GREENWAYS IN FLORIDA


Florida Statewide Greenways System Planning Project - Metadata

Ecological Results of the Florida Greenways GIS Decision Support Model 

Geodataset Name:     GWECO
Geodataset Type:     Grid
Geodataset Feature:  Polygon

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

This dataset contains the Ecological Network Results of the Florida Greenways GIS Decision Support Model. 

RESOLUTION:                       180m X 180m        

GRID TYPE:                        Integer         

DATA SOURCE:                      UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA GEOPLAN CENTER

DATE OF AUTOMATION OR SOURCE:     1995 - 1998

SCALE:                            NA

GEODATASET EXTENT:                State of Florida

FEATURE ATTRIBUTE TABLES
Data file Name: GWECO.VAT 

COL  ITEM NAME    WIDTH    OUTPUT    TYPE    N.DEC     ALT. NAME
1    VALUE        4        10        B       -         -  
5    COUNT        4        10        B       -         -  
9    DESCRIPT    50        50        C       -         -

FEATURE ATTRIBUTE TABLES CODES AND VALUES 

Item       Item description

VALUE      Cell Value:

    VALUES    DESCRIPTION 
     0        Background (not in model results)
     1        Ecological Network Model Results

COUNT      Number of cells for each value.

DESCRIPT   Based on VALUE item description.

USER NOTES:

The Ecological Network integrates and connects existing conservation areas and currently unprotected areas of high ecological significance, and this information can be used in concert with other information on conservation priorities to develop a more integrated regional landscape protection strategy. For a detailed description of the data used, analytical methods, and modeling process, see: The Florida Greenways Project Final Report, Phase II, Carr, Margaret H., Paul D. Zwick, Thomas S. Hoctor and Mark A. Benedict. Departments of Landscape Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, and Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida. A digital version of this report in pdf format should be available on the web at www.geoplan.ufl.edu by June, 1999.

This dataset is the unmodified results of the model before review by other scientists and conservationists. We recommend that GWECOP, the model results after public review, be the primary data layer used for conservation planning efforts and analysis, but the two datasets, this one and GWECOP can be compared to see what areas were added or deleted through the public review process. However, if the unmodified model results are more apt for your purposes, this dataset is the one to use.

It should also be considered that this dataset is at a resolution of 180 meters (180 m X 180 m cells), which is approximately 8 acre squares. Therefore, users should not expect great accuracy at high resolutions. The modeling and identification effort of a statewide ecological network is intended to serve as a general basis for state level conservation planning. It may serve as an adequate framework or guide for regional and local conservation planning efforts, but it should be supplemented by more resolute datasets and analyses especially at the local level. The conservation/land protection process should also always include ground-truthing to evaluate sites in the field. In addition, this data is based on land use information that, by its nature, is outdated. An effort was made to update land use data provided by the Water Management Districts, mostly completed in 1990, by comparing this data with 1994-1995 SPOT 10 meter resolution imagery. All areas that appeared to be converted to development (residential, commercial, industrial but not including conversion to intensive agriculture)were added to avoid identifying areas as ecologically significant that are now developed. However, it should be obvious that development continues at a rapid pace, and areas identified in the model results could now be converted to intensive land uses or could be converted in the near future.

Pursuant to Chapter 260.0141 Florida Statutes: The Opportunities as illustrated by this data layer are intended to establish an informational framework for voluntary participation by citizens, private property owners and all levels of government subject to the following limitations:

  1. The data does not require or empower any unit of local government, regional government or any state agency to impose additional or more restrictive environmental, land use or zoning regulations.
  2. The data may not be construed or cited as authority to adopt, enforce or amend any environmental regulation or statute, zoning, or land use ordinance or any other rule, regulation or ordinance by any subdivision of local, regional or state government.
  3. The data may not be used as the basis for permit denial; imposition of any permit condition; or application of any rule, regulation or ordinance by any subdivision of local, regional or state government.
  4. Government agencies may not reduce or restrict the rights of private owners as a result of private lands being identified by this data.
  5. No private lands will be considered as designated greenways or trails pursuant to Section 260.018, Florida Statutes, unless the owner of such lands has voluntarily and explicitly agreed in writing to such designation.
  6. The reliability of this data layer is limited by the resolution and timeliness of the underlying data and information.
  7. Identification of named, existing or proposed public lands is solely for planning purposes and not for regulatory purposes. The actual line delineating the boundary of such properties is as designated by the applicable state, federal or regional agency which boundary for all purposes shall take precedence over any mapping as contained herein. Better site-specific data, if available, for any features or resources shown on this map should be used to identify whether any such resources are, in fact, present on that site.

This data layer reflects private lands data received by the University of Florida GeoPlan Center as of December 31, 1998.

