Status of GAP Components

This section reviews the status of the constituent parts, or components needed, to conduct Gap Analysis. Gap Analysis was begun with a focus on the terrestrial environment, however, the development of information and analyses must logically be extended to the aquatic environment; the aquatic component of Gap Analysis is also treated in this section. The status of analyses of the GAP data layers is discussed in the "Products" section of this report.

Partnerships

Interagency collaboration has been a hallmark of GAP work. One important result of the Gap Analysis Program is the overwhelming cooperation, interaction, and support received from all sectors of the natural resources conservation community. Collaboration at the national and state levels is now serving as a significant catalyst in eliminating institutional barriers among and between zoologists, land managers, botanists, policy analysts, ecologists, planners, remote sensing experts, agency managers, geographers, information experts, computer scientists, and others involved with conservation biology.

Of primary importance is that public agencies (local, state, federal) and private organizations are coming together around GAP information, in no small part because they are all mutually involved in its development. This coalescing is being facilitated by new science and better technology as well as the setting of standard methods, definitions, and database formats, including careful peer-review of products and procedures. The GAP partnership model contains the key elements identified by the National Research Council's Mapping Science Committee as necessary to promote the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI): shared responsibilities, shared cost, shared benefits, and shared control (National Research Council 1994). The utility of the GAP effort is being further extended via the application of consistent spatial data through its partnership infrastructure, meeting the call for nationally coordinated spatial data (National Research Council 1993).

State Project Partnerships

As of September 1995, there were 430 organizations cooperating on a state-project basis. If counted by a single umbrella organization only (e.g., if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were counted only once even though different USFWS field offices are involved in just about every GAP state project), then the total is about 302. The distribution of GAP partners by sector is shown in Figure 6. Gap Analysis is officially under way (i.e., receiving funding) or completed in 40 states, however, there are a number of other states where interest is very high, and projects are being organized.

Figure 6. Distribution of GAP partners by sector.

State-by-State Partners:

Arizona:

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Arizona Department of Game and Fish

Arizona Department of Natural Resources

Arizona State Lands Department

University of Arizona

The Arizona Nature Conservancy

National Park Service

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

 

Arkansas:

Arkansas Forestry Commission

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission

Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission

Arkansas State Highway Transportation Department

Arkansas State University

University of Arkansas

The Arkansas Nature Conservancy

Weyerhaeuser Company

International Paper Company

Anderson-Tully Company

ATTRA (Appropriate Technology Transfer to Rural Areas)

Georgia-Pacific Corporation

Winrock International

National Park Service

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

 

California:

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

California Department of Fish and Game

California Department of Parks and Recreation

California Energy Commission

California Land and Natural Areas

California State Lands Commission

Center for Natural Lands Management

Humboldt State University

San Diego State University

San Francisco State University

Stanford University, Center for Conservation Biology

University of California, Davis

University of California, Museum of Systematic Biology

University of California, Riverside

University of California, Santa Barbara

University of California, Natural Reserve System

Greater San Diego Clean Water Program

Los Angeles County

Orange County

San Diego County Association of Governments

Santa Rosa Plateau Preserve

Southern California Association of Governments

The California Nature Conservancy

Defenders of Wildlife

Natural Resources Defense Council

BioSystems Analysis, Inc.

Dames and Moore, Inc.

IBM Corporation

Pacific Meridian Resources Company

Small Systems Company

Southern California Edison Company

The Hoffman Company

California Teale Data Center

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

The Nature Conservancy (National)

National Park Service

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

 

Colorado:

Colorado Department of Natural Resources

Colorado Department of Wildlife

The Colorado Nature Conservancy

Colorado Natural Heritage Inventory

University of Wyoming

University of Colorado, Boulder

Colorado Bird Observatory

Denver Museum of Natural History

Natural Resources Conservation Service

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

 

Connecticut: (GAP for CT, MA, and RI is run as one regional project.)

Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection

The Nature Conservancy (Eastern Region Office)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Delaware: (GAP for DE, MD, and NJ is run as one regional project.)

