Online Resources – Development and the Wetlands
Topic Key
Interactive Tools
CIMS Spatial Viewer
This viewer is a "full-featured GIS for CPRA projects, monitoring data, restoration and protection features, and geophysical information."
Source: CPRA
Google Earth
"Google Earth is a computer program that renders a 3D representation of Earth based primarily on satellite imagery."
Note: Historical imagery on Google Earth is only available on the (free) desktop version.
Source: Google
Master Plan Data Viewer
"This viewer displays the results from CPRA’s 2017 Coastal Master Plan and provides resources to reduce risk. Information includes: future land change, storm surge flood risk, coastal vegetation, and social vulnerability. Also included are the state’s proposed restoration, structural protection, and nonstructural risk reduction projects to help make communities safer. This information is for coastal planning purposes, and is not appropriate for site-specific decision making."
Source: CPRA
St. Tammany Parish Geoportal
"Welcome to the St. Tammany Parish Assessor's Office geographic information system (GIS). Assessor Louis Fitzmorris is pleased to provide this valuable data to all parish taxing bodies and to the public. Creating this data and maintaining it for the citizens of St. Tammany is important work and benefits all in our parish. Our progress is updated here regularly as we continue to add more parcels and further our advancements in our GIS."
Wetlands Mapper
"The Wetlands mapper is designed to deliver easy-to-use, map like views of America’s Wetland resources. It integrates digital map data along with other resource information to produce current information on the status, extent, characteristics and functions of wetlands, riparian, and deepwater habitats. The Wetland Mapper fulfills the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s strategic plan for the development, revision and dissemination of wetlands data and information to resource managers and the public. This information is intended to promote the understanding and conservation of wetland resources through discovery and education as well as to aid in resource management, research and decision making."
For instructions on how to use this tool, click here.
Source: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Useful Websites
Buy, Sell and Trade!
"The “Buy, Sell, Trade!” game is a role-playing exercise that demonstrates the multiple benefits of preserving ecosystems for the services that they provide. Anyone can play the game, from all parts of society, from different positions, etc.
Every part of society, including business, government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other local stakeholders, depends directly or indirectly on the sustainable management of ecosystems and the services they provide."
Source: World Business Council for Sustainable Development / International Union for Conservation of Nature
CWPPRA Maps Portal
This site provides the user with downloadable aerial photography, maps, land change, and hurricane information for Louisiana.
Source: CWPPRA
'In It Together' Game
"The In It Together game is a serious game that brings stakeholders together around a map of the Estuary to cooperatively explore adaptation strategies, weigh their tradeoffs, and achieve greater local resilience. The aim of the game is to educate and spark conversations about how climate change impacts Estuary neighborhoods. Players represent diverse communities and agencies within the Estuary, each with unique goals to build long-term resilience and meet immediate-term needs."
Northshore Restoration and Urbanization
"There are efforts on the Northshore for restoration, conservation and land acquisition to protect the important ecosystems and habitats in the region. However, further action on the Northshore is needed now. With expanding populations causing pressure for development and synergistic anthropogenic and natural activities stressing natural ecosystems, people must begin to think about conservation and restoration as a necessary part of community planning."
Source: Pontchartrain Conservancy
Community Science Projects
iNaturalist
"One of the world’s most popular nature apps, iNaturalist helps you identify the plants and animals around you. Get connected with a community of over a million scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature! What’s more, by recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature."
Source: California Academy of Science / National Geographic Society