Metadata:

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: The Colorado Natural Heritage Program Colorado State

University

Publication_Date: 20070615

Title: Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) Potential

Conservation Areas

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Map

Database_Version: Biodiversity Tracking and Conservation System,

Version 4.0

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Fort Collins, Colorado USA

Publisher: The Colorado Natural Heritage Program Colorado State

University

Description:

Abstract:

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) collects data on rare

and imperiled species, subspecies and natural communities

(collectively known as Element Occurrences or EOs) in Colorado.

Potential Conservation Areas (PCAs) are derived from these data. A

PCA represents CNHP's best estimate of the primary area supporting

the long-term survival of targeted species, subspecies and natural

communities. This file includes all non-sensitive PCAs in Colorado

for non-commercial use only.

Purpose:

CNHP provides information on the distribution of potential conservation

areas in Colorado to public and private agencies and individuals for

environmental review, proprietary land management, resource planning,

biological and ecological research and general scientific reference.

Supplemental_Information:

Potential Conservation Areas are typically drawn onto 7.5 minute or

30 X 60 minute USGS topographical maps and digitized using Arc/Info

7.2.1 on a UNIX platform OR drawn on-screen ("heads up" digitizing) by

CNHP staff in ArcView using 1:24,000 or 1:100,000 USGS digital raster

graphics (DRGs) as a reference. Source information is documented in the

attribute table. Data are available in Arc/Info export format (subclass

pcas) and ArcView shapefile format; feature class is regions or multi-

part shapes. Note attributes for the PCA regions coverage are stored in

.patpcas.

PCAs are land units that have been identified as important to the

continued existence of ecological processes that support one or a suite

of rare or significant features. Also, a) they are often based on desk-

top scientific references and need ground-truthing; b) they are based

on biological and physical factors and do not account for land owner-

ship and political concerns; c) they are useful for land-use planning

and conservation strategies but DO NOT have legal meaning or in any

way represent an attempt to regulate or limit the use of private

property; and d) they do not automatically exclude any activity what-

so-ever. Instead, they constitute a hypothetical area required to ensure

the continued existence of the targeted elements of biodiversity.

The size and configuration of a PCA will be dictated by the conservation

targets (i.e. those species, communities or systems we seek to

conserve at a given location) and their sustaining ecological

processes. PCA refers to the ability of a conservation area to maintain

healthy, viable targets over the long term (100+ years), including

ability to respond to natural or human-caused environmental change.

PCAs do not necessarily preclude human activities, but their ability

to function naturally may be greatly influenced by them. PCAs at all

scales may require ecological management or restoration to maintain

their functionality.

CNHP manages data using the Biodiversity Tracking and Conservation

System (BIOTICS) which integrates spatial data using ArcView 3.2a

(ESRI 1992-2000) with narrative and tabular data using Oracle 9i

(Oracle Corporation 1994-2002). BIOTICS was designed by NatureServe,

CNHP's parent organization. To learn more about the BIOTICS data model,

refer to http://www.natureserve.org/prodServices/biotics.jsp

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 19861212

Ending_Date: Present (refer to Publication Date)

Currentness_Reference:

Data were exported and published on the publication date above.

If the site was visited, see the MAPDATE field for dates referring

to the ground condition. If site was not visited, it was drawn from

desktop references on the MAPDATE.

Status:

Progress: In progress

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: Continually

Spatial_Domain:

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -109.2807

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -101.9293

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.0209

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.9213

Bounding_Altitudes:

Altitude_Minimum: 1,021

Altitude_Maximum: 4,398

Altitude_Distance_Units: meters

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: Potential Conservation Area

Theme_Keyword: Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Theme_Keyword: Conservation site

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: Colorado

Place_Keyword: USA

Access_Constraints:

These data are strictly "on loan" and should be considered "works in

progress". Under no circumstances are data to be DISTRIBUTED to outside

parties. Any parties interested in CNHP Potential Conservation Areas

should download them directly at http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/gis.html

for non-commercial use only.

Use_Constraints:

Please note that the bounding coordinates and bounding altitudes reflect

statewide values.

These data are strictly "on loan" and should be considered "works in

progress". Data are for non-commercial use only. Under no circumstances

are data to be DISTRIBUTED in any fashion to outside parties. If other

individuals or agencies are interested in these data, contact CNHP's

Data Distribution Coordinator directly at (970) 491-7331,

mmenefee@lamar.colostate.edu.

Acknowledgement of the Colorado Natural Heritage Program would be

appreciated in products derived from these data. Please cite this

particular dataset as follows:

Colorado Natural Heritage Program. 2007. Potential Conservation Areas.

Biodiversity Tracking and Conservation System. Colorado State

University, Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.A. Data exported 06/15/2007.

