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Dear Friends:
This is truly an exciting time for Montana's NaturalResource
Information System (NRIS). Montanacitizens, whether they are
business owners lookingfor an economic advantage to make their
companyviable in a tough economy, government employeesattempting to
accomplish more with fewerresources, private citizens desiring to
participatemore fully in their government, or tourists
needingcurrent information on hunting, fishing, or wildfirestatus -
all have a real and growing need for accessto government
information. Happily, this growing
dependence on government information comes at a time when NRIS
is betterprepared than ever to serve such diverse needs.
Simply put, we use smart technologies to make a broad range of
vitalgeographic information available to Montana agriculture,
businesses, citizens,and visitors. While there is nothing simple
about what goes on behind the scenesto make it all happen, access
to a wealth of information about Montana hasnever been simpler. Our
small but highly dedicated staff has learned to makethe most of the
latest tools to serve information to the widest audience, but
isalso ready and willing to provide personalized service to those
who need it.
In addition, because NRIS provides a centralized repository for
governmentinformation accessible to all (including the very
agencies that generate the data),the need to build similar programs
elsewhere is reduced, resulting in considerablecost savings. Other
agencies can concentrate their resources on accomplishingtheir
respective mandates and leave the job of information dissemination
tothose who know it best - the State Library.
We at NRIS are proud of the working relationships we have
developed with themany government agencies that create the
information we serve. Without theirwillingness to make their
information available through NRIS, the benefits
ofone-stop-shopping for information could not be realized. We are
committed tocontinually finding innovative ways to provide more
information to more peoplein the years ahead.
Jim Hill, Director
Our mission:The Montana Natural ResourceInformation System
providescomprehensive access toinformation about Montana'snatural
resources to all Montanansthrough the acquisition,
storage,retrieval, and dissemination ofthat information in
meaningfulform.
Our goals:•Acquire, integrate, maintain, and
document natural resource data andinformation needed for
understanding,managing, and utilizing Montana’snatural resources
and environment.
•Effectively disseminate naturalresource data and
information,ensuring broad accessibility,utilizing current
technologies, andmaintaining a strong emphasis oncustomer
service.
•Ensure our products, services, andexpertise are broadly
known,effectively used, and highlyregarded by those who
requirenatural resource information andspatially referenced
data.
NRISP.O. Box 201800Helena, MT 59620-1800This publication is
available in alternativeformats by calling (406) 444-5357.
Printed on recycled paper –
600 copies of this public document were published at an
estimated costof $2.03 per copy, for a total cost of $1,218.00,
which includes $1,218.00for printing and $0.00 for
distribution.
How is NRIS funded?NRIS receives its funding from a variety of
sources.Direct funding for core services — which includemaintaining
the NRIS clearinghouse and providinggeneral access — comes from the
Resource IndemnityTrust, the General Fund, and state agencies to
whichNRIS provides essential services. NRIS then aug-ments this
“core service” funding through interagencypartnerships to develop
new datasets or data-accesstools that benefit all users.
A portion of NRIS’ direct or “core” funding is used tocontract
with The Nature Conservancy to operate thestatutorily mandated
Natural Heritage Program. Thissuccessful public-private partnership
generates furtherefficiencies, as the Natural Heritage Program
leveragesstate funds with federal and private dollars to
helpsupport data collection and dissemination projects.
Contact NRISVisit our web site – nris.state.mt.usPhone us for
staff assistance – Voice (406) 444-5354
FAX (406) 444-0581Write us – PO Box 201800, Helena, MT
59620-1800Visit us – 1515 East 6th Avenue, Helena, MT 59620
NRIS Funding Sources, FY 2002-2003
InteragencyPartnerships
22%
General Fund10%
State Agencies30%
ResourceIndemnity Trust
38%
http://nris.state.mt.us
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One-stop source of naturalresource
informationnris.state.mt.us
Established in 1985 by the Montana Legislature, themission of
the Montana Natural Resource InformationSystem (NRIS) is to make
information on Montana’snatural resources readily accessible to
government agencies,business and industry, and private citizens. As
a programof the State Library, NRIS provides expertise that
helpspeople find, understand, and use natural
resource-relatedinformation.
Cost efficient:State and federal agencies generate large
quantities ofinformation on Montana’s lands and natural resources,
atconsiderable expense to taxpayers. This information isneeded by
government and businesses tomanage Montana’s resources and build
avibrant economy. Experience has shown thatif existing information
can’t be readily located,it will be re-created, or decisions will
be madewithout the best available information,resulting in poor
decisions, wasted time andmoney, and unnecessary conflicts.
NRIS provides leadership and expertise in theacquisition,
storage, support, and distributionof Montana’s geographic data.
NRIS has ledthe way in utilizing technology to disseminatedata
efficiently and to provide tools for dataaccess, display, and
analysis.
Rapid response and retrieval:By maintaining the necessary
expertise,technology and information, NRIS can quickly respond toa
wide variety of needs, from firefighters during a crisis
toenvironmental assessments for road construction andcommercial
development.