Delaware Department of Environmental Conservation

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation

Delaware Division of Soil and Water Conservation

Delaware Division of Water Resources

Delaware Nongame and Endangered Species Program

Johns Hopkins University

University of Delaware

Delaware State University

Delaware Natural Heritage Inventory

The Delaware Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy (National)

Delmarva Ornithological Society

International Shorebird Survey

Manomet Bird Observatory

Brandywine Conservancy

Delaware Nature Society

Delaware Wild Lands

Delaware Museum of Natural History

NOAA - Strategic Environmental Assessment Division

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service

 

Florida:

Florida Department of Fish and Game

Florida Department of Natural Resources

Florida Fish, Game, and Freshwater Fish Commission

Florida Museum of Natural History

Florida Natural Areas Inventory

Florida State Regional Planning Councils

South Florida Water Management District

University of Florida

Bionetics, Inc.

Eglin Air Force Base

NOAA Coastal Ocean Program

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

 

 

Hawaii:

Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources

Hawaii Office of State Planning

Hawaii Natural Resources Conservation Service

University of Hawaii, Department of Botany

Hawaii Nature Conservancy

Bishop Museum

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

National Park Service

U.S. Forest Service

 

Idaho:

Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Idaho Department of Water Resources

Idaho State University

University of Idaho

Defenders of Wildlife

The Idaho Nature Conservancy

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Hewlett Packard Corporation

National Park Service

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Geological Survey

 

Illinois:

Illinois Natural History Survey

University of Illinois

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Indiana:

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Indiana State University

University of Indiana

Hoosier Environmental Council

The Indiana Nature Conservancy

U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

 

Kansas:

Kansas Biological Survey

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

Kansas State University

University of Kansas

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Army, Fort Riley

 

Louisiana:

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

Louisiana Department of Natural Resources

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Louisiana Natural Heritage Program

The Louisiana Nature Conservancy

Louisiana State University

Northeastern Louisiana State University

Northwestern Louisiana State University

University of Southwestern Louisiana

Barataria/Terrebonne National Estuary Program

U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

 

Maine:

Maine Department of Conservation

Maine Department of Economic and Community Development

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Maine Office of GIS

University of Maine

The Maine Nature Conservancy

Bowater Corporation, Great Northern Paper Division

Champion International Corporation

Seven Islands Land Company

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Maryland: (GAP for MD, DE, and NJ is run as one regional project.)

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Maryland Geological Survey

Johns Hopkins University

Maryland Natural Heritage Program

The Maryland Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy (National)

International Shorebird Survey

Manomet Bird Observatory

Brandywine Conservancy

NOAA - Strategic Environmental Assessment Division

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service

 

Massachusetts: (GAP for MA, CT, RI is run as one regional project.)

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs

Conte National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Project

The Nature Conservancy (Eastern Region Office)

Bowater Corporation

Ramtek Corporation

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Michigan: (GAP for MI, MN and WI is run as one regional project.)

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Michigan State University

The Michigan Nature Conservancy

National Park Service

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Minnesota: (GAP for MN, MI and WI is run as one regional project.)

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

University of Minnesota

The Minnesota Nature Conservancy

National Park Service

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Missouri:

Missouri Department of Agriculture

Missouri Department of Conservation

Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Missouri Highway and Transportation

University of Missouri

National Park Service

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

 

Montana:

Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks

Montana Department of Natural Resources

Montana Department of State Lands

Montana Natural Heritage Program

Montana State Library

University of Montana

IBM Corporation

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

National Park Service

U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

 

Nebraska:

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Nebraska State Museum

Nebraska Natural Heritage Program

Nebraska GIS Steering Committee

U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Nevada:

Nevada Department of Wildlife

University of Nevada, Reno

Utah State University

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Department of Energy

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

 

New Hampshire: (GAP for NH and VT is run as one regional Gap Analysis project.)

New Hampshire Office of State Planning

New Hampshire Fish and Game

University of New Hampshire

Northern Forest Lands Council

New Hampshire Audubon Society

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

 

New Jersey: (GAP for NJ, DE, and MD is run as one regional project.)

