Draft Report to Congress John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Report to Congress: John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot Project Acknowledgements Many people within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided support for the Digital Mapping Pilot Project: Ms. Cynthia Bohn, Ms. Lesli Gray, Mr. Matthew Huggler, Ms. Gina Jones, Ms. Robin NimsElliott, Dr. Mamie Parker, Mr. Paul Souza, Mr. David Stout, Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, Mr. Doug Vandegraft, and Mr. Everett Wilson. Dewberry & Davis staff provided the technical mapping support, contributed to the research and design of the project, and provided many of the illustrations throughout the report: Mr. Paul Comlish, Mr. Samuel Gold, Mr. Rezwan Karim, and Mr. Chris Langley. Additional partners who provided valuable information and support for the project include Mr. Larry Handley of the U.S. Geological Survey, and Mr. Brady Harrison of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The authors would also like to thank the Members of Congress, and their staff, who sponsored and co-sponsored the Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act of 2000, which directed the Secretary of the Interior to complete a Digital Mapping Pilot Project and report to Congress on the results of the project, and the Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act of 2005, which directs the Secretary of the Interior to finalize the pilot project maps and create digital maps for the remainder of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System: Representatives Wayne T. Gilchrest, James A. Leach, and Jim Saxton; and Senators John H. Chafee, Lincoln D. Chafee, Mike Crapo, James M. Inhofe, James M. Jeffords, Joseph I. Lieberman, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and Bob Smith. Primary Authors Contributors Stephen R. Kalaf, Dewberry & Davis John Antkowiak, Dewberry & Davis Katie Niemi, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Kristy Hatch, Dewberry & Davis Martin Kodis, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Rachel London, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Report to Congress: John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot Project U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fisheries and Habitat Conservation Washington, D.C. i ii Digital Mapping Pilot Project Preface The Coastal Barrier Resources in recent years are a reminder of the CBRA and modernization Act (CBRA) conserves ecologically the dangers associated with building of the CBRS maps using digital important coastal habitat by in these hazardous areas. By technology. In May 2006, Congress prohibiting most Federal subsidies limiting Federal subsidies such as reaffirmed its support for the that encourage risky development flood insurance within the CBRS, CBRA and its commitment towards along our Nation’s coastal barriers. the CBRA removes unwise Federal digital CBRS mapping by enacting By discouraging coastal barrier incentives to develop these areas. the Coastal Barrier Resources development, the CBRA also Reauthorization Act of 2005 which protects lives and mainland property, A major challenge to maintaining directs the Secretary of the Interior and saves taxpayer dollars. At the the CBRS for the long term is to finalize the pilot project maps by time the CBRA was enacted in 1982, that the existing CBRS maps are conducting a public review of the President Ronald Reagan said, inaccurate, outdated, and difficult maps included in this report, and “This legislation will enhance both to interpret. CBRS information creating digital maps for the entire wise natural resource conservation is difficult to access because the CBRS. Modernized, digital maps and fiscal responsibility. It will boundaries of these areas are will address the inaccuracies of the save American taxpayers millions not available in digital format. outdated maps, correct errors that of dollars while, at the same time, Landowners are sometimes unaware adversely affect private property taking a major step forward in the that their property is within the owners, increase efficiencies conservation of our magnificent CBRS until they are turned down and accessibility by allowing the coastal resources.” Today, bearing for Federal flood insurance, creating integration of CBRS information out President Reagan’s words, the unexpected hardships. Recognizing into digital planning tools, conserve John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier the limitations and problems natural resources, and preserve the Resources System (CBRS) includes associated with the existing set of integrity of the CBRS for the long- more than 3 million acres of coastal CBRS maps, Congress enacted term. barrier habitat, and it is estimated the Coastal Barrier Resources that by 2010, the CBRA will have Reauthorization Act in 2000, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service saved