Environmental Data contains data for a variety of natural environmental features covering geomorphic, hydrologic and vegetative topics. The data has been symbolized and color coded with mapping parameters conveniently pre-set.
Watersheds Sub-Basin
Boundaries
(metadata)
Description: This polygon feature class is a
collection of watershed sub-basins found in and around the City of
Bellingham.
Symbology: Watersheds sub-basin boundaries are
symbolized with a hollow fill and dark grey outline based on the
WATERSHEDSUBBASIN field.
Labels: None
Definition Query: None
Creek Sub-Basin Boundaries
(metadata)
Description: This polygon feature class is a
collection of watershed sub-basins found in and around the City of
Bellingham.
Symbology: Creek sub-basin boundaries are
symbolized with a hollow fill and dark grey outline based on the
CREEKBASIN field.
Labels: None
Definition Query: None
Watersheds
(metadata)
Description: This polygon feature class is a
collection of watersheds found in and around the City of Bellingham.
Symbology: A unique pastel fill per watershed.
Labels: None
Definition Query: None
Site Specific Wetland
Delineations
(metadata)
Description: The purpose of this polygon feature
class is to show the location of wetlands, derived from submitted
delineation reports within the City of Bellingham general area. This
feature class does NOT represent a complete wetland inventory, but only
to catalog the individual wetlands from delineation reports as the City
of Bellingham receives them (and therefore is not a complete or all
inclusive representation of wetlands).
Symbology: A light pink fill with slightly darker
pink outline.
Labels: None
Definition Query: None
Wetland Inventory 2003
Description: This is a polygon feature class. In
June 2003, the Northwest Ecological Services, LLC (NES) was contracted
to develop a comprehensive GIS database that identifies wetland
locations and other environmentally sensitive features within specified
areas being considered for future urban development. The geographic
scope of the project included land in and adjacent to Bellingham's Urban
Growth Areas as specified by City planning staff. Wetland data is
reconnaissance level data and wetland boundaries indicated on the maps
are approximate and intended only to provide an indication of the
presence of wetlands.
Symbology: This layer file is symbolized using the
WET_TYPE field and uses a different color fill per unique value.
Labels: None
Definition Query: None
Wetland Inventory 1992
(metadata)
Description: In 1992, contracted field technicians
reviewed existing wetland and soils inventories, and interpreted aerial
photographs. Both color infrared (1" = 2,000') and black and white
orthophotographs (1" = 200') were used. Through field surveys, data was
collected from over 300 potential wetland areas to determine whether
each site met the criteria to be identified as a wetland based on
vegetation, soils, and hydrology. The purpose of the wetland inventory
is to identify the general location and character of the wetlands with
the City of Bellingham. The inventory is for orientation purposes only
and is not intended to represent jurisdictional wetland boundaries. This
is a polygon feature class.
Symbology: This layer file is symbolized using a
light yellow fill with a light gray outline.
Labels: None
Definition Query: None
NWI Wetland
Description: For the NWI Wetlands, wetland location
and classifications were developed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Wetland information was derived from aerial photo-interpretation with
varying limitations due to scale, photo quality, inventory techniques,
forest cover and other factors. (Date ranges from Feb. 1971 to Nov.
1997) It was not the intent of the NWI to produce maps that show exact
wetland boundaries comparable to boundaries derived from ground
surveys. Boundaries are therefore generalized in most cases. This is a
polygon feature class.
Symbology: This layer file is symbolized using a
light pink fill with a light gray outline.
Labels: None
Definition Query: None
Coal Mines
(metadata)
Description: Approximate locations of mines and
prospects as described in the Geologic Hazard Areas, Map Folio,
Bellingham, WA 1991. Bellingham, Sehome, Pattle, and Union mines mapped
based on historic documents depicting mine entrances and layout of
workings (accuracy varies). Other mine locations mapped based on legal
descriptions from claim documents.
Symbology: Light magenta polygon shade with dark
magenta outline.
Labels: None
Definition Query: None
Geology (Puget Sound)
Description: Washington State Department of Natural
Resources Division of Geology and Earth Resources 1:100,000-Scale
Digital Geology of Washington State (100K quads covering Puget Sound
Basin). Surficial geology units for Bellingham/Whatcom County area
based on work published by Tabor, Haugerud, Booth, and Brown, 1994,
USGS Open-File Report 94-403.
Symbology: Polygons symbolized based on rock
classification using MAPNAME attribute. Color scheme based on WA State
Geologic Map published by WA State DNR. 50% Transparency.
Labels: None
Definition Query: None
Lake Whatcom Watershed
(metadata)
Description: Watersheds is a polygon feature class
which illustrates the Lake Whatcom Watershed.
Symbology: Polygon is symbolized as a “single
symbol” with the watershed boundary shown in a light blue dashed line.
Labels: None
Definition Query: A definition query has been
written to return only the Lake Whatcom Watershed.
Landslides & Alluvial
Fans
(metadata)
Description: Polygon feature class which represents
the approximate locations of landslides and alluvial fans as described
in the 1991 Geologic Hazard Areas Map Folio for Bellingham, WA.
Symbology: Polygons are symbolized by Alluvial Fans
with a dotted fill and Landslides with a brown fill.
Labels: None
Definition Query: None
Potential Wave Erosion
Description: Approximate locations of wave erosion
areas that are subject to erosion by storm waves as indicated by the
Coastal Zone Atlas and described in the 1991 Geologic Hazard Areas Map
Folio for Bellingham, WA.
Symbology: Polygons are symbolized by a light green
hatched area.
Labels: None
Definition Query: None
Seeps & Springs
(metadata)
Description: Point feature class which represents
the approximate locations of Seeps & Springs as described in the 1991
Geologic Hazard Areas Map Folio for Bellingham, WA.
Symbology: Points are symbolized with a single blue
icon.
Labels: None
Definition Query: None
Seismic Hazard
Description: Polygon feature class illustrates the
response to Seismic Shaking by ranking areas as Low, High, Moderately
High and Very High. Information is based on a mix of Whatcom
County/USDA geology series, Geologic Hazards Areas, Map Folio(1991), and
with shoreline areas around Squalicum Harbor, Whatcom Waterway and
Fairhaven updated by City staff to reflect the new shoreline fill areas
since publication of the USGS basemap.
Symbology: Polygons are symbolized with in shades
of red based on the two highest rankings.
Labels: None
Definition Query: A definition query has been
written to return only the two highest rankings.
*Layer files are only included with the GDB download.
