Description: These data are a compilation of existing data sets delineating canopy-forming kelp beds along the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. Canopy-forming kelp includes species of the genuses Nereocystis (bull kelp) and Macrocystis (giant kelp). It does not include the understory kelp genuses, such as Laminaria or Alaria. The data depict all kelp observations from all surveys, merged into continuous polygons with the internal boundaries removed (dissolved). This depiction is sometimes referred to as the "maximum extent." These data also delineate general survey extents of canopy-forming kelp surveys performed in the same spatial extent. Different sections of the coast have been surveyed during different time periods. The number of surveys per section of coast ranges from 1 to 25 surveys. The kelp survey extent data depict the general sections of coastline that were surveyed, how many times they were surveyed, the years of the survey, and which source data were included in the final kelp data compilation.
Copyright Text: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)