EPA Ecoregions

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/Office of Water/OST

Publication_Date: 19980801

Title: EPA Ecoregions

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Washington, D.C.

Publisher: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Online_Linkage:

Server=geodata.library.arizona.edu; Service=5151; Database=atlas01; User=EPA; Version=dbo.DEFAULT

Description:

Abstract:

The ECOREG coverage provides polygon coverage of the Level III ecoregions for the conterminous United States. The coverage is stored in the EPA Spatial Data Library System (ESDLS). The ecoregions shown here have been derived from ecoregions of the conterminous United States and from refinements of Omernik's framework that have been made for other projects. These ongoing or recently completed projects, conducted in collaboration with the U.S. EPA regional offices and with state resource management agencies, involve refining ecoregions, defining subregions, and locating sets of reference sites. These are designed to serve as a spatial framework for environmental resource management.
For distribution with BASINS v.2.0, the data layer was prepared in Arcview shape file format. Extracted Arizona with 25 mile buffer surrounding

Purpose:

This coverage provides a valuable data layer for BASINS that require Arcview shape file format in an unprojected form.
Ecoregions denote areas within which ecosystems (the type, quality, and quantity of environmental resources) are generally similar. The most immediate needs are to develop regional biological criteria and water quality standards and to set management goals for nonpoint source pollution.

Supplemental_Information:

Intended_use_of_data: This data set was prepared to support the U.S. EPA BASINS (Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources) System.
Limitations_of_Data: None
Procedures: The approach used to compile these data is based on the premise that ecological regions can be identified through the analysis of the patterns and the composition of biotic and abiotic phenomena that affect or reflect differences in ecosystem quality and integrity (Wiken 1986, Omernik 1987, 1995). These phenomena include geology, physiography, vegetation, climate, soils, land use, wildlife, and hydrology. The relative importance of each characteristic varies from one ecological region to another regardless of the hierarchical level. Because of possible confusion with other meanings of terms for different levels of ecological regions, a Roman numeral classification scheme has been adopted for this effort. Level I is the most coarse level, dividing North America into nine ecological regions. Level II, the continent, is subdivided into 32 classes. Level III further subdivides the continent into 78 classes. For portions of the United States, the ecoregions have been further subdivided to Level IV. The Applications of the ecoregions are explained in Gallant et al., (1989) and in reports and publications from state and regional projects. The National Geographic Information Services (NGIS) Team at Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Systems Development Center (SDC) reprojected the coverage to North American Datum 83 (NAD83) and added the ecoregion names to the data set.
a. All ecoregion and subregion coverages are digitized from the USGS 1:250,000 base maps. Prior to digitizing, each base map must be initialized to orient the map and relate it in geographic coordinates to the surface of the earth. When the registration tics are entered at the start of digitizing, a transformation error of <0.003 must be achieved in order to ensure a high level of registration accuracy. The person responsible for digital data entry completes a data sheet describing coverage name, date of entry, and whether a topology for the coverage is established.
b. After each 1:250,000 base map has been digitized, a topology for each coverage is established. This function creates unique identities for each polygon.
c. Next, each base map is tested for polygon errors through an internal editing function. Errors are corrected for unlabeled polygons, unclosed polygons, or polygons with more than one label. Topology is re- established for each coverage and tested again until no errors are indicated.
d. The digital coverage is then plotted at the same scale as the original base map. This coverage is overlaid on a light table with the original and visually inspected for replication of original lines with digitized lines. Two individuals independently inspect the coverage for accuracy.
Reviews_Applied:
SDC Product Assurance (PA) applied these reviews to the data set: a. Verified coverage existence and spatial extent. b. Verified the addition of ecoregion names to the data set. c. Verified spatial index existence and the use of NAD83 projection.
References_Cited: Gallant, A.L., T.R. Whittier, D.P. Larsen, J.M. Omernik, and R.M. Hughes. 1989. Regionalization as a Tool for Managing Environmental Resources. EPA/600/3089/060. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR. 152p.
Gallant, A.L., E.F. Binnian, J.M. Omernik, and M.B. Shasby. (draft map and report). Ecoregions of Alaska Report prepared jointly by the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Colorado State University.
Omernik, J.M., U.S. EPA, NHEERL, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333 (phone: 503-754-4458).
Omernik, J.M. 1987 "Ecoregions of the Conterminous United States." Map (scale 1:7,500,000). Annals of the Association of American Geographers 77(1):118-125.
Omernik, J.M. 1995. "Ecoregions: A framework for environmental management." in: Biological Assessment and Criteria: Tools for Water Resource Planning and Decision Making. W. Davis and T. Simon (eds.) Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, MI.
Wiken, E. 1986. Terrestrial Ecozones of Canada. Environment Canada. Ecological Land Classification Series No. 19. Ottawa, Canada.
Notes: Source Data Information 1. Original data were compiled at 1:3, 168,000, 1986. 2. Unknown number of revisions between 1986 and 1994. (Est. 6-8) 3. 2 new ecoregions (77-North Cascades and 78-Klamath Mountains) were added to reflect changes with the subregion project in Oregon and Washington. 3/95 4. Revised lines reflecting changes in subregions in Oregon and Washington. 8/95 5. Revised lines reflecting changes in subregions in Pennsylvania, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ridge and Valley, and Central Appalachians of EPA Region 3. 11/95 6. Revised lines reflecting changes in subregions in North Dakota, Indiana, and Ohio. Ecoregion 42 (Northwestern Glaciated Plains) was enlarged to include the area of ecoregion 45 (Northeastern Great Plains). Ecoregion 45 was deleted. A new ecoregion 45 (Piedmont) was added in the southeast US. 1/96

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 1986

Ending_Date: 1994

Currentness_Reference: 19960930

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -115.476122

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -108.466053

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.401960

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 31.268043

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None.

