These data detail the distribution of various bottom types, including seagrass, unvegetated areas, open water, algal beds, and oyster habitats, along with the apparent shoreline in the Southwest Florida Seagrass project area, which encompasses Pine Island Sound, Matlacha Pass, San Carlos Bay, the lower Caloosahatchee River, and Estero Bay.

The data were produced for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Marine Research Institute (now called the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute) in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District. Data were developed by stereoscopically photointerpreting and digitizing 1:24,000-scale natural color aerial photographs, which were accurately georeferenced using GPS ground control points and a Zeiss P3 analytical stereoplotter. Classification of seagrass and other categories followed the FDOT Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System, aided by a developed photointerpretation key. A minimum mapping unit of 0.25 acres was applied to all classes. Ground truthing was conducted during the photointerpretation phase to maintain classification accuracy and consistency.

Separately, a cooperative mapping program involving the U.S. Geological Survey, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management, and the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve focused on collecting marine geophysical data. The main goals were to create seafloor maps to better define the extent of oyster habitats and the bay's overall seafloor geology, providing updated information for resource management. This geophysical data is valuable for managing the bay's oyster resources and serves as a geologic framework for scientific research and public use.

The layers available within the data download include biotic, geoform, and substrate.

Partners: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, South Florida Water Management District, U.S. Geological Survey, and the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve