Description: The political boundary datalayer is a polygon representation of town boundaries created from arcs developed from survey coordinates extracted from the 68-volume Harbor and Lands Commission Town Boundary Atlas for the 351 communities (cities and towns) in Massachusetts. The Atlas was published in the early 1900's and is maintained by the Survey Section of Massachusetts Highway Department. For communities with a coastal boundary, MassGIS has collaborated with Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and the Department of Environmental Protection to complete a 1:12000 scale coastline. The boundary for the coastline was defined as being the upland side of tidal flats and rocky inter-tidal zones. Note that the 351 communities are the official municipal names, not including "villages" or other sections of towns.
Description: The Police Stations layer shows the point locations of law enforcement and sheriff offices, including local, county and state jurisdictions. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) GIS Program in cooperation with the Regional Planning Agencies and participating communities created the data as part of the development of Homeland Security Data Layers. In May 2022, MassGIS did a complete review of every point and updated or corrected 63 locations. The Town of Wendell was removed becuase the Town of Leverett hadles their response. The features represented include municipal police stations and Massachusetts State Police barracks. Although sheriffs are not technically charged with the same law enforcement tasks as local and state police, county sheriff headquarters are also included in this layer. The duties of the sheriffs include the management and operation of regional correctional systems and transportation of prisoners, service of judicial process and delivery of legal documents needed to support the operation of the courts, community policing, running various outreach services, and the enforcement of laws enacted for the public safety, health and welfare of the people. Not included in this layer are Environmental Police, Campus Police and various state and federal level law enforcement. Stored in the ArcSDE, the layer is named POLICESTATIONS_PT_MEMA.
Description: The Fire Stations layer shows the point locations of Fire stations in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) GIS Program in cooperation with the Regional Planning Agencies and participating communities created the original datalayer as part of the development of Homeland Security Data Layers. MassGIS has done subsequent updates using information from DFS, town websites and correspondence, the Mass Fire Trucks website, and other publicly available information. Most recently updated in October 2022. The layer is named FIRESTATIONS_PT_MEMA.
Description: MxxxOthLeg contains polygons representing other “invisible” legal boundaries such as easements or private rights-of-way that overlap tax parcels.There may be few or even no features in this layer and it is required only if such boundaries are shown on the original assessors map. Only Entity Attributes are listed in this metadata. Please see the TaxPar feature class (or MxxxTaxPar.shp) for all other information.
Copyright Text: Please see the TaxPar feature class (or MxxxTaxPar.shp) for all other information.
Description: The protected and recreational open space datalayer contains the boundaries of conservation lands and outdoor recreational facilities in Massachusetts. The associated database contains relevant information about each parcel, including ownership, level of protection, public accessibility, assessor’s map and lot numbers, and related legal interests held on the land, including conservation restrictions. Conservation and outdoor recreational facilities owned by federal, state, county, municipal, and nonprofit enterprises are included in this datalayer. Not all lands in this layer are protected in perpetuity, though nearly all have at least some level of protection.Although the initial data collection effort for this data layer has been completed, open space changes continually and this data layer is therefore considered to be under development. Additionally, due to the collaborative nature of this data collection effort, the accuracy and completeness of open space data varies across the state’s municipalities. Attributes, while comprehensive in scope, may be incomplete for many parcels.The OpenSpace layer includes two feature classes:OPENSPACE_POLY - polygons of recreational and conservation lands as described aboveOPENSPACE_ARC - attributed lines that represent boundaries of the polygonsThese feature classes are stored in an ArcSDE feature dataset named OPENSPACE that includes ArcGIS geodatabase topology. OPENSPACE_POLY - The following types of land are included in this datalayer:conservation land- habitat protection with minimal recreation, such as walking trails recreation land- outdoor facilities such as town parks, commons, playing fields, school fields, golf courses, bike paths, scout camps, and fish and game clubs. These may be privately or publicly owned facilities. town forests parkways - green buffers along roads, if they are a recognized conservation resource agricultural land- land protected under an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) and administered by the state Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR, formerly the Dept. of Food and Agriculture (DFA)) aquifer protection land - not zoning overlay districts watershed protection land - not zoning overlay districts cemeteries - if a recognized conservation or recreation resourceforest land -- if designated as a Forest Legacy Area
Copyright Text: MassGIS, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
TOWN_ID
(
type: esriFieldTypeSmallInteger, alias: TOWN_ID
, Coded Values:
[1: Town of Abington]
, [2: Town of Acton]
, [3: Town of Acushnet]
, ...348 more...
