The training will cover the use and utility of the Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership (PMEP) online spatial data and web-based mapping tools: Estuary & Nearshore Habitat Viewer and Estuary Explorer. PMEP's tools allow users to explore and filter data on a regional scale, for conservation and restoration planning and management, and on a local scale where specific planning site information may be limited. The tools provide easy access to compiled geographic and biophysical information on estuaries and nearshore fish habitats of California, Oregon, and Washington. PMEP's spatial framework integrates standardized data across the partnership's geographic scope and its four defined ecoregions: Salish Sea; Pacific Northwest Coast; Central California, and the Southern California Bight. Data themes in the framework include nearshore zones, nearshore substrate habitat, nearshore biotic habitat, current and historical estuary extent, estuarine biotic habitat, eelgrass extent, presence of fifteen focal estuarine fish species, and an indirect assessment of tidal wetland losses incorporating restored tidal wetlands data.
Participants will receive background information on PMEP's spatial data framework and learn how to navigate and answer conservation planning queries through hands-on exercises. Participants will learn how to download data from the tools and how to upload datasets to the tool for customized mapping needs. The training will occur on two consecutive mornings over the Teams platform: January 14 and 15 from 10AM to 12PM (4 CM AICP Credits/ CEP Points)
Participants will be able to:
- Understand the data sets available in the PMEP Data Tools
- Understand the limitations of the data sets available
- Demonstrate the ability to compare two estuaries' characteristics: biotic components, vulnerability, wetland loss, restoration acreage
- Determine where restoration would benefit selected fish species in two estuaries.
- Identify which estuaries are low-risk and high-risk of habitat degradation.
- Determine where conservation/protection of existing tidal swamp could occur
- Demonstrate how to maneuver around the Tidal Wetland Loss Assessment data
- Demonstrate the ability to upload and use own datasets within the Estuary and Nearshore Viewer
- Demonstrate the ability to download compiled data
- Determine an estuary baseline extent
- Identify biotopes within the nearshore
Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other). Additionally, we can offer a couple of scholarship to cover the registration fees with each training. Please reach out if you need a scholarship in order to participate in the training.
Instructors:
Kate Sherman specializes in compiling, managing, and analyzing marine and coastal spatial data. With over 15 years of experience, she has led numerous spatial analysis projects, encompassing stakeholder outreach and interviews, fieldwork, literature reviews, data compilation and standardization, data analysis, report writing, and cartography. Her skill in engaging with stakeholders and partners, along with her clear communication of project results, enables her to successfully achieve project goals.
Kate is currently part of the GIS team at Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, where she is the data steward for the Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership (PMEP) and manager of the National Fish Habitat Partnership project tracking database. Her work includes a eelgrass distribution data, nearshore habitatdata, a HUB for data on barriers to tidal connectivity, an application highlighting observations of European Green Crab observations on the West Cost, and a National Dashboard of conservation and restoration projects and their accomplishments.
Kate has a B.S. from Skidmore College in Environmental Science and Business Management, an M.S. in Marine Resource Management with a certificate in GIS and Remote Sensing from Oregon State University, and is a PADI-certified Divemaster.