Recently, NRIS has focused on developing more powerfulInternet
tools to provide better access to information. Inaddition, NRIS
continues to expand data sharing withfederal, state, and local
agencies which create naturalresource data in order to provide a
broad range of timelyand valuable data sets to our users.
Recent Accomplishments:
• Statewide coverage of topographic maps andaerial photos.
• On-line tools, such as TopoFinder andThematic Mapper, give
users desktop access tomaps and spatial data.
• Statewide soils, water rights, and weedinformation.
NRIS programsAs part of its mandate to provide access to
naturalresource and related information, the Natural
ResourceInformation System includes two statutorily
mandatedprograms, the Natural Heritage Program and the
WaterInformation System.
nhp.nris.state.mt.us
The NRIS Natural Heritage Program is the state’sclearinghouse
for information on the status and distributionof our native animals
and plants, emphasizing species ofconcern and high quality
habitats, such as wetlands. The
Natural Heritage Program provides thisinformation for a broad
range of uses,including weed management, environmentalreviews,
highway construction, facility siting,growth planning, and habitat
conservation.In 2001, Heritage Program staff answeredmore than 1000
information requests, and theprogram served many times that number
ofusers with its extensive on-line resources.
Knowing where species of concern arelocated helps developers and
land managersavoid needless impacts on valuable habitatsand
maintain healthy species populations,reducing the likelihood of
endangermentlistings. Data collected and centralized by theNatural
Heritage Program has also led to the“down-ranking” of many species
once
thought to be very rare or considered for listing. Becausethe
Natural Heritage Program is linked to a network ofover eighty
similar programs in states, provinces, andnations throughout the
Western Hemisphere, it can alsobring to Montana the “big picture”
on the status ofspecies and habitats.
Recent Accomplishments:
• Statewide land stewardship map – the only up-to-date source
for comprehensive mapping ofpublic and conservation lands.
• Statewide bird distribution data – users cansearch for
information and enter their ownobservations directly on the
web.
• Reports on exemplary habitats and species ofconcern in various
areas, such as Powder RiverCounty, and the Upper Yellowstone
Watershed.Visit the NHP website for more reports.
• Joint Animal Species of Concern list withMontana Fish,
Wildlife and Parks.
“…We really saw the power of interactiveweb applications during
the fire seasonof 2000. That's when NRIS and ourFWP Conservation
Education Divisionstaff developed the Fire Page for ourwebsite. In
a two-week period inAugust 2000, the Fire Page received63,000
queries…No other state or federalwebsite had this information…”
– Janet Hess-Herbert, GIS CoordinatorMontana Fish, Wildlife
& Parks
“[Without] current services provided by theNatural Heritage
Program…it would take atleast four to five additional days to
gatherinformation, sort, and compare species datafor each project…
This would have a majorimpact on weed management efforts in
thestate… NHP provides a valuable service toMontana citizens, and
is vital to thedevelopment of ecologically-based weedmanagement
programs.”
– Celestine Lacey Duncan,Weed Management Services
“…When Westech can use informationprovided by NRIS/NHP, the
client savestime and money on its project…”
– Patrick Farmer, PresidentWestech Environmental Services,
Inc.
“…local planning departments throughout thestate give the
NRIS/Heritage Program a BIGPLUS…”
– Randy Gray, MayorCity of Great Falls
“NRIS provides a wealth of accurate andaccessible information
that is invaluable toMontana's decision makers and
businesscommunity. As we face the challenge ofcreating a vibrant
economy comprised oftraditional industry as well as new
enterprises,the information NRIS provides can help uschart our
course efficiently and with vision.”
– Lt. Governor Karl Ohs,Chair, Governor's Drought
AdvisoryCouncil
http://nris.state.mt.ushttp://nhp.nris.state.mt.us
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Staff Assisted Requests by User Groups FY 2002
Others1%
Local Gov6%
Education8%
Federal9%
Private33%
Montana State43%
Users of NRIS’ Internet-based services range fromcomputer
novices to information technology professionals,and NRIS provides
information in ways that can be usedby persons at both ends of the
spectrum. For theGeographic Information Systems (GIS)
professional,hundreds of geospatial data themes are available
fordownload. For the technically savvy computer user, manyof these
same themes can be viewed on-line, along withreports summarizing
related information. For novicecomputer users, a series of
pre-formatted maps are available.
An NRIS user survey was conducted on the NRIS websitethroughout
the month of September, 2002, to help NRISimprove its services. We
learned:
• Over 63% of respondents were from the privatesector.
• Over 60% of respondents visit the NRIS websiteat least several
times per month.
• 80% said NRIS services were valuable or essentialto their
business, agency, or personal needs.
Over one-third of respondents use NRIS information forplanning;
and another third for resource management.More than half download
geographic information system(GIS) data, such as stream and road
information, to use intheir own projects and analyses. Over half
also use theNRIS TopoFinder, which allows people to viewtopographic
maps on-line. The NRIS Water InformationSystem is consulted by over
one-third of surveyrespondents.
