activities in Massachusetts. Categories of activities include bed and breakfast, Christmas trees, dairy farm, farm stand, greenhouse/nursery, maple sugary, pick-your-own, and winery. Information for each entity includes address, Zip code, phone number, primary commodity, etc. These data are important for agencies, researchers and policy makers on the efforts to promote agricultural businesses to be as economically and environmentally sound as possible. It is also helpful to the general public to find the agricultural activities of their interest. |
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Areas of Critical Environmental Concern
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The Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) datalayers provide digital polygon and line boundaries for areas that have been designated ACECs by the Secretary of Environmental Affairs. Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) are places in Massachusetts that receive special recognition because of the quality, uniqueness and significance of their natural and cultural resources. This data is essential to government agencies on program planning and implementation on environment protection. |
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Bicycle Trails
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The linework in this layer represents trails which permit bicycle travel or corridors with conversion potential; however, bicycles are not the exclusive travel mode permitted on these trails. The trails represented in this layer are open to bicycling as well as some combination of activities such as walking, jogging, rollerblading, skiing, horse riding, snowmobiling, etc, though there are many other trails in the state that are considered multi-use but which are not included in this layer. This data is helpful to agencies and organizations on grants allocation and program planning, as well as resource management. It also provides information to the general public about appropriate recreation activities. |
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Canoe Access Sites
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This point datalayer presents canoe access sites. The information of each access site includes AMC river guide access number and permission requirement of site use. This data provide useful information to the general public on choosing canoe access sites. It is also helpful to agencies and organizations on grants allocation and program planning, as well as resource management. |
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Canoe Trips
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This layer consists of an arc coverage representing canoe trips and a point coverage representing portage sites. This data is helpful to agencies and organizations on grants allocation and program planning, as well as resource management. It also provides information to the general public and clubs on choosing canoe trips. |
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DEP Wetlands (1:12,000)
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The DEP Wetlands datalayer shows different types of wetland environments, including reservoir, marsh, wooded swamp, cranberry bog, salt marsh, open water, tidal flat/rocky shore, beach/dunes, etc. This data is useful to agencies, organizations and policy makers on improving environment protection. |
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Farmer's Market
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Each spring, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources updates its database of farmers’ markets across the state. This point datalayer includes the most recent farmers’ market listings, and gives information on the dates and times each market operates. Market name, street, municipality, and descriptive address information (including cross streets or nearby landmarks) are also included to help users locate markets. |
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Ice Rinks
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The Center for Environmental Health within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health created this datalayer of ice rinks and skating arenas. Users are provided rink name, street address, municipality, phone number, facility type (i.e., ownership), and rink size. |
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LEED Certified Projects
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This datalayer shows buildings certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System as of October, 2007. LEED certified buildings exhibit environmental sustainability in the following five areas: site development, water, energy, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. A platinum designation indicates the most environmentally friendly buildings, followed in descending order by gold, silver, and certified designations. |
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Long Distance Hiking Trails
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The Long Distance Trails Datalayer is a line coverage representing trails that are longer than 25 miles. This data is helpful to agencies and organizations on conservation and recreation grants allocation and program planning, as well as resource management. It also provides information to the general public about appropriate long distance hiking trails. |
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Major Ponds
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This data layer represents major ponds in Massachusetts. It provides hydrographic features, which is useful to the general public, regional planners, agencies, and organization of conservation and recreation. |
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Major Streams
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This data layer shows the major streams in Massachusetts. It provides hydrographic features which is useful to the general public, regional planners, agencies, and organization of conservation and recreation. |
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NHESP Certified Vernal Pools
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This datalayer contains points for all vernal pools that have been certified by the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) according to the Guidelines for Certification of Vernal Pool Habitat (MA Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, 2000). Vernal pools are small, shallow ponds characterized by lack of fish and by periods of dryness. This data is important for agencies, researchers, organizations on program planning and funding allocation, in order to protect the state's wide range of native biological diversity. |
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NHESP Potential Vernal Pools
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This datalayer identifies the locations of more than 29,000 potential, unverified, vernal pool habitats. This data is important for agencies, researchers, organizations on program planning and funding allocation, in order to protect the state's wide range of native biological diversity. |
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NHESP Natural Communities
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This datalayer consists of polygons that represent the extent of various natural communities of biodiversity conservation interest in Massachusetts. This data is important for agencies, researchers, organizations on program planning and funding allocation, in order to protect the state's wide range of native biological diversity. |
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NHESP Priority Habitats of Rare Species
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This datalayer contains polygons representing the geographic extent of habitat of state-listed rare species in Massachusetts based on observations documented within the last 25 years in the database of the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP). This data is important for agencies, researchers, organizations on program planning and funding allocation, in order to protect the state's wide range of native biological diversity. |
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NHESP Estimated Habitats of Rare Wildlife
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Estimated Habitats are for use with the Wetlands Protection Act regulations (310 CMR 10.00). The Estimated Habitats of Rare Wildlife datalayer contains polygons that are a subset of the Priority Habitats of Rare Species. They are based on occurrences of rare wetland wildlife observed within the last 25 years and documented in the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) database. This data is important for agencies, researchers, organizations on program planning and funding allocation, in order to protect the state's wide range of native biological diversity. |
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NHESP Living Waters Core Habitats
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Core Habitats represent lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams that are important for the protection of freshwater biodiversity in Massachusetts. This data is important for agencies, researchers, organizations on program planning and funding allocation, in order to protect the state's wide range of native biological diversity. |
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NHESP BioMap Supporting Natural Landscapes
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The Supporting Natural Landscape buffers and connects Core Habitat polygons, which depict the most viable habitat for rare species and natural communities in Massachusetts, and identifies large, naturally vegetated blocks that are relatively free from the impact of roads and other development. This data is important for agencies, researchers, organizations on program planning and funding allocation, in order to protect the state's wide range of native biological diversity. |
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NHESP BioMap Core Habitat
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The Core Habitat layer depicts the most viable habitat for rare species and natural communities in Massachusetts. Using a variety of data sources, primarily field data, ancillary literature, and color-infrared aerial photographs, Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program scientists delineated Core Habitat polygons. This data is important for agencies, researchers, organizations on program planning and funding allocation, in order to protect the state's wide range of native biological diversity. |
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Public Boat Ramps
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This point datalayer shows the locations of public boat ramps. The information for each ramp includes: launch ramp type, number of ramps, parking spaces, sticker permit required, restrictions and fee, etc. This data is useful to the general public to choose boat sites. It is also important to agencies for facility construction and management. |
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Scenic Inventory
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The Scenic Landscapes datalayer depicts areas identified as part of the Massachusetts Landscape Inventory Project, Department of Conservation and Recreation (then DEM), 1981. The data is general in nature and is intended for general planning purposes only. |
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Watershed Boundaries
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This datalayer contains 32 major watersheds covering Massachusetts as defined by the USGS Water Resources Division and the MA Water Resources Commission. These data are important for regional planners on land use plans; for agencies and organizations on water resource protection programs. |
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