Cross-GIT HUC-12 Conservation Composite

<p><b><i>This data resource is a layer in a map service. To download it, please go to the &quot;Layers&quot; section of this page and click the name of the dataset. This will open a new page that features a download button.</i></b></p>
<p><b>Open the Map Service:</b> <a href='https://gis.chesapeakebay.net/ags/rest/services/InterGIT/HUC12_Cons_Composite/MapServer' rel='nofollow ugc'>https://gis.chesapeakebay.net/ags/rest/services/InterGIT/HUC12_Cons_Composite/MapServer</a></p>
<p>To develop this data resource, Chesapeake Bay Program Goal Implementation Teams (GITs) were asked to identify data layers that represented resources that reflected important geographic areas to conserve or restore based on the goals and outcomes of the 2014 <i>Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement</i>. There are several considerations for mapping geographic areas, including:</p>
<ul>
<li>Focus on places most important for living resources (fish, wildlife and people);</li>
<li>Identify areas to focus restoration and conservation activities;</li>
<li>Consider threats from land and climate change; and</li>
<li>Identify areas where multiple partners are already working or consider priorities.</li>
</ul>
<p>Data was assembled from a wide variety of sources and reclassified according to values for conservation based on GIT-specific criteria. Data layers were reclassified into 30-m grids and combined into composite conservation suitability rankings. The 30-meter grids were aggregated to USGS HUC-12 boundaries to give a composite watershed conservation score. Finally, these watershed scores were ranked from high to low to establish quintile classes within each jurisdiction.</p>
<p>The Cross-GIT HUC-12 Conservation Composite complements the Cross-GIT HUC-12 Restoration Composite: <a href='https://gis.chesapeakebay.net/ags/rest/services/InterGIT/HUC12_Rest_Composite/MapServer' rel='nofollow ugc'>https://gis.chesapeakebay.net/ags/rest/services/InterGIT/HUC12_Rest_Composite/MapServer</a></p>
<p>Learn more about the Cross-GIT Mapping Project with this story map: <a href='https://gis.chesapeakebay.net/cross-git/overview/' rel='nofollow ugc'>https://gis.chesapeakebay.net/cross-git/overview/</a></p>