Lake Champlain Environmental Sensitivity Index Mapping
Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps provide a concise summary of coastal resources that face potential risk in the event of an oil or chemical spill nearby. Incident response managers use these maps from a wide range of federal and state agencies to identify vulnerable coastal locations and guide decision-making about where and how to prioritize emergency response and restoration activities. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has established guidance and developed a portal for publishing nationally consistent ESI maps. The Lake Champlain Basin Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Geological Survey recognize the need to create these maps for the 587 miles of Lake Champlain shoreline so that protection priorities and response strategies can be identified, allowing rapid response in the case of an oil or chemical spill. This presentation will provide an overview of the Lake Champlain Environmental Sensitivity Index Mapping.
Presenter: Ben Fisher, physical scientist, U.S. Geological Survey New York Water Science Center