Metadata for the

Important Habitat Sites

Developed by

Lake Superior Binational Program


Go to Section:
1. Identification Information
2. Data Quality Information
3. Spatial Data Organization Information
4. Spatial Reference Information
5. Entity and Attribute Information
6. Distribution Information
7. Metadata Reference Information


Section 1 


Identification Information 

Originator  Lake Superior Binational Program
Title  Important Habitat Sites
Abstract  This information was developed to map the location of areas of important habitat in the Lake Superior Basin as part of the Lake Superior Binational Program. Developing and maintaining an inventory of important habitat sites in the basin has been a key charge of the Binational Program since its inception. The map “Important Habitat Conditions in the Lake Superior Basin” was included in the Lake Superior Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP) 2000 as a revision to the original Important Habitat Map published in 1996. The present version represents the second revision of the map and its accompanying habitat site information databases. It includes area data derived from federal, provincial, state and tribal natural resource agencies, published literature, and local knowledge. 
Purpose  The Lake Superior Binational Program (LSBP) emphasizes protective measures for fish, plant, and other wildlife habitat over costly restoration once damage has occurred. Nonetheless, restoration is critical in areas where ecological functions are impaired. In 1991, the governments of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ontario agreed to identify critical habitats and continue habitat reclamation projects already under way to restore fisheries, wildlife, and wetlands in the basin. In response, the Habitat Committee of the LSBP produced a map showing important habitat sites in the Lake Superior basin that require protection and restoration in order to preserve environmental values. Funding from the Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem (COA) enabled the committee revise the map and produce the current version.
Time Period of Content Date  2005
Currentness Reference  March 2006
Progress  Complete 
Maintenance and Update Frequency  As needed 
Spatial Extent of Data  All states and provinces being part of a 50 km buffer of the Lake Superior Drainage Basin. This includes parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ontario, Canada. 
Bounding Coordinates  -93.578178
-83.205195
51.662576
45.831633
Place Keywords  Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario, Canada, Lake Superior 
Theme Keywords  Lake Superior Basin, Important Habitats, Protected Areas, State Parks, Parks. 
Theme Keyword Thesaurus  None 
Access Constraints  None 
Use Constraints  This information is intended to demonstrate the status of an ongoing project to identify important habitat in the Lake Superior region. Data are summarized from existing information submitted to the Lake Superior Binational Program's Habitat Committee. Use of these data may be permitted for appropriate purposes with the consent of the Lake Superior Binational Program. While this database is extensive, it is not complete. The unevenness in coverage across the watershed illustrates the different approaches used by agencies to inventory habitat features and summarize data. Absence of sites mapped here does not imply that important resources cannot be found outside of mapped sites and areas.
Contact Person Information  Ann McCammon-Soltis, U.S. Co-Chair of Habitat Committee
Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
P.O. Box 9
Odanah, WI, U.S.A. 54861
amsoltis@glifwc.org

Marilee Chase, Canadian Co-Chair of Habitat Committee
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
435 James Street South, Suite 221E
Thunder Bay, ON, Canada P7E 6S8
marilee.chase@Ontario.ca

Browse Graphic File Name  none available
Browse Graphic File Description  none available 
Associated Data Sets  Important Habitat Sites 


Section 2 


Data Quality Information - - - - - - Go back to top 

Attribute Accuracy  Criteria absence/presence is subjective. Evaluations assigned by professionals and other knowledgeable individuals involved in the Lake Superior Binational Program. Significance notes are also subjective, and are usually provided by a person particularly familiar with the location. 
Logical Consistency  Significant effort was made to assure that site locations and names are consistent, and that attributes are appropriate for each location. Significant work was also done, for both the previous and present version of the map, to quality assure location names and their corresponding geographic locations (reconciling different names for the same site, merging more than one feature with the same name, aggregating nearby features that logically should be considered one, etc.). There are two classes of apparent topological inconsistency that need to be noted. The first, overlaying areas, is intentional. Particularly on the Minnesota North Shore, a broad area of concern covers a large area of the highlands. This area totally or partially overlaps various smaller areas of particular, more local concern. The second class of topological inconsistency relates to minor edge overlap in various contiguous area features. This occurs particularly in the Wisconsin are of the basin, and was due to compilation methods. These edge overlaps are not significant for the intended uses of the data.
Completeness  The data used to compile this dataset were provided by various persons and organizations in a wide variety of forms. The intent for this dataset is to be as inclusive and complete as possible, given the intent of the Criteria for Determining Important Habitat in the Lake Superior Basin. However, the dataset is only as complete as the best efforts of those persons and organizations that provided data for the compilation. It is intended that this dataset be a working dataset, which is improved and updated on an on-going basis. For the current version of the map, updated habitat site and area information was compiled by Brooke Pilley, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, who obtained the information from various state and provincial sources during March 2006.
Horizontal Positional Accuracy  The data used to compile this dataset come from widely varying sources. No statistical testing was done for accuracy assessment, and no compilation methods could be applied to assure positional accuracy. However, the intent of the compilation is to have location data within one kilometre of their true positions. 
Vertical Positional Accuracy  No vertical position data were
collected. 
Lineage 

Attributes were collected from professionals and others knowledgeable in the sites and areas and the criteria for inclusion in this dataset. Location codes were assigned arbitrarily by compilers of the dataset. Location names were provided by the data suppliers and are official property names (where available). Where official property or usually sourced from a formal name, popular name, or project name as used by a pertinent resource management agency.
Primary Michigan data sources include:
Soule, J. D. 1993. Preliminary Identification of Critical Habitat in the Lake Superior Watershed in Michigan. A report prepared for Non-game Wildlife Fund, Wildlife Division and Lake Superior Binational Program, Surface Water Quality Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Albert, D., P. Comer, D. Cuthrell, M. Penskar, M. Rabe, and C. Reschke. 1994. Bedrock Shoreline Surveys of the Keweenaw Peninsula and Drummond Island in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Additional Michigan information was provided by resource managers from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Ottawa National Forest, Michigan DNR, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority, Northern Michigan University, and through public comment on earlier drafts of a map produced using these data.
The primary data sources for the Wisconsin information included:
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 1997. Identification of Important Habitat in the Wisconsin Portion of the Lake Superior Basin. Unpublished draft.
Epstein, E. J., E. J. Judziewicz, and W. A. Smith. 1997. Wisconsin's Lake Superior Coastal Wetlands Evaluations, Including Other Selected Natural Features of the Lake Superior Basin. Wisconsin's Natural Heritage Inventory Program, Bureau of Endangered Resources, Department of Natural Resources.
Additional Wisconsin information was provided by resource managers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, National Park Service, and through public comment on earlier drafts of a map produced using these data.
The primary data sources for the Minnesota information included:
Collins, P. 1995. Preliminary Summary of Important Habitat Data in the Minnesota Portion of the Lake Superior Basin. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Research Planning, Inc. Undated. Sensitivity of Coastal Environments and Wildlife to Spilled Oil: Lake Superior. Vol I. Prepared for Hazardous Materials Response and Assessment Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington and Ninth Coast Guard District, U.S. Coast Guard, Cleveland, Ohio.
Additional Minnesota information was provided by resource managers from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, U. S. Forest Service, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and through public comment on earlier drafts of a map produced using these data.
Ontario data came primarily from:
Thompson, R. 1995. Survey of Critical Habitat in the Canadian Portion of the Lake Superior Basin. A report prepared for the Lake Superior Binational Program.
Additional information was provided by Jeri Graham, Ed Iwachewski, and Susan Greenwood, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Where location information was missing, points and areas were digitized for the 1996 version of the map by Michael A. Koutnik.
Public review of this important habitat information occurred following the release of the maps:
Koutnik, M. A. 1996. Important Habitat in the Lake Superior Basin. A map prepared for the Lake Superior Binational Program.
Collins, P. T. and Sjerven, G. 2000. Important Habitat in the Lake Superior Basin. A map produced for the Lake Superior Binational Program.
 