American taxpayers well over which directs the Secretary of the believes that the CBRA has largely $1 billion. Interior, in consultation with the achieved its goals to minimize Director of the Federal Emergency the loss of human life, wasteful Coastal barriers and their Management Agency, to conduct a expenditure of Federal revenues, associated aquatic habitats are key Digital Mapping Pilot Project. This and the damage to natural resources components of a strong economy is the Administration’s report to associated with America’s coastal and healthy environment. They Congress, as called for in the 2000 barriers. We look forward to support commercial and recreational Act, that provides the results of the working with Congress to move the fisheries; provide essential habitat pilot project, including draft digital CBRA into the digital age where it for many endangered species maps for 70 CBRS areas, and an can continue to achieve its goals with and migratory birds; protect the assessment of the feasibility, data greater efficiency. mainland from severe storms and needs, and costs associated with hurricanes; and are enjoyed by completing digital maps for the millions of vacationing Americans entire CBRS. every year. The devastating hurricanes striking the Gulf Coast The Administration supports iii Digital Mapping Pilot Project Digital Mapping Pilot Project Authority Recognizing the limitations and the Senate and the Committee on This report to Congress provides problems associated with the Natural Resources of the House the results of the pilot project and existing set of John H. Chafee of Representatives. The CBRRA an assessment of the feasibility and Coastal Barrier Resources System specifies that the report shall include costs associated with completing (CBRS) maps, the Coastal Barrier a description of: digital maps for the entire CBRS. Resources Reauthorization Act • the cooperative agreements that (CBRRA) of 2000 directs the will be necessary to complete The CBRRA of 2005 directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) digital mapping of the entire Secretary to: (1) finalize the digital to carry out a pilot project that CBRS; mapping pilot project by providing consists of the creation of digital • the extent to which the data for public review of the draft maps maps for no more than 75 units necessary to complete digital and presenting Congress with final and no fewer than 50 units of the mapping of the entire CBRS are recommended pilot project maps; CBRS, one-third of which shall be available; and (2) create draft digital maps for otherwise protected areas (OPAs). • the need for additional data to the remainder of the CBRS, provide The CBRRA specifies that not later complete digital mapping of the for public review, and present than three years after the date entire CBRS; Congress with final recommended of enactment, the Secretary shall • the extent to which the boundary maps. submit a report that describes the lines on the digital maps differ results of the pilot project and the from the boundary lines on the feasibility, data needs, and costs original maps; and of completing digital maps for the • the amount of funding necessary entire CBRS to the Committee on to complete digital mapping of Environment and Public Works of the entire CBRS. iv Digital Mapping Pilot Project Table of Contents DIGITAL MAPPING PILOT PROJECT AUTHORITY………………………………………………………………… iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY…………………………………………………………………………………………… ix CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW OF THE COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES SYSTEM…………………………………… 1 Geomorphology of Coastal Barriers………………………………………………………………………………… 1 Value of Coastal Barriers…………………………………………………………………………………………… 1 Risks Associated with Development on Coastal Barriers………………………………………………………… 2 Fish and Wildlife Service Role in Administering the Coastal Barrier Resources Act………………………… 4 Legislation that Created and Modified the Coastal Barrier Resources System………………………………… 4 CHAPTER 2: NEED FOR MAP MODERNIZATION………………………………………………………………… 8 Challenges Associated with Existing Maps………………………………………………………………………… 8 Benefits Associated with Digital Maps……………………………………………………………………………… 9 CHAPTER 3: DIGITAL DATA STANDARDS, NEEDS, AND AVAILABILITY………………………………………… 14 National Digital Data Standards…………………………………………………………………………………… 14 Digital Data Needs and Availability………………………………………………………………………………… 14 CHAPTER 4: DIGITAL MAPPING METHODOLOGY………………………………………………………………… 20 Selection of Pilot Project Units……………………………………………………………………………………… 20 Digital Data “Fitting”………………………………………………………………………………………………… 20 Mapping System Units……………………………………………………………………………………………… 20 Mapping Otherwise Protected Areas……………………………………………………………………………… 21 CHAPTER 5: PILOT PROJECT RESULTS……………………………………………………………………………23 Types of Proposed Boundary Changes……………………………………………………………………………… 23 Acreage and Shoreline Changes……………………………………………………………………………………