GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Montana Wetland and Riparian Framework, December 2013 MSDI

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Data Provider Montana Natural Heritage Program (MTNHP)
Date 12/01/2013
Content Type Offline Data
MSDI Framework Wetlands
Abstract The Montana Wetland and Riparian Framework represents the extent, type, and approximate location of wetlands, riparian areas, and deepwater habitats in Montana. These data delineate the areal extent of wetlands and deepwater habitats as defined by Cowardin et al. (1979) and riparian areas as defined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2009).The Montana Wetland and Riparian Framework consists of features that were manually digitized at a scale of 1:4,500 or 1:5,000 from orthorectified digital color-infrared aerial imagery collected during the summers of 2005, 2006, 2009, and 2011 by the National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP).These data are intended for use in publications at a scale of 1:12,000 or smaller. This layer consists of two feature datasets: NHP_Layers and quadStatus. The NHP_Layers feature dataset contains the digital wetland and riparian mapping and consists of two feature classes: finalWetRip and provWetRip. The feature class, finalWetRip, consists of data that have undergone three rounds of internal quality assurance/quality control procedures by the MTNHP. These data have been sent to and approved by the Regional Coordinator of the National Wetlands Inventory of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and are considered final. The feature class, provWetRip, consists of data that have undergone three rounds of internal quality assurance/quality control procedures by the MTNHP. These data may or may not have been sent to and approved by the Regional Coordinator of the National Wetlands Inventory of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and are considered provisional. The quadStatus feature dataset contains information about the mapping status of each topographic quad and consists of five feature classes: activeProjectList, finalStatus, historicNWI, noMapping, and provStatus. The activeProjectList feature class consists of quads that are currently being mapped by the MTNHP; the finalStatus feature class consists of quads that have been approved and incorporated into the NWI; the historic NWI feature class consists of quads that were mapped by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service using 1980s-era imagery, these include quads with both digital and non-digital mapping; the noMapping feature class consists of quads for which no mapping exists and no mapping is currently planned; and the provStatus feature class consists of quads that have been mapped by the MTNHP.
Purpose To provide current geospatially referenced information on the status, extent, characteristics, and functions of wetlands, riparian areas, and deepwater habitats to promote the understanding and conservation of these resources. These data provide consultants, planners, and resource managers with information on the location and type of wetlands and riparian areas in Montana. These data do not show precise wetland boundaries and should not be compared to boundaries delineated from ground surveys. Wetland polygons are classified in accordance with the Wetlands Classification Standard endorsed by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC): Cowardin, L.M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States. U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC. FWS/OBS-79/31. Riparian polygons are classified in accordance with the publication U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Habitat and Resource Conservation. 2009. A System for Mapping Riparian Areas in the Western United States.
Supplemental Information The Wetland and Riparian Framework layer is one of the 14 Montana Spatial Data Infrastructure Framework layers. The goal of the layer is to have statewide digital wetland and riparian data for Montana. Mapping is completed to the Wetlands Mapping Standard endorsed by the FGDC in 2009 (FGDC-STD-015-2009). As projects are completed, they are submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for inclusion in the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI). Due to a lag time between submittal and availability, this layer may contain data that have been submitted to the NWI but are not yet available for download from the NWI website http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/DataDownload.html
Federal, state, and local regulatory agencies with jurisdiction over wetlands may define and describe wetlands in a different manner than that used in this layer. There is no attempt, in either the design or products of this inventory, to define the limits of proprietary jurisdiction of any federal, state, or local government or to establish the geographical scope of the regulatory programs of government agencies. Persons intending to engage in activities involving modifications within or adjacent to wetland areas should seek the advice of appropriate federal, state, or local agencies concerning specified agency regulatory programs and proprietary jurisdictions that may affect such activities. Information in this data layer is not intended to be used as a precise locator of wetland boundaries, for site specific planning or management, or for regulatory purposes. Proper use of wetland and riparian mapping requires knowledge of the inherent limitations of this mapping. It is suggested that users also consult other information to aid in wetland detection, such as U.S. Department of Agriculture soil survey reports and other wetland maps that may have been produced by state and local governments. The Montana State Library provides this product/service for informational purposes only. The Library did not produce it for, nor is it suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. Consumers of this information should review or consult the primary data and information sources to ascertain the viability of the information for their purposes. The Library provides these data in good faith but does not represent or warrant its accuracy, adequacy, or completeness. In no event shall the Library be liable for any incorrect results or analysis; any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages to any party; or any lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use or the inability to use the data or the services provided. The Library makes these data and services available as a convenience to the public, and for no other purpose. The Library reserves the right to change or revise published data and/or services at any time.
Distributor Montana State Library
P.O. Box 201800
Helena, Montana 59620-1800
Telephone: 406-444-5354
TDD/TTY: Montana Relay 711
Fax: 406-444-0266
Email: geoinfo@mt.gov
Distribution liability The Montana State Library provides this product/service for informational purposes only. The Library did not produce it for, nor is it suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. Consumers of this information should review or consult the primary data and information sources to ascertain the viability of the information for their purposes. The Library provides these data in good faith but does not represent or warrant its accuracy, adequacy, or completeness. In no event shall the Library be liable for any incorrect results or analysis; any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages to any party; or any lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use or the inability to use the data or the services provided. The Library makes these data and services available as a convenience to the public, and for no other purpose. The Library reserves the right to change or revise published data and/or services at any time.
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Metadata date 12/01/2013

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