Source Scale Denominator 


Section 3 


Spatial Data Organization Information - - - - - - Go back to top 

Native Data Set Environment  ARCVIEW 3.2 
Geographic Reference for Tabular Data   
Spatial Object Type  Point
Vendor Specific Object Types  Point
Tiling Scheme  Lake Superior Basin 


Section 4 


Spatial Reference Information - - - - - - Go back to top 

Horizontal Coordinate Scheme  Geographic (Lat. Long.) 
Ellipsoid  GRS80 
Horizontal Datum  NAD83 
Horizontal Units  Meters 
Distance Resolution 
Map Projection Name  Albers Equal Area. In cases where data needed to be projected from NAD27 to NAD83, the Canadian National Transformation version 2 was used. 
Map Projection Parameters  Standard Parallel: 29.5
Standard Parallel: 45.5
Longitude Of Central Meridian: -96
Latitude Of Projection Origin: 23
False Easting: 0
False Northing: 0 
Other Coordinate System's Definition  Planar Coordinate Encoding Method: Coordinate Pair
Abscissa Resolution: 1
Ordinate Resolution: 1
Semi-Major Axis: 6378206.4
Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 294.98 


Section 5 


Entity and Attribute Information - - - - - - Go back to top 

Entity and Attribute Overview  This information was developed to map the location of areas of important habitat in the Lake Superior Basin as part of the Lake Superior Binational Program. It includes area data derived from state heritage program databases, published literature, and local resource manager knowledge.
Entity and Attribute Detailed Citation 

Code : Important Habitat Area Code
Name : Name of the Important Habitat Area
C1: Rare Communities (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
C2: Rare Habitats (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
C3: Habitat Unique to Great Lakes (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
C4: Representative Natural Communities (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
E1: Large Natural Ecosystem (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
E2: Nationally Significant Ecosystem (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
E3: Old Growth Forest (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
E4: Coastal Wetland or Shore (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
E5: Diverse Ecosystem (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
E6: Ecosystem Integrity Contribution (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
S1: RTE Species Habitat (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
S2: Documented Species Habitat (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
S3: Migration Habitat (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
S4: Spawning Nesting or Nursery Habitat (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
S5: At Risk Habitat (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
S6: Ecological Function Habitats (True or false, see Criteria.pdf for descriptions)
Signote : Description of what makes it an Important Area
Example:
Code: MN-013
Name: Boundary Waters Canoe Area
C1: True
C2: False
C3: False
C4: True
E1: True
E2: True
E3: True
E4: False
E5: True
E6: True
S1: True
S2: True
S3: True
S4: True
S5: True
S6: False
Signote: Rare plant and animal habitat, large representative ecosystems, geologic features
Base Data:

Basincombo – underlying DEM mask to hide the missing portions of the DEM buffer of Lake Superior

Canada_towns – all relevant towns located within the vicinity of the Lake Superior Watershed

International_border – the international border that separates Canada and the United States

Lkwshed_translines – contains all road accesses within the Lake Superior Watershed boundary. The map displays all major roads defined by the Transclass attribute. All other attribute values have been removed from the display.

State_bndires – Contains the state boundaries for Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Trans_symbols – A point file created to display the appropriate highway symbols and label for major highways displayed on the map. A layer file has been sent with the correct highway symbols for Can. And the US.

Usa_towns – selected U.S.A towns located within the Lake Superior Watershed boundary as additional reference on the map. Originally data was obtained from ESRI sample data associated with Arcview 3.2.

Habitat Data:

Habareas – The important habitat areas shapefile with new additional and/or modified polygons. The polygon modifications were made by Gwen MacIsaac of the Geomatics Service Centre – Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources as directed by Brooke Pilley. Brooke obtained the information from various state and provincial sources.

Habsites – the Important Habitat sites shapefiles with new additional and/or modified points. The point modifications were made by Gwen MacIsaac of the Geomatics Service Centre – Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources as directed by Brooke Pilley. Brooke obtained the information from various state and provincial sources.

