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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Metadata for R8_ECO
Ecoregions of Region 8
Table of Contents
Data_Quality_Information
Spatial_Reference_Information
Entity_and_Attribute_Information
Text between this line and the next follows the hierarchy of data elements in the FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata. Narratives written for earlier metadata of this data set sometimes did not match the FGDC sections. Where necessary, hypertext pointers were used to avoid rewriting the narrative.
Identification_Information:
Citation_Information:
Originator: US EPA REGION 8 TMS-ISP Publication_Date: 1999 Title: Ecoregion Spatial Database
Description:
Ecoregions of Region 8
Abstract:
This spatial database contains boundaries and attributes describing
Level III ecoregions in EPA Region 8. The ecoregions shown here have been
derived from Omernik (1987) and from refinements of Omernik's framework that
have been made for other projects. These ongoing or recently completed
projects, conducted in collaboration with the U.S. EPA regional offices and
with state resource management agencies, involve refining ecoregions, defining
subregions, and locating sets of reference sites. Designed to serve as a
spatial framework for environmental resource management, ecoregions denote
areas within which ecosystems (and the type, quality, and quantity of
environmental resources) are generally similar. The most immediate needs are
to develop regional biological criteria and water quality standards and to set
management goals for nonpoint source pollution. The approach used to compile
this map is based on the premise that ecological regions can be identified
through the analysis of the patterns and the composition of biotic and abiotic
phenomena that affect or reflect differences in ecosystem quality and
integrity (Wiken 1986; Omernik 1987, 1995). These phenomena include geology,
physiography, vegetation, climate, soils, land use, wildlife, and hydrology.
The relative importance of each characteristic varies from one ecological
region to another regardless of the hierarchical level. Because of possible
confusion with other meanings of terms for different levels of ecologic
regions, a Roman numeral classification scheme has been adopted for this
effort. Level I is the coarsest level, dividing North America into 15
ecological regions whereas at Level II the continentis subdivided into 52
classes. Level III is the hierarchical level shown on this map. For portions
of the United States the ecoregions have been further subdivided to level IV.
The applications of the ecoregions are explained in Gallant et al. (1989) and
in reports and publications from the state and regional projects. For
additional information, contact James M. Omernik, U.S. EPA National Health and
Environmental Effects Laboratory (NHEERL), 200 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR
97333 (phone: 541-754-4458).
Purpose:
Mapping of ecoregions in EPA Region 8 to assist managers of aquatic and
terrestrial resources in understanding theregional patterns of the
realistically attainable quality of these resources.
Intended use of data:
Mapping.
Supplemental_Information:
Limitations_of_Data:
For use at 1:250,000 or smaller scales
Procedures:
1) All ecoregion and subregion delineations are digitized from the
U.S.G.S. 1:250,000 base maps. Prior to digitizing each base map must be
initialized to orient the map and relate it in geographic coordinates to
the surface of the earth. When the registration tics are entered at the
start of digitizing a transformation error of <0.003 must be achieved in
order to insure a high level of registration accuracy. The person
responsible for digital data entry completes a data sheet describing
coverage name, date of entry, and whether a topology for the coverage is
established.
2) After each 1:250,000 base map has been digitized, a topology
for each coverage is established. This function creates unique
identities for each polygon.
3) Next each base map is tested for polygon errors through an
internal editing function. Errors are corrected for unlabeled polygons,
unclosed polygons, or polygons with more than one label. Topology is
reestablished for each coverage and tested again until no error are
indicated.
4) The digital coverage is then plotted at the same scale as the
original base map. This coverage is overlaid on a light table with
the original and visually inspected for replication of original lines
with digitized lines. Two individuals independently inspect the coverage
The national coverage was projected to Region 8 Albers and clipped with
region 8 states coverage.
Revisions:
1. Original lines digitized 1986? (unknown number of revisions between then
and now)
5. Updated lines in ND from updated ND level IV lines 9/96
6. Updated lines in SD from updated SD level IV lines 9/96
7. Deleted # 41 (became part of #42), added 3 new ecoregions (#41, #79, and
#80) 12/96
8. Updated line in SD from revised level IV lines in SD 12/96
9. Merged Thompson-Okanaga Highlands ecoregion (79) with Northern Rockies(15).
Madrean Archipelago (80) item ECO became 79. 2/97
12. Updated lines in Montana from revised level IV lines. 1/98
13. Updated lines to agree with lines from the National Interagency Technical
Team (NITT). Areas where lines were altered include
Ecoregion 12 was split into two, 12 and 80 (Snake River Basin and High Desert);
Ecoregion 14 was split into two, 14 and 81;
14. Ecoregion names were also updated as follows:
Region #13 changed from "Northern Basin and Range" to "Central Basin and
Range".
Reviews_Applied:
1. Lines and map were reviewed by ??
5. Revised lines were reviewed by Sandy Bryce, Dynamac
6. Revised lines were reviewed by Sandy Bryce, Dynamac
7. Revised lines were reviewed by Jim Omernik, EPA
8. Revised lines were reviewed by Sandy Bryce, Dynamac
9. Revised line was reviewed by Jim Omernik, EPA
12. Revised lines were reviewed by Alan Woods, Dynamac
13. Revised lines were reviewed by Jim Omernik, EPA
14. Revised lines were reviewed by Glenn Griffith, NRCS
Other_Related_Data_Sets:
None.
