Alabama

Organizing

Anticipated completion date: December 2004

Contact: James B. Grand
Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Auburn University, Auburn
bgrand@acesag.auburn.edu, (334) 844-4796

A Gap Analysis Project for Alabama will be initiated December 8, 1999 with a Cooperator's Workshop. The anticipated start date is March 2000.

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Alaska

Not started

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Arizona

Near completion; update under way

Anticipated completion date: February 2000; update: July 2004

Contacts: Kathryn A. Thomas, Project Leader
USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Colorado Plateau Field Station, Flagstaff
Kathryn_A_Thomas@USGS.gov, (520) 556-7466 x235

Sarah R. Jacobs, AZ GAP Update Coordinator
USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Colorado Plateau Field Station, Flagstaff
Sarah.Jacobs@NAU.edu, (520) 556-7466 x240

Original AZ-GAP project:

The Arizona GAP land cover map, with 54 land cover categories, is finished and is available at http://srnr.arizona.edu/nbs/gap. The assessment of this map was completed through a partnership of University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. The land stewardship map is completed and ready to be incorporated into the final GAP report. Gap analysis for Arizona has been completed; the tables and graphs are now being finalized. The AZ-GAP final report is near completion. Our anticipated date of delivery is the end of February 2000. We anticipate that all the data will be on the web site (listed above) by the end of March.

Land cover: Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico are embarking on a multiyear project to update GAP in the Southwest as a coordinated regional effort. The Southwest regional project will develop new digital map databases, focusing first on the land cover map. A consistent approach for mapping land cover is essential for success of a regional gap analysis. Consistency across state boundaries can be accomplished by using a standardized classification system (rather than each state having a unique system) and mapping zones (rather than state boundaries).

A standardized classification system, the National Vegetation Classification System (NVCS), will facilitate use of the land cover map throughout the Southwest. The NVCS is regarded as a major step toward enhancing our ability to understand, protect, and manage the natural resources of the United States. It provides a hierarchical framework for describing vegetation and a convention for identifying and naming additional vegetation types. A description of the NVCS is available at http://consci.tnc.org/library/pubs/class/index.html. A set of preliminary alliance names have been developed in Arizona, but it is expected that the project will expand and further define alliances for Arizona.

Arizona will use satellite imagery from the latest earth satellite observation system, Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus, to delineate preliminary land cover polygons. It is anticipated that the improved spatial resolution (15 m) from the newly added panchromatic band will increase accuracy and definition in land cover mapping. Prior to classification, the imagery will undergo preprocessing and stratification at a regional laboratory.

Mapping zones will create a seamless land cover map for the Southwest by dividing the area into ecological rather than administrative units. The use of mapping zones will maximize information extraction from the satellite imagery by separating the imagery into smaller, more homogeneous areas prior to classification.

Animal modeling: Arizona will cooperate to produce a preliminary consolidated list of terrestrial vertebrate species and preliminary distribution maps for the Southwest region. The SW Gap Analysis Update five-state team met in January 2000 to develop the interstate strategy for vertebrate distribution modeling.

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Arkansas

Complete (see http://www.cast.uark.edu/gap/)

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California

Complete (see http://www.biogeog.ucsb.edu/projects/gap/gap_home.html)

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Colorado

Near completion

Anticipated completion date: March 2000

Contact: Donald L. Schrup
Colorado Division of Wildlife, Denver
hqwris@lamar.colostate.edu, (303) 291-7277

Land cover: Land cover base coverage is complete and undergoing accuracy assessment. Interpretation of the air video for accuracy assessment is also complete; preliminary traditional and fuzzy accuracy estimates have been calculated for both overall map accuracy and accuracy of individual types. Interpretation of these statistics is under way.

Animal modeling: Animal models have been generated for 597 species, reviewed by cooperators, and applied to generate the species/stewardship tables for CO-GAP’s final report.

Land stewardship: The land stewardship coverage for CO-GAP was finalized with edits based on Bureau of Land Management’s Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs).

Analysis: Standard state report tables have been generated and analyzed for the CO-GAP final report. Table information was used to prepare the analysis chapters for the final report, and the chapters are distributed for team review. Copies were distributed for final cooperator review in November 1999.

Reporting and data distribution: Development and delivery of final CO-GAP deliverables to the National GAP Office is on target for March 2000.

Other accomplishments and innovations: Materials for the CO-GAP home page (http://ndis.nrel.colostate.edu/cogap/cogaphome.html) are being developed concurrently with deliverables for the National GAP Office. The CO-GAP home page is targeted for public access in February 2000 (http://ndis.nrel.colostate.edu/cogap/cogaphome.html).

Additionally, Colorado has joined with Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah in initiating the Southwest ReGAP project to extend state GAP project work to the landscape level for use in biodiversity planning efforts in the Southwest. Lee O’Brien will be the Colorado state coordinator for the SW ReGAP initiative. The five states have already begun to develop a collective list of their species models and plan to meet in January 2000 to develop an integrated workplan.

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Connecticut, Massachusetts, & Rhode Island

(see Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island)

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Delaware, Maryland, & New Jersey

(see Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey).

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Florida

Near completion

Anticipated completion date: March 2000

Contact: Leonard Pearlstine
Florida Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
University of Florida, Gainesville
pearlstinel@wec.ufl.edu, (352) 846-0630

Land cover: A 70-class (59 natural classes) land cover classification from 1993/94 Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery is complete. All of the classification has been reviewed by the Florida Fish and Widlife Conservation Commission except for two Landsat scenes of the Florida panhandle which are currently under review. Accuracy assessment is also being conducted by evaluating low altitude, geo-coded videography and digital photography.

Animal modeling: Habitat-affinity matrices have been completed and matched to the final land cover classification. The ARC/INFO AML programs to conduct spatial modeling of species distributions have been completed and tested. Wildlife habitat models will be run for all species and should be completed by December 1999.

Land stewardship mapping: The Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) of The Nature Conservancy Heritage Program has independently compiled GIS coverages of conservation lands for Florida. GAP ownership and management codes have been added as attributes to the FNAI coverage. FNAI is working with FL-GAP to translate their protection status rankings to the ranking scheme required for GAP.

Analysis: We are awaiting completion of the Florida land stewardship coverage to begin analysis of the land cover types. Analysis of the wildlife habitat models will be conducted as the models are completed. Expected date of completion for the analysis is late December 1999.

Reporting and data distribution: The land cover and wildlife modeling methodology sections of the final report are nearing completion. Draft products can be viewed at the FL-GAP web site at www.wec.ufl.edu/coop/gap. As products are completed, they will be available on the FL- GAP web site.

Allen, C., L. Pearlstine, and W. Kitchens. (Accepted). Modeling viable mammal populations in gap analyses. Biological Conservation.

<%Case "GA"%>

Georgia

Under way

Anticipated completion date: October 2001

Contact: Elizabeth Kramer
Natural Resource Spatial Analysis Laboratory
Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens
lkramer@arches.uga.edu, (706) 542-2968

Land cover: The Georgia Gap Analysis Project began in July 1998. From January 1999 to January 2000 significant progress has been made in all areas of the project. Specifically, we have:

1. Developed a protocol and progressed in creating a general land cover map of the state on a county-by-county basis. To date, 11 counties (out of 159) have been completed. Figure 1 shows the progress of the state land cover mapping initiative.Figure 1. Status of the general land cover map for Georgia.
2. Ground-checked two of the above counties with a reported overall accuracy of 87%.
3. Continued to refine the list of vegetation alliances to be mapped in the second iteration of the land cover mapping effort. In some instances this required aggregating several alliances into a single mapping unit.
4. Began development of rules to be used in predicting aggregated vegetation alliances.
5. Continued training seven image processors to implement the vegetation mapping protocol.

Over the next 12 months, we anticipate completing the general land cover map of the state and will implement models of the distribution of vegetation alliances. Additionally, we will engage in a series of ground- truth surveys to assess the accuracy of these maps. We are also working with Dana Slaymaker of the University of Massachusetts to develop a new color infared digital video system which we will use to gather high- resolution land cover data in the spring/summer and fall of 2000.

Animal modeling: To date, a list of Georgia’s vertebrates has been compiled, and a literature search is under way to determine habitat requirements for vertebrate species known to breed or winter in Georgia. These requirements are being entered into a relational database and will be cross-walked to the general land cover classification and, when possible, to the more detailed vegetation alliance classification. From this database individual species models will be built to determine spatial distributions of the vertebrates in question. Locational information on rare species across all taxa will be obtained from the Natural Heritage Program's element occurrences database from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Additionally, agreements are being set up with the Georgia Museum of Natural History to obtain a copy of the database of distributional records for all vertebrates in their collection, including fish. GA-GAP has also implemented a pilot program focusing on the development of methods for aquatic gap analysis.

Land stewardship mapping: With funds provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, the land stewardship mapping has been completed and a CD-ROM of the data has been provided to the National GAP office. See the section on data distribution for details on how to obtain a copy of this database. To date, 14 agencies and many individuals have requested and received copies of the Georgia Conservation Lands database.

Analysis: We have begun a preliminary analysis of the distribution and status of protected lands in the state, addressing such questions as the proportion and spatial distribution of: protected lands in each category of GAP status, protected lands in each ecoregion, protected lands which allow timber harvesting, and a breakdown of the protected lands by managing authority. This analysis will continue over the next 12 months as the land cover maps and vertebrate distribution maps are developed.

Reporting and data distribution: Maintenance of the Georgia conservation lands database has been turned over to Chris Canalos of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, 2117 U.S. Hwy 278 S.E., Social Circle, GA 30025-4714; phone: (706) 557-3032; fax: (706) 557-3033; e-mail: chris_canolos@mail.dnr.state.ga.us. The database and its associated metadata can be obtained from two sources: it can be downloaded from the Georgia GIS data clearinghouse (http://www.gis.state.ga.us/) or received via anonymous ftp from the NARSAL Lab at the Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, following these instructions:

1. ftp greer.ecology.uga.edu,
2. cd pub, 
3. bin,
4. prompt, 
5. mget conservation.*,
6. bye.