The Potential Conservation Area coverage is a product and property of

the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, a sponsored program at Colorado

State University. CNHP data are supplemental and care should be taken in

interpreting these data. PCAs are designed for Element Occurrences

(locations of rare species, subspecies and unique natural communities).

Element Occurrence locations are dependent on the research and

observations of many scientists and institutions and reflect our current

state of knowledge. Many areas have never been surveyed and the absence

of data in any particular geographic area does not necessarily mean that

species or natural communities of concern are not present. This

information should not replace field studies necessary for more localized

planning efforts. CNHP is not responsible for whether other, non-CNHP

data providers have secured landowner permission for data collected.

The data contained herein are provided on an as-is, as-available basis

without warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, including (but

not limited to) warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular

purpose, and non-infringement. CNHP, Colorado State University and the

State of Colorado further expressly disclaim any warranty that the data

are error-free or current as of the date supplied.

Copyright 2007

Colorado State University

Colorado Natural Heritage Program

All Rights Reserved

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Amy Lavender

Contact_Organization: The Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Contact_Position: GIS Program Coordinator

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: 8002 Campus Delivery

City: Fort Collins

State_or_Province: Colorado

Postal_Code: 80523-8002

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 970.491.2847

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 970.491.3349

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: lavender@lamar.colostate.edu

Data_Set_Credit:

CNHP, USFS, BLM, CDOW, GOCO, CSU, TNC, RMBO, NatureServe

Other partner lists available upon request.

Security_Information:

Do not redistribute. For non-commercial use only.

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Dell Precision Workstation 530

Windows 2000 Service Pack 4

ArcView 3.2a - ArcView shapefile

Arc/Info Workstation 9.0 SP3 - Arc/Info export file

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

All items were checked for invalid or null values in GIS and

found to be satisfactory. An assessment of the accuracy of

attributes captured in the field by the observer has not been

completed.

Quantitative_Attribute_Accuracy_Assessment:

Attribute_Accuracy_Value: Unknown

Attribute_Accuracy_Explanation:

Attribute accuracy is dependent on the expertise of the

field biologist.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Arc/Info export coverage was found to be topologically correct

in Arc/Info Workstation 9.0 SP3. Data were imported from an

ArcView shapefile and cleaned (dangle length and fuzzy tolerance

set to .1m). No node, label or region errors are present. ArcView

shapefiles do not have topology.

Completeness_Report:

PCAs are only designed for elements tracked by CNHP. Refer to

http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/list.html for an up-to-date list

of tracked elements. While we strive to have the most comprehensive

database of significant Potential Conservation Areas, field work is

driven by funding sources. Not all areas of the state have been

surveyed by CNHP biologists.

Certain locations are more complete than others (although CNHP

cannot be confident that all areas significant to the maintenance

of biodiversity are completely known).

CNHP contracts with local, state and federal entities, with

assistance from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), to perform county-

wide biological inventories. Data in these counties are typically

more complete than non-inventoried counties. Counties inventoried

by CNHP (both upland and wetland focus unless otherwise noted)

include: Archuleta (2002, 2004 and wetland focus in 2005), N.

Alamosa (1997, wetland focus), S. Alamosa (2003, wetland focus),

Conejos (1999), Costilla (2003, wetland focus), Delta (1997, upland

focus), Dolores (2004, wetland focus), Douglas (1994, upland focus),

Eagle (1999, upland focus), El Paso (2000), Fremont (2005, wetland

focus), Garfield (2000), Grand (2005), Gunnison (2002, wetland focus),

Hinsdale (2006, wetland focus), Jefferson (1992, upland focus), La

Plata (2003), Larimer (1996 and 2004), Mesa (1996 and 2001), Mineral

(1998, upland focus), E. Montrose (1998), W. Montrose (1999, upland

focus), Ouray (1998), Park (1995 and 2000), Pitkin (1997 and 1998,

upland focus), Pueblo (2000 and 2002), Rio Grande (1999), Routt (1995,

wetland focus), Saguache (1997), San Juan (2002 upland focus), San

Miguel (1999, upland focus), and Summit (1997).

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

PCAs are typically mapped onto 1:100,000 scale or 1:24,000 scale

USGS topographical maps (digital or hard copy). Refer to attribute

information for source data and scale.

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

Elevation is collected in the field by biologists so this is

dependent on the estimate of natural resource professionals.

Process_Step:

1) Element Occurrence data are collected in the field by CNHP biologists

or other experts.

2) Data are digitized and transcribed in BIOTICS by CNHP information

managers.

3) CNHP biologists digitize Potential Conservation Areas in ArcView 3x

based on the locations and quality of Element Occurrences and the

natural processes needed to sustain them.

4) PCAs are imported to BIOTICS and transcribed.

