Metadata for Montana Public Lands Map Service (Web Mercator) Metadata for Montana Public Lands Map Service (Web Mercator)
Identification Information:
Citation:
Originator: Montana State Library
Publication date: 08/22/2025
Title: Montana Public Lands Map Service (Web Mercator)
Publication place: Helena, Montana
Publisher: Montana State Library
Online linkage: https://gisservicemt.gov/arcgis/rest/services/MSDI_Framework/PublicLands/MapServer
Larger Work Citation:
Originator: Montana State Library
Publication date: 08/22/2025
Title: Montana Public Lands ArcGIS Server Map Service

Abstract:
The Montana Public Lands data contains public administered lands that are recorded in the Montana Department of Revenue's tax appraisal database. Each public land polygon is attributed with the name of the public agency that owns it. The data are derived from the statewide Montana Cadastral Parcel layer.
Supplemental information:
This data set is a work in progress; it contains errors of omission and errors in current attributes. Areas where the data are particularly weak include city and county lands (errors of omission ), BIA trust lands (many unrecorded transfers to and from private land status.) and lands in and adjacent to the western boundary of Glacier National Park. Please note that this dataset contains information on surface status only. The dataset contains no information about ownership or status of the mineral estate.

Time period of content:
Calendar date: 08/22/2025
Currentness reference: publication date
Status:
Progress: In work
Maintenance and update frequency: Continually
Access constraints: None
Use constraints:
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.
Point of contact:
Montana State Library
P.O. Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620


Telephone: (406) 444-5354
TDD/TTY telephone: Montana Relay 711
Fax: (406) 444-0266
E-Mail: geoinfo@mt.gov


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Data Quality Information:
Completeness report:
This data set is a work in progress; it contains errors of omission and errors in current attributes. Data are updated as information becomes available. Delays between changes in land status and their inclusion in this layer can vary from a few weeks to over a year depending on the source of the information. This data contains errors of omission and errors in current attributes. Areas where the data are particularly weak include city and county lands (errors of omission - these parcels are coded as private) and BIA trust lands (many unrecorded transfers to and from private land status.)


Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report:
The Public Lands Data is based on the Bureau of Land Management's Geographic Coordinate Database (GCDB). The BLM collects the GCDB Public Lands Survey System data on a township basis. The survey boundaries are delineated by computing the geographic positions of township, section, aliquot part, government lot, and special survey corners. Horizontal control positions from published sources and geographic positioning system (GPS) observations are added and the GCDB grid is adjusted using the least squares method of adjustment to determine the best geographic positions for the survey points. Horizontal Accuracy varies throughout the data: Scale is dependent on the positional accuracy of the GCDB. Note: Original MTNHP Stewardship Data was basically compiled from 1:100,000 scale (100K) data with a horizontal accuracy of approximately 170 feet. This data came from the BLM 100K Public Land Survey and Ownership layers digitized from BLM 100K Surface Management Status maps in 1995-1996.

Lineage:
Source information:
Originator: Montana State Library
Title: Montana Cadastral Mapping Project
Publication place: Helena; Montana
Publisher: Montana State Library

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Entity and Attribute Information:
Entity type label: PublicLands

Attribute label: OWNER


Attribute
Value 		Definition of
Attribute Value
US Bureau of Land Management US Bureau of Land Management
Unknown Unknown
Montana Dept of Transportation Montana Dept of Transportation
Local Government Local Government
US Fish and Wildlife Service US Fish and Wildlife Service
US Bureau of Reclamation US Bureau of Reclamation
National Park Service National Park Service
US Government US Government
US Dept of Defense US Dept of Defense
City Government City Government
Montana State Trust Lands Montana State Trust Lands
County Government County Government
US Forest Service US Forest Service
State of Montana State of Montana
US Dept of Agriculture US Dept of Agriculture
Bureau of Indian Affairs Trust Land Bureau of Indian Affairs Trust Land
Montana University System Montana University System
US Army Corps of Engineers US Army Corps of Engineers
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
Montana Dept of Corrections Montana Dept of Corrections
Montana Dept of Natural Resources Water Projects Montana Dept of Natural Resources Water Projects

Attribute label: Acreage

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Distribution Information:
Distributor:
Montana State Library
P.O. Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620


Telephone: (406) 444-5354
TDD/TTY telephone: Montana Relay 711
Fax: (406) 444-0266
E-Mail: geoinfo@mt.gov


Contact instructions: Contact via email
Resource description: Live Data and Maps


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 Reference Information:
Metadata date: 08/22/2025
Metadata contact:
Montana State Library
P.O. Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620


Telephone: (406) 444-5354
TDD/TTY telephone: Montana Relay 711
Fax: (406) 444-0266
E-Mail: geoinfo@mt.gov


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