Dataset description: Habitat--Offshore of Coal Oil Point, California
Geometry
This part of DS 781 presents the habitat map of the Offshore of Coal Oil Point map area, California. The vector data file is included in "Habitat_OffshoreCoalOilPoint.zip," which is accessible from https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/781/OffshoreCoalOilPoint/data_catalog_OffshoreCoalOilPoint.html. These data accompany the pamphlet and map sheets of Johnson, S.Y., Dartnell, P., Cochrane, G.R., Golden, N.E., Phillips, E.L., Ritchie, A.C., Kvitek, R.G., Dieter, B.E., Conrad, J.E., Lorenson, T.D., Krigsman, L.M., Greene, H.G., Endris, C.A., Seitz, G.G., Finlayson, D.P., Sliter, R.W., Wong, F.L., Erdey, M.D., Gutierrez, C.I., Leifer, I., Yoklavich, M.M., Draut, A.E., Hart, P.E., Hostettler, F.D., Peters, K.E., Kvenvolden, K.A., Rosenbauer, R.J., and Fong, G. (S.Y. Johnson and S.A. Cochran, eds.), 2014, California State Waters Map Series-Offshore of Coal Oil Point, California: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3302, pamphlet 57 p., 12 sheets, scale 1:24,000, https://doi.org/10.3133/sim3302.
Potential marine benthic habitat maps were constructed using multibeam echosounder (MBES) bathymetry and backscatter data. The habitats were based on substrate types and documented or "ground truthed" using underwater video images and seafloor samples obtained by the USGS. These maps display various habitat types that range from flat, soft, unconsolidated sediment-covered seafloor to hard, deformed (folded), or highly rugose and differentially eroded bedrock exposures.
