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Sub-pages:
Nautical Maps |
Using & Georeferencing Historical Aerials
Buzzards Bay NEP GIS Data Exclusives
Note: These data are in ArcViewTM shapefiles, with NAD83 meters coordinates, consistent with MassGIS coverages. The shapefile coverages are all contained in zip files unless otherwise specified. You should right click on the link to save the file to your computer if it is very large, or you can left click to have your browser open the zip file.
General Buzzards Bay Data Sets
2005 draft of Buzzards Bay NEP's protected open space2003 Buzzards Bay NEP's Filled Wetlands Atlas Volume I sites
2003 Stormwater atlas discharge and catch basin locations.
Census 1990 and Census 2000 urbanized areas, and Phase 2 combined areas.
Buzzards Bay Salt Marsh Atlas Tidal Restrictions and Phragmites areas
(two coverages included in a 178 kb zip files)
Buzzards Bay Sewered Areas
The is a generalized coverage best for watershed and regional maps. Data coverage for Otis Air Force base is estimated.
Buzzards Bay basin boundaries.
Buzzards Bay sub-basin boundaries.
These are the basin and sub-basin coverages employed by the Buzzards Bay NEP. It differs from the MassGIS data layer in that it includes Cape Cod, and because the area of towns of Plymouth, Wareham, and Bourne is based on groundwater elevations (appropriate for glacial outwash and moraines), and not land use topography. The Cape Cod sub-basins are identical to those adopted by the Cape Cod Commission, but with some additional subdivided areas. The northern watershed boundary is based on groundwater contours, and was developed in partnership with the USGS, and adopted by the Buzzards Bay NEP in 1991. It differs from the MassGIS boundary for the Buzzards Bay watershed. which is based on land surface topography, and which does not include Cape Cod. It was modified in the late 1990s based on Cape Cod Commission redelineation of watersheds. This version was last adjusted in 2006 based on Massachusetts Estuaries Project data for Cape Cod, reassessment of areas in Westport and Rochester, and other information. The "HN" coverage represents a presumed "high nitrogen contribution zone." More information about these coverages can be found on our Nitrogen Management origins page and our Buzzards Bay watershed boundary page.
Town Parcel Data Sets
If a Buzzards Bay municipality is not listed, our working coverage is no better than that provided by MassGIS.Right click to save on to your computer in a specific directory.
Acushnet Parcels, Level IIWestport Level 0 parcels, but includes Assessors Data
Mattapoisett Level 0 parcels
Includes December 2006 Assessors Data and some updates related to sewering. Consult included metadata file.
Check also the current MassGIS Parcel Coverage.
Specialized Coverages
New Bedford Harbor Bathymetry GIS Shapefiles
This is a 565 kb zip file that opens into the three necessary ArcView files. Depths as NGVD29 feet at MLLW (mean lower low water). This data is shown in the image to the right.
Links to Other Data Download Sites with Buzzards Bay Coverages
Best Site:Massachusetts GIS data center download pageJump to MassGIS' download page. Includes most of the data files we use and even some data sets developed or funded by the BBP.
NOAA Bathymetric digital elevation models for Buzzards Bay and other areas.
Best BB Town Site:Town of Falmouth interactive GIS page
Massachusetts Coastal Orthophotos
An Internet Geo-Image Library for the Massachusetts Coast
Massachusetts Bay Information Server
A clearinghouse for data and information sponsored by the MIT Sea Grant College Program and the USGS.
Massachusetts Shoreline Change Browser
Data from MassCZM on shoreline change and erosion in Massachusetts
NOAA Nautical Chart Viewer and downloader including GIS format
Great Aerial Photo and Topo Map Display Sites
Map Server at Maptech.comTerraserver-usa.com
Google Maps
Converting xy coordinates into a shapefile
Step 1. Create an xy data base file in Excel. The file should look like this:| X | Y | ID | field1 | field2 |
| 373.2330 | 603.3111 | marker1 | catchbasin | treated |
| 373.2330 | 603.3111 | marker2 | catchbasin | untreated |
[Note: the IDs can all be zero, or a discreet numeric or string identifier. Your "x value" is longitude or easting. For decimal degrees, don't forget to add a negative sign for our hemisphere.]
Step 2. Export the file as a Dbase IV file.
[A quirk of Excel is that after you modify the database, you may have to close the database and reopen it before exporting to ensure the dbf file looks like the xls file. It is a good idea to format numeric cells with the preferred number of significant digits and format non-numeric fields as text to avoid other hitches.
Step 3. Open ArcView, click on tables, and ADD Table. Add the table from the directory where you saved it
Step 4: Click on View-Add Event Theme. ArcView may default to the dbf table you just added.
Step 5: use a script or tool like Xtools ® to convert points into a polygon if desired
Step 6: If you entered UTM data from a quad sheet, convert the data to Mass State plane 1983 meters.