Ls_spawns – displays the important fish spawning beds for Lake Superior. The lake whitefish and lake trout species are displayed on the map as important fish spawning beds. The file was classified on the species attribute and all other species were removed from the display.

Mcbs_sbpys3_lk_sup_wshed – This shapefile consists of Biological Survey Sites of Biodiversity significance for the North Shore Highlands with in Minnesota. The shapefile was classified on the BIODIV_SIG attribute, with the High and outstanding classes displayed (High = yellow, Outstanding = Red) as requested by Lawson Gerdes of the Minnesota County Biological Survey. The Outstanding class is more significant than those with a rank of High.

Nsh_cook_dlg_041210_prlm_albers – This is an addition to the Minnesota County Biological Survey sites of Biodiversity Significance file above, these sites are in the preliminary stage has they have not finished mapping the sites properly. The shapefile was classified on the BIODIV_SIG attribute, with the High and outstanding classes displayed (High = yellow, Outstanding = Red) as requested by Lawson Gerdes of the Minnesota County Biological Survey.


Water:

Can_lakes_lgrivers – Contains selected lakes and double lined rivers to be displayed on the map. These features were manually selected from the Ontario NRVIS waterbody data to match those on the previous version of the map.

Lake_Michigan – Contains the Lake Michigan lake and associated channel to be displayed above the DEM. Originally data was extracted from the Binational website.

Lake_superior_wshed – the watershed boundary was derived from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Primary watersheds. This data was used as it is more accurate than the existing watershed displayed on the previous version of the map.

Mich_clipped_rivers – The major Michigan rivers were downloaded from the Michigan DNR. The streams shapefile was classified on the DESC to remove dams and weirs from being displayed. The file was then clipped on the Lake Superior Watershed.

Nw_ont_clipped_rivers – The OMNR single rivers were selected manually to match (as close as possible) to the rivers displayed on the previous version of the Lake Superior Habitat Map.

Us-wshed_lakes – Existing data obtained from the Binational Program website in grid format.

Wisc_clipped_rivers - the Wisconsin rivers were obtained from the Wisconsin DNR website. Rivers were manually selected to be displayed to match the previous version of the Habitat map.


Section 6 


Distribution Information - - - - - - Go back to top 

Publisher 
Publication Date 
Contact Person Information  Gerald Sjerven, GIS Specialist 
Natural Resources Research Institute 
5013 Miller Trunk Hwy 
Duluth, Minnesota 55811 
Phone: (218) 720-4388 
FAX: (218) 720-4328 
E-mail: gsjerven@nrri.umn.edu 
Distributor's Data Set Identifier 
Distribution Liability  No warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. It is strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. The University of Minnesota shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. 
Transfer Format Name  ARC/Info export format and ESRI Shapefile 
Transfer Format Version Number   
Transfer Size  1.147
Ordering Instructions  Printed copies of the map are available upon request free of charge. 
Online Linkage  none available


Section 7 


Metadata Reference Information - - - - - - Go back to top 

Metadata Date  2006/09/11 
Contact Person Information  Ann McCammon-Soltis, U.S. Co-Chair of Habitat Committee
Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
P.O. Box 9
Odanah, WI, U.S.A. 54861
amsoltis@glifwc.org

Marilee Chase, Canadian Co-Chair of Habitat Committee
Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
435 James Street South, Suite 221E
Thunder Bay, ON, Canada P7E 6S8
marilee.chase@Ontario.ca

Metadata Standard Name  FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata 
Metadata Standard Version  FGDC-STD-001-1998
Metadata Standard Online Linkage  http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html


This page last updated 02/01/2001.

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The Lake Superior Decision Support project is coordinated through the Center for Water and the Environment at the Natural Resources Research Institute. The project is funded by the USEPA Region 5 Coastal Environmental Management Grant Program through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  For comments on this project or this home page, contact George Host.  Last updated: Friday, January 18, 2002 11:43
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