Riparian, Wetland, and Aquatic Location Data Standard

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov

September 2, 2010

In Reply Refer To:

1737, 4000, 6700, 7200 (220) P

EMS TRANSMISSION 09/16/2010

Instruction Memorandum No. 2010-200

Expires:  09/30/2011                                                                                                                          

To:                   All Field Officials

From:               Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning

Subject:           Riparian, Wetland, and Aquatic Location Data Standard

Program Area:  Riparian Management.

Purpose:  The purpose of this Instruction Memorandum (IM) is to transmit the Bureau of Land Management’s data standard for the digital geospatial mapping and recording of Riparian, Wetland, and Aquatic Location (RWAL) information.

Policy/Action:  The Data Standard Report and the Domains Specific to RWAL for developing and maintaining the RWAL data in electronic format are found in Attachments 1 and 2 of this IM.  All offices must use this standard when developing, amending, or maintaining electronic RWAL datasets.

Timeframe:  The RWAL Data Standard will be effective immediately.  Those states collecting digital geospatial data this season shall do so using the new standard.  There is currently no requirement to submit the data to a national dataset, but it is anticipated that the data call will occur in FY 2011, when a finalized application for managing and storing the data is developed.  Interim guidance for developing a geodatabase can be found at the BLM data management website to assist with implementing the data standard in FY2 010.

Budget Impact:  There should be minimal budget impact as the data standard only changes the format of the data stored after it is collected; it does not change the business requirement for collecting the information.

Background:  A team with representatives from field offices, state offices, Washington Office (WO), and the National Operations Center (NOC) was tasked with developing a set of standards.  These standards are now being presented to all field offices and must be used to develop, maintain, or amend electronic datasets of Riparian, Wetland, and Aquatic Location information.

Manual/Handbook Sections Affected:  None.

Coordination:  Development of these standards was coordinated amongst WO-210, WO-220, WO-230, and WO-280; representative state riparian leads; state data administrators; and GIS coordinators.

Contacts:  Gordon Toevs, National Riparian Lead, WO-220 at (202) 912-7202; Tom Chatfield, BLM Data Architect, OC-530 at (303) 236-1936 for information regarding the standard.

Signed by:                                                       Authenticated by:

Edwin L. Roberson                                         Robert M. Williams

Assistant Director                                           Division of IRM Governance,WO-560

Renewable Resources and Planning

2 Attachments

1 – Riparian, Wetland, and Aquatic Locations Data Standard Report (33 pp)

2 – Domains Specific to Riparian, Wetland, and Aquatic Locations Tables (9 pp)