Release of the Aquatic Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Database
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov
March 15, 2019
In Reply Refer To:
1734, 1283 (200) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 03/27/2019
Information Bulletin No. 2019-027
To: All Washington Office and Field Office Officials
From: Assistant Director, Resources and Planning
Subject: Release of the Aquatic Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Database
This IB is to communicate the availability of the Aquatic Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) Database (AquADat). This database is released for internal and external use subject to proprietary data restrictions (see Disclaimer below). AquADat contains reach-level aquatic core and contingent indicators, as well as covariates, calculated from raw field data collected using the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) standardized methodology for monitoring wadeable streams and rivers (TR 1735-2). Aquatic core indicators include:
- pH
- water temperature
- specific conductance
- aquatic macroinvertebrate biological integrity
- canopy cover
- ocular estimates of riparian vegetative type, cover, and structure
- pool dimensions
- streambed substrate
- floodplain connectivity
- bank stability and cover
- large woody debris
Contingent indicators (e.g., total nitrogen and phosphorous, bank angle) and covariates (e.g., slope and bankfull width) are also in AquADat. Collectively, these indicators can be used to assess attainment of the BLM’s Fundamentals of Land Health, the effectiveness of Resource Management Plans, and the success of restoration or reclamation actions, among other applications. This information is non-decisional. Additional information about the AIM strategy can be found in the BLM Technical Reference (TR 1735-1).
https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/documents/files/TR_1735-01_0.pdf
Information Availability and AIM Data Related Products
The data will be available on the Landscape Approach Data Portal.
http://www.landscape.blm.gov/geoportal/catalog/main/home.page
Within the portal, the Data Catalog and Map Catalog list currently available data related products. The BLM National Operations Center (NOC) Data Review Certification Form (Attachment 1) describes the AIM data related products released with this IB.
Internal Access - BLM
Access to the data related products will be through the BLM Enterprise Geographic Information System and the Geospatial Gateway (aim.landscapetoolbox.org/aquadat-map). All of BLM will have the ability to discover, analyze, use, and share all non-proprietary information.
External Access - All Public Users
Data related products approved for release will be available to the public through the BLM Landscape Approach Data Portal Geoportal, AIM tab.
http://www.landscape.blm.gov/geoportal/catalog/main/home.page
This portal will provide access to mapping products, certified data, models, and derived products. The metadata will be posted in Federal Geographic Data Committee nodes to allow harvesting of the data through nationally recognized geospatial portals.
Disclaimer
The disclaimer statements below applies to the BLM data generated under the AIM strategy. For public records (external distribution) and those discretionary/enhanced records (electronic products available for online viewing and/or hardcopy output available to the public), the following disclaimers shall be applied:
- Distributor Liability: The BLM assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. No warranty is made by the BLM as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data for individual use or aggregate use with other data; nor shall the act of distribution to contractors, partners, or beyond, constitute any such warranty for individual or aggregate data use with other data. Although these data have been processed successfully on computers of the BLM, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the BLM regarding the use of these data on any other system, or for general or scientific purposes, nor does the fact of distribution constitute or imply any such warranty. In no event shall the BLM have any liability, whatsoever, for payment of any consequential, incidental, indirect, special, or tort damages of any kind, including, but not limited to, any loss of profits arising out of the use or reliance on the geographic data or arising out of the delivery, installation, operation, or support by the BLM.
- Access Constraints: None. These data are considered public domain.
- Use Constraints: These data are provided by BLM “as is” and may contain errors or omissions. The user assumes the entire risk associated with the use of these data and bears all responsibility in determining whether these data are appropriate for the intended use.
The information contained in these data is dynamic and may change over time. The data are not better than the original sources from which they were derived, and both scale and accuracy may vary across the data set. These data may not have the accuracy, resolution, completeness, timeliness, or other characteristics appropriate for applications that potential users of the data may contemplate. The user should carefully consider the content of the metadata file associated with these data. These data are neither legal documents nor land surveys, and must not be used as such. Official records may be referenced at the NOC. Please report any errors in the data to the point of contact listed in the metadata from which the information was obtained.
The BLM should be cited as the data source in any products derived from these data. Any users wishing to modify the data should describe the types of modifications performed. The user should not misrepresent the data, nor imply that the changes made were approved or endorsed by BLM. This information may be updated without notification.
This dataset was created to monitor the status, condition, and trend of BLM streams and rivers in accordance with BLM policies. The methodology used for the collection of these data can be found in TR 1735-2: AIM National Aquatic Monitoring Framework: Field Protocol for Wadeable Lotic Systems. These data should not be used for statistical or spatial inferences without knowledge of how the sample design was drawn or without calculating spatial weights for the points based on the sample design.
Signed by: Authenticated by:
Kristin Bail Robert M. Williams
Assistant Director Division of Business Resources,WO-850
Resources and Planning
1 Attachment
1 – The NOC Data Review Certification Form (6pp)