Metadata for Milk/Marias/St Mary Wetland Assessments Metadata for Milk/Marias/St Mary Wetland Assessments
Identification Information:
Citation:
Originator: Montana Natural Heritage Program
Publication date: 06/10/2010
Title: Milk/Marias/St Mary Wetland Assessments
Publication place: Helena, MT
Publisher: Montana Natural Heritage Program

Abstract:
This web map application displays the public wetland assessments performed in the Milk, Marias, and St. Mary watersheds. In 2009, the MTNHP was awarded an EPA Wetland Program Development Grant to develop a long term rotating basin wetland monitoring, assessment and mapping program. The pilot project for the rotating basin assessment program took place in the Milk and the Marias watersheds located in north central Montana. Through this project a three-tiered assessment approach was developed and refined following the EPA's recommended framework for designing an effective monitoring strategy. This includes a Level 1 landscape scale assessment to determine the condition of the watershed, the integrity of the landscape in the wetland buffer, and the distribution and abundance of wetland types in a watershed. The approach also includes a Level 2 rapid assessment that evaluates the general condition of individual wetlands using field indicators and identifies specific stressors that correlate with wetland condition. Also, a Level 3 intensive soil and vegetation assessment is conducted that provides quantitative data that can be used to validate rapid wetland assessments, characterize wetland condition, and diagnose causes of degradation. Examples of intensive assessments include floristic quality assessment indices (FQI).
Purpose:
The wetland goal for Montana is no overall net loss of the state's remaining wetland resources as of 1989 and an overall increase in the quality and quantity of wetlands in Montana. To reach this goal, the Montana Wetland Council has developed a five-year (2008-2012) strategy, Priceless Resources: Strategic Framework for Wetland and Riparian Area Conservation and Restoration in Montana (2008-2012). The long term rotating basin wetland monitoring, assessment and mapping program directly addresses Strategic Direction #3: Mapping, Assessment, and Monitoring of the Montana wetlands and riparian strategic framework. The goal for this strategic direction is to provide decision-makers, resource managers, and the public with up to date statewide National Wetland Inventory and National Riparian Maps in digital format and asses the condition of the State's wetlands and riparian areas so that informative decisions can be made relating to their conservation and restoration.

Time period of content:
Calendar date: 2010
Currentness reference: publication date
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance and update frequency: As needed
Access constraints: None
Use constraints:
Users must assume responsibility to determine the usability of this data for their purposes. This data set is provided "as-is" without warranty of any kind. MTNHP makes no representations or warranties whatsoever with respect to the accuracy or completeness of this data set and assumes no responsibility for the suitability of this data set for a particular purpose; and MTNHP will not be liable for any damages incurred as a result of errors in this data set.
Point of contact:
Montana Natural Heritage Program
P.O. Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620-1800


Telephone: 406-444-5363
E-Mail: mtnhp@mt.gov


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Spatial Data Organization Information:
Point and vector object information:
SDTS object type: Entity point
SDTS object count: 80
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Spatial Reference Information:
Horizontal coordinate system definition:
Latitude/Longitude:
Latitude resolution: 0.000000
Longitude resolution: 0.000000
Geographic coordinate units: Decimal degrees
Geodetic model:
Horizontal datum name: D_WGS_1984
Ellipsoid name: WGS_1984
Semi-major axis: 6378137.000000
Denominator of flattening ratio: 298.257224
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Entity and Attribute Information:
Entity type label:
MM_Wetland_Assessment_Points

Attribute label: OBJECTID
Attribute definition: Internal feature number.
Attribute domain:
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute label: SHAPE
Attribute definition: Feature geometry.
Attribute domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute label: SiteID
Attribute definition: Wetland assessment site identification.

Attribute label: Owner
Attribute definition: State or Federally owned public land

Attribute label: X
Attribute definition: X Coordinate

Attribute label: Y
Attribute definition: Y Coordinate

Attribute label: EcoSys
Attribute definition:
Wetland ecological system defined by the Montana Natural Heritage

Attribute label: VisitDate
Attribute definition: Date of wetland assessment

Attribute label: Fin_LandC
Attribute definition:
The overall landscape context attribute score reflects the condition and the connectivity of the buffer within 500 meters of the wetland assessment area. This score is calculated using the buffer condition, buffer length, buffer width and landscape connectivity metrics.

Attribute label: Fin_SizeRel
Attribute definition:
The relative patch size score describes the patch size of the entire wetland calculated as the current size of the wetland divided by the historic size of the wetland.

Attribute label: Fin_Biotic
Attribute definition:
The biotic attribute score reflects the cover of native, invasive exotic, invasive or highly tolerant natives as well as the amount of organic matter accumulation and patch interspersion in the wetland assessment area.

Attribute label: Fin_Hydro
Attribute definition:
The hydrology attribute score is based on water source, hydroperiod, and hydrologic connectivity metrics.

Attribute label: Fin_Phys
Attribute definition:
The physicochemical attribute score reflects the amount of soil disturbance and water quality within the assessment area.

Attribute label: OverallScore
Attribute definition:
The overall assessment score is an average of the landscape context, relative patch size, biotic, hydrologic and physicochemical attribute scores. Higher scores indicate wetlands in better condition.

Attribute label: FQI
Attribute definition:
The Floristic Quality Index (FQI) is a vegetation based index that is used to assess ecological integrity.

Attribute label: AdjFQI
Attribute definition:
The Adjusted cover-weighted FQI for Natives is an adjusted FQI that takes into account the cover of both native and nonnative plant species.

Attribute label: ESLF
Attribute definition: Ecological System Code

Attribute label: Photo
Attribute definition: Site Photo Identification Number

Attribute label: SitePhoto
Attribute definition: Web link to Site Photo

Attribute label: SysDes
Attribute definition: Web link to Ecological System Description

Attribute label: GISMetadata
Attribute definition: Web link to GIS Metadata

Attribute label: HelpDoc
Attribute definition: Web Link to Help document

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Distribution Information:
Distributor:
Montana Natural Heritage Program
P.O. Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620-1800


Telephone: 406-444-5363
E-Mail: mtnhp@mt.gov


Resource description: applications



Standard order process:
Digital form:
Transfer size: 0.002
megabytes
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Metadata Reference Information:
Metadata date: 07/23/2010
Metadata review date: 02/26/2021
Metadata contact:
Montana Natural Heritage Program
P.O. Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620-1800


Telephone: 406-444-5363
E-Mail: mtnhp@mt.gov


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