Other accomplishments and innovations: GA-GAP will provide the base map for the Georgia Land Use Trends analysis program (GLUT), a 1- million-dollar project funded by The Turner Foundation. The GLUT project will also be run by Dr. Elizabeth A. Kramer of the University of Georgia’s Institute of Ecology in coooperation with UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. The project will retroactively create a series of land cover maps for the state of Georgia representing five increments for the past 25 years to show how Georgia's rapid growth has affected land use in urban and rural areas.

<%Case "HI"%>

Organizing

Anticipated completion date: December 2004

Contact: Samuel M. Gon III
PI, HI-GAP
Director of Science
The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii,
923 Nuuanu Avenue
Honolulu, HI, 96817
sgon@tnc.org
(808) 537-4508 x241, fax: (808) 545-2019

Dr. James Jacobi
Co-PI HI-GAP
NBS, Hawaii Research Station
Box 44
Hawaii Volcanoes, HI 96718
Jim_Jacobi@usgs.gov
(808)967-7396, fax (808)967-8568

Land cover: Initial drafts of land cover have been completed for native vegetation (see figure). The goal is to develop more detailed units for both native and non-native vegetation. Masks for urban and major agricultural lands are planned.

Animal modeling: Compilations of Natural Heritage Program occurrence records for endangered birds are complete. We intend to convene working groups to develop range maps for birds, bats, and selected native invertebrates.

Land stewardship mapping: Major land ownership patterns for the state are completed. We will develop management classes through working group meetings and assign these attributes to existing managed land units.

Analysis: We intend to adapt analysis algorithms of other states to apply to the higher resolution needed for small tropical insular systems. We will convene the analysis working group on this matter.

Update near completion

Anticipated completion date: March 2000

Contact: Leona K. Bomar
Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Moscow
leonab@uidaho.edu, (208) 885-5788
http://www.wildlife.uidaho.edu/idgap.htm

Land cover: The ID-GAP land cover layer and final report chapter are complete. The land cover classification recognizes 81 cover types and is mapped at a resolution of 0.09 ha with a 2-ha MMU.

Animal modeling: Wildlife habitat relationship models have been completed for 375 terrestrial vertebrates in Idaho. The models are stored as georeferenced TIFF images with a native resolution of 0.09 ha.

Land stewardship mapping: The revised Idaho land stewardship database is also complete. This data set represents a significant improvement over the original Idaho land stewardship layer by increasing spatial resolution to a 2-ha MMU and incorporating many of the smaller managed areas in Idaho.

Analysis: Analysis of the protection status of Idaho’s land cover types is complete. Analysis of wildlife habitat distributions will be completed in early December 1999.

Reporting and data distribution: The final report for ID-GAP is awaiting completion of the wildlife habitat distribution analysis. All data, metadata, and documentation is currently available for download from the URL above or by contacting the Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.

Other accomplishments and innovations: We have conducted a gap analysis of geomorphologic and climatic features in Idaho. We will compare the results of this analysis with those from land cover and wildlife habitat analyses.

Under way

Anticipated completion date: December 2001

Contacts: Jocelyn L. Aycrigg, GAP Coordinator
Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign
aycrigg@mail.inhs.uiuc.edu, (217) 244-2111
Linda Schwab, Assistant GAP Coordinator
Illinois Natural History Survey
schwab@mail.inhs.uiuc.edu, (217) 265-8425

Land cover: A general land cover classification for the state was completed in October 1995. This classification identified 19 land cover classes: four urban, three forest and woodland, three agriculture, two grassland, five wetland, and two other categories (water and barren areas). The alliance-level GAP vegetation classification is being performed by stratifying along land cover classes. Classification protocols are similar to protocols for UM-GAP (see Bulletin No. 5, p. 35). Classification to the community/alliance level has been completed for southern Illinois. We have concentrated our efforts on the western side of the state along the Mississippi River near East St. Louis. We have obtained ancillary data such has DEMs and forest inventory information, which have assisted us in our classification. We plan to classify TM scenes northward along the Mississippi River as well as northeastern Illinois in the coming year. Furthermore, we will explore methods for conducting accuracy assessment in anticipation of completing the vegetation classification.

Animal modeling: We have created a list of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals to be mapped. We are using specimens collected by the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) and the University of Illinois Museum of Natural History to obtain locational records for each species. We have also obtained museum records from the Smithsonian, American Museum of Natural History, Chicago Field Museum, Kansas State Museum of Natural History, and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at Berkeley. Furthermore, we have obtained input from wildlife habitat biologists throughout the state regarding species known to occur in their district. We have completed mapping the amphibian, reptile, and mammal collection of the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University of Illinois Museum of Natural History. We are currently mapping the mammal collections of Illinois from other museums. We plan to conduct an expert review of the amphibian and reptile range maps as well as finish up the habitat associations. We will also continue gathering habitat association information for each mammal species. Information gathered previously for the Illinois Fish and Wildlife Information System will be helpful in developing habitat associations. We will use the breeding bird survey for Illinois and the Illinois Breeding Bird Atlas to create a list of bird species to be mapped and begin delineating ranges for those species.

Land stewardship mapping: We have developed a land stewardship map for Illinois, attributed general ownership categories, and assigned management status levels. The GAP coding scheme for land units has been assigned to each property. The database needs to be reviewed to determine if all properties have been included.

Analysis: We have completed some preliminary analysis using amphibian, reptile, and mammal locational data to create species richness maps using the EMAP hexagons. We have also started some analysis of species that occur only in southern Illinois for which we have a completed alliance level classification. We will continue to do more analysis as our species and vegetation mapping progresses.

Reporting and data distribution: In the coming year, we will finish the statewide alliance level classification of vegetation and continue our work on the species modeling. We will start writing segments of the report in the coming year.

Other accomplishments and innovations: A web page for the Illinois Gap Analysis Project has been created and can be viewed at www.inhs.uiuc.edu//cwe/gap/gapintro.html. We were able to obtain new cooperators with the assistance of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service and the Illinois Department of Agriculture have agreed to work with us to obtain and classify statewide TM imagery.

Presentations on the Illinois Gap Analysis Project were given to the Senior Agency Managers of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Illinois Board of Natural Resources, the Illinois Chapter of The Wildlife Society, and a University of Illinois class on Ecosystem Management.

Listed below are projects that are starting up, ongoing, or have been completed using the Land Cover Database of Illinois as well as other data developed as part of GAP.

• Modeling wild turkey habitat in the Illinois landscape. T. Van Deelen, P. Brown, M. Joselyn, D. Greer, T. Maples, and J. Garver.
• Dispersion of gray and fox squirrels. D. Rosenblatt and E. Heske.
• Fox and coyote ecology in central Illinois. T. Gosselink, T. Van Deelen, R. Warner, and P. Mankin.
• Habitat use by raccoons and opossums. E. Heske and D. Rosenblatt.
• Identification and classification of critical wildlife habitat. P. Brown, M. Joselyn, J. Aycrigg, L. Suloway, and B. Zercher.

Near completion

Anticipated completion date: June 2000

Contact: Forest Clark
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bloomington
forest_clark@fws.gov, (812) 334-4261 x206

Land cover: The Indiana land cover data layer is complete and is being used in numerous projects including as a foundation data layer in the regional assessments under way by the Indiana Biodiversity Initiative. These data have also been made available on request to agencies, consultants, and NGOs. We hope to have this and the other primary data layers on the web early in 2000.

Animal modeling: The Indiana vertebrate models were completed and integrated with the vegetation map to produce a draft product for review. A panel reviewed the models and identified those for which improvements were possible with the data available to the project. These revised models have been drafted and are currently being converted to digital form. We plan to run the entire set of vertebrate models early in 2000.

Land stewardship mapping: The Indiana land stewardship data layer is complete. Coding of stewardship types based on a matrix developed for the project is ongoing. The basic protection status coding is complete, and these data are ready for the analysis phase.

Analysis: The Indiana project will conduct the analysis over the winter 2000.

Reporting and data distribution: The Indiana project has been working on various sections of the final report and proposes to finish the first draft by late spring 2000.

Other accomplishments and innovations: The Indiana Biodiversity Initiative which is using GAP data extensively in its assessment of biodiversity recently received two major grants totaling over $60,000 to continue the Initiative's work. The Indiana Biodiversity Initiative functions as the implementation arm of Gap Analysis in Indiana. The Grand Kankakee Marsh National Wildlife Refuge which used GAP data from both Indiana and Illinois in its design was approved by the Regional Director of Region 3, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in August 1999.

Under way

Anticipated completion date: December 2001

Contacts: Erwin E. Klaas, Co-Principal Investigator
Leader, Iowa Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit
Department of Animal Ecology
Iowa State University, Ames
eklaas@iastate.edu, (515) 294-7990

Kevin Kane, Co-Principal Investigator
Manager, ISU GIS Support and Research Facility
Iowa State University, Ames
kkane@iastate.edu, (515) 294-0526

The Iowa Gap Analysis Project (IA-GAP) is in its third year. An IA-GAP home page is accessible at http://www.ag.iastate.edu/centers/cfwru/iowagap/

Land cover: Preparation of the land cover map has not progressed as rapidly as we had hoped, thus we are revising our anticipated completion date for the land cover to December 2000. Measures have been taken to speed up the unsupervised classification process by reducing the number of ambiguous cover classes that require relatively longer amounts of time to differentiate. We reduced the number of Iowa land cover classes that can reasonably be mapped to 29. Three Landsat scenes, representing about 40% of the land area of Iowa, have been mapped with these cover classes.

In 1998, we completed the aggregation of National Wetland Inventory data into five major classes of wetlands (temporary, seasonal, semipermanent, permanent, and open water). In 1999, this data layer was integrated into the Phase 1 land cover map for the entire state. Wetland vegetation is then classified using Wetland Inventory codes and Landsat imagery with a recoding and overlay technique.

