Significant Waters (NC)

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: U.S. Geological Survey

Publication_Date: 1984

Title: Significant Waters (NC)

Description:

Abstract:

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Division of Water Quality in cooperation with the NC Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, developed the GIS data set, High Quality Water and Outstanding Resource Water Management Zones, to enhance planning, siting and impact analysis in areas directly affecting waters considered as having excellent (high) water quality or designated as an outstanding resource. Point and non-point source pollution management strategies are applicable to these waters. Zones in North Carolina were developed from NC DWQ Stream Classification Schedule, October 1, 1992. The 1:100,000-scale streams classified as "HQW" or "ORW" had a one-mile buffer generated around them. If the watershed boundary was closer than one mile, the ridge line was digitized from 1:24,000-scale topographic quads and superseded the one-mile buffer. The coastal HQW streams had a 1/2-mile buffer generated - with ridge lines added as needed. The coastal streams classified as "ORW" had a buffer generated around them of 575 feet.

HQW (High Quality Waters) is a supplemental classification intended to protect waters with quality higher than the minimum state water quality standards. These waters are rated as excellent based on biological and physical/chemical characteristics through Division monitoring or special studies. Waters which have the "HQW" supplemental classification have HQW specific requirements. (NOTE: Class items that have a '/' and a second or third class indicate areas with multiple classifications or areas where the zones for different classifications overlapped.)

SA, WSW, & WTR: Waters with at least as stringent protection requirements as HQW, and therefore are considered to be HQW by definition. These waters include those classified as WSW (WS-I or WS-II water supply watersheds), SA (Shellfishing Areas), and WTR (Wild Trout Waters).

ORW (Outstanding Resource Waters) is a supplemental classification intended to protect unique and special waters having exceptional state or national recreational or ecological significance.

Purpose:

This data was created to assist governmental agencies and others in making resource management decisions through the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS).

Supplemental_Information:

Prior to July 1, 2004, the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) was known as the Florida Marine Research Institute (FMRI). The institute name has not been changed in historical data sets or references to work completed by the Florida Marine Research Institute. The institute name has been changed in references to ongoing research, new research, and contact information.

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Access_Constraints: Available without restriction

Use_Constraints:

FWC-FWRI must be credited. This is not a survey data set and should not be utilized as such. These data are not to be used for navigation.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: GIS Data Librarian

Contact_Organization:

FWC-FWRI (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-Fish and Wildlife Research Institute)

Contact_Position: GIS Data Librarian

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address:

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 100 Eighth Avenue Southeast

City: St. Petersburg

State_or_Province: Florida

Postal_Code: 33701

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727-896-8626

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 727-893-1679

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: GISLibrarian@MyFWC.com

Hours_of_Service: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Eastern time

Data_Set_Credit:

NC Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Water Quality Water Quality Section Water Quality Staff, Boyd Devane 512 N. Salisbury Street Raleigh, NC 27604-1148

Wildlife Resources Commission Wildlife Resources Commission staff, Jim Borawa 512 N. Salisbury Street Raleigh, NC 27604

NCCGIA Acting Director, Tim Johnson Database Administration, Zsolt Nagy Database Management, Ken Shaffer Project Manager, Cheryl Pearce North Carolina Center for Geographic Information and Analysis Governor's Office Office of State Planning 301 North Wilmington Street, Suite 700 Raleigh, NC 27601-2825

Security_Information:

Security_Classification_System: FWRI-DC

Security_Classification: Available without restriction

Security_Handling_Description: Available without restriction

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

The data is presently in a current version of ESRI's ARC/INFO GIS software on UNIX, Sun Sparc workstations.

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

NC CGIA digitized the HQW boundaries from paper USGS 1:24,000 topo maps and attributed them with DWQ classifications of HQW or ORW. The digital files were plotted and overlayed to the originals label corrections were made.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Using ESRI's ARC/INFO GIS software, the data set was built for polygon topology using the "build" command. The data set was then cleaned with using the 'clean' command. Topology has not been edited since the last build or clean.

