How accurate is the data presented in the Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Atlases and Digital Database?
The Environmental Emergencies Section staff at Environment Canada contacted or made visits to all contributing partner agencies for each separate Atlas development. Existing and new data sets were gathered or surveyed for the project. For collection of existing data, relevant maps, publications and databases were reviewed, and pertinent information transcribed then digitized by Environment Canada. A new shoreline classification scheme, most suitable for spill response on the Great Lakes and Connecting Channels, identified and defined nineteen (19) different shoreline habitats. This was the major component of new information specifically surveyed for this project. Data in digital form existed for only a few Legend features for the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Basin. To some degree, data availability on the Great Lakes and Connecting Channels has dictated definition of Legend features and the manner they are displayed on the maps. To use a crosshatched or coloured polygon to represent an are
