Marine Protected Area GIS Data

[ Download MPAs.zip ]

This is a set of coverages describing WDFW Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) within Puget Sound.

The coastlines are 1:24k extreme high tide and extreme low tide lines from the WA State Department of Natural Resources. The MPA boundaries were digitzed on-screen while following the descriptions in the Washington Administrative Codes (WACs). All GIS data is provided as Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) exported coverage files (colloquially, ".E00 files", and you can read about the file structure by clicking here). The projection for all coverages is in Washington State Plane South, Fipszone 4602, datum HPGN, Spheroid GRS 1980, units feet.

You can access individual MPA information sheets from the MPA home page for detailed information about each of the MPAs, including the WAC texts and links to the relevant WAC pages.

Coverage MPA_WDFW
	This is the main coverage, and shows all MPAs described under WAC 220-22-400 (all shown in purple here), plus some postponed attempts at new MPAs (not shown here).
Arc item "ltype" values and descriptions:
0	Postponed (the liklihood of further attempts at establishment are remote).
3	high tide line.
4	low tide line.
5	Outer perimeter of MPA, water-water closure line.
7	Outer perimeter of MPA, shoreline.
77	Construction line.
Polygon item "ptype" values and descriptions:
0	Not an MPA, such as an island.
1	Subtidal area of MPA.
2	Intertidal area of MPA.
Polygon item "mpa" values and descriptions: The contents of this item are the names of the MPAs, such as "Orchard Rocks".

Coverage MPA_CUKE
	This coverage shows all areas with restrictions on taking sea cucumbers as described under WAC 220-52-071. Two areas in the San Juan archipelago (shown in light purple in thumbnail at left) are restricted for conservation purposes. Two areas in central Puget Sound (shown in pink) are closed due to high levels of pollutants and subsequent concern over human consumption. As such, they are not true MPAs and are not topical to those pages.
Arc item "ltype" values and descriptions:
3	High tide line inside MPA (islands).
4	Low tide line inside MPA.
5	Outer boundary of conservation MPA, water-water closure line.
7	Outer boundary of conservation MPA, on land (island, mainland).
77	Construction lines; aids in defining boundaries/directions.
81	Outer boundary of health closure area, on land (high tide).
82	Outer boundary of health closure area, water-water closure line.
83	Low tide line inside of health closure area.
84	High tide line inside of health closure area (for future use with islands: none exist yet).
Polygon item "ptype" values and descriptions:
0	Land.
1	Subtidal area inside MPA.
2	Intertidal area inside MPA.
6	Subtidal area inside health closure area.
7	Intertidal area inside health closure area.
Polygon item "mpa" values and descriptions:
eh	Location or name of the area: Eagle Harbor
haro	Location or name of the MPA: Haro Strait
si	Location or name of the area: Sinclair Inlet
sjuc	Location or name of the MPA: San Juan / Upright Channels