)
Description: The MassDEP Wetlands dataset comprises two ArcGIS geodatabase feature classes:The WETLANDSDEP_POLY layer contains polygon features delineating mapped wetland resource areas and attribute codes indicating wetland type.The WETLANDSDEP_ARC layer was generated from the polygon features and contains arc attribute coding based on the adjacent polygons as well as arcs defined as hydrologic connections.Together these statewide layers enhance and replace the original MassDEP wetlands layers, formerly known as DEP Wetlands (1:12,000). It should be noted that these layers provide a medium-scale representation of the wetland areas of the state and are for planning purposes only. Wetlands boundary determination for other purposes, such as the Wetlands Protection Act MA Act M.G.L. c. 131 or local bylaws must use the relevant procedures and criteria.The original MassDEP wetlands mapping project was based on the photo-interpretation of 1:12,000, stereo color-infrared (CIR) photography, captured between 1990 and 2000, and included field verification by the MassDEP Wetlands Conservancy Program (WCP). In 2007 the MassDEP WCP began a statewide effort to assess and where necessary update the original wetlands data. The MassDEP WCP used ESRI ArcGIS Desktop software, assisted by the PurVIEW Stereo Viewing extension, to evaluate and update the original wetlands features based on photo-interpretation of 0.5m, (1:5,000) digital stereo CIR imagery statewide, captured in April 2005. No field verification was conducted on this updated 2005 wetlands data.The 2005 WETLANDSDEP_POLY layer includes polygon features that distinguish it from its predecessor by overall changes in size and shape. In addition, new polygons have been created and original ones deleted. Many of the polygons, however, remain the same as in the original layer. All changes have been made according to the techniques described below. For the purpose of cartographic continuity, a small number of coastal polygons outside the state boundary where added based on data provided by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).The 2005 WETLANDSDEP_ARC layer was generated to support map display and was designed to cartographically enhance the rendering of wetland features on a base map. Arc features in this layer were generated from the wetland polygons and coding (ARC_CODE) was assigned based on the adjacent polygon types. Hydrologic connection features (ARC_CODE = 7) were then added. Where delineated, these arc features indicate an observed hydrologic connection to or between wetland polygons. Although efforts were made to be comprehensive and thorough in mapping hydrologic connections, due to the limitations of aerial photo-interpretation some areas may have been missed.The types of updates made to the original wetland features include alteration, movement/realignment and reclassification. In some cases original wetland areas have been deleted and new areas have been added. Updates to original wetland features resulted from the following factors: changes in the natural environment due to human activity or natural causes; advances in the field of remote sensing, allowing for more refined mapping.Edit changes to the original wetland data include:Addition of new wetland and hydrologic connection featuresAppending (expansion or realignment) of existing (original) wetland and hydrologic connection featuresReclassification of wetlands features, due to change in wetlands environment from the original classificationMovement (or shifting) of original wetland features to better match the source imageryDeletion of original wetland or hydrologic connection features due to changes in wetlands environment or inconsistency with mapping criteria.Please note that although efforts were made to be comprehensive and thorough in the evaluation and mapping of statewide wetland resources some areas of the state may have been missed. Many of the wetland and hydrologic connection features remain the same as in the original data. The polygon attribute SOURCE_SCALE may be used to identify areas that have been altered from the original wetlands. The SOURCE_SCALE code 5000 indicates an updated wetland area. The SOURCE_SCALE code 12000 indicates an unaltered, original wetland polygon.
Copyright Text: Massachusetts Deptartment of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Wetlands Conservancy Program (WCP)
Description: As stated in 310 CMR 22.02, Zone I means the protective radius required around a public water supply well or wellfield. For public water system wells with approved yields of 100,000 gpd or greater, the protective radius is 400 feet. Tubular wellfields require a 250-foot protective radius. Protective radii for all other public water system wells are determined by the following equation: Zone I radius in feet = (150 x log of pumping rate in gpd) - 350. This equation is equivalent to the chart in the Guidelines and Policies for Public Water Systems. A default Zone I radius or a Zone I radius otherwise computed and determined by the Department shall be applied to transient non-community (TNC) and non-transient non-community (NTNC) wells when there is no metered rate of withdrawal or no approved pumping rate. In no case shall the Zone I radius be less than 100 feet.
Description: DEP Approved Wellhead Protection Areas (Zone II). As stated in 310 CMR 22.02, a Zone II is: "That area of an aquifer which contributes water to a well under the most severe pumping and recharge conditions that can be realistically anticipated (180 days of pumping at safe yield, with no recharge from precipitation). It is bounded by the groundwater divides which result from pumping the well and by the contact of the aquifer with less permeable materials such as till or bedrock. In some cases, streams or lakes may act as recharge boundaries. In all cases, Zone IIs shall extend up gradient to its point of intersection with prevailing hydrogeologic boundaries (a groundwater flow divide, a contact with till or bedorck , or a recharge boundary)."