Completeness_Report:

These data represent the locations of waters surrounding regions of streams or bodies of water identified as having excellent (high) water quality; or, designated as an outstanding resource in North Carolina, as mapped by the NC DWQ. Each polygon is labeled as either HQW or ORW. All boundaries are approved by DWQ, whether they are the original DWQ boundaries or changes to original boundaries submitted for revision by local or county governments.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

High Quality Waters were marked on 7.5 Minute USGS paper topographic maps, and Outstanding Resource Water were generated from 30 x 60 Minute series USGS digital line graphs, both of which meet National Map Accuracy Standards, using a best estimate with reference to surrounding features. Boundaries drawn were digitized and check plots used to ensure correct boundary location within a line-width.

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 199404

Ending_Date: 19961211

Source_Currentness_Reference: original release date and revision date respectively

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

HQWORWMZ boundaries were generated from stream classifications given by DENR-DWQ to the USGS 1:100,000-scale hydrography in North Carolina's Corporate Geographic Database. DWQ supplied CGIA with information on the individual streams and what their water quality classifications should be. If a stream was classified as being HQW or ORWMZ, then a boundary was created to encase that particular stream. Once CGIA was finished in creating this data layer, DWQ reviewed the work for accuracy and recommended and identified any needed edits.

Process_Date: 19961211

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

The USGS 1:100,000-scale hydrography which was classified as being of HQW or ORWMZ value were selected to have their boundaries generated. Those streams classified as being HQW, or any part of an HQW designation, had their watershed boundaries digitized if they fell to within one mile of the stream. If the boundary was further that one mile, the stream was buffered one mile and the resulting buffered polygon was integrated with any part of a digitized boundary that may have existed. Boundaries were digitized from contour lines on USGS 1:24,000-scale paper topo maps. Those streams classified as being ORWMZ, or any part of an ORW designation, were buffered 575 feet.

Process_Date: 199612111

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Significant Waters (NC)

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: GIS Data Librarian

Contact_Organization:

FWC-FWRI (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-Fish and Wildlife Research Institute)

Contact_Position: GIS Data Librarian

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address:

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 100 Eighth Avenue Southeast

City: St. Petersburg

State_or_Province: Florida

Postal_Code: 33701

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727-896-8626

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 727-893-1679

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: GISLibrarian@MyFWC.com

Hours_of_Service: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Eastern time

Distribution_Liability:

This data set is in the public domain, and the recipient may not assert any proprietary rights thereto nor represent it to anyone as other than a FWC-FWRI produced data set; it is provided "as-is" without warranty of any kind, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The user assumes all responsibility for the accuracy and suitability of this data set for a specific application. In no event will the staff of the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute be liable for any damages, including lost profits, lost savings, or other incidental or consequential damages arising from the use of or the inability to use this data set.

Standard_Order_Process:

Fees:

None. However, persons or organizations requesting information must provide transfer media (CD-ROM only) if FTP is not available and must pay express shipping costs if express shipping is required.

Ordering_Instructions:

Contact GIS Librarian by e-mail, telephone, or letter explaining which products are needed and providing a brief description of how the products will be used. Also, provide name and address of the person or organization requesting the products.

Turnaround:

Usually within 10 business days, although, complex requests may take longer

Custom_Order_Process: Contact GIS Librarian

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20051005

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: GIS Data Librarian

Contact_Organization:

FWC-FWRI (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission-Fish and Wildlife Research Institute)

Contact_Position: GIS Data Librarian

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical address

Address:

Fish and Wildlife Research Institute 100 Eighth Avenue Southeast

City: St. Petersburg

State_or_Province: Florida

Postal_Code: 33701

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727-896-8626

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 727-893-1679

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: GISLibrarian@MyFWC.com

Hours_of_Service: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Eastern time

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Time_Convention: local time

Metadata_Access_Constraints: No restrictions on metadata

Metadata_Use_Constraints: Metadata must be distributed with the data set.

Metadata_Security_Information:

Metadata_Security_Classification_System: FWRI-MC

Metadata_Security_Classification: Available

Metadata_Security_Handling_Description: Metadata must be distributed with the data set.