5) PCA boundaries and transcription are quality controlled by CNHP

information managers and the GIS Coordinator.

6) Prior to export, data integrity scripts are run to ensure spatial

and narrative information are synchronized.

7) Oracle attributes are joined to the PCA shapefile.

8) Attributes are quality controlled in GIS for invalid or null values.

If an Arc/Info coverage is requested:

9) PCA shapefile is converted to an Arc/Info regions coverage, subclass

pcas, with double precision using Arc/Info WorkStation 9.0 SP1.

10) Coverage is cleaned with fuzzy tolerance and dangle length set to .1m.

11) Labels are created and idedit is run to update user-ids.

12) Coverage is checked for node errors, label errors and region errors.

13) Project define is used to set projection parameters.

14) Export cover is used to create Arc/Info export file (.e00)

Process_Date:

Steps one through five are continual. Steps 6-14 are completed on the

publication date.

Process_Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: The Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Contact_Person: Amy Lavender

Contact_Position: GIS Program Coordinator

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and physical address

Address: Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Address: 8002 Campus Delivery

City: Fort Collins

State_or_Province: Colorado

Postal_Code: 80523-8002

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 970.491.2847

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 970.491.3349

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: lavender@lamar.colostate.edu

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:

Indirect_Spatial_Reference: Colorado

Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector

Spatial_Reference_Information:

Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:

Planar:

Grid_Coordinate_System:

Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator

Universal_Transverse_Mercator:

UTM_Zone_Number: 13

Transverse_Mercator:

Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: .9996

Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -105 00 00

Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 00 00 00

False_Easting: 500000

False_Northing: 0

Planar_Coordinate_Information:

Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: Coordinate pair

Coordinate_Representation:

Abscissa_Resolution:

Ordinate_Resolution:

Planar_Distance_Units: Meters

Geodetic_Model:

Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983

Ellipsoid_Name: GRS 80

Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0

Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.26

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Potential Conservation Area

Entity_Type_Definition:

This dataset includes non-sensitive Potential Conservation Areas

as regions or multi-part shapes. Attributes include unique identifiers,

site names, biodiversity significance ranks, management and protection

urgency ranks, minimum and maximum elevation, source map and digitizing

scale and date boundaries were drawn. If you have a question regarding a

PCA, please provide the SITE ID and/or SITECODE when contacting CNHP.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: SITE_ID

Attribute_Label_Definition:

A unique, sequentially assigned number generated in BIOTICS.

Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable domain

Attribute_Definition_Source: NatureServe

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: SITECODE

Attribute_Label_Definition:

The site code is a combination of the nation, state, installation

code and the sequentially derived potential conservation area

number. Site codes are unique for each record. The installation

code refers to the organization that has lead responsibility.

Installation codes can be one of the following:

CNHP - The Colorado Natural Heritage Program

COFO - The Colorado Field Office of The Nature Conservancy

WRO - The Western Regional Office of The Nature Conservancy

Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable domain

Attribute_Definition_Source: NatureServe

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: SITENAME

Attribute_Label_Definition:

The official CNHP site name, usually corresponding to a local place

name or to a nearby geographic feature.

Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable domain

Attribute_Definition_Source: Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: ALIAS

Attribute_Label_Definition:

Other names commonly associated with the PCA. These can include

informal names, old names, names used by other offices or cooperating

organizations, or the original survey site name. This field can be

null.

Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable domain

Attribute_Definition_Source: Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: SITEMAP

Attribute_Label_Definition:

Indicates whether the boundaries were drawn from desktop references

or field verified.

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Partial

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Preliminary boundary derived

from desktop sources by CNHP personnel

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: Yes

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Field verified by CNHP

personnel

Attribute_Definition_Source: Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: BIODIVSIG

Attribute_Label_Definition:

The biodiversity significance and a brief explanation of the assigned

rank. Biodiversity ranks are based on observed occurrences in the

area. Usually, the more imperiled the species, the higher the

biodiversity significance, although the number of Element Occurrences

within the area, as well as high quality plant communities, can also

merit an outstanding rank.

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: B1: Outstanding Biodiversity Significance

Enumerated_Domain_Value: B2: Very High Biodiversity Significance

Enumerated_Domain_Value: B3: High Biodiversity Significance

Enumerated_Domain_Value: B4: Moderate Biodiversity Significance

Enumerated_Domain_Value: B5: General Biodiversity Interest

Attribute_Definition_Source: Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: MAPDATE

Attribute_Label_Definition:

The date the PCA was last redrawn. YYYY-MM-DD.

Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable domain

Attribute_Definition_Source: Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: DESIGNER

Attribute_Label_Definition:

The CNHP biologist who designed the PCA.

Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable domain

Attribute_Definition_Source: Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: PROTURG

Attribute_Label_Definition:

Lists the protection urgency level, at one point in time, and a brief

definition of the level assigned.

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: P1 - Immediately threatened/outstanding

opportunity

Enumerated_Domain_Value: P2 - Threat/opportunity within 5 years

Enumerated_Domain_Value: P3 - Definable threat/opportunity, but

not within 5 years

Enumerated_Domain_Value: P4 - No threat or special opportunity

Enumerated_Domain_Value: P5 - No action to be taken on this site

Enumerated_Domain_Value: P? - Unknown

Attribute_Definition_Source: NatureServe

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: MGTURG

Attribute_Label_Definition:

Lists the management urgency level, at one point in time, and a brief

definition of the level assigned.

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: M1 - Essential within one year to prevent

loss

Enumerated_Domain_Value: M2 - Essential within five years to

prevent loss

Enumerated_Domain_Value: M3 - Needed within five years to maintain

quality

Enumerated_Domain_Value: M4 - Not needed now; no current threats;

may need in future

Enumerated_Domain_Value: M5 - Not needed; no threats anticipated

Enumerated_Domain_Value: M? - Unknown

Attribute_Definition_Source: NatureServe

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: MINELEV

Attribute_Label_Definition:

The minimum elevation in feet as estimated by the field biologist.

This field can be null.

Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable domain

Attribute_Definition_Source: NatureServe

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: MAXELEV

Attribute_Label_Definition:

The maximum elevation in feet as estimated by the field biologist.

This field can be null.

Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable domain

Attribute_Definition_Source: NatureServe

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: SENS

Attribute_Label_Definition:

Indicates whether or not a PCA, less than one square mile in size,

supports sensitive elements or Element Occurrences.

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: N

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Nonsensitive PCA

Attribute_Definition_Source: Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: DIGSCALE

Attribute_Label_Definition:

The scale at which the PCA was digitized and the data source.

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Enumerated_Domain:

Enumerated_Domain_Value: DOQ - 2m

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: "Heads-up" digitizing in

ArcView 3x using 2 meter resolution digital orthophoto quad

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 1:24,000 Quad - Paper

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Tablet digitizing in

Arc/Info 7.2.1 using hard copy USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 1:24,000 Quad - Digital

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: "Heads-up" digitizing in

ArcView 3x using digital USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle (Digital

Raster Graphics)

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 1:50,000 - Digital

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: "Heads-up" digitizing in

ArcView 3x using 1:50,000 base data as a reference

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 1:100,000 Quad - Paper

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Tablet digitizing in

Arc/Info 7.2.1 using hard copy USGS 30x60 minute quadrangle

Enumerated_Domain_Value: 1:100,000 Quad - Digital

Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: "Heads-up" digitizing in

ArcView 3x using digital USGS 30x60 minute quadrangle

(Digital Raster Graphics)

Attribute_Definition_Source: Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: EXPIRE

Attribute_Label_Definition:

This field includes information regarding the expiration of the data.

Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable domain

Attribute_Definition_Source: Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: DISCL

Attribute_Label_Definition:

This field includes a standard disclaimer and must stay with the data

at all times.

Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable domain

Attribute_Definition_Source: Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Organization: The Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Contact_Person: Michael Menefee

Contact_Position: Data Distribution Coordinator

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and physical address

Address: Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Address: 8002 Campus Delivery

City: Fort Collins

State_or_Province: Colorado

Postal_Code: 80523-8002

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 970.491.7331

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 970.491.3349

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: mmenefee@lamar.colostate.edu

Resource_Description: Potential Conservation Areas

Distribution_Liability:

Only land managers and land owners can receive sensitive PCAs

although some special circumstances may warrant access to the

data.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: ARCE, AVSHP

Format_Version_Number: ArcView shapefiles or Arc/Info export files

Format_Specification: Data can be transferred via CD-ROM or via

CNHP's secure FTP site.

Ordering_Instructions: Contact Data Distribution Coordinator for

eligibility and fees. (970) 491-7331. For nonsensitive sites, visit

our website at http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/gis.html to download

the data for free for non-commercial use.

Standard_Order_Process:

Non-digital_Form: Spreadsheets and hard copy maps are also available.

Contact the Data Distribution Coordinator for eligibility and fees.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 19990720

Metadata_Review_Date: 20070712

Metadata_Future_Review_Date: As needed

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: The Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Contact_Person: Amy Lavender

Contact_Position: GIS Program Coordinator

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and physical address

Address: 8002 Campus Delivery

City: Fort Collins

State_or_Province: Colorado

Postal_Code: 80523-8002

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 970.491.2847

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 970.491.3349

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: lavender@lamar.colostate.edu

Metadata_Standard_Name:

FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1998

Metadata_Access_Constraints: None

Metadata_Use_Constraints: None