Description: This datalayer contains points for all vernal pools that have been certified by the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) according to the Guidelines for Certification of Vernal Pool Habitat (MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, 2000). Vernal pools are small, shallow ponds characterized by lack of fish and by periods of dryness. Vernal pool habitat is extremely important to a variety of wildlife species including some amphibians that breed exclusively in vernal pools, and other organisms such as fairy shrimp, which spend their entire life cycles confined to vernal pool habitat. Many additional wildlife species utilize vernal pools for breeding, feeding and other important functions. Certified vernal pools are protected if they fall under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act Regulations (310 CMR 10.00). However, the certification of a pool only establishes that it functions biologically as a vernal pool. Certification does not determine that the pool is within a resource area protected by the Wetlands Protection Act. Certified vernal pools are also afforded protection under the state Water Quality Certification regulations (401 Program), the state Title 5 regulations, and the Forest Cutting Practices Act regulations. The Certified Vernal Pools layer is stored in ArcSDE as CVP_PT. Occurrence records of Certified Vernal Pools from the NHESP database are continuously being added and modified. Those changes will be incorporated into the Certified Vernal Pools datalayer twice annually, in the months of January and July. Questions about the creation of this datalayer should be directed to NHESP at 508-389-6375. For questions relating to the certification of Vernal Pools, please call 508-389-6365.
Copyright Text: Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP), MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Description: Estimated Habitats are for use with the Wetlands Protection Act regulations (310 CMR 10.00). The Estimated Habitats of Rare Wildlife datalayer contains polygons that are a subset of the Priority Habitats of Rare Species. They are based on occurrences of rare wetland wildlife observed within the last 25 years and documented in the NHESP database. They do not include those areas delineated as Priority Habitat for rare plants or for rare wildlife with strictly upland habitat requirements. The Estimated Habitats presented here are part of the 15th Edition of the Massachusetts Natural Heritage Atlas, and are effective beginning August 1, 2021.For projects or activities that fall within Estimated Habitats of Rare Wildlife and that require a Notice of Intent (NOI) to be filed under the Wetlands Protection Act, proponents are required to send a copy of the NOI to the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP). Please note, the Notice of Intent form allows for a streamlined joint Massachusetts Endangered Species Act/Wetlands Protection Act review, and these filings will be reviewed by the NHESP within 30 days. Applicants choosing not to file jointly will be required by the NHESP to submit a separate MESA filing, which may take up to 90 days to review. For more information, please seewww.mass.gov/dfw/nhesp/regulatory-review.The Estimated Habitats of Rare Wildlife layer is stored in ArcSDE as ESTHAB_POLY.Estimated Habitats were extracted from the Priority Habitats of Rare Species datalayer, which was delineated by NHESP scientists from documented observations of rare species and are based on such factors as species movements and habitat requirements. The polygons were heads-up digitized in ArcGIS 10x and referenced to the MassGIS 2019 Aerial Imagery.Occurrence records are continually being added, updated, deleted or otherwise modified in the NHESP database. These changes are incorporated into the Estimated Habitats of Rare Wildlife datalayer every four years.Questions about the creation of this datalayer and its use should be directed to NHESP at 508-389-6360 or natural.heritage@state.ma.us.
Description: The Priority Habitats of Rare Species datalayer contains polygons representing the geographic extent of Habitat of state-listed rare species in Massachusetts based on observations documented within the last 25 years in the database of the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP). Priority Habitat polygons are the filing trigger for project proponents, municipalities, and all others for determining whether or not a proposed project or activity must be reviewed by the NHESP for compliance with the (MESA) and its implementing regulations. Areas delineated as Priority Habitats can include wetlands, uplands, and marine habitats. The Priority Habitats presented here are part of the 15th Edition of the Massachusetts Natural Heritage Atlas, and are effective beginning August 1, 2021.If your project or activity falls within Priority Habitat and does not meet a MESA filing exemption (321 CMR 10.14), then you must file directly with the NHESP pursuant to MESA. For more information, please see www.mass.gov/dfw/nhesp/regulatory-review.The Priority Habitats of Rare Species datalayer is stored in ArcSDE as PRIHAB_POLY.Priority Habitats were digitized by NHESP scientists from documented observations of state-listed rare species and are based on such factors as reported species movements and known habitat requirements. The polygons were heads-up digitized in ArcGIS 10x and referenced to the MassGIS 2019 Aerial Imagery.Occurrence records are continually being added, updated, deleted or otherwise modified in the NHESP database. These changes are incorporated into revisions to the Priority Habitats of Rare Species datalayer every four years.Questions about the creation of this datalayer and its use should be directed to NHESP at 508-389-6360 or natural.heritage@state.ma.us.
Copyright Text: Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, MassGIS