The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 mandated that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) develop Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) reports for all lands under its jurisdiction.   The goal of each CCP report is to provide a document to aid in management of the habitats found on a specific refuge.   Descriptions and digital version reports of on-going and completed USFWS Region 3 CCPs are available here: CCP Reports Online.

As a result, the USFWS has an increased need for more complete, geo-referenced digital data coverage of its national wildlife refuge (NWR) areas.   Geographic information systems (GIS) are the tool for organizing, manipulating, and presenting geospatial data.   To realize the power of GIS, we must acquire up-to-date data, build analytical tools that appropriately address planning problems, and develop easy-to-use presentation modules.   The University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources is working cooperatively with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Region 3 to meet these requirements.

For each refuge, we acquire digital boundary and other geospatial data, use a variety of software for data analysis, and compile metadata information.   The final result is a report entitled "Construction of a Geographic Information System for Wildlife Refuge Planning".   Reports have been completed for the following refuges (click on refuge name to download PDF file):

In addition, we have created high-resolution land cover spatial databases for Muscatatuck and Patoka River refuges.   The databases provide baseline information that will aid the USFWS in developing Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) reports for each refuge.   USFWS aerial photos were used to classify vegetation types according to the National Vegetation Classification System (NVCS), and a refuge-derived classification system was developed and crosswalked to the NVCS. Report summaries in PDF format may be downloaded here: MUSCATATUCK Land Cover and PATOKA RIVER Land Cover.

Recommended: Use Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4.0 (or higher) for viewing the PDF files.   Download a free copy HERE:  

We have been compiling geo-referenced data for Region 3 national wildlife refuges since the fall of 1997 and have developed a standardized list of data sets.   Data have been acquired from various local, state and federal agencies, academic, professional and government Internet sites, and some private companies.   In some instances, students have gathered refuge data using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.   Much of the data have been available at no cost, and other data have been purchased by the USFWS.   To view our standardized data sets list, follow this link: DATA SETS

We are also developing data beyond the standard data set for some refuges. For example, we have recently completed a LAND COVER FOR MINNESOTA VALLEY NWR classification project.

An integral step in constructing geospatial data coverages is the creation of georeferenced digital boundary files.   We are creating boundary files for refuges in accordance with USFWS standard operating procedures.   For more information, follow this link: BOUNDARIES

Multiple GIS and imaging software are used to organize, manipulate and present the geospatial data.   Programs used include ESRI Arc/Info, ESRI Arcview, and ERDAS Imagine, running on both NT and Unix workstations.

The geospatial data can be analyzed and displayed using MapServer, the University of Minnesota's interactive mapping application that allows interactive presentation and query of geospatial data via a Web browser.   With these dynamic maps, a user can select and view various data layers, zoom in and out, and ask for information about the layers.   For MapServer technical information, tutorial, and an on-line example application for Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, please click on this link: SAMPLE APPLICATIONS

In addition to the spatial data layers, students are creating metadata text files that describe each data set, its sources, and processing procedures.   One metadata text file is created for each coverage using a combination of software tools available via the Internet.   The spatial extent of a coverage is found using an ArcView 3.0 extension called Metadata Collector from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).   A metadata entry program called Corpsmet95 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is used for the majority of file creation.   The program called MetaParser from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is used to check the metadata text file for errors and/or reformat the file.

Final reports and data sets, along with their corresponding metadata and text description files, are provided on CD-ROM to the USFWS Region 3 office.   Copies are available to the public.   For more information, please contact:

Mary Mitchell, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive
Fort Snelling, MN 55111-4056
Phone: 612-713-5443
Email: mary_s_mitchell@fws.gov

To view additional web sites related to refuges, please click on this link: RELATED SITES