The FGDC Community Assistance Program (CAP Grant Program), $75,000 USD collaborated with the GeoConnetions, Natural Resources Canada, (the Canadian FGDC equivalent) to fund mutual CAP Grant projects across the US-Canada border.

Background

• FGDC & GeoConnections Sponsored Four Geospatial Projects
  
  • Yellowstone to Yukon (2000-2001) focus on Wildlife Habitat
  • Red River Basin (2001-2002) focus on Water Management
  • Lake Ontario/ St Lawrence River(2002-2003) focus on Coastal Data Integration
  • Gulf of Maine (2003-2004) focus on Integrated Ocean Observing
    

• These projects highlight and further our scientific and technical understandings of the complexities, challenges and efforts required to develop and use geospatial data to address a common issue over a contiguous geography

• The Gulf of Maine Project  was recognized by Canadian Assistant Deputy Minister at Geo-5 meeting in held in Ottawa Canada in November 2004

Key Project Objectives

• Stimulate cross border cooperation
• Private sector participation
• A US lead organization and a Canadian lead organization 
• Two project meetings one in US and one in Canada
• 100% Matching contributions 
• Find tangible solutions to a specific issue
• Common geographic area of mutual concern that crosses the international boundary
• Use established spatial data/metadata standards and models
  

Some Outcomes

• Assemble spatial data crucial specific project issue
• Develop integrated US/Canadian Spatial data
• Establish solid network of US/Canadian partners 
• Advance legal mechanism and network to share spatial datasets