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Climate Change Database Clearinghouse: Physical - Landscape
FEDERAL AGENCIES
Organization: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Contact: Alan Woods
Email: woods.alan@epa.gov
Web address: http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/ecoregions.htm
Database name: Ecoregions
Description: Ecoregions denote areas of general similarity in ecosystems and in the type, quality, and quantity of environmental resources. They are designed to serve as a spatial framework for the research, assessment, management, and monitoring of ecosystems and ecosystem components. By recognizing the spatial differences in the capacities and potentials of ecosystems, ecoregions stratify the environment by its probable response to disturbance. These general purpose regions are critical for structuring and implementing ecosystem management strategies across federal agencies, state agencies, and nongovernment organizations that are responsible for different types of resources within the same geographical areas.
Organization: United States Geological Survey (USGS)
Contact: n/a
Email: n/a
Web address: http://www.lsc.usgs.gov/gis/nlpd/asp/pages/about.htm
Database name: National Landscape Pattern Database
Description: This data was created as part of a national analysis of land cover pattern. A series of derived maps (different indices, different window sizes) is available. They are proposed for consideration by landscape analysts, as
independent variables (e.g., covariates, stratification rules), and as "context" information for finer-scale investigations, for example field plots. Data available for Forest Area Density, Forest Fragmentation (both 30m resolution & 9x9 pixel analysis windows) & Landscape Pattern Types (30m resolution & 81x81 analysis window). MRCL data used.
Organization: US Geological Survey – Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium (MRLC)
Contact: n/a
Email: n/a
Web address: http://www.mrlc.gov/index.php
Database name: National Land Cover Database (NLCD)
Description: The Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) Consortium is a group of federal agencies who first joined together in 1993 (MRLC 1992) to purchase Landsat 5 imagery for the conterminous U.S. and to develop a land cover dataset called the National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD 1992). In 1999, a second-generation MRLC consortium (see logos) was formed to purchase three dates of Landsat 7 imagery for the entire United States (MRLC 2001) and to coordinate the production of a comprehensive land cover database for the nation called the National Land Cover Database (NLCD 2001).
NLCD2006 update is currently being worked on : To continue monitoring the current land cover condition and updating land cover inventory, a prototype that uses spectrally normalized Landsat images and NLCD 2001 data layers is being developed. The method has been tested in five study areas-New England, Mississippi, South Dakota, Washington, and Southern California-to update NLCD to a nominal date of 2006. New developments in mapping methodology, new sources of input data, and changes in the mapping legend for the 2001 National Land Cover Database (NLCD 2001) will confound any direct comparison between NLCD 2001 and the 1992 National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD 1992). Users are cautioned that direct comparison of these two independently created land cover products is not recommended. This NLCD 1992/2001 Retrofit Land Cover Change Product was developed to offer users more accurate direct change analysis between the two products. The NLCD 1992/2001 Retrofit Land Cover Change Product uses a specially developed methodology to provide land cover change information at the Anderson Level I classification scale (Anderson et al., 1976), relying on decision tree classification of Landsat imagery from 1992 and 2001. Unchanged pixels between the two dates are coded with the NLCD 2001 Anderson Level I class code, while changed pixels are labeled with a "from-to" land cover change value (Change Code Table). Additional detail is available in the metadata included in the multizone downloadable zip file. This product is designed for regional application only and is not recommended for local scales.
REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
n/a
STATE AGENCIES
Organization: Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (VA-DCR)
Contact: David Boyd
Email: david.boyd@dcr.virginia.gov
Web address: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/land_conservation/tools02a.shtml
Database name: Virginia Conservation Lands Database
Description: The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has developed the Commonwealth's first comprehensive, continually maintained GIS data layer for Virginia's protected conservation lands. This database includes mapped boundaries and attributes for public and certain private lands having various conservation, recreation and open-space roles. DCR's Natural Heritage Program staff was charged by the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation and the Department of Technology Planning to develop the database.
Most federal, state, regional and interstate lands are included. This includes water and park authorities, parks and undeveloped or partially-developed lands owned by localities, as well as lands owned as preserves by nonprofit conservation organizations such as The Nature Conservancy. Also included are conservation easements held by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, land trusts and others.
State resource agencies, universities, land trusts, and regional and local government will find this database invaluable for environmental, recreation and conservation planning. This database will also serve agencies with economic development interests, including such groups as the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, planning district commissions and localities. These boundaries are not intended for legal uses; no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) as to the accuracy of this data. Distribution of the data shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by DCR in the use of these data.
Organization: Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (VA-DCR)
Contact: Joe Weber
Email: joseph.weber@dcr.virginia.gov
Web address: http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/vclnavnla.shtml
Database name: Virginia Natural Landscape Assessment
Description: The Virginia Natural Heritage Program (VNHP) in the Department of Conservation and Recreation has developed a network of natural lands for the commonwealth of Virginia. This project, named the Virginia Natural Landscape Assessment (VaNLA), is a landscape-scale geospatial analysis for identifying, prioritizing, and linking natural lands in Virginia. Using land cover data derived from satellite imagery, the VaNLA identifies large patches of natural land with at least one hundred acres of interior cover. This interior cover, known as core area, begins one hundred meters from patch edges. Small patches with ten to ninety-nine acres of interior cover are included as habitat fragments that support landscape corridors and that may be important in localities with few large patches of natural land. For simplicity in the remainder of this document, core areas and
habitat fragments will be referred to collectively as ecological cores. Although the VaNLA is predominantly an analysis of forests, ecological cores include marshes, dunes, and beaches where these covers are abundant and exceed minimum size requirements.