References_Cited:
Bryce, S.A., J.M. Omernik, D.E. Pater, M. Ulmer, J. Schaar, J. Freeouf, R.
Johnson, P. Kuck, and S.H. Azevedo. 1998. Ecoregions of North Dakota and South Dakota. (Map poster). U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.
Commission for Environmental Cooperation. 1997. Ecological regions of North
America: toward a common perspective. Commission for Environmental Cooperation, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 71pp. Map (scale 1:12,500,000).
Gallant, A.L., T.R. Whittier, D.P. Larsen, J.M. Omernik, and R.M. Hughes. 1989. Regionalization as a tool for managing environmental resources.
EPA/600/3-89/060. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR. 152p.
Omernik, J.M. 1987. Ecoregions of the conterminous United States. Map (scale
1:7,500,000). Annals of the Association of American Geographers
77(1):118-125.
Omernik, J.M. 1995. Ecoregions: A spatial framework for environmental
management. In: Biological Assessment and Criteria: Tools for Water Resource Planning and Decision Making. Davis, W.S. and T.P. Simon (eds.) Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL. Pp. 49-62.
Wiken, E. 1986. Terrestrial ecozones of Canada. Environment Canada. Ecological
Land Classification Series No. 19. Ottawa, Canada.
Notes:
None
Other:
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Single_Date/Time:
Calendar_Date: 1999
Currentness_Reference: publication date
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed
Spatial_Domain:
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -116.2306
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -95.3278
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.9423
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.6588
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: Ecoregions
Access_Constraints:
None
Use_Constraints:
None
Security_Information:
Security_Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Native_Data_Set_Environment:
Arc/INFO
Data_Quality_Information:
Logical_Consistency_Report:
Polygon topology present.
Completeness_Report:
See Supplemental_Information
Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy: See Supplemental_Information Quantitative_Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Assessment: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Value: NA Vertical_Positional_Accuracy: See Supplemental_Information
Lineage:
See Supplemental_Information for overview. None.
Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Planar:
Map_Projection:
Map_Projection_Name: Albers Conical Equal Area
Alber_Conical_Equal_Area:
Standard_Parallel: 38
Standard_Parallel: 48
Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -106
Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 37
False_Easting: 0.00000
False_Northing: 0.00000
Geodetic_Model:
Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983
Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_label: R8_ECO.PAT
Entity_Type_Definition: Boundaries of ecoregions
Number_of_Attributes_in_Entity: 8
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: -
Attribute_Definition: Boundaries of ecoregions
Attribute_Definition_Source: EPA; Corvalis, OR
Attribute_Domain_Values: -
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: AREA
Attribute_Definition: Area of poly/region in square coverage units
Attribute_Definition_Source: Computed
Attribute_Domain_Values: Positive real numbers
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: PERIMETER
Attribute_Definition: Perimeter of poly/region in coverage units
Attribute_Definition_Source: Computed
Attribute_Domain_Values: Positive real numbers
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: R8_ECO#
Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number
Attribute_Definition_Source: Computed
Attribute_Domain_Values: Sequential unique positive integer
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: R8_ECO-ID
Attribute_Definition: User-assigned feature number
Attribute_Definition_Source: User-defined
Attribute_Domain_Values: Integer
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: ECO
Attribute_Definition: Regional Designation of ecoregion type
Attribute_Definition_Source: EPA
Attribute_Domain_Values: number from 1 to 76
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: NAME
Attribute_Definition: Ecoregion name
Attribute_Definition_Source:
Attribute_Domain_Values: up to 50 characters
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
See attribute discussion.
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: See Entity_and_Attribute_Information
Distribution_Information:
Distributor
Contact_Information
Contact_Organization_Primary
Contact_Organization: US EPA REGION 8 TMS-ISP
Contact_Person: Karl Hermann
Contact_Address
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 999 18th Street, Suite 300
City: Denver
State_or_Province: Colorado
Postal_Code: 80202-2466
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: (303) 312-6628
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (303) 312-7554
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: hermann.karl@epa.gov
Hours_of_Service: Monday-Friday 8-4:30, Mountain Time
Distribution_Liability: Although these data have been processed
successfully on a computer system at the U.S. EPA, no warranty
expressed or implied is made by the EPA regarding the utility of the data
on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute
any such warranty.
Standard_Order_Process: See contact information above.
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: ARCEXPORT
Fees: None.
Available_Time_Period: Immediate.
Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 2000807
Metadata_Contact
Contact_Information
Contact_Organization_Primary
Contact_Organization: US EPA REGION 8 TMS-ISP
Contact_Person: Marilynn Mueller
Contact_Address
Address_Type: mailing and physical address
Address: 999 18th Street, Suite 300
City: Denver
State_or_Province: Colorado
Postal_Code: 80202-2466
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: (303) 312-6679
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (303) 312-7554
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: mueller.marilynn@epa.gov
Hours_of_Service: Monday-Friday 8-4:30, Mountain Time
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: 19940608
Metadata_Time_Convention: Local Time
Last modified: 01-05-14.13:06:09.Mon