In Summer 1999, we conducted field surveys of natural and seminatural vegetation in 32 additional counties across Iowa with the majority being in the western part of the state. These data were digitized and will be used to assist in assigning map labels to classes generated during the unsupervised classifications.

The IA-GAP staff continues to meet biannually with staff from Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota to share data and information on polygon edge-matching, legend compatibility, accuracy assessment, and other problems that are common to GAP in the Great Plains Region.

Vertebrate modeling: Species lists for mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians are compiled and include state, federal, and global status codes for each species. These lists, which are ready for expert review, appear on the IA-GAP website. Selected scientists from across the state are being invited to serve as expert reviewers of the species lists and habitat models. During 1999, we continued to assemble historical data from museum and private collections and to compile information from the literature on species occurrence, geographic ranges, and optimal habitat requirements.

Modeling of Iowa vertebrates has begun. Our goal is to complete the modeling effort by December 2000 and begin the preparation of distribution maps in January 2001, soon after the land cover map is complete.

Land stewardship: We continued to acquire data on legal boundaries of federal, state, and county lands in Iowa. Acquisition of county properties has consumed the most time; of 99 counties, 60 have been completely digitized, 20 are near completion, and data for an additional 8 counties have been acquired but not digitized. Data have been requested from the remaining 11 counties. State land boundaries were initially digitized by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in 1991. This database has been recently updated by the DNR to include new acquisitions and other changes up to mid-1999 and will be made available to IA-GAP in January 2000. Boundary information for federal lands has been obtained from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. We anticipate completion of the land stewardship layer for IA-GAP in summer 2000.

Other accomplishments: Extension wildlife staff at Iowa State University, Department of Animal Ecology, with the help of an educational grant from the Iowa Resource Enhancement and Protection program, conducted eight NatureMapping training workshops across the state in 1999; 110 people were trained. The program has been enthusiastically received by a diverse group of people, including school teachers and environmental educators, land owners, nonprofit conservation groups, businesses, and agencies. A database and Iowa NatureMapping web site are currently under development. NatureMapping data will be sent for accuracy assessment to Iowa State University via the NatureMapping web site, then stored in a publicly accessible database at the State of Iowa GIS Office server. Additional funding is being sought to carry NatureMapping to another level during the coming year.

In spring 1999, EPA Region 7 agreed to partially fund a pilot study to develop field and analytical techniques for accuracy assessment using ground surveys and the pixel (30 x 30 m) as the basic sampling unit. The statistics laboratory at Iowa State University is developing a protocol for sampling design and data analysis to be used in a regionwide approach for accuracy assessment of land cover maps. In March 1999, coordinators from Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska met with EPA administrator Marla Downing and statisticians Sarah Nusser, Iowa State University, and Steve Stehman, State University of New York- Syracuse, to discuss procedures for the pilot field study conducted in 1999. We selected a four-county area in NE Iowa to conduct our portion of the pilot study and collected data from 145 sites in September and October 1999. Each randomly selected pixel was located using a real-time GPS unit. Each pixel in a nine-pixel matrix (target pixel in the center) was assessed for vegetation and land cover and assigned a class corresponding to one of the 29 map labels. The results of the pilot study are expected to be available by March 2000 and a decision made as to whether to proceed with a regionwide accuracy assessment.

Under way

Anticipated completion date: April 2001

Contact: Glennis Kaufman
Kansas State University, Manhattan
gkaufman@ksu.edu, (785) 532-6622

Land cover: Currently, mapping of the state has been completed to the cropland/natural vegetation stage. All of the land cover has been classed to the alliance level, but we continue to refine the cover classes. The land cover layer will be completed in December 1999. During the following nine months, accuracy assessment of the land cover layer will be ongoing with a heavy investment of time occurring during summer 2000. Figure 1 demonstrates current progress.

Animal modeling: Currently, species lists of terrestrial vertebrates to be mapped are finalized following expert review. Range distribution maps are being generated based on museum collections, publications, and current observations. We estimate that 85% of the literature has been collected for vertebrate models, and we are in the process of building wildlife habitat relationship models both for the state and Great Plains region. Ancillary databases also are beginning to be discussed and built for use in the predicted habitat relationship models. During the next nine months, all wildlife habitat relationship models will be completed. Drafts of predicted species distributions will be completed and sent out for expert review. Following expert review, final species distribution maps will be generated.

Land stewardship mapping: Currently, the land stewardship layer is very near completion. Polygon boundaries are done for 210 managed areas throughout the state. As more land is purchased for conservation in the state, we will update the layer to keep it current. A number of attributes (e.g., owner, county of location) already is in the database that goes along with polygons. We are in the process of querying land unit managers in cooperating agencies about the level of protection in each area and will add this attribute information as it is obtained. Our goal is to complete the stewardship layer within the next six months.

Analysis: Analysis will be conducted within the next 12 months.

Reporting and data distribution: Reporting and data distribution are expected to be initiated within the next nine months, and we anticipate asking for an extension to complete the final report.

Other accomplishments and innovations: We have created a Great Plains ACCESS database for modeling of vertebrates within the Great Plains states (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa). This database should allow us to produce seamless maps of the predicted distributions of Great Plains vertebrates in the future.

Anticipated completion date: June 2002

Contacts: Tom Kind (land cover)
Murray State University
tom.kind@murraystate.edu, (270) 762-3110

Terry L. Derting (animal modeling)
Murray State University
terry.derting@murraystate.edu, (270) 762-6327

Keith Wethington (land stewardship mapping)
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Frankfort keith.wethington@mail.state.ky.us, (502) 564-7109

Land cover: All data layers for one physiographic province, the Shawnee Hills of the Interior Low Plateaus, have been produced. Layers include interpreted air video points, classified TM data, convexity/concavity,slope, aspect, and NWI. A draft of a detailed vegetation map containing natural vegetation map units for the Shawnee Hills has been produced using a decision tree process and is under review. Air video flight lines in other portions of the state have been ground-truthed, and air video has been recently collected over the eastern part of the state. The short-term goal for the coming year includes incorporating urban (high and low density), agriculture (pastureland/grass, cropland), and mined lands (bare ground, re-vegetated) into the draft map. Completing a draft map of the entire state is the major goal for the coming year.

Animal modeling: Considerable progress was made in 1999 toward modeling vertebrate distributions in Kentucky. We finalized the list of terrestrial vertebrate species to be modeled after its review by our state experts. Our final species list includes 51 reptile, 52 amphibian, 63 mammal, and 198 bird species (364 species total). Range maps of current distributions were delineated. A web page for the review of the range maps was constructed with the aid of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), and the review process for the ranges has been completed. Final range maps will be completed in December 1999. We are completing our database of the habitat association for each species. We are also establishing a web page, with the aid of KDFWR, for the review of our habitat association information. The habitat associations will be posted for review by the end of 1999.

In addition to the required tasks of Gap Analysis, we are using the species range maps to map species richness in the ecoregions and physiographic provinces in Kentucky. We have presented our analyses of species richness at the 2^nd Annual Biodiversity Conference at Western Kentucky University and the 1999 Kentucky Academy of Science meeting at Eastern Kentucky University. Through meetings such as these we maintain open communication with biologists, educators, and other interested parties in the state.

The database of final habitat associations will be produced during 2000. Also, we will produce an initial Wildlife/Habitat Relationship Model for each species. We plan on making draft maps of the predicted occurrence of species depending upon the status of the vegetation mapping for Kentucky.

Land stewardship mapping: Work on the stewardship layer has focused on assessment of data available. Agencies at the federal, state, and local government levels as well as nongovernment organizations were contacted. Available information regarding data format (digital or analog), management status, contact names, etc. were obtained. Existing digital coverages will be acquired and converted to a common projection during 2000. The large amount of nondigital ownership data makes it improbable that all managed lands in Kentucky will be included in the final analysis. A method for prioritizing the conversion of analog data to digital, focusing on conservation lands, will be developed.

Near completion

Anticipated completion date: March 2000

Contact: Jimmy Johnston (project leader)
USGS/National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette
jimmy_johnston@usgs.gov, (318) 266-8556

Steve Hartley (land cover, analysis)
USGS/National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette
steve_hartley@usgs.gov, (318) 266-8543

Land cover: The land cover section for the final report is 98% complete, with an anticipated completion date of December 1999. Data directory structure for final CD distribution was completed in October 1999. We are working on the metadata for ancillary data sets.

Animal modeling: Species distribution maps were reviewed and corrected. Final digital data were delivered to the project office in August 1999. Hyper-distribution maps were created for all four major vertebrate groups (mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians) in October 1999. Data directory structure for final CD distribution was completed in October 1999. The animal modeling section for the final report is 98% complete, with an anticipated completion date of December 1999. We are still working on the metadata.

Land stewardship mapping: The data directory structure for final CD distribution was completed in October 1999 for Louisiana's land stewardship and management. The Land Stewardship and Management section for the final report is 98% complete, with an anticipated completion date of March 2000.

Analysis: The analysis of land cover types by land stewardship and management status was completed in October 1999. The analysis of the vertebrate species by land stewardship and management status was completed in October 1999. Data directory structure for final CD distribution was completed in October 1999. The Analysis section for the final report is currently under way, with an anticipated completion date of December 1999.

Reporting and data distribution: Currently the National Wetlands Research Center is in the process of writing the final report, with an anticipated completion date of December 1999.

Complete (see http://wlm13.umenfa.maine.edu/progs/unit/gap)

Under way

Anticipated completion date: October 2000

Contact: Ann Rasberry (land cover)
Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Annapolis
arasberry@dnr.state.md.us, (410) 260-8558

Rick McCorkle (animal modeling)
Delaware Bay Estuary Project
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
richard_mccorkle@fws.gov, (302) 653-9152 x17

Timothy A. Palmer (land stewardship)
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
tapalmer@dnr.state.md.us, (410) 260-8559

Land cover: During 1999 the land cover mapping made significant progress (see figure). The Delmarva Peninsula, the piedmont, and eastern mountains of Maryland have been completed as draft maps, and southern New Jersey will be completed by the end of November 1999. The remainder of Maryland and New Jersey will be completed early in 2000, and accuracy assessment will begin at that point.

