WisconsinDNRState Natural Areas

Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:WisconsinDNRState Natural Areas

Abstract:

State Natural Areas (SNAs) are formally designated sites devoted to scientific research, the teaching of conservation biology, and especially to the preservation of their natural values and genetic diversity for future generations. Protected are outstanding examples of native natural communities, significant geological formations, and archaeological sites. State Natural Areas represent the last vestiges of natural plant and animal communities that existed prior to European settlement. Designation is achieved through purchase, cooperative agreements, legal dedication (through Articles of Dedication), management plans such as DNR Master Plans or Feasibility Studies, and/or Memoranda of Understanding.

Supplemental_Information:

Once secured by purchase or agreement, sites are formally "designated" as State Natural Areas, becoming part of the Natural Area System. Designation confers a significant level of protection as guaranteed by DNR Administrative Rules, Management Plans, and M.O.U.s in compliance with state statutes. A higher level of protection is provided by Articles of Dedication, a kind of conservation easement, which provides the strongest long-term legal protection for land in the state. Legally "dedicated" sites are protected in perpetuity for natural area use and may not be taken for other functions without finding of urgent and greater public need by the governor and the legislature.

Maps that are created for public viewing should not include any closed areas (as per DNR Administrative Code) orsites that are privately owned. This includes all sites coded as “Sensitive” = “1” in the attribute table.

  1. How should this data set be cited?

Wisconsin DNR, Bureau of Endangered Resources, 2009. State Natural Areas: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Madison, WI.

Online Links:

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  1. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

Calendar_Date: 2009

Currentness_Reference:June 2009

  1. How does the data set describe geographic features?

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SHAPE_AREA

Total area of each State Natural Area (Source: ESRI)

Total area of each State Natural Area, in square meters.

SIZE_ACRES

Total acreage of the State Natural Area. (Source: Wisconsin DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources)

Total acreage of the State Natural Area.

SNA_NO

Unique identifier for each State Natural Area (SNA), and used by the SNA Program. The numbers are assigned sequentially as new sites are designated. (Source: Wisconsin DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources)

Unique identifier.

SNA_NAME

The designated State Natural Area name. (Source: Wisconsin DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources)

Text.

SENSITIVE

Describes whether the SNA boundary can be shown on maps distributed to the general public

Value / Definition
0 / Display on public maps is not restricted
1 / Display on public maps is restricted.

PUB_ACCESS

Indicates the allowed public access. Determination of public access may reflect legal deed restrictions, manual code, or may be decided upon by the SNA Program. (Source: Wisconsin DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources). Some SNAs may contain both open and closed areas. These sites are coded with a value of 4.

Value / Definition
1 / Public access is allowed.
2 / Public access is allowed but not encouraged due to sensitive resources or difficulty of access
3 / Public access is not allowed. Easements allow for DNR management access.
4 / Contains areas where public access is restricted.
5 / Permission for access is needed

ACCESS_DESC

A text description of the public access codes. For an access code of "4", contact the SNA Program for more information. (Source: Wisconsin DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources)

OWNER_NAME

Text field that tracks the name of the underlying fee-title of a parcel. Field may contain more than one owner. (Source: Wisconsin DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources)

Parcel owner name(s).

SHAPE_DATE

Date of the last known update to the State Natural Area shapefile. (Source: Wisconsin DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources)

Date of last known update.

OWNER_SUB

Denotes the DNR Program responsible for administrative and/or management decisions (see table below).

Value / Definition
EDU / Educational facility (non-UW)
ER / DNR-Endangered Resources
FED / Federal (US Park Service, US Forest Service, etc)
FM / DNR-Fisheries
FR / DNR-Forestry
NCO / Conservation Organization including local land trusts
PR / DNR-Parks
UW / University of Wisconsin System
WM / DNR-Wildlife Management
WR / DNR-Lower Wisconsin Riverway, Wild Rivers, Scenic Water Areas

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
  • Wisconsin DNR, Bureau of Endangered Resources
  1. To whom should users address questions about the data?

Wisconsin DNR, Bureau of Endangered Resources
Conservation Biologist
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI53707-7921
USA

(608) 266-5243 (voice)
(608) 266-2925 (FAX)

Why was the data set created?

State Natural Areas are managed within the Bureau of Endangered Resources in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). The definition of a "state natural area” for the program differs slightly from that used within the Bureau of Facility and Lands in the WDNR. While State Natural Areas include those parcels on which the Department has certain title rights such as fee title or easements, they also include parcels on which the Department has no title rights, such as Federal or county-owned properties or those owned by land trusts. State Natural Areas may also be located within the boundaries of other state properties, such as State Parks, Forests, Wildlife Areas, and Fisheries, but are targeted to be managed as a State Natural Area under the property's Master Plan or by a MOU.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

Type_of_Source_Media: various

Source_Scale_Denominator: various

  1. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

Date: Data originally generated in 2002 and is updated on a regular basis, as needed.

This data layer was prepared by staff in the Wisconsin DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources (DNR/ER). For information about how the DNR/ER State Natural Areas data was prepared, refer to the Process Contact Information.

Person who carried out this activity:

Wisconsin DNR, Bureau of Endangered Resources
GIS Analyst
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI53707-7921
USA

(608) 266-5243 (voice)
(608) 266-2925 (FAX)

Coordinate System: NAD 1983 Harn Transverse Mercator

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None

Use_Constraints: None

  1. Who distributes the data set?

Wisconsin DNR
GIS Data Specialist
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI53707-7921
USA

(608) 264-8916 (voice)
(608) 266-0870 (FAX)

Hours_of_Service:Normal business hours or as available.

  1. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

Offline data.

  1. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

Refer to <

  1. How can I download or order the data?
  • Availability in digital form:

Dataformat: / Size: 0.993
Mediayoucanorder: / CD-ROM
Note: ISO 9660 format allows the CDROM to be read by most computer operating systems.
  • Cost to order the data:
  • Special instructions:

Refer to the DNR GIS website: <

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: January 2009

Metadata author:

Wisconsin DNR
GIS Data Specialist
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
USA

(608) 264-8916 (voice)
(608) 266-0870 (FAX)

Hours_of_Service:Normal business hours or as available.

Metadata standard:

FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Metadata extensions used:

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