Wetlands Subcommittee, Federal Wetlands Subcommittee, Federal Geographic Data CommitteeGeographic Data Committee

The Wetlands Subcommittee was The Wetlands Subcommittee was re-launched in July of 2005. re-launched in July of 2005.

Chaired by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Chaired by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Primary goalsPrimary goals

Promote standards for wetlands data Promote standards for wetlands data collection financed in whole or in part by collection financed in whole or in part by Federal fundsFederal funds

Exchange information on technological Exchange information on technological improvements for collecting spatial improvements for collecting spatial wetlands datawetlands data

Collect and process the requirements from Collect and process the requirements from everyone for spatial wetlands dataeveryone for spatial wetlands data

Scope Scope

WetlandsWetlands DeepwaterDeepwater Riparian habitats Riparian habitats

Membership Membership

23 Federal Agencies 23 Federal Agencies 3 Major Collaborating Parties 3 Major Collaborating Parties Interested individuals Interested individuals Mailing list of over 140 membersMailing list of over 140 members

Major Collaborating PartnersMajor Collaborating Partners

National Association of State Wetland National Association of State Wetland Managers Managers

National Association of CountiesNational Association of Counties National State Geographic Information National State Geographic Information

Council Council

Past AccomplishmentsPast Accomplishments

Acceptance of Acceptance of Classification of Wetlands Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United and Deepwater Habitats of the United StatesStates

Proposal of A System for Mapping Proposal of A System for Mapping Riparian Areas of the Western United Riparian Areas of the Western United StatesStates

Past AccomplishmentsPast AccomplishmentsContinued Continued

In 2000 served as the Committee for In 2000 served as the Committee for Defining and Tracking Wetlands Gains Defining and Tracking Wetlands Gains under the White House Wetlands Working under the White House Wetlands Working Group Group

Developed definitions used in the Developed definitions used in the President’s 2005 and 2006 Earth Day President’s 2005 and 2006 Earth Day Wetlands Reports Wetlands Reports

New Activities New Activities

Solicited “Official” members Solicited “Official” members Revised charterRevised charter Produced Annual Work Plan Produced Annual Work Plan Identified areas of concern Identified areas of concern Established Working Groups Established Working Groups

Standards Working GroupStandards Working Group

Chair: Chair: Margarete Heber, EPA Margarete Heber, EPA Issue:Issue: Development mapping conventions Development mapping conventions

in the form of a in the form of a National Standards and National Standards and Quality Components for Wetlands and Quality Components for Wetlands and Deepwater Habitat Mapping.Deepwater Habitat Mapping.

Objective:Objective: Build the Wetlands Layer of Build the Wetlands Layer of NSDI NSDI

Progress to date Progress to date

Project Proposal Approved by SWGProject Proposal Approved by SWG Numerous conference callsNumerous conference calls Major meeting June 26-28, 2006 at USGS Major meeting June 26-28, 2006 at USGS

in Reston, VA in Reston, VA

Wetlands Data Availability Wetlands Data Availability

USFWS mapper @ USFWS mapper @ http://http://wetlandsfws.er.usgs.gov/index.htmlwetlandsfws.er.usgs.gov/index.html

National Map @ National Map @ http://http://nationalmap.govnationalmap.gov// Geospatial one-stop @ Geospatial one-stop @

http://gos2.geodata.gov/wps/portal/goshttp://gos2.geodata.gov/wps/portal/gos.. Paper maps through Cooperator-run Centers @ Paper maps through Cooperator-run Centers @

http://http://wetlands.fws.gov/distribution_ctrs.htmwetlands.fws.gov/distribution_ctrs.htm

Current Partners Current Partners

States of Alaska, California, Idaho, Iowa, States of Alaska, California, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Oregon, New York, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Oregon, New York, Rhode Island; U.S. EPA, U.S. Army Corps of Rhode Island; U.S. EPA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, U.S. Engineers, National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wetlands Geological Survey’s National Wetlands Research Center; Ulster County, NY; City of Research Center; Ulster County, NY; City of Seattle, New York City, California Coastal Seattle, New York City, California Coastal Conservancy, and Southern California Coastal Conservancy, and Southern California Coastal Water Research Project Water Research Project

Strategy, Ranking and Funding Strategy, Ranking and Funding Working GroupWorking Group

Chair: Bill Kirchner, FWSChair: Bill Kirchner, FWS Issue: Developing a strategy and a Issue: Developing a strategy and a

national priority ranking system to foster national priority ranking system to foster development of a current, complete development of a current, complete wetlands layer of the National Spatial Data wetlands layer of the National Spatial Data InfrastructureInfrastructure

Additional Working Groups Additional Working Groups

Remote Sensing Working Group: Brian Remote Sensing Working Group: Brian Huberty, FWS. Huberty, FWS.

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Working Group: NOAAWorking Group: NOAA

Wetlands Tracking Ad hoc Group: Bill Wetlands Tracking Ad hoc Group: Bill Wilen, FWS Wilen, FWS

Future Tasks Future Tasks

Review of Wetlands Classification Review of Wetlands Classification StandardStandard

Decide if we will go forward with the Decide if we will go forward with the riparian standardriparian standard

Look into linking or integrating wetlands Look into linking or integrating wetlands with the National Hydro Data layerwith the National Hydro Data layer

Review of wetlands standard Review of wetlands standard

Issues or Concerns Issues or Concerns

Federal Advisory Committee Act and how and how it applies to FGDC committees and it applies to FGDC committees and working groupsworking groups

Reductions in staff are limiting our ability Reductions in staff are limiting our ability to coordinateto coordinate