NRIS responds to thousands of inquiries each month viaits
website. Over one-third of the survey respondentsvisit the site
each day or several times per week. Duringthe month of November,
2002, NRIS’ web pagesreceived over 51,000 visitors, who used the
NRISwebsite for an average of 13 minutes each. Thattranslates to
384 person-hours each day spent on theNRIS site.
Visit nris.state.mt.us to view complete survey results.
Why is NRIS part of theMontana State Library?The Montana State
Library houses the NRIS program fortwo reasons: the State Library
is a non-regulatory agencythat provides unbiased information, and
the State Libraryhas the mission of, and expertise in, providing
access toinformation.
The fact that NRIS has been placed in a neutral agencyencourages
broad use of the system by all state agenciesas well as Montana
businesses and citizens. NRISprovides a broad range of services to
agencies to ensurethat users can access NRIS products and services
as easilyas they might if NRIS were a program of the
user’sagency.
NRIS’ location in the state library also allows NRIS
toconcentrate on its mission of disseminating information,freeing
the various agencies that utilize NRIS toconcentrate on fulfilling
their respective agency mandateswithout having to spend resources
to disseminate data toother agencies or the public.
Who uses NRIS, and how?In order to ensure that Montana’s natural
resourceinformation is available to the widest possible
audience,NRIS provides access to its information holdings in
avariety of ways. Most of the information in the NRISclearinghouse
is made available via the Internet; however,staff assistance in
locating and obtaining information isalso available, and much of
the information assimilated byour Natural Heritage Program is
available throughpublished reports.
Who Uses NRIS Web Services?
Percent of respondents(Sept. 2002 Web Survey)
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Private
MT State/Loc Gov't
Education
Federal
Other
http://nris.state.mt.us
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Tota
l Wel
ls
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 20000
Year
Recent Accomplishments:
• Comprehensive drought monitoring web sitefor the state,
drought maps, and climate data.
• Interactive web access to Department ofNatural Resources and
Conservation waterrights information, including maps and
reports.
• Web access to stream and lake data fromMontana Fish, Wildlife,
and Parks. Fishdistribution, stocking information.
• Web access to multi-agency information onlocations of water
quality data collection sites.
• Web access to the Bureau of Mines andGeology’s extensive well
database, well logs, andwater quality data.
WaterInformationSystem
nris.state.mt.us/wis
The Water Information System (WIS) provides a broadselection of
information pertaining to Montana waterresources. Montanans use the
WIS in a variety of ways.For example: the WIS supports state
officials in writingwater quality plans, managing reservoirs and
stream flow,and seeking drought aid; contractors can find well logs
forareas where they plan to drill; land owners are able to
viewtheir water rights information to ensure that state recordsare
up to date; and recreational users can find real-timeflow data for
rafting or detailed fisheries and stockinginformation for
angling.
The WIS provides information on Montana’s streams,lakes,
wetlands, wells, and aquifers. In partnership withstate, federal,
and non-profit organizations, the WISprovides users’ access to
water rights, water quality,fisheries, water supply, well and well
log, and wetlandinformation. This information can be mapped and
reportedin a variety of ways, and combined with other data atNRIS
to meet the analytic and mapping needs of our usercommunity. The
WIS also hosts and maintains the websitefor the Governor’s Drought
Monitoring Committee.
CommunicationNRIS utilizes a variety of avenues to reach our
partnersand the public:
• Monthly seminars – NRIS sponsors a monthlyseminar series to
offer interested individuals anopportunity to discuss advances in
technology,improvements in information access and use, andother
related topics.
• Workshops and presentations – NRIS staff offerfree workshops
and presentations to teach the public,government employees, users
groups, and naturalresources professionals how to use its new
websiteapplications.
• Conferences and meetings – In an effort tointeract with and
outreach to a cross-section ofMontanans, NRIS staff participate in
conferencesacross the state. These opportunities have
includedmeetings of the Montana Association of Counties,and the
Montana Stockgrowers Association.
• User feedback – NRIS is committed to providingquality data
services to our users. In order to effectivelyevaluate the types of
use and interest in our informationand web applications, NRIS
conducts periodic surveys.
• Newsletters – NRIS contributes articles to industrynewsletters
and journals to inform Montanaprofessionals about NRIS programs and
services.The NRIS Natural Heritage Program produces itsown
newsletter, Optimolocus, to keep readers informedabout new
activities and projects.
• GIS Day – GIS Day is an annual international eventthat
encourages geographic information systems (GIS)users to open their
doors to the public. NRIS staffuse GIS Day as a way to demonstrate
the importanceof geography in our everyday lives by
conductinginteractivepresentationsfor studentsand adults.
Helena fifth grader Nicole Carkeek shows off thetopographical
map she created on her hand duringan NRIS presentation on GIS
Day.Photo credit: George Lane/Helena Independent Record
Cumulative number of wells along Highway 93 corridor in the
Bitterroot Valley.
http://nris.state.mt.us/wis