Attempts to install the necessary hardware to import our video into a GIS format are under way. This will enable additional video to be used in the classification process where GPS capture was intermittent during video flights (e.g., over the mountains in western Maryland).

A project web page has been developed and will be available soon via link to the national GAP web page. Status of the project as well as availability of products may be determined from information found at that location.

Animal modeling: In 1999, most of the vertebrate modeling work involved finalizing habitat layers, completing development of the database, and fine-tuning the modeling software. In addition to land-cover-derived habitats, the habitat layers used in the modeling include wetland/riparian buffers, elevation, forest area (measured by thickness), riparian forest width, forest isolation, edge habitats, road density, land use (e.g., pasture), aquatic habitats, special habitat features (e.g., cliffs), and other special habitats that are generally smaller than the land cover MMU (e.g., vernal pools). The feasibility of developing other, potentially important habitat layers (e.g., soils) is still being evaluated.

The database includes tables for species-unique codes, species modeling status, species range, species/habitat associations by taxa, forest metrics relationships (e.g., for forest interior dwelling birds), species guilds, species taxonomy, habitat types, habitat cross-walks (e.g. to alliance), species/landform relationships, species/wetland buffer relationships, species-special habitat features relationships, and several other tables to be used in the modeling or for various queries. The database was developed in Personal Oracle8 and has been successfully imported to MS-Access. The modeling software was developed through ArcView Avenue scripting to enable as much automation of the modeling as possible, and includes some nice custom query capabilities. Draft models and distribution maps will be sent out for expert review during the winter of 1999/2000, and final models will be run by April 2000.

Land stewardship mapping: During 1999 the stewardship layer for the Maryland portion of the project was completed. The Delaware portion is essentially complete; the work is under review as of November 1999. For New Jersey, private conservation lands data have been collected, but the public lands data is still outstanding. The land stewardship layer is expected to be completed for Delaware by the end of 1999 and for New Jersey in early 2000.

Analysis: GAP investigators expect to complete analysis of the protection and management status of biodiversity in Maryland and Delaware by spring 2000 and expect the New Jersey analysis to be completed by late summer 2000.

Reporting and data distribution: The final report writing for Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey has begun and should be completed by October 2000. The GIS layers for Maryland and Delaware will be distributed in ARC/INFO/ArcView format, with associated data tables in Microsoft Access format, on CD-ROM. A similar approach will probably be used in New Jersey. The status and availability of these products will be reported via the GAP web page.

Other accomplishments and innovations: By developing our vertebrate modeling scripts in ArcView’s Avenue, we have provided both a user-friendly interface for accessing data tables and custom control over the modeling process. Users can query for species/habitat relationships or maps of species distributions, or survey the base GIS layers used in the modeling; lists of species occupancy can also be generated from input of habitat information. In addition, users can query the community alliance and wildlife habitat tables, generating a list of potential alliances/habitat by input of plant species, location, or physical characteristics of the site. Efforts are under way to make this software package portable for eventual distribution of the GAP data sets.

Data sets are being used for considerable analysis even in their draft form. Examples include identifying areas with high potential for supporting forest-interior neotropical migrant songbirds on the Delmarva Peninsula, priority sites for forest restoration and/or acquisition, and a multiagency federal, state, and private collaboration on the Delmarva Peninsula (the Delmarva Conservation Corridor Initiative).

Massachusetts, Connecticut, & Rhode Island

Complete; update under way

Anticipated completion date: June 2000

Contact: Curtice Griffin and John Finn
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
cgriffin@forwild.umass.edu (413) 545-2640
finn@forwild.umass.edu (413) 545-1819

Land cover: An accuracy assessment of the land cover map completed in 1997 is now under way. Preliminary results indicated that there were significant classification errors, especially in the Cape Cod region. An error model is being developed from the accuracy assessment project. A revised land cover map will be developed from this error model. Additionally, development of a new land cover map is planned within the next 18 months as part of an NSF-funded project with the Department of Computer Science at the University of Massachusetts.

Animal modeling: With completion of the expert review of mammal range maps during summer 1998, all vertebrate models are complete. Predicted habitats for all 273 vertebrates modeled in the Southern New England region were identified and coarse species richness maps developed for each taxa group. Additionally, habitats were identified throughout the Connecticut River watershed for priority species of neotropical migratory birds. We plan to redo the vertebrate habitat maps once the revised land cover map is available.

Land stewardship mapping: All conservation lands in the region are mapped and classified according to conservation status. The database for Connecticut was not as well developed as for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Over 15% of Southern New England is classified as conservation lands, and about 7% of the land area was classed in the categories 1 & 2.

Analysis: Species richness analyses have been completed. The final gap analysis will be complete by June 2000.

Reporting and data distribution: All data layers are currently available on the Southern New England Gap Analysis Homepage (http://outsider.fnr.umass.edu/gaphome.html). We plan to distribute the vertebrate models and predicted habitat data layers as an ArcView project. Revision of the land cover map will begin in April 2000. The final vegetation map will not be distributed on CD until revisions are complete. A manual for incorporating GPS-logged aerial videography into land cover mapping efforts is under development and will be distributed on CD-ROM in May 2000. The final report and a report on accuracy assessment will be available in June 2000.

Other accomplishments and innovations: Conducted two one-day workshops for regional planners on "Gap Analysis in the Connecticut River Watershed: Landscape-based Approaches for Conserving Biodiversity." The workshops were funded in part by the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge and the University of Massachusetts.

<%Case "MI"%>

Under way

Anticipated completion date: September 2002

Contact: Mike Donovan
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Michigan Resource Information System, Lansing
donovanm@state.mi.us, (517) 335-3445

Land cover: Classification of the Northern Lower Peninsula is expected to be completed in the second quarter of FY 2000. Classification of the Southern Lower Peninsula will begin in the first quarter of FY 2000. Classification of the Eastern Upper Peninsula is expected in the second or third quarter of FY 2000. The Western Upper Peninsula is completed in a preliminary version that upon review may require revision.

Animal modeling: The animal modeling effort will begin in FY 2000 with an expected collaboration with Michigan State University.

Land stewardship mapping: The stewardship layer was begun in 1996 and continues. Completion is expected in summer of 2000.

Analysis: Gap analysis is scheduled to begin in FY 2001.

Reporting and data distribution: Land cover and stewardship data will begin to be served by UMESC in the second and third quarter of FY 2000.

<%Case "MN"%>

Minnesota (see also Upper Midwest)

Under way

Anticipated completion date: September 2002

Contact: Dave Heinzen
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Resource Assessment Unit, Grand Rapids
david.heinzen@dnr.state.mn.us, (218) 327-4449 x222

Land cover: The state has been divided into 29 spectrally consistent classification units (SCCUs) based on a procedure described in the Upper Midwest Gap Image Processing Protocol. Ten classified SCCUs, complete with accuracy assessment, are scheduled for delivery to UMESC in the first quarter of FY 2000.

Animal modeling: A working group of species experts has been formed by the Wildlife Section of the Minnesota DNR. Work towards the development of the vertebrate species distribution models will begin in FY 2000.

Land stewardship mapping: Preliminary public ownership/stewardship mapping is completed. The map is based on an ARC/INFO vector coverage of the Public Land Survey. Section corners are georeferenced. From those, a polygon grid of 40-acre tracts has been generated. Each 40-acre polygon is then attributed for owner, manager, stewardship category, etc. In FY 2000 UMESC will crosswalk the MN DNR public owner categories to the official GAP categories. Independent verification and cross-referencing of the Minnesota DNR lands stewardship classification will begin in FY 2000.

Analysis: Gap analysis is scheduled to begin in FY 2001.

Reporting and data distribution: Land cover and stewardship data will begin to be served by UMESC in the second and third quarter of FY 2000.

<%Case "MS"%>

Mississippi

Near completion

Anticipated completion date: January 2001

Contact: Francisco J. Vilella (principal investigator)
MS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Mississippi State University
fvilella@cfr.msstate.edu, (662) 325-0784

Richard B. Minnis (coordinator)
MS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Mississippi State University
rminnis@cfr.msstate.edu, (662) 325-3158

Land cover: Land cover mapping has been completed. The final map product has been aggregated to 43 classes. Among them are a number of classes discerning structure or age of the overstory vegetation. Particularly, four classes have been obtained that relate to the age of Mississippi’s pine ecosystems. Although this information is not required for the current mapping standards, the personnel from the Spatial Informations Technologies Laboratory at Mississippi State University believed they could extract this information from the TM images. These data have proven very useful in refining vertebrate distributions for species such as red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) and bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus). Accuracy assessment is nearly complete and should be finalized by December 1999. Map classes have been associated with NVCS alliances for each of the five ecoregions in the state. Metadata construction is in progress.

Animal modeling: Wildlife habitat relationship models are being applied to the final vegetation layer. Finished models are under review by vertebrate committees. Amphibian and mammalian species are finished pending final review. Bird species are still under scrutiny by the review team. Ancillary data from 900 bird point counts conducted in Mississippi’s national forests and a large collection of museum records has aided in the refinement of habitat relationships and distributions. Models are expected to be finalized and reviewed by early spring 2000.

Land stewardship mapping: The land stewardship layer for the state is complete. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks provided MS-GAP with GPS-located boundaries for all state and federal lands. Additional properties, such as TNC and tribal lands, have also been incorporated. Metadata construction is near completion for these data.

Analysis: Macros have been written to perform the final analyses for the project. Testing of the macros on preliminary distributions has proven effective. All analyses should be complete by late spring 2000.

Reporting and data distribution: The final report is being written as phases of the project near completion. The land cover section is nearly complete and will be finalized with the accuracy assessment. Sections on stewardship and vertebrate distributions are currently in progress with completion expected in late spring 2000.

