Maps
Because all of the open space in Seattle has been mapped, the available information can be used to look closely at any one piece of open space, or to compare open space from different areas of the city, or to discover characteristics of open space city wide. At a variety of scales, the maps can be analyzed to answer specific questions or to develop general statistics. For example:
Open space city wide: Where are different habitat types concentrated in the city? Which parts of the city have the most or the least of a particular habitat type? Out of the whole city, are there habitat types that are well represented? Not very well represented? Are public open spaces infested with weeds? Are there areas in the city that have more weed-infested open space than others?
Open space in a neighborhood: How are different habitat types and open space concentrated in a neighborhood? Are there breaks in potential habitat corridors or greenways? Are invasive species taking over open space in the neighborhood? Are local residences and public districts close to open space, or does open space serve only a small part of the neighborhood?
Specific parks or open spaces: How can we manage a park to encourage habitat diversity or a specific habitat type? Are there habitat types missing or underrepresented in a park? Are there high-quality habitat types in the park? Is rare or ecologically valuable habitat threatened by invasive species? Are there areas of invasive species that can be wiped out entirely?
Depending on what your interests are, and what issues are driving your interest, there are many other questions that can be answered by the SUN mapping project. Start by reviewing the maps that are available and seeing what kind of information each contains. Familiarize yourself with the descriptions of the habitat types and the information on the maps, and then compare the available information to questions you might want answered. Do the maps contain the information? Are there different ways to ask your question?
- Can we encourage bald eagle nesting in Ballard?
- What sorts of habitat do bald eagles require for nesting?
- Does any of this habitat type exist in Ballard?
- Are there opportunities to try to restore this habitat type to Ballard?
- Are there degraded or weed infested locations in Ballard where we could restore this habitat type, thus improving open space in Ballard generally?
No matter the size or scope of your interests or project, the SUN staff is ready to answer your questions and facilitate the use of all of our maps. Please call us at 206.522.0334 or email us at info@seattleurbannature.org. We are committed to education regarding public properties and their stewardship. Let us help make your project a success!
