California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog

Figure 1. Index map of California, showing locations of 110 CSMP map blocks (red squares), 83 of which are along the mainland coast and 27 are for offshore islands, each to be published at 1:24,000 scale. Map blocks with publications and data are shown with gray fill.

Summary

In 2007, the California Ocean Protection Council initiated the California Seafloor Mapping Program (CSMP), designed to create a comprehensive seafloor map of high-resolution bathymetry, marine benthic habitats, and geology within the 3-nautical-mile limit of California's State Waters. The CSMP approach is to create highly detailed seafloor maps and associated data layers through the collection, integration, interpretation, and visualization of swath sonar data, acoustic backscatter, seafloor video, seafloor photography, high-resolution seismic-reflection profiles, and bottom-sediment sampling data.

CSMP has divided coastal California into 110 map blocks (fig. 1), each to be published individually or regionally as USGS Open-File Reports (OFRs) or Scientific Investigations Maps (SIMs) at a scale ranging from 1:24,000 (individual blocks) to 1:150,000 (regional maps). The map products display seafloor morphology and character, identify potential marine benthic habitats, and illustrate both the seafloor geology and shallow (to about 100 m) subsurface geology.

This CSMP data catalog contains much of the data used to prepare the OFRs and the SIMs in the California State Waters Map Series. Other data that were used to prepare the maps were compiled from previously published sources (for example, onshore geology) and, thus, are not included herein.

Acknowledgments

Datasets within the data catalog have been compiled by various individuals (names are provided in the metadata for each dataset).

GIS Data

For each map block, CSMP has created geographic information system (GIS) data layers for bathymetry, bathymetric contours, acoustic backscatter, seafloor character, potential benthic habitat, and offshore geology. In addition, CSMP has compiled regional-scale data layers for sediment thickness, depth to transition, transgressive contours, isopachs, and predicted distributions of benthic macro-invertebrates, as well as visual observations of benthic habitat from video cruises over the entire state.

The GIS data layers are listed below. Note, however, that not all data layers are available for all map blocks, owing to insufficient data. Also, some map blocks may include additional data layers that record certain unique characteristics or features not present in other areas.

GIS Data Layers:

• Bathymetry
• Bathymetry Hillshade
• Contours
• Acoustic Backscatter
• Offshore Geology and Gemorphology
• Faults
• Folds
• Potential Marine Benthic Habitat
• Seafloor Character
• Depth to Transition
• Trangressive Contours
• Sediment Thickness
• Isopachs
• Visual Observations of Benthic Habitat from Video Cruises

Additional GIS Data Layers [available for selected map blocks only]:

• Predicted Distributions of Benthic Macro-Invertebrates
• Paleoshorelines
• Submarine Landslide Scarps
• Curvature
• Slope

Data Catalogs:

The GIS data layers for a particular CSMP map block or region are accessible from that area's individual data catalog, listed in the table below by geographic area, from north to south. Where available, links to that area's published OFR or SIM, which contains additional interpretive material, are provided in the table as well. In addition, video observations for the entire state have been compiled and are accessible from "California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog--Video Observations" (listed last in the table below).

Each individual data catalog lists the available GIS data layers with a brief description, a small image, and links to the metadata files and the downloadable data files. Information on file format and file size is given as well. The data were compiled in ArcMap (versions 10.0 and 10.1, ESRI, 2011, 2012). Raster data layers are registered TIFF images and are in either the UTM Zone 10 or UTM Zone 11 coordinate systems, with datum WGS84. Point, line, and polygon features are in shapefile format and are projected in either the UTM Zone 10 or UTM Zone 11 coordinates, with horizontal datum WGS84.

The downloadable data files have been compressed with the "zip" command, and they can be unzipped with Winzip (or other tool) on Windows systems. The .zip file for a TIFF image includes the image (.tif), the world registration file (.tfw), and the text (.txt) and XML (.tif.xml) versions of the metadata. The .zip for a shapefile includes the .aux, .dbf, .shp, .shx, .sbx, and .sbn files, as well as the text (.txt) and XML (.shp.xml) versions of the metadata. We recommend that you create a single new folder within which to unzip the files you want to use.

Other individual data catalogs and their GIS data layers will continue to be added to this Data Series as map block data catalogs, OFRs and SIMs, are published.

Data Catalogs

CSMP Study Area [listed from north to south]	Data Catalog	Associated Open-File Report (OFR) or Scientific Investigations Map (SIM) [contains PDFs of map sheets and accompanying pamphlet]
Punta Gorda to Point Arena Region	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Punta Gorda to Point Arena Region, California	OFR 2019-1072, Offshore shallow structure and sediment distribution, Punta Gorda to Point Arena, northern California, by Jeffrey W. Beeson and others.
Salt Point to Drakes Bay Region	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Salt Point to Drakes Bay Region	n/a
Offshore of Arcata	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Arcata, California	n/a
Offshore of Eureka	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Eureka, California	n/a
Offshore of Eel River	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Eel River, California	n/a
Offshore of Cape Mendocino	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Cape Mendocino, California	n/a
Offshore of Salt Point	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Salt Point, California	OFR 2015-1098, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Salt Point, California, by Samuel Y. Johnson and others.
Offshore of Fort Ross	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Fort Ross, California	OFR 2015-1211, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Fort Ross, California, by Samuel Y. Johnson and others.
Offshore of Bodega Head	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Bodega Head, California	OFR 2015-1140, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Bodega Head, California, by Samuel Y. Johnson and others.
Offshore of Tomales Point	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Tomales Point, California	OFR 2015-1088, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Tomales Point, California, by Samuel Y. Johnson and others.
Offshore of Point Reyes	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Point Reyes, California	OFR 2015-1114, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Point Reyes, California, by Janet T. Watt and others.
Drakes Bay and Vicinity	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Drakes Bay and Vicinity, California	OFR 2015–1041, California State Waters Map Series—Drakes Bay and Vicinity, California, by Janet T. Watt and others.
Bolinas to Pescadero Region	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Bolinas to Pescadero Region	n/a
Offshore of Bolinas	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Bolinas, California	OFR 2015-1135, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Bolinas, California, by Guy R. Cochrane and others.
Offshore of San Francisco	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of San Francisco, California	OFR 2015–1068, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of San Francisco, California, by Guy R. Cochrane and others.
Offshore of Pacifica	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Pacifica, California	OFR 2014–1260, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Pacifica, California, by Brian D. Edwards and others.
Offshore of Half Moon Bay	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Half Moon Bay, California	OFR 2014–1214, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Half Moon Bay, California, by Guy R. Cochrane and others.
Offshore of San Gregorio	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of San Gregorio, California	SIM 3306, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of San Gregorio, California, by Guy R. Cochrane and others.
Pigeon Point to Monterey Region	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Pigeon Point to Monterey Region, California	n/a
Offshore of Pigeon Point	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Pigeon Point, California	OFR 2015-1232, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore Pigeon Point, California, by Guy R. Cochrane and others.
Offshore of Scott Creek	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Scott Creek, California	OFR 2015–1191, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Scott Creek, California, by Guy R. Cochrane and others.
Offshore of Santa Cruz	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Santa Cruz, California	OFR 2016-1024, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Santa Cruz, California, by Guy R. Cochrane and others.
Offshore of Aptos	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Aptos, California	OFR 2016-1025, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Aptos, California, by Guy R. Cochrane and others.
Monterey Canyon and Vicinity	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Monterey Canyon and Vicinity, California	OFR 2016-1072, California State Waters Map Series—Monterey Canyon and Vicinity, California by Peter Dartnell and others.
Offshore of Monterey	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Monterey, California	OFR 2016-1110, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Monterey, California, by Samuel Y. Johnson and others.
Offshore of Point Estero	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Point Estero , California	OFR 2023-1064, California State Waters Map Series—Benthic habitat Characterization in the Region Offshore of Morro Bay, California, by Guy R. Cochrane and others.
Offshore of Morro Bay	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Morro Bay, California	OFR 2023-1064, California State Waters Map Series—Benthic habitat Characterization in the Region Offshore of Morro Bay, California, by Guy R. Cochrane and others.
Offshore of Point Buchon	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Point Buchon , California	OFR 2023-1064, California State Waters Map Series—Benthic habitat Characterization in the Region Offshore of Morro Bay, California, by Guy R. Cochrane and others.
Point Conception to Hueneme Canyon Region	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Point Conception to Hueneme Canyon Region, California	n/a
Offshore of Point Conception	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Point Conception, California	OFR 2018-1024, California State Waters Map Series — Offshore of Point Conception, California, by Samuel Y. Johnson and others.
Offshore of Gaviota	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Gaviota, California	OFR 2018-1023, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Gaviota, California, by Samuel Y. Johnson and others.
Point Sur to Point Arguello Region	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Point Sur to Point Arguello Region, California	OFR 2018-1158, Offshore shallow structure and sediment distribution, Point Sur to Point Arguello, central California, by Samuel Y. Johnson and others.
Santa Barbara Channel	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Santa Barbara Channel Region, California	n/a
Offshore of Refugio Beach	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Refugio Beach, California	SIM 3319, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Refugio Beach, by Samuel Y. Johnson and others.
Offshore of Coal Oil Point	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Coal Oil Point, California	SIM 3302, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Coal Oil Point, California, by Samuel Y. Johnson and others.
Offshore of Santa Barbara	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Santa Barbara, California	SIM 3281, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Santa Barbara, California, by Samuel Y. Johnson and others.
Offshore of Carpinteria	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Carpinteria, California	SIM 3261, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Carpinteria, California, by Samuel Y. Johnson and others.
Offshore of Ventura	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Offshore of Ventura, California	SIM 3254, California State Waters Map Series—Offshore of Ventura, California, by Samuel Y. Johnson and others.
Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity, California	SIM 3225, California State Waters Map Series—Hueneme Canyon and Vicinity, California, by Samuel Y. Johnson and others.
Video Observations [for the entire state]	California State Waters Map Series Data Catalog—Video Observations	n/a

First posted August 8, 2013

Revised August 21, 2019