CSCOR: Stressors : Land Use Impacts : Past Programs : C-CAP (Coastal Change Analysis Program)

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Coastal Change Analysis Program
(C-CAP)

Note: C-CAP was operationally tranferred from CSCOR to the NOAA Coastal Services Center in Fiscal Year 1996

Issue

Although over 70 percent of economically important fisheries in the U.S. depend upon estuarine habitats during some life stage, these areas are being destroyed or degraded by coastal development, bringing with it nonpoint source pollution, erosion, and environmental threats. Land cover changes due to human population growth and attendant impacts on fishery habitat, adjacent uplands, water quality, and living marine resources occur faster and more pervasively than we previously have been able to monitor. Information about the extent and rate of habitat degradation and loss is needed for sound resource management decisions.

Approach

Quantifying changes in the areal extent of wetlands and adjacent uplands is critical for linking land-based human activities to coastal ocean productivity. The Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP) uses satellite imagery and aerial photography to monitor areal extent, functional status and change in these critical habitats. C-CAP is cooperating with EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wetlands Inventory, the U.S. Geological Survey, and other Federal and State agencies. C-CAP has been divided into three project areas: protocol development, regional change analysis, and remote sensing of wetland health.

Background and History

C-CAP development was initiated in 1990 by the then newly formed NOAA Coastal Ocean Program (now the NOAA Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research). Initial work centered on the development of a standard, nationally accepted protocol and conducting two prototype studies. The C-CAP protocol was developed from several regional workshops attended by more than 200 research scientists and coastal managers and was designed to provide consistent and reliable coastal change information for use by scientists and managers throughout the United States (regardless of discipline or institution) for input into the nationwide database. The protocol was published as a guide for developing regional applications in 1995 (see Dobson et al. 1995^*).

In conjunction with the protocol development, two prototype studies were initiated, one for Chesapeake Bay and the other for coastal North Carolina. From 1990 to 1995 CSCOR/COP sponsored funding for C-CAP was awarded to some 23 institutions or government agencies for a total funding amount of about $3.5M. Early operational responsibility of C-CAP was transferred to the then NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center Laboratory in Beaufort, NC (now the joint NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Laboratory/National Ocean Service Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research. In FY 1996 operational responsibility for C-CAP was transferred to the NOAA Coastal Services Center in Charleston, SC.

* Dobsen, J. E. et al. 1995. NOAA Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP): Guidance for Regional Implementation. NOAA Technical Report NMFS 123. U.S. Department of Commerce, Seattle, WA. 92 pp.

For more information:

NOAA/NESDIS/National Geophysical Data Center
NOAA/NESDIS/National Oceanographic Data Center

NOAA Coastal Change Analysis Program: Guidance for Regional Implementation

CCAP Program Home Page

ALASKA

The Hubbard Glacier in Alaska is moving very rapidly and within the next ten years is threatening to close off the Russell Fiord that provides important marine habitat. If the glacier closes the fiord, it will affect the flow of the Situk River, an important run for the area's salmon fishery. In 1994, C-CAP completed an initial land cover classification for the region, and is now conducting a comparison of current satellite imagery with 1986 imagery to show changes due to logging activities, coastal erosion, and glacier movement. An additional analysis was performed to quantify the salmon-related effects of the glacier closing the fiord.

CALIFORNIA

Along the West Coast of the U.S., California contains more coastal wetland acreage than Oregon or Washington. California has lost 75% of its original coastal wetlands. Rapid population growth, diversion of freshwater inputs, increase in urban/agricultural run-off, and destruction of natural habitat has a direct effect on the extent of sensitive habitat and species and on water quality. The cumulative effect of these impacts upon the remaining wetlands is not well understood on a regional watershed basis.

In 1994, C-CAP-- in cooperation with NOAA's Coastal Ocean Program and Office of Coastal Resource Management -- initiated a study with the California Coastal Commission to test the applicability of the C-CAP protocol in a West Coast wetland ecosystem by the classification of Thematic Mapper (TM) data and visualization of C-CAP products. These products have been useful in conducting regional watershed inventories, and for detecting changes in landcover for local planning purposes.

FLORIDA

C-CAP is assisting the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in restoring fisheries by improving fisheries habitat. The Florida Everglades and Florida Bay have been experiencing catastrophic ecosystem collapse. This has resulted in degradation of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), declines in habitat-dependent fisheries, such as the pink shrimp, and associated economic loss. C-CAP is working with the DEP to map and provide information on changes in this critical fisheries habitat. C-CAP is also working in support of the Governor's Commission for a Sustainable South Florida to map coastal habitat important to fisheries populations of the region. The Commission, through its Science Research Advisory Committee, and the Federal Task Force on South Florida Restoration are depending on C-CAP to assist in delineating the natural ecosystem boundaries for the region. Such information will assure that restoration and development in the region assist the recovery of fishery resources.

In 1994, C-CAP initiated a cooperative project with the National Biological Service (NBS) to map wetlands and adjacent uplands from the Kissimmee River (Orlando area) south towards Key West using satellite imagery. The data from the project will be included in the C-CAP national database. NBS will utilize the information to monitor changes in emergent habitats and as a basis for constructing species distribution maps. The products will provide valuable tools for making resource decisions.