Other accomplishments and innovations: Through the process of data acquisition and sharing and development of strong working relationships with MS-GAP cooperators, a movement has started in the state to provide "life after GAP." Cooperative research efforts to apply knowledge and expertise in the field of spatial technology to natural resource management (such as applying spatial technologies to conservation law enforcement, aiding Partners-in-Flight with establishing priority lands, and optimizing locations for aquaculture facilities) have prompted an initiative to be placed before the Mississippi legislature. The initiative, called the "Natural Resource Decision Support System," would provide recurring funds to support three new personnel at Mississippi State University. These persons would provide biannual updates and refinements to the MS-GAP land cover and provide support to agencies in terms of applying spatial technologies and existing spatial data to help solve current natural resource problems. This initiative would provide needed information to policy makers and resource managers to make scientifically based and ecologically sound management decisions.

<%Case "MO"%>

Missouri

Complete

Contacts:  

Ongoing Gap Data:
David Diamond
Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership Enviornmental Technology Center
4200 New Haven Road
Columbia, MO 65201
david_diamond@usgs.gov

Current Gap Data:
Timothy L. Haithcoat
Geographic Resources Center & Missouri Spatial Data Information Service, University of Missouri, Columbia
haithcoatt@missouri.edu, (573) 882-1404

Land cover: Complete. Phase I land cover was completed by the Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership. This was then generalized from the original 30-m cell size to the 2-ha minimum mapping unit used for vertebrate modeling. Also, 5-, 10-, 20-, 40-, and 100-ha land cover bases were created using an in-house generalization AML to try to maintain some of the linear features and connectivity present in Missouri’s file. Phase II land cover contains 46 classes and will be provided as an update in summer 2000 on the National GAP home page.

Animal modeling: Complete. Among the 348 vertebrates modeled were 66 mammals, 164 birds, 74 reptiles, and 44 amphibians. These models were created using the base land cover map of 2 ha and derivative products such as ecotones, core interiors, regionalized areas, and riparian measures. Other data layers were developed to aid in the modeling such as wetland components, prairies, soils, precipitation, temperature, population density, road density, as well as many other feature types such as caves, springs, etc. An additive weighting model was developed for each species which calculated an index to occurrence. It is somewhat similar to a Bayes Theorem approach in that it uses subjective weights in an additive fashion. These weights represent what the literature, biologists, and the modeler believe to be the likelihood of a species occurring given that a specific habitat or landscape component exists.

Land stewardship mapping: Complete. The stewardship layer was created by the Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership. Public lands comprise only 6.7% of Missouri with 4.7% under federal and 2% under state jurisdiction. The average size of these holdings is very small. Less than 1% of Missouri falls within areas designated as management status 1 or 2. All areas greater than 16 ha were analyzed for biodiversity components.

Analysis: Complete. Species biodiversity as measured by species richness was calculated on five spatial extents. These included county, EMAP hexagons, 7.5-minute quadrangle, quadlet (1/6 of quadrangle), and public land survey section. These results were comprehensively reviewed against the Missouri Fish and Wildlife Information Systems county lists for all terrestrial species to provide a measure of reliability and consistency. A more refined review was conducted against the results of the Breeding Bird Atlas project at the quadlet level for all bird species. This was followed by the analysis of these richness indices and individual species predicted occurrences within the context of stewardship. Species tied to grassland complexes are the most at risk, followed by those species that require larger contiguous areas. Wetlands have high richness, but there are few areas outside preserves where these habitats exist in Missouri. Focus for Missouri’s future biodiversity efforts must be on private land holders as they control over 90 percent of the state.

Reporting and data distribution: Completed. The draft final report was submitted in January 2000. Data distribution from these analyses will be posted on the Missouri Spatial Data Information Service (MSDIS) at http://msdis.missouri.edu. A link will be created on this site to the AMLs and programs written in support of this effort.

Other accomplishments and innovations: The methods used in the generalization of the land cover are fairly unique as they were developed to try to capture the linear "travelways" present across many of Missouri’s landscapes. The program was developed in AML and utilizes ARC/INFO processing in both grid and vector environments. Programs were developed to take advantage of the matrix (i.e., agricultural, grassland, or forested) within which the process was being run. In addition, regional variables were created to allow for the maintenance of polygons within which only diagonal connectivity exists.

The methods developed for vertebrate modeling expand the usability of the data sets by acknowledging and incorporating the fact that these data are fuzzy and that "habitat" is not always associated with a single cover type but rather a suite of cover types in juxtaposition that can provide for all the species’ needs. The modeling approach of mapping this as a continuum of response (occurrence) and then not clipping these results to a range map but rather calibrating these measures to a range greatly expands the users flexibility with these data as well as not perpetuating sampling errors or biases that can permeate the range information.

Complete (see http://www.wru.umt.edu/reports/gap/)

Under way (http://www.calmit.unl.edu/gap/)

Anticipated completion date: October 2001

Contacts: Geoffrey M. Henebry|
CALMIT, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
ghenebry@calmit.unl.edu, (402) 472-6158

James W. Merchant
CALMIT, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
jmerchant1@unl.edu, (402) 472-7531

Land cover: We have completed a preliminary statewide classification and are in the process of refining the product. We have been working with Iowa, South Dakota, and Kansas on accuracy assessment strategies. We conducted a pilot study of accuracy assessment during summer 1999 and are currently planning for the summer 2000 accuracy assessment field campaign. In addition, we are working with the USDA/NRCS to get county-level land cover draft maps out to NRCS field offices across the State to solicit comments from local experts. Plans for next 12 months: finalize land cover mapping, including integration of NWI data, and conduct land cover accuracy assessment.

Animal modeling: We have completed assembly of species lists for the state. The herpetiles list has undergone expert review and has been revised. The bird and mammal lists are currently in expert review. We have initiated model development for reptiles and amphibians; based on preliminary results we are incorporating climate and soils data as complementary environmental variables. We are cooperating with the Great Plains Regional GAP modeling group to develop common models and modeling methodology. We continue to work with the Nebraska State Museum on integrating their species occurrence records into a format usable in GAP. As the land cover products from the Rainwater Basin and COHYST projects (see below) become available, we will apply the animal models to these data, which are based on more recent TM images (1997-98), to assess the effects of multi-date thematic data on predicted species occurrences. Plans for next 12 months: Finalize bird and mammal species lists, ingest relevant museum data, complete herpetile and mammal models, initiate bird models, select and apply accuracy assessment methods to each animal model, web-publish animal models as they are completed to solicit comments and review.

Land stewardship mapping: A preliminary product is currently undergoing review and refinement. We continue to work closely with the Nebraska Games and Parks Commission in this aspect of the project. Plans for next 12 months: finalize stewardship database.

Analysis: Analysis is pending completion of animal models. Plans for next 12 months: Initiate analyses as animal models are completed.

Reporting and data distribution: Metadata assembly, data lineage, and methods documentation are ongoing.

Other accomplishments and innovations:

1. Ongoing assessment of elk habitat in northwest Nebraska in cooperation with the NE Game and Parks Commission and the School of Natural Resource Sciences.
2. Cooperating with Rainwater Basin Joint Venture (US Bureau of Reclamation — $180,000; NE Game and Parks Commission) in land cover mapping using 1997-98 TM data.
3. Cooperating with the Cooperative Hydrology Study (COHYST) of the Central Platte that is sponsored by five natural resource districts, two public power districts, NE Game and Parks Commission, NE Natural Resources Commission, and the NE Department of Water Resources ($87,000). The project will produce improved land cover mapping including crop-level discrimination across a region covering one-third of Nebraska using 1997-1998 TM data and digital orthophotos.

Organizing for update

First-generation GAP data will be provided through the National GAP website by summer 2000.

Contact: John G. Lyon
U.S. EPA, Las Vegas
lyon.john@epa.gov, (702) 798-2525

Land cover: Nevada is participating in the regional GAP update for the Southwest. During the year 2000, organizational tasks include listing potential cooperators and their contributions, compiling relevant literature, collecting masking data, interacting with regional plant ecologist on alliance descriptions, and interacting with the regional office (Utah State University Remote Sensing/GIS Laboratories, Logan) on initial mapping procedure and concurrent field season.

Animal modeling, land stewardship mapping, and analysis: Organizing during the year 2000.

Reporting and data distribution: Anticipated for spring 2004.

(see Vermont and New Hampshire)

(see Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey)

First generation complete (see http://rgis.unm.edu/price.htm)

New Mexico is included in a five-state (AZ, CO, NV, NM, UT) regional effort to update and expand information from GAP projects conducted for the individual states in the 1990s. Mapping of biotic elements and land stewardship will follow established GAP methods but will be conducted cooperatively for the region, without regard to state boundaries. The current New Mexico project is in the start-up phase for this multi-year Southwestern Regional Gap Analysis Project (SW ReGAP). Project responsibilities in New Mexico focus on reinitiating the cooperative network, assisting a regional lab with imagery analysis, and acquiring selected vegetation and animal occurrence data. Specifically we will 1) develop the partnership infrastructure for land cover mapping and other data set preparation, 2) identify training site data for land cover mapping, 3) assist a regional lab with selecting ancillary data for the full project, 4) prepare a rule base for making land cover mapping decisions, 5) consolidate existing animal distribution models for ecoregional task assignment, 6) evaluate recent changes to land stewardship data, and 7) create and maintain regionwide web pages, FTP site, and listserve to facilitate regional cooperation and data exchange.

Results of this project will be used to develop New Mexico's contribution to the full multi-year SW ReGAP. This step is critical to ensure that appropriate research staff and facilities are brought to bear on the ecoregional conservation assessment. Further, this project will provide the starting point for the first-ever conservation evaluation of animals and plant communities throughout the Southwest which crosses state jurisdictional boundaries.