The products of the VaNLA include GIS data, hardcopy and digital maps, and a report that summarizes the methodology and results and discusses potential uses of the GIS data.
Organization: Virginia Department of Forestry (VaDOF)
Contact: John Miller or Mindia Brown
Email: John.Miller@dof.virginia.gov or mindia.brown@dof.virginia.gov
Web address: http://www.dof.virginia.gov/gis/datadownload.shtml
Database name: Statewide Wildfire Risk Assessment
Description: The Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) used GIS to develop a statewide spatial Wildfire Risk Assessment model that aims to: (1) identify areas where conditions are more conducive and favorable to wildfire occurrence and wildfire advancement; (2) identify areas that require closer scrutiny at larger scales; and (3) examine the spatial relationships between areas of relatively high risk and other geographic features of concern such as woodland home communities, fire stations and fire hydrants. This model incorporates data from several other state and federal agencies including land cover, demographics, transportation corridors and topography. Differences in the relative importance of model variables necessitated the use of three individual analyses broken along Virginia's mountain, piedmont and coastal plain physiographical regions. The three model results were merged to produce the statewide Wildfire Risk Assessment.
Organization: Virginia Department of Forestry (VaDOF)
Contact: Nathan Stinnette
Email: Nathan.Stinnette@dof.virginia.gov
Web address: http://www.dof.virginia.gov/gis/datadownload.shtml
Database name: Virginia Historical Wildfire Incidents, 2002-2006
Description: This data set is derived from the Virginia Department of Forestry's internal fire incident reports for the time period from 2002-2006 inclusive. Wildland fires in Virginia occurring outside of the VDOF's jurisdiction are not included. In addition, the dataset is limited to those points for which accurate locational data was reported, therefore it should not be regarded as a complete report of all VDOF reported fires for the period in question.
Organization: Virginia Department of Forestry (VaDOF)
Contact: Mindia Brown
Email: mindia.brown@dof.virginia.gov
Web address: http://www.dof.virginia.gov/gis/datadownload.shtml
Database name: Virginia Wildfire Incidents, 1995-2001
Description: This dataset contains the locations of wildfire incidents throughout Virginia as documented by the Virginia Dept. of Forestry. Wildfires that occurred
between the years 1995-2001 inclusive are contained in this database. Generally speaking, fires occurring on federal lands are not included.
Organization: Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VaDGIF)
Contact: Lenee Pennington
Email: Lenee.Pennington@dgif.virginia.gov
Web address: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/gis/gis-data.asp
Database name: Virginia’s Birding and Wildlife Trail
Description: This dataset contains designated wildlife watching sites on the Virginia Birding & Wildlife Trail put together by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries' (VDGIF). These data are formatted as an ArcView shapefiles compiled by the VDGIF Fish and Wildlife Information Services (FWIS). These data are presented as points representing each site.
This dataset is primarily for cartographic representation. It does not include property boundaries of each site.
Organization: Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VaDGIF)
Contact: Dave Morton
Email: dmorton@dgif.state.va.us
Web address: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/gis/gis-data.asp
Database name: Cold Water Streams Survey (CWSS) – trout streams
Description: These data represent the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) coldwater, or trout, streams. The Fisheries Division of VDGIF has identified all of the reaches in this dataset as wild (Class I-IV) or stockable (Class V and VI) trout streams or as tributaries to wild trout streams. These classifications give the streams special management considerations and protection. Please note that many of the streams are on private property and are not necessarily public fishing waters. Date: 2005
Organization: Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VaDGIF)
Contact: Dave Morton
Email: dmorton@dgif.state.va.us
Web address: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/gis/gis-data.asp
Database name: Virginia’s Ecoregions
Description: These data represent the ecoregions used in Virginia's Wildlife Action Plan. The units are a modified Bailey Ecoregions at the section level. The data were edited from sections provided by Key's et al 1995 Ecoregion Subsection data. The national scale Section level map was used to guide the grouping of subsections, specifically the delineation between northern and southern cumberland mountains.
This dataset shows Virginia divided into ecoregions. These data can be used to determine ecoregion members of any geographic feature in Virginia.
Organization: Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VaDGIF)
Contact: Dave Morton
Email: dmorton@dgif.state.va.us
Web address: http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/gis/gis-data.asp
Database name: VDGIF Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Boundaries
Description: This dataset contains boundary information for Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries' (VDGIF) Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). The coverage includes all WMAs within Virginia. These data are formatted as an ArcView shapefiles compiled by the VDGIF Fish and Wildlife Information Services (FWIS) from the VDGIF Capital Outlay database. These data are presented as polygons of each site boundary. Date: 2003
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Organization: William and Mary - Center for Conservation Biology
Contact: Bryan Watts
Email: bdwatt@wm.edu
Web address: http://ccb.wm.edu/habitat/resources/resource_home.htm
Database name: Habitat Assessment
Description: This web section is designed to provide the user with direct access to digital products produced as part of the regional habitat assessment. All of these products have been designed to allow for customized, user-driven searches.
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