LOUISIANA

In Louisiana, COP supports the National Biological Service in Slidell in studying land cover change analysis in the Mermentau River basin.

MAINE

St. Croix River Estuary/Passamaquoddy Bay Change Analysis Project: C-CAP has participated in a cooperative project with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Environment Canada by conducting a change analysis for the St. Croix River Estuary, Passamaquoddy Bay region. Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery from 1985 and 1992 was used to examine the distribution and areal extent of coastal habitats and adjacent uplands, and the rate of change over time. The information is being used to identify areas threatened by changes in habitat and the types of land use causing habitat change.

Maine Application Examples: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is using our C-CAP change detection products in its Fishery Stewardship Program to monitor Atlantic salmon habitat in 7 watersheds of Cobscook Bay as part of an effort to restore the Atlantic salmon fishery. In addition, the FWS is using the products to document surrounding land-cover type and changes in relation to changes in the salmon habitat.

The FWS is also using the C-CAP products to highlight valuable wildlife, as well as fishery, habitat throughout the Cobscook Bay region, and, in an effort to protect these resources, is providing this information to other relevant agencies. The FWS is also using C-CAP data in conjunction with other digital map products to document resources within the FWS Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge.

MARYLAND

Quantifying changes in areal extent of wetlands and adjacent uplands is critical in linking land-based human activities to productivity of the coastal ocean. The Coastal Ocean Program, through its Coastal-Change Analysis Program (C-CAP), is helping to develop the tools to monitor and understand changes in wetland and adjacent uplands and to relate these impacts to living marine resources in the coastal areas of Maryland and throughout Chesapeake Bay. C-CAP has developed a standard, nationally accepted protocol for mapping these areas which involves using Landsat satellite imagery for detection of emergent wetlands and uplands, and aerial photography for detection of submerged aquatic vegetation. The prototype Chesapeake Bay data set constitutes one of the largest change detection efforts ever attempted. NOAA 's National Oceanographic Data Center archives and manages C-CAP data and is developing C-CAP CD-ROM products manages C-CAP data and is developing C-CAP CD-ROM products.

MASSACHUSETTS

The development of C-CAP tools have greatly aided the understanding of the threats to the coastal Massachusetts area. Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) mapping of coastal Massachusetts is a cooperative effort involving the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop an SAV mapping program (almost exclusively eelgrass). Photography of northern Buzzard's Bay, Gloucester Harbor, Annisquam River, southern Ipswich Bay and Nantucket Island have been completed (1993), as have map products for Buzzards Bay and Nantucket Island (1994). In addition, aerial photography of the southern shore of Cape Cod, Marthas Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands are complete (1994). Surface level sampling (ground-truthing, photo-interpretation, compilation, and digitization of these data) were scheduled for completion in 1995.

NORTH CAROLINA

In North Carolina C-CAP is helping to develop the tools and the scientific information to monitor and understand changes in submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), emergent wetlands and adjacent uplands and to relate these impacts to living marine resources. C-CAP has mapped SAV from Bouge Inlet north to the Virginia border, and the database has been incorporated into the State's Center for Geographic Information and Analysis. The data has been applied for coastal management decisions involving the harvest of clams and dredge disposal projects. In 1994, C-CAP efforts were expanded to include the development of a land-cover change detection data base for all of coastal North Carolina. This effort will provide valuable data to scientists and resource managers who are assessing environmental problems facing the State's coastal system

OREGON

C-CAP entered into a cooperative project with the Columbia River Estuary Study Task Force (CREST), NOAA Fisheries Point Adams Field Station (Hammond, OR) and the State of Washington to perform a land cover classification and change detection analysis for the Columbia River coastal drainage area from Willapa Bay, Washington south to Tillamook Bay, Oregon. Wetland habitat important to salmon was a focus of the project and has resulted in a habitat classification for resource managers and regulatory agencies in the region, including those presently dealing with severely stressed salmon stocks. These products have also been useful in conducting regional watershed inventories, and for detecting changes in landcover for local planning purposes.

TEXAS

In Texas, C-CAP continues to provide technical assistance to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to build a change detection capability for that state. Change analysis has been completed for the area from coastal Galveston Bay to the Texas-Louisiana border and processing is underway for the coast from Galveston Bay to the Texas-Mexico border.

WASHINGTON

C-CAP entered into a cooperative project with the Columbia River Estuary Study Task Force (CREST), NOAA Fisheries Point Adams Field Station (Hammond, OR) and State of Washington to perform a land cover classification and change detection analysis for the Columbia River coastal drainage area from Willapa Bay, Washington south to Tillamook Bay, Oregon. Wetland habitat important to salmon was a focus of the project and has resulted in a habitat classification for resource managers and regulatory agencies in the region, including those presently dealing with severely stressed salmon stocks. State managers are applying the C-CAP protocol and data to a number of uses, including applications for habitat change determination on state lands, and inventorying intertidal habitats.

In 1994, C-CAP efforts were expanded in Willapa Bay to map seagrass distribution. Data from this project will be valuable in assessing the human impacts on the Bay, and will be used to monitor the efficacy of resource management decisions within the region.

Last Updated: June 20, 2007
Comments to coastalocean@noaa.gov

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