New Jersey Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife

New Jersey Natural and Historic Resources

New Jersey Science and Research

New Jersey Natural Heritage Program

Johns Hopkins University

International Shorebird Survey

Manomet Bird Observatory

Brandywine Conservancy

NOAA - Strategic Environmental Assessment Division

The Nature Conservancy (National)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service

 

New Mexico:

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish

New Mexico Department of Natural Resources

New Mexico Resource Geographic Information System

New Mexico State Land Office

New Mexico State Parks Department

University of New Mexico

New Mexico State University

New Mexico Environmental Resources Institute

Earth Data Analysis Center (EDAC)

Jicarilla Apache Tribe

Mescalero Apache Tribe

Nambe Pueblo

Navajo Natural Heritage Program

Tesuque Pueblo

New Mexico Sierra Club

New Mexico Natural Heritage Program

The New Mexico Nature Conservancy

National Park Service

U.S. Army, White Sands Missile Range

U.S. Army, Fort Bliss

U.S. Air Force, Holloman AFB

U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

 

New York:

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation

Cornell University

Adirondack Park Agency

The New York Nature Conservancy

Federation of New York State Bird Clubs

U.S. Army, Ft. Drum Military Reservation

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

 

North Carolina:

North Carolina State University Computer Graphics Center

North Carolina State University Botany Department

University of North Carolina Botany Department

North Carolina Natural Heritage Program

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

North Carolina Center for Geographic Information and Analysis

North Carolina Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Region

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

 

Oklahoma:

Oklahoma Commission of Land

Oklahoma Conservation Commission

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory

Oklahoma Water Resource Board

Oklahoma State University

University of Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Nature Conservancy

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

 

Oregon:

Oregon Department of Energy

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Oregon Department of State Lands

Oregon Department of Transportation

Oregon Department of Water Resources

Oregon Natural Heritage Program

Oregon State University

Defenders of Wildlife

The Oregon Nature Conservancy

The Xerces Society

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

 

Pennsylvania:

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources

Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission

Pennsylvania Game Commission

Pennsylvania State University

University of Pennsylvania

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

The Pennsylvania Nature Conservancy

Western Pennsylvania Nature Conservancy

National Park Service

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Forest Service

 

Rhode Island: (GAP for RI, CT, and MA is run as one regional project.)

Rhode Island Geographic Information Systems

The Nature Conservancy (Eastern Region Office)

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Tennessee:

Tennessee Department of Agriculture

Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Tennessee Department of Forestry

Tennessee Division of Forestry

Tennessee State Planning Office

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

Tennessee Technological University

Tennessee Conservation League

The Tennessee Nature Conservancy

Tennessee Ornithological Society

The Lyndhurst Foundation

Tennessee Forestry Association

Tennessee Valley Authority

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

 

Texas:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Texas A & M University

Texas Technical University

University of Houston

 

Utah:

Utah Department of Fish and Game

Utah State University

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

National Park Service

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Geological Survey

 

Vermont: (GAP for VT and NH is run as one regional Gap Analysis project.)

Vermont Agency of Natural Resources

Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation

Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife

Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation

Vermont Center for Geographic Information

University of Vermont

Northern Forest Lands Council

The Vermont Nature Conservancy

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

 

Virginia:

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

Virginia Natural Heritage Program

Virginia Polytechnical Institute and University

Fish and Wildlife Information Exchange

National Park Service

U.S. Army, Ft. Pickett

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Forest Service

 

Washington:

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Washington Department of Ecology

Washington Department of Natural Resources

University of Puget Sound

University of Washington

Washington State University

Seattle Water Department

Association of Retired Natural Resources Professionals

National Audubon Society

Natural Heritage Program

The Joint Venture Plan

The Wilderness Society

Sierra Biodiversity

The Washington Nature Conservancy

Weyerhaeuser Corp.

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Department of Defense

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

 

West Virginia:

West Virginia Department of Commerce

West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection

West Virginia Division of Forestry

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

Fairmont State College

West Virginia University

Salem College

Smithsonian

The West Virginia Nature Conservancy

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

 

Wisconsin: (GAP for WI, MI and MN is run as one regional project.)

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

University of Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Nature Conservancy

National Park Service

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Wyoming:

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality

Wyoming Game and Fish Department

Wyoming Water Research Center

University of Wyoming

Defenders of Wildlife

The Wyoming Nature Conservancy

National Park Service

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Bureau of Mines

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service