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Kootenai National Forest
 
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Kootenai National Forest
1101 Hwy. 2 West
Libby, MT 59923
(406) 293-6211
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Geographic Information System Data

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) on the

Kootenai National Forest

 

Welcome to the Kootenai National Forest GIS Data Dictionary. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a computer-based tool for mapping and analyzing objects and events. It combines the power of a database with the visualization capabilities offered by maps. GIS provides the power to solve complicated problems, experiment with scenarios and present ideas. See How to Use GIS Data for downloading instructions.

GIS Themes

Theme Category Themes
Available
Fire Yes
Lands Yes
Management Yes
Minerals Yes
Recreation Yes
Roads Yes
Soils Yes
Trails Yes
Vegetation Yes
Water Yes
Wildlife Yes


Fire Image Meta
Data		 SpatialData
 Tabular
Files

Fire History
Yes (377k)
N/A

Wildland Urban Interface
Yes (273k)
N/A


Lands
Image
Meta
Data
Spatial
Data
 Tabular
Files
Office Locations
Yes (7k)
N/A
National Forest Boundary
Yes (128k)
N/A
Ranger District Boundaries
Yes (109k)
N/A
Ownership: Government and Private
Yes (1.4mb)
N/A
Public Land Survey System (PLSS)
Yes (733k)
N/A


Management
Image
Meta
Data
 Spatial
Data		 Tabular
Files
Area Closures
Yes (168k)
N/A
Management Areas
Yes (11mb)
Special Interest Areas
Yes (144k)
N/A
Research Natural Areas
Yes (14k)
N/A
Planning SubUnits
Yes (704k)
N/A
Wilderness
Yes (48k)
N/A
Grazing Allotments
Yes (229k)
N/A

 

Minerals
Image
Meta
Data
 Spatial
Data		 Tabular
Files
Mineral Materials
Yes (27k)
N/A


Recreation
Image
Meta
Data
Spatial
Data
Tabular
Files
Recreation Sites
Yes (9k)
N/A


Roads
Image
Meta
Data
Spatial
Data
Tabular
Data
Roads
Yes (1.9mb)
Zip (2.8mb)

Travel Routes Data Dictionary (PDF - 780k)


Soils
Image
Meta
Data
Spatial
Data
Tabular
Files
Landtypes
Yes (9.4mb)


Trails
Image
Meta
Data
Spatial
Data
Trails
Yes (1.8mb)
dbf (508k)
Trails Documentation (PDF - 111k)


Vegetation
Image
Meta
Data
Spatial
Data
Tabular
Data
Stands

Yes (37mb)
N/A
Vegetation Response Units
Yes (17mb)
N/A
Timber Stand Management Record System Handbook (PDF - 1.9mb)
FACTS Appendix A (Table and View definitions - 320k pdf)
FACTS Appendix B (Activity Codes - 250k pdf)


Water
Image
Meta
Data
 Spatial
Data
Tabular
Data
Lakes & Reservoirs Yes (460k)
N/A
Streams Yes (9.6mb)
N/A
4th Code Hydrologic Units Yes (500k)
N/A
5th Code Hydrologic Units Yes (1.2mb)
N/A
6th Code Hydrologic Units Yes (2.2mb)
N/A
7th Code Hydrologic Units

Yes (4.4mb)
N/A


Wildlife
Image
Meta
Data
 Spatial
Data
Tabular
Files
Bear Management Units Yes (255k)
N/A
Lynx Assessment Units Yes (1.4mb)
Document (33k)

How to Use the GIS Data

The Geographic datasets covering the Kootenai National Forest are now available online. The Kootenai National Forest uses ESRI's GIS software (ArcInfo, ArcGIS), and stores all corporate GIS data in one of ESRI's proprietary formats (shapefiles). The datasets available online are stored as zipped shapefiles to conserve space and facilitate download. To use them, you must uncompress them using winzip or other compression software that recognizes these file types. You may then import them into ArcInfo coverages if needed. In addition to their commercial software, ESRI offers ArcExplorer software free for importing and viewing coverages and shape files. You can download the software from their web site -- www.esri.com/software/arcexplorer/index.html

Spatial Data

Spatial Data is provided in shapefile format. These files can be used in ArcGIS, ArcView or ArcExplorer GIS software packages. ArcExplorer is a free spatial data viewer that can read coverage & shapefile data sets. Many other GIS and graphics software packages have a utility to import these files.

Tabular Data

Tabular Data is generally provided in dBase IV format. These files can be imported into ArcInfo, ArcGIS, or ArcExplorer GIS software packages and joined to their associated gis coverages. An additional file containing documentation may be included with the tabular data.

What is Metadata

Metadata is data about data. The data sets are organized by theme that are shown in the table of contents frame. For example, if you are interested in a data set that has to do with water, just click on the water link in the table of contents. Then click on the yes in the metadata column of the data set of interest to view the metadata. Each metadata will explain geographic information about the data set, how the data set was built, and other associated information. The metadata will also describe the database tables that are associated with the data set. The digital data is available on line free of charge. Just click on the Download link that is contained within the individual data tables. Many of these files are large, so please check the file size listed before downloading. All data files have been compressed with the WinZip compression utility. PC users can use a zip utility such as WinZip to unzip these files.

About the Online Themes

Unless otherwise noted, all datasets are single, forestwide coverages, and are in NAD83 UTM Zone 11 projection. This data represents the best data currently available at the forest. It is not necessarily complete and accuracy is limited to 1:24000 USGS cartographic standards or less. The Forest Service does not guarantee the accuracy or currency of any of this data. As the forest's database is updated or requests for data change, this list will be updated.

More Information

Contact GIS Coordinator at (406) 293-6211

 

Last update: 3/22/2007
GIS Data Disclaimer

The Forest Service uses the most current and complete data available. GIS data and product accuracy may vary. They may be: developed from sources of differing accuracy, accurate only at certain scales, based on modeling or interpretation, incomplete while being created or revised, etc. Using GIS products for purposes other than those for which they were created, may yield inaccurate or misleading results. The Forest Service reserves the right to correct, update, modify, or replace, GIS products without notification. For more information, contact: Kootenai National Forest Supervisors Office

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USDA Forest Service - Kootenai National Forest
Last Modified: Tuesday, 08 January 2008 at 16:45:04 EST
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