To develop the infrastructure necessary to complete the long-term project, we are incorporating personnel from several departments within New Mexico State University (animal and range sciences, biology, fishery and wildlife sciences, geography, entomology, plant pathology, and weed science) as well as the agricultural experiment station, the physical sciences laboratory, and the Army Research Laboratory at White Sands Missile Range. These experts are providing input for this portion of the project by identifying training site data, ancillary data, scene selection, and creation of the rule base. The SW ReGAP home page (www.leopold.nmsu/fwscoop/swregap) will provide information for both the project personnel, cooperators, and the general public.

Near completion

Anticipated completion date: June 2000

Contact: Charles R. Smith
New York Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Cornell University, Ithaca
*crs6@cornell.edu, (607) 255-3219

Land cover: Accuracy assessment, as described in last year’s status report, continued in 1999. We evaluated map accuracy at three different levels in the nested hierarchy of the NVCS. Using conventional accuracy assessment methods, our land cover map accuracy at an NVCS level approximately equivalent to Anderson Level I is 74.4%. At the NVCS subclass level, our map accuracy is 56.5%, and at the level of NVCS superalliance, our accuracy is 42.0%. Values for map accuracies using the more computationally intensive "fuzzy" accuracy methods were generally a few percentage points better than values derived by conventional accuracy assessment methods.

Animal modeling: We are continuing a successful and productive cooperation with the ongoing NY Amphibian and Reptile Atlas, sponsored by NYSDEC, with field work ending in 1999 (http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/herp/index.html). We have received updated information on current distributions of amphibians and reptiles from the herpetological atlas project through the 1998 field season. Association matrices, relating vertebrate species occurrences to each of the 45 land cover types we have identified were completed, reviewed by teams of experts, and assessed for accuracy during the third quarter of 1999. Predicted occurrences of terrestrial vertebrates were assessed for accuracy using known occurrences of species from recent museum data (mammals only), recent herpetological atlas field data, check-lists of birds from state parks, breeding bird occurrence data from the NY Breeding Bird Atlas, and check-lists of birds and other vertebrates from federal refuges. The NY-GAP Project also is cooperating with NYSDEC and the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs to assure that new information collected as part of the Second NY Breeding Bird Atlas Project, scheduled to begin in 2000, can be incorporated fully into the NY-GAP database for future gap analysis applications.

Land stewardship mapping: During 1999 we substantially refined, expanded, and updated our existing land stewardship coverage to reflect significant acquisitions of new public lands and increased availability of accurate statewide land stewardship information in digital form. Included in the land stewardship coverage at this time are boundaries for all state wildlife management areas, state forests, state parks, New York City reservoir watersheds with restricted access, Adirondack Park Preserve, Catskill Park Preserve, Department of Defense lands, national parks and historic sites, federal wildlife refuges, and large preserves managed by The Nature Conservancy, represented by approximately 8,000 polygons. Assignment of management status categories to these areas was completed during the last half of 1999, and stewardship codes were assigned in consultation with staff from NYSDEC and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.

Analysis: Accuracy assessments for maps of predicted vertebrate distributions were completed during the last quarter of 1999. Overall map accuracy for predicted vertebrate distributions, at the ecoregional scale, is 84.2%, with 86.2% for amphibians, 83.6% for reptiles, 89.2% for birds, and 77.9% for mammals. Gap analysis for the statewide database will be initiated and completed during the last quarter of 1999 and the first quarter of 2000.

Reporting and data distribution: A draft final report will be submitted to the National Gap Analysis Program Office for review in March 2000. After review, a final report will be completed and submitted by late June 1999. Data distribution is expected to be primarily on CD-ROM, with limited hard-copy distribution, and from web pages. Data distribution by NYSDEC is expected to be accomplished on a regional basis using a central server linked to GIS workstations in each of the nine regional offices of NYSDEC. The creation of the Cornell University Geospatial Information Repository (CUGIR, http//cugir.mannlib.cornell.edu), a major National Spatial Data Infrastructure node, also offers opportunities for additional modes of data display and distribution not available previously. Once produced by USGS, CD-ROM products will be offered for sale through the NY Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.

Complete

Contacts: Marci Meixler, Project Leader
NY Aquatic Gap Analysis, Cornell University
msm10@cornell.edu, (607) 255-2038

Mark Bain, PI, NY Aquatic Gap Analysis
Cornell University
mbb1@cornell.edu, (607) 255-2840

Habitat characterization for Aquatic GAP: Habitat was characterized using the parameters stream size, habitat quality, water quality, gradient, and riparian forest cover. The first three parameters were combined to form a habitat characterization from which fish diversity was predicted. The latter three parameters were used for macroinvertebrate diversity predictions. The first round of habitat characterization involved static, manually intensive classifications fromtopographic and Mylar land use overlay maps. In an effort to deviate from such limiting classification, the NY Aquatic Gap Analysis group developed computerized macros to automate classification from digital elevation models, land use, road and railroad coverages. This provided equal or better accuracy, increased flexibility, and enabled us to calibrate the model using previously collected data. The calibrated habitat characterization incorporated five additional GIS layers (surficial geology, bedrock geology, depth to bedrock, point-source pollution, priority waters) and involved optimization using discriminant analysis procedures.

Analysis: Field data was collected in the summer of 1998 on fish species diversity, macroinvertebrate family diversity, stream width and depth, substrate, general habitat assessment, water chemistry, and gradient at 39 sites. This information was used to test the five parameters in habitat characterization and overall diversity of fish and macroinvertebrates.

Reporting and data distribution: The NY Aquatic Gap Analysis group maintains a web site for dissemination of up-to-date information on model methodology and results. This site can be found at http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/hydro2/aquagap.htm. In addition, a comprehensive report was compiled in October 1999 for the U.S. Geological Survey discussing the methods, results, products, analysis, and conclusions to date.

<%Case "NC"%>

North Carolina

Under way

Anticipated completion date: December 2000

Contact: Alexa McKerrow
North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
North Carolina State University, Raleigh
mckerrow@unity.ncsu.edu, (919) 513-2853

Land cover: In 1999 we expanded the vegetation mapping efforts inland with two separate efforts; one in the southern mountains and the other in the sandhill region. In addition, field data collection and video interpretation was completed for the piedmont. We have continued to utilize the decision rule process for mapping, with the addition of variables derived from the digital elevation models for the mountains. By spring 2000 we will be completing the statewide land cover map by following the protocols developed in each of the smaller-scale mapping efforts.

Animal modeling: Draft county and hexagon range maps are currently available for review by experts in the state. With the help of the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program and the North Carolina State Museum we will be finalizing those data layers by early 2000. In addition to soliciting one-on-one reviews and holding joint meetings for review of the range and habitat association data layers, we are developing a website to support that process as well as final data delivery needs. By February 2000 final ranges and habitat associations will be available for incorporation into the final analysis.

Land stewardship mapping: Several separate state efforts have been undertaken to develop the data layers required to develop the land stewardship layer. A reasonable base data layer with respect to boundaries exists for state-owned lands and wildlife refuges. Federal lands will require a considerable effort to bring them up to date. We have been in communication with the North Carolina Natural Heritage Program, North Carolina Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, and the Fish and Wildlife Ecological Services Raleigh Field Office and are hoping to develop a cooperative agreement to develop a set of data layers that will meet each of the individual programs’ needs in addition to those of the North Carolina GAP Project. We are hoping to have a fulltime staff member assigned to this task by January 2000.

Analysis: Final analysis will be initiated in June 2000.

Reporting and data distribution: Reporting and data distribution will begin in March 2000, starting with the basic data layer development and concurrent with the final analysis.

<%Case "ND"%>

North Dakota

Under way

Anticipated completion date: October 2003

Contact: Larry Strong
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown
larry_strong@usgs.gov, (701) 253-5524

Land cover: Three dates of Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery (spring, summer, and fall) for each of 14 path-row orbit combinations were acquired to provide complete coverage for North Dakota (ND). A 7-class land cover classification for ND was produced by building upon the recent efforts of Ducks Unlimited (DU) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in the Prairie Pothole Region of ND. Guided K-means clustering and maximum likelihood classification of spring and fall TM images were performed to produce a land cover classification compatible with the DU/FWS land cover map for areas south and west of the Missouri River. Vegetation surveys were conducted on thirty 28.6- x 28.6-km study areas distributed among eight ecoregions in the summer of 1999. Within ecoregions, study areas were chosen to maximize: 1) access to public lands, 2) the amount of natural and seminatural vegetation, and 3) variability of surface geology and soil types. Global Positioning Systems were used to delineate vegetation polygons on public lands. A large number of vegetation polygons on private land were delineated on 1:31,680 scale color prints of TM imagery from roadside surveys conducted after ground surveys of public lands in the study areas. Vegetation community element of occurrence records from ND Natural Heritage Program’s Biological Conservation Database were obtained and converted to a georeferenced vector object. Access to the ND State Lands Range Inventory Database for school lands was granted, and efforts are under way to convert the data to a georeferenced vector object. Several digital vegetation and land cover classifications for selected areas in ND were obtained from ND-GAP cooperators. Training data sets will be constructed for a more detailed vegetation and land cover classification using the three dates of TM imagery and elevation, climate, soils, and geology data in a classification tree analysis.

Animal modeling: Checklists of all vertebrate species in North Dakota have been completed and reviewed by expert reviewers. For herpetiles, locational data have been assembled into GIS coverages, and range maps have been completed and subjected to expert review. Literature reviews have started, and wildlife-habitat relationship (WHR) models have been completed and reviewed for two species. For birds, locational data have been assembled into GIS coverages, and range maps have been completed and subjected to expert review. Literature reviews have started, and WHR models have been completed and reviewed for two species. For mammals, most locational data have been assembled into GIS coverages, and large mammal range maps have been completed and reviewed. Small mammal range maps have been sent to expert reviewers. Literature reviews have started, and WHR models have been completed and reviewed for three species. Efforts in the next 12 months will include the creation of mammal range maps, literature reviews for most of the vertebrate species, generation of WHR models and requests for expert review, and the development of environmental data sets for modeling species distributions.

