FGDC Wetland Mapping Standard

“Enabling the Calculation of Wetlands Gain and Loss…”

Introduction

A multi-Agency, multi-organization workgroup has developed a draft
Wetland Mapping Standard for adoption by the Federal Geographic Data
Committee.  This draft standard is now available for public review at:

  HYPERLINK
"http://www.fws.gov/nwi/FINAL_Draft_Wetlands_Mapping_Standard_08_06_07.p
df"  www.fws.gov/nwi/FINAL_Draft_Wetlands_Mapping_Standard_08_06_07.pdf 

The intent of the standard is to support current and future digital
mapping requirements, through specification of minimum data quality
components, and reuse of an existing standard being used by the U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service.  The standard supports the National Wetlands
Inventory (NWI), and aligns with the requirements of the National
Hydrography Dataset (NHD).  The standard is intended to be extendible,
forward looking, and able to accommodate technology enhancements over
time.  The standard is applicable to all mapping activities that are
funded or conducted by the Federal government.  

The Need for a Wetlands Mapping Standard

The need for standards to support the documentation and exchange of
mapping information is great.  The proposed standard will enable Federal
agencies, States, Tribes, and local governments to:

Map and input data into the National Wetlands Inventory Geodatabase and
the National Map

Facilitate mapping layers that can be used across geopolitical and
watershed boundaries

Provide updated information to the wetlands layer of the National
Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI)

Streamline mapping efforts for greater consistency and efficiency, and
improved data quality and context

Support future national efforts in support of wetlands assessment
activities.

Improved wetland mapping standardization is necessary to provide a
complete and accurate picture of wetland resources in the United States,
as well as providing the ability to calculate, not estimate, wetlands
loss and gain.  This standard would help current abilities to map
wetland geospatial distribution, and would complete national mapping
efforts to include wetlands data in a watershed context.  

Existing Wetlands Standards

There is currently no FGDC approved standard for wetland mapping.  It
was the intent of the wetlands subcommittee workgroup to use the
resources and expertise from multiple Federal and State agencies and the
wetlands community to provide a comprehensive mapping standard based on
existing Agency standards, guidance, and technologies.  The proposed
standard is based in large part on a draft standard used by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service in support of the National Wetlands Inventory.
 Other referential, classification, and metadata standards have been
reviewed for alignment as part of the standards development process.

Who Is Developing the Standard?

The standard is being developed by a diverse workgroup of the Wetlands
Subcommittee.  The workgroup is comprised of members of Federal
agencies, States, Tribes, environmental organizations, management
associations, and local government associations with an interest in
improving quality and consistency in wetlands mapping efforts.  The
workgroup is interested in and encouraging participation from anyone in
the wetlands or geospatial community.  The standard is being developed
with due consideration of minimizing burden to the end-user community
but assuring consistency and documented quality of mapping products.  

Standard Timeline

July 2006 to December 2006:  Biweekly Meetings/ Phone Conferences

September 2006 to October 2006:  Stakeholder Outreach / Begin
pre-Vetting process 

January 2007:  Complete Working Draft of the Standard

January 2007:  Begin Agency and Partner review process

February 2007:  Receive Agency comments

March 2007:  Propose Wetlands Mapping Standard to FGDC

July 2007:  Proposed Standard Approved for Public Review by FGDC

August 7, 2007:  Federal Register Notice published (begin 90 day Public
Review)

November 9, 2007:  End of Public Review Comment period

Components of the Standard

The standard consists of an introduction section addressing objectives,
scope, applicability, related standards, development procedure, and
maintenance authority.  More important are the functional requirements
of the standard which are designed to address the definitional and
quality requirements of the standard.  These include wetlands
classification, habitat definitions, metadata, targeted mapping unit,
and quality components such as completeness, accuracy, and logical
consistency.  

Additional Information

Participation from individuals and groups with an interest in wetlands
or geospatial mapping activities are encouraged to review and comment to
help inform the content of the standard.  You may submit comments
related to the draft standard at:

  HYPERLINK "http://www.regulations.gov"  www.regulations.gov 

Refer to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2007-0697

More information may be obtained from:

Margarete Heber					

U.S. EPA

Wetlands Division, OWOW, OW

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue

Washington DC,

202-566-1189

FAX  202-566-1349

DRAFT FGDC Wetlands Mapping Standard Fact Sheet.  - Updated 8/8007