Theme_Keyword:

Omernik Ecoregions Northern Basin and Range Southern Basin and Range Colorado Plateaus Arizona/New Mexico Plateau Arizona/New Mexico Mountains Southern Deserts

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: Geographic Names Information System

Place_Keyword: Arizona AZ

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints:

None. Acknowledgement of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would be appreciated.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 202-566-0406

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: Contact basins@epa.gov

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 3; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.0.1770

Data_Quality_Information:

Logical_Consistency_Report: Polygon and chain-node topology present.

Completeness_Report: See Supplemental_Information

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The Arc/Info export file was downloaded from the EPA FTP site (ftp.epa.gov/pub/spdata/ecoreg.e00.gz) and was converted from Albers Conic Equal Area projection to geographic decimal degrees projection using Arc/Info. The coverage was then converted to Arcview shape file using the Arc/Info ARCSHAPE command.
For distribution with BASINS 2.0, the data layer was divided by EPA regions (i.e. distribution by CD). Other form of data distribution (e.g. by cataloging unit) is available through the web (<http://www.epa.gov/OST/BASINS>).

Process_Date: 19980218

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: Tetra Tech, Inc.

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing Address

Address: 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 340

City: Fairfax

State_or_Province: Virginia

Postal_Code: 22030

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 703-385-6000

Contact_Instructions: See Distributor_Information

Process_Step:

Process_Description: Metadata imported.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: C:\DOCUME~1\dborden\LOCALS~1\Temp\xml3F.tmp

Process_Step:

Process_Description: Metadata imported.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: C:\DOCUME~1\dborden\LOCALS~1\Temp\xmlB.tmp

Process_Step:

Process_Description: Dataset copied.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation:

Server=silicon.fsi.farragut.com; Service=esri_sde; User=EPA; Version=SDE.DEFAULT

Process_Step:

Process_Description: Dataset copied.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation:

Server=Silicon.fsi.farragut.com; Service=esri_sde; User=epa; Version=SDE.DEFAULT

Process_Step:

Process_Description: Dataset copied.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: Server=Silicon; Service=esri_sde; User=az; Version=SDE.DEFAULT

Process_Step:

Process_Description: Dataset copied.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation:

Server=Arizonium; Service=esri_sde; User=az; Version=SDE.DEFAULT

Process_Step:

Process_Description: Dataset copied.

Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation:

Server=150.135.45.64; Service=5151; Database=AZ01; User=az; Version=SDE.DEFAULT

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:

SDTS_Terms_Description:

SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: G-polygon

Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 0

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Planar:

Grid_Coordinate_System:

Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator

Universal_Transverse_Mercator:

UTM_Zone_Number: 12

Transverse_Mercator:

Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600

Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -111.000000

Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.000000

False_Easting: 500000.000000

False_Northing: 0.000000

Planar_Coordinate_Information:

Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair

Coordinate_Representation:

Abscissa_Resolution: 0.000128

Ordinate_Resolution: 0.000128

Planar_Distance_Units: meters

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983

Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222

Vertical_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Altitude_System_Definition:

Altitude_Resolution: 1.000000

Altitude_Encoding_Method:

Explicit elevation coordinate included with horizontal coordinates

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: atlas01.EPA.EPA_ecoregions

Entity_Type_Definition: Ecoregion primary attribute table.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: USEPA

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: OBJECTID

Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 12

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Floating value

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Assigned

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: EPA_ecoregions_AREA

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: PERIMETER

Attribute_Definition: ARC/INFO internal value

Attribute_Definition_Source: Computed

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 4

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Integer value

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Assigned

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ECOREG_

Attribute_Definition: User-assigned feature number.

Attribute_Definition_Source: User-defined

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 4

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Integer value

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: USEPA

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ECOREG_ID

Attribute_Definition: Ecoregion ID

Attribute_Definition_Source: USEPA

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 2

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Integer value

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: USEPA

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ECO

Attribute_Definition: Indicates the name of the ecoregion.

Attribute_Definition_Source: USEPA

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 40

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: character ID value

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: USEPA

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: NAME

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: SHAPE

Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.

Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: SHAPE.AREA

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: SHAPE.LEN

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: USEPA/Office of Water/OST

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing Address

Address: 401 M Street, SW (4305)

City: Washington

State_or_Province: District of Columbia

Postal_Code: 20460

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 202-260-7301

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 202-260-9830

Resource_Description: Downloadable Data

Distribution_Liability:

Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at Tetra Tech, Inc., 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 also strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency nor Tetra Tech, Inc. shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name:

Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) ArcView Shapefile

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: <http://www.epa.gov/OST/BASINS>

Offline_Option:

Offline_Media: CD-ROM

Recording_Format: ISO 9660

Fees: None

Ordering_Instructions:

When requesting data by phone or mail, please inquire about spatial data sets that work with Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS). The BASINS web page has instructions for downloading datasets. It also has a link to The National Center for Environmental Publications and Information (NCEPI), from which BASINS CD-ROMs may be ordered. Each CD-ROM contains the BASINS v2.0 Application and this data set along with others covering the spatial extent of an EPA Region.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20081023

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: USEPA/OW/OST

Contact_Person: REQUIRED: The person responsible for the metadata information.

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing Address

Address: 401 M Street, SW (4305)

City: Washington

State_or_Province: District of Columbia

Postal_Code: 20460

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 202 260 7301

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Time_Convention: local time

Metadata_Extensions:

Online_Linkage: <http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html>

Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile

Metadata_Extensions:

Online_Linkage: <http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.html>

Profile_Name: ESRI Metadata Profile