Land stewardship mapping: Land stewardship data was obtained from the Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and National Park Service. Land stewardship data have been requested from the FWS, the Forest Service, and the ND Game and Fish Department. The FWS has an aggressive effort to construct land stewardship data for North Dakota and will make the data available for GAP. We obtained the ND Department of Transportation base map data CD-ROM which includes coverages for federal and state public lands in ND. During 2000 we will continue to acquire existing digital data from appropriate agencies.

<%Case "OH"%>

Under way

Anticipated completion date: May 2003

Contact: Donna N. Myers
U.S. Geological Survey, Columbus
dnmyers@usgs.gov, (614) 430-7768

Thomas Waite
The Ohio State University, Columbus
Waite.1@osu.edu, (614) 430-7768

Land cover: The Ohio GAP project has undergone a change in personnel. Completion of the land cover map is being negotiated with The Ohio State University's Center for Mapping. The goal for the 12 months from January 2000 will be to begin production of the land cover map using 1999 MRLC data obtained from the OhioLink program.

Animal modeling: A new PI for animal modeling, Dr. Thomas Waite, of The Ohio State University, Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Organismal Biology, has been selected. Graduate student Troy Wilson has compiled a species list of terrestrial vertebrate taxa in Ohio from existing information sources. The goal for the next 12 months will be to develop a database of information on species distributions, location information, references, and habitat affinities. Data sources on species occurrence and distribution have been identified for the Ohio aquatic GAP project. Ohio aquatic GAP will use the valley-segment classification system to identify stream-valley segment types in Ohio. The classification is planned to be completed by January 1, 2000.

Land stewardship mapping: The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is compiling a land ownership map for Ohio. OH-GAP will coordinate efforts with the Ohio DNR to produce a land stewardship map by December 2000.

Reporting and data distribution: A fact sheet will be completed by March 2000.

<%Case "OK"%>

Oklahoma

Near completion

Anticipated completion date: June 2000

Contact: William L. Fisher, Assistant Unit Leader
Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Stillwater
wfisher@okstate.edu, (405) 744-6342

Land cover: The final land cover map is complete and under review.

Animal modeling: Modeling of the distribution of the 427 terrestrial vertebrate species is under way.

Land stewardship mapping: The final land stewardship map is complete.

Analysis: Overlay analysis to identify potential gaps in biodiversity conservation will begin following completion of animal distribution modeling.

Reporting and data distribution: Planning is under way.

Near completion

Anticipated completion date: March 2000

Contact: Jimmy Kagan, Director/Ecologist and GAP PI
Oregon Natural Heritage Program

Current (1993) land cover: An original land cover map (Version 1) was completed for Oregon in 1992. A second-generation land cover map (Version 2) has been recently completed (August 1998, using 1993 imagery) and is currently available. Metadata is available for this second generation cover, but the accuracy assessment is incomplete, and the classification is not tied to the NVCS. An associated vegetation manual has been completed for the new map. A description of the mapping process is included in chapter 2 of the OR-GAP final report.

Historic (~ 1850) land cover: A statewide historic land coverage was created by OR-GAP, modified from a coverage developed by the Oregon Biodiversity Project. The coverage approximates a 1:100,000 scale and metadata is complete. The historic land cover categories are tied to the NVCS and have been crosswalked to the wildlife habitats developed for the current land coverage (Version 2). Descriptions of the mapping process and classification are included in chapter 3 of the OR-GAP final report.

Animal modeling: Animal modeling has been completed for Oregon three times, the first time using the Version 1 GAP vegetation map. The result of this project is the book Atlas of Oregon Wildlife by Csuti et al. The initial models relied on hexagon distributions prepared for all native wildlife species. Since these were completed over eight years ago, we updated the hexagon distribution covers for all wildlife species in March 1999. Version 2 models (ARC/INFO programs - AMLs) were developed for all vertebrate species using the updated hexagon distributions and the Version 2 land cover, with an updated wildlife habitat relationship matrix to reflect the differences between the first- and second-generation land coverages. The updated modeled distributions received limited peer review through local experts. Since the Version 2 maps are fairly similar to the thoroughly reviewed Version 1, OR-GAP feels the review has been sufficient. OR-GAP also developed historic models using similar techniques with modified hexagon distributions (based on historic distribution, including extirpated species) and the historic land coverage. The details of the current and historic modeling process are included in chapter 4 of the final state report.

Land stewardship mapping: The land stewardship cover is complete and was used to develop the gap analysis. The coverage and metadata for 1999 (used in the analysis) are posted at the OR State GIS Service Center. An updated version of the cover will be produced in 2000. A summary of the stewardship mapping and categorization effort was included as chapter 5 in the draft final Oregon report.

Analysis: Analysis using the Version 2 data is completed. A summary of the analysis is included in chapter 6 of the OR-GAP draft state report.

Reporting and data distribution: The draft final state report is being peer reviewed by the national GAP staff and by Oregon peer reviewers. A limited number of hard copies of the final report will be produced. The final report and the basic coverages will be posted at or linked to the Oregon GAP home page, which will be maintained at either the Oregon Natural Heritage Program or the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife office in Portland, Oregon. We intend to develop links to allow downloading these coverages from many sources. The basic coverages that are currently posted include the stewardship cover, the first- and second-generation GAP vegetation covers and a presettlement vegetation coverage. All final GAP products, databases, and coverages will also be included on the CD-ROM, with an ArcView application we developed that creates historic and existing species distributions.

During the next 10 months of the project, using funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state of Oregon, we will distribute GAP data to watershed councils, local governments, and other decision makers in Oregon. We will also train others in the use of the data and in assessment methods and tools. We intend to provide GAP data, Oregon Natural Heritage Program threatened and endangered species data, and analysis to assist in watershed, basin, or ecoregional planning efforts. We are working with the Northwest Office of the Defenders of Wildlife to distribute GAP data and also to assure the updated GAP coverages are included on their CD-ROM product, Oregon’s Living Landscape, an Interactive Introduction to Oregon’s Biodiversity. This CD-ROM was produced as part of the Oregon Biodiversity Project, in which both the Oregon Natural Heritage Program and the Oregon Gap Analysis Program were partners.

Other accomplishments and innovations: As part of our association with the Oregon Biodiversity Project, an application was developed which allows both GAP and Natural Heritage data to be summarized on a watershed basis. This application was developed by the Defenders of Wildlife staff and is included on their CD-ROM. We are working on developing a similar, web-based application. We are hoping to adapt the Colorado State University Internet site for distributing OR-GAP and Oregon Natural Heritage Program data.

<%Case "PA"%>

Pennsylvania

Near completion

Anticipated completion date: March 2000

Contact: Wayne L. Myers
Penn State University, University Park

Land cover: Land cover maps have been completed with generalized categories. Accuracy assessment is pending.

Animal modeling: Models are completed and have been reviewed. Fish, bird, and mammal models were run for mapping; herp models are running.

Land stewardship mapping: Stewardship mapping has been completed.

Analysis: is in progress for reporting.

Reporting and data distribution: Expect draft ready for review by national GAP by February 29, 2000. Web service will be provided by Pennsylvania Spatial Data Access (PASDA) at Penn State University.

<%Case "RI"%>

Rhode Island

(see Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island)

<%Case "SC"%>

South Carolina

Under way

Anticipated completion date: March 2001

Contact: Elise V. Schmidt
South Carolina Cooperative Research Unit
Clemson University, Clemson

Land cover: We have completed the initial land cover map for the state and are now in the process of incorporating ancillary data. We are using data from the National Wetlands Inventory and NRCS soil surveys to further refine our initial classification of 28 land cover types. There are other digital databases available that will be used to add additional land cover types. The land cover is expected to be complete by August 2000.

Animal modeling: The database for animal distribution and habitat affinities is complete and has been reviewed by state experts. We are now compiling the expert reviewer comments to determine where more research needs to be conducted. SC-GAP has data from state and university museums as well that is ready to be incorporated. A user interface is being developed for limited access to the database through the Internet so that the experts can review the final maps and database. We will complete sampling for ant diversity in all physiographic regions and most land cover types in the state within the next year. Ant diversity will be a part of our animal modeling. The animal database is expected to be complete by August 2000.

Land stewardship mapping: The land stewardship database is complete except for a small portion of properties. We are working with involved parties to ensure correct classification of GAP status on public lands in South Carolina.

Analysis: The gap analysis is expected to begin in August 2000 and be completed by December 2000.

<%Case "SD"%>

South Dakota

Under way

Anticipated completion date: May 2001

Contact: Jonathan A. Jenks, Associate Professor, GAP PI
South Dakota State University, Brookings
jonathan_jenks@sdstate.edu, (605) 688-4783

Vickie J. Smith, GAP Coordinator
South Dakota State University, Brookings

Land cover: Land cover classification was completed for eastern South Dakota in June 1999. Twelve categories were separated, including two alliance classifications, which were delineated using on-screen digitizing and four wetland categories from the National Wetland Inventory (NWI). An image of land cover for eastern South Dakota can be viewed at http://wfs.sdstate.edu/sdgap/eastland.htm. Currently, two of nine western South Dakota scenes have been classified using alliance training data from the USGS-TNC Vegetation Mapping Program for Wind Cave National Park. Within the two scenes, 19 categories are present, including 13 association level categories. Assessment is under way to determine the accuracy of this method of classification. Completion of the South Dakota land cover map is expected by May 2000. Accuracy assessment using a stratified random sample for the state will begin during the summer of 2000.

Animal modeling: Distribution maps are completed, reviewed, and revised for 88 mammal species. They can be viewed at http://wfs.sdstate.edu/sdgap/mammals.html. Small mammal/vegetation associations are being determined at Wind Cave National Park. These data will be used in accuracy assessments of small mammal distributions. Maps are nearly completed for 43 herp species, and the avian species list is under review. South Dakota is working cooperatively with four surrounding states (North Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska) to create regional models for all vertebrate species. Currently, 16 species have been modeled for the region. Literature review has been conducted for nearly 80% of the species to be modeled by South Dakota.

