Custom Data Request ID/Name: FWS_SE_DRT-1017_2023
Organization/Individual Requesting Data: The USFWS SE Region is requesting precise data to be used for the following reasons: 1) to inform multi-jurisdictional Species Status Assessments (SSA's), 2) integrate into the Federal Trust Species Catalogue to guide strategic workforce planning, 3) document potential "co-benefits" of projects and initiatives, and 4) use in other tools and projects in the southeast including work on the Southeast Blueprint, collaboration with SECAS, and evaluation of large landscapes.
Purpose:
The Fish and Wildlife Service staff and contractors who access the data will primarily consist of a large and diverse group utilizing the Licensed Dataset #1 for developing Species Status Assessments (SSAs), as detailed on pages 1-2 of this Agreement. This group includes Field Biologists from the Ecological Services program, data analysts from various levels of the organization, GIS specialists in field offices, and regional office project managers. The Service also outsources SSAs, either partially or entirely, to external entities like the Texas A&M Natural Resource Institute and the US Geological Survey. Since data access for contractors is case-specific, the Service's Project Officer will coordinate with NatureServe and Network Programs to grant necessary access to precise location data. Additionally, a smaller team of about ten staff members from Conservation Science and Innovation, encompassing Science Applications and Migratory Birds, will support SSAs. They will use the Licensed Dataset to develop the Federal Trust Species Catalogue for strategic workforce planning, document potential project "co-benefits," and contribute to the Southeast Blueprint's development in partnership with SECAS, assessing extensive landscapes in the Southeast. This subgroup will consist of GIS specialists/analysts, Southeast Blueprint support staff, and conservation planners.
The data provided to the Licensee under this License Agreement comprises accurate documented species location data (or Element Occurrence data), and high-resolution species habitat models for species that are federally listed or deemed imperiled by NatureServe (G1-G3). This data pertains to species found in the following 15 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia (referred to as the “Licensed Dataset”). NatureServe will be informed about all external uses of the Licensed Dataset, and input will be sought from all Network Programs in the Southeast prior to the release of these data products.
Scope of EO Data Included in Licensed Dataset (with exception noted)
Precise Element Occurrences for all species in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia with some exclusions and
generalization of species locations for sensitive species as determined by individual Network Programs. This will be
documented in Licensed Dataset metadata.
Scope of Habitat Suitability Models, as available (with exceptions noted)
Predictive models indicating the habitat suitability for target species including (a) continuous surface depicting the probability of suitable habitat from low to high, (b) threshold maps of high, medium, and/or low probability of habitat, and (c) metadata describing model inputs and outputs.
Species Habitat Models that are available and sufficiently reviewed for all species in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West
Virginia.
Mode and Date of Delivery:
A geodatabase was delivered in September 2022.