Establishment of the Greenways and Trails System is a dynamic process. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Florida Greenways Coordinating Council (FGCC) have made every effort to work with private landowners and public land managers to assure them the Statewide Greenways and Trails Program is voluntary. As a result, DEP and the FGCC agreed to remove conservation/ecological features from this map if they occur within the ownership of those who do not wish to have their lands included. Therefore, the Conservation/Ecological Opportunities included in this data layer do not represent a complete statewide vision. This data layer represents a vision as modified by requests from landowners to remove or include their lands in the system.

Some of the Implementation Opportunities in the Southwest DEP District occur in areas being actively mined for phosphate or for which mining is planned. These mining activities are subject to numerous regulatory requirements within the overall mining/ reclamation approval process that may or may not result in lands suitable for inclusion in the greenways and trails system. Designation of phosphate lands as part of the statewide system shall occur only if agreed to by the landowner/mining company and DEP.

Additional lands, particularly in the Northeast region of the state, have been requested to be removed from future depictions of the statewide system. The Department of Environmental Protection will make every effort to obtain the data and boundary information necessary to honor these requests.

FGDL QUALITY ASSURANCE STATUS:

No QA performed as of FGDL Version 1

FGDL QA v.2 includes:

-Reprojected data to FGDL Albers
-Set Precision to DOUBLE
-Set Tolerances to FGDL Standards
-Added DESCRIPT item based on VALUE item description

REFERENCES:

Cox, J., Kautz, R., MacLaughlin, M., and Gilbert, T. (1994). Closing the gaps in Florida's wildlife habitat conservation system. Tallahassee, FL: Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Office of Environmental Services.

Florida Greenways Commission. (1994). Creating a Statewide Greenways System For People...For Wildlife...For Florida - Florida Greenways Commission Report to the Governor. Tallahassee, FL: 1000 Friends of Florida.

Florida Natural Areas Inventory. (1995). Florida Natural Areas Inventory Datasets. Tallahassee, FL: Florida Natural Areas Inventory.

Harris, L.D. (1985). Conservation Corridors: a highway system for wildlife. ENFO:85-5. Winter Park: FL: Florida Conservation Foundation.

Harris, L. D., T. Hoctor, D. Maehr and J. Sanderson. (1996). The role of networks and corridors in enhancing the value and protection of parks and equivalent areas. Pp. 173-198 in Wright, R. G., ed. National Parks and Protected Areas: Their Role in Environmental Areas. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Science.

Noss, R. F. 1987. Protecting natural areas in fragmented landscapes. Natural Areas Journal 7:2-13.

Noss, R. F. and L. D. Harris. (1986). Nodes, Networks and MUMs: Preserving Diversity at All Scales. Environment Management 10:299-309.

Pritchard, P.C.H., and Kale, H.W. (1994). Saving what's left. Casselberry, FL: Florida Audubon Society.

Smith, D.S., and P.C. Hellmund, (Eds.). (1993). Ecology of Greenways - Design and Function of Linear Conservation Areas. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minneapolis Press.

The Nature Conservancy. (1991). Preservation 2000 Charette and Map. Tallahassee, FL: The Nature Conservancy.

University of Florida. (1996). Final Report for Phase I of the Statewide Greenways System Planning Project. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, Department of Landscape Architecture and GeoPlan Center, Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

DATA LINEAGE SUMMARY:

See University of Florida Statewide Greenways Planning Project Final Report for a description of the modeling process:

Carr, Margaret H., Paul D. Zwick, Thomas S. Hoctor and Mark A. Benedict Final Report, Phase II, Florida Statewide Greenways Planning Project, Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Florida, February, 1999.

MAP PROJECTION PARAMETERS: 

Projection                         ALBERS
Units                              METERS
Datum                              NAD27
Spheroid                            CLARKE 1866
1st standard parallel              24   0  0.000
2nd standard parallel              31  30  0.000
central meridian                  -84   0  0.000
latitude of projection's origin    24   0  0.000 
false easting (meters)             400000.00000
false northing (meters)            0.00000

DATA SOURCE CONTACT(S): 

Name:                   UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA GEOPLAN CENTER
Abbr. Name:             GeoPlan Center
Address:                University of Florida, GeoPlan Center
                        431 Architecture
                        PO Box 115706
                        Gainesville, FL  32611-5706
Phone:                  (352) 846-3125
Fax:                    (352) 846-3124
Web site:               http://www.geoplan.ufl.edu/projects/fgdl.htm

FGDL CONTACT: 

Name:                   FLORIDA GEOGRAPHIC DATA LIBRARY
Abbr. Name:             FGDL
Address:                FGDL, GeoPlan Center, University of Florida
                        431 Architecture
                        PO Box 115706
                        Gainesville, FL  32611-5706
Web site:               http://www.geoplan.ufl.edu/fgdl/fgdl.html

Help from FGDL*:

* The FGDL FAQ and FGDL MAILING LISTS are the quickest methods of finding solutions to your problems. Please use the email addresses after first consulting the FGDL FAQ and MAILING LISTS. The voice mail number is for use if you do not have access to email or the internet.

Please note: We are a small university laboratory and have a limited staff. We will do our best to answer your questions in a timely manner. Thank you for your support.