Land stewardship mapping: We have added state parks and recreation areas, The Nature Conservancy holdings, and state wildlife refuges to our stewardship map in the past year. We are attempting to acquire information for a three mile wide section along the borders of Montana and Wyoming. Permission has been granted to include only two of the seven Indian reservation boundaries in our stewardship map. Our current stewardship map can be viewed at http://wfs.sdstate.edu/sdgap/stewardmap.htm.

Aquatic GAP: Plans are under way to hire a graduate student in early 2000. River reach files have been acquired, and watershed boundaries have been formulated for three major river systems in eastern South Dakota, through a project researching presence of Topeka shiners in eastern South Dakota streams (see article on page of this issue). Habitat information has been collected on historic locations of the Topeka shiner. These data will be used as a pilot project for Aquatic GAP to formulate predictions of the current Topeka shiner distribution in these stream systems.

<%Case "TN"%>

Tennessee

Near completion

Anticipated completion date: March 2000

Contact: Jeanette Jones, Project Coordinator
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville
jjones2@mail.state.tn.us, (615) 781-6534

Sue Marden, Vertebrate Ecologist
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Land cover: The detailed vegetation map is completed. The vegetation map was produced using classification techniques applied to Landsat TM imagery and aerial videography. Accuracy assessment was performed using a subset of points set aside from the aerial videography interpretation. Final figures for accuracy assessment are being tabulated. Completion of metadata and preparing data for final delivery to National GAP remains to be done.

Animal modeling: Predicted species distributions and species richness data have been produced for Tennessee’s 364 terrestrial vertebrate species. The species distribution data in is the process of being written onto CDs to send into National GAP.

Land stewardship mapping: The land stewardship layer is completed. Lands mapped are current through December 1997. The public lands coverage has been updated, while land management status needs to be assigned before any further analysis.

Analysis: Gap analysis has been completed.

Reporting and data distribution: The final report is near completion. Data is being written to CD-ROMs for delivery to National GAP. Plans are to present TN-GAP data as part of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) web page.

Other accomplishments and innovations: The Tennessee Biodiversity Program (established by the Tennessee Conservation League [TCL]) and TWRA’s GIS division are continuing to work together to provide planners and community leaders, landowners, natural resource professionals, and educators with information on Tennessee’s natural resources. TWRA provides TN-GAP data and related GIS data layers as Arc View files to county planners and community leaders. Managing Natural Resources - A Planning Guide for the Elk River Watershed of South Central Tennessee and Northern Alabama was published in 1999 by TWRA, TCL, Tennessee Valley Authority, and National GAP as a planning guide for developing and carrying out natural resource conservation and management programs.

<%Case "TX"%>

Texas

Under way

Anticipated completion date: December 2000

Contact: Nick C. Parker

Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Texas Tech University, Lubbock
nparker@ttu.edu, (806) 742-2851

Land cover: The land cover map for Texas has been completed; all scenes have been stitched together. Data from field work, completed in all 254 counties in Texas, was used to classify the scenes. Data from videography was used for accuracy assessment. Overall accuracy of the classified product was above 80%. Approximately 6,000 photographs with UTM coordinates were taken in the field. These photographs are in a database and are being prepared for distribution through the web.

Vertebrate modeling: We have identified 637 terrestrial vertebrate species as being native to and breeding in Texas. GIS layers representing the range extents for each of these species have been developed from existing range maps. In addition, a database consisting of 34,441 location records for mammals and birds has been developed. Habitat profiles have also been prepared for all 637 species being modeled, and statewide GIS layers have been created from the following profile variables: precipitation, temperature, soils, hydrology, ecoregions, and elevation. Preliminary distribution models for herpetofauna and mammals have been completed. Fifty percent of the preliminary distribution models for birds have been completed.

Analysis: Under way.

Reporting and data distribution: Draft maps were provided to 89 landowners in West Texas to solicit their evaluations for use in accuracy assessment. Draft maps have also been prepared for Texas State Parks, the National Park Service, the U.S. Border Patrol, USDA, and cooperators in Texas and Mexico.

Other accomplishments: Data prepared for West Texas are being used to prepare selected species-specific maps (e.g., prairie dog towns and scaled quail distribution).

<%Case "UT"%>

Utah

Anticipated completion date: June 2004

Contact: Doug R. Ramsey
Remote Sensing/GIS Laboratories
Utah State University, Logan

The first-generation Utah Gap Analysis project has been completed. An update is under way. We are part of Southwest Regional GAP that includes Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. To date we have been updating the ancillary data layers and researching the feasibility of adding a soil component to our ancillary data set. We have also been reviewing the vegetation reference data collected in our first Gap Analysis for use in the update. As part of a regional effort we have been helping each state define mapping zones. The purpose of the mapping zones is to divide the landscape into similar units of landform features, soils, and biotic elements.

Older Utah GAP products are still readily available for both UNIX and PC computer systems. We also have a CD-ROM on Intermountain Region Land Cover Characterization that incorporates GAP data from Nevada, Southern Idaho, Western Wyoming, and Utah.

Land cover: Modeling land cover characteristics will not begin until all vegetation reference data is collected for a mapping zone. The collection of data is scheduled to begin in spring 2000.

Animal modeling: Dr. Thomas C. Edwards of the Utah Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit will undertake the wildlife habitat modeling for Utah. Dr. Edwards can be reached by phone at (435) 707-2529, by fax at (435) 797-4025, and by e-mail at tce@nr.usu.edu.

Land stewardship mapping: Individual management units for the state of Utah will be updated for public and private lands.

Analysis: All data layers are scheduled for analysis completion by 2004.

Reporting and data distribution: All products derived from Utah’s Gap Analysis as well as Southwest GAP are schedule for completion by 2004.

<%Case "VT", "NH"%>

Vermont & New Hampshire

Near completion

Anticipated completion date: March 2000

Contact: David Capen
School of Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington

Land cover: Land cover mapping for both Vermont and New Hampshire is complete. Edge-matching between New Hampshire and Maine gave acceptable results.

Animal modeling: Refining models and processing additional ancillary data for about 25% of vertebrate species; modeling is complete for other species.

Land stewardship mapping: Complete for both states, including private conservation parcels and hundreds of ownerships protected by easements.

Analysis: In progress; macros for most steps have been developed and tested. Final analysis awaits refinement of selected habitat models.

Reporting and data distribution: Reports will be submitted for review in early 2000; data distribution should follow later in the year.

Other accomplishments and innovations: Both Vermont and New Hampshire have undertaken statewide reserve selection projects that have complemented the gap analysis effort. Each of these projects has incorporated physical factors of the landscape into their analyses. We believe that this approach, coupled with the land cover maps of GAP, offers a more sensitive and more comprehensive means of identifying hotspots of diversity than does the modeling of vertebrate distributions.

<%Case "VA"%>

Virginia

Near completion

Anticipated completion date: March 2000

Contact: Scott D. Klopfer
GIS and Remote Sensing Project Coordinator
Fish and Wildlife Information Exchange, Blacksburg

Land cover: The final VA-GAP land cover map was completed in spring 1999. This map is currently available through anonymous ftp from the Fish and Wildlife Information Exchange (FWIE) server at ftp.fwie.fw.vt.edu. The final map contains 26 land cover classes and two forest complex classes. For more information on VA-GAP’s land cover mapping efforts, please contact Scott Klopfer (sklopfer@vt.edu).

Animal modeling: Vertebrate modeling is near completion.

Land stewardship mapping: The stewardship map for VA-GAP is complete and available for download at ftp.fwie.fw.vt.edu. This coverage contains all federal, state, and some privately owned lands in Virginia. For more information regarding these efforts please contact Scott Klopfer (sklopfer@vt.edu).

Analysis: The quantitative accuracy assessment of the vegetation map is completed. The accuracy of the final land cover map was found to be between 67% (conservative estimate) and 87%. Analysis of species distributions and protection gaps is near completion.

Reporting and data distribution: Many of the basic data sets used by VA-GAP are available to the public via ftp. Our web-based data distribution node is expected to be complete by spring 2000. The final VA-GAP report is in progress, and plans for a statewide VA-GAP data use workshop are under way.

Other accomplishments and innovations: VA-GAP continues to serve as a means of communication for federal and state agencies in Virginia. The results of our accuracy assessment indicate that our abiotic factor (a.k.a. "enduring feature") modeling/remote sensing hybrid classification method was able to provide us with accurate land cover classifications.

<%Case "WA"%>

Washington

Complete (see http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/wlm/gap/dataprod.htm)

<%Case "WV"%>

West Virginia

Near completion

Anticipated completion date: March 2000

Contact: Charles Yuill
West Virginia University
Natural Resource Analysis Center, Morgantown

Land cover: Complete — additional verification continuing.

Animal modeling: Near completion. Models and range maps are complete. Modeling under way using revised final land cover. Herptiles are complete. Range maps are on project map server.

Land stewardship mapping: Complete — updated to 9/1/99.

<%Case "WI"%>

Under way

Anticipated completion date: September 2002

Contact: Tim Weiss

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Bureau of Wildlife Management, Madison

Land cover: Classification of the state followed the Upper Midwest Gap Image Processing Protocol and is now completed. Cross-walking the remote sensing land cover classes to the National Vegetation Classification System will begin in FY 2000.

Animal modeling: Vertebrate modeling will be undertaken by the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) in cooperation with the state DNR beginning in FY 2000.

Land stewardship mapping: Public land ownership/stewardship mapping is being undertaken by the Wisconsin DNR and is partially completed. Federal lands and state lands are mapped to date; county lands remain to be mapped.

Analysis: Gap analysis will be undertaken by UMESC and is scheduled to begin in FY 2001.

Reporting and data distribution: Land cover data will begin to be served by UMESC in the second and third quarter of FY 2000.

<%Case "WY"%>

Complete (see http://sdvc.uwyo.edu/wbn/gap.html)