U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Data Element:  ECOSYSTEM UNIT NUMBER

You are invited to read the definitions of terms used in this data standard.

Name
 Ecosystem Unit Number
Description
 Two-digit numbers that represent the ecosystem unit boundaries of the United States, which are drawn primarily along watershed boundaries. The Service originally chose the U.S. Geological Survey's Hydrologic Unit Map as the foundation for delineating ecosystem unit boundaries on a national scale. Since that time, boundaries in some of the regions have been moved to the closest county boundaries to simplify management responsibilities. The current unit boundaries reflect this combination.  
Type
 Character Field (to allow leading zeros in this data field when required)
Syntax
 NN, where each N represents a number from 0 through 9. 
Recommended Field Name ECONUM
Values
 The official values to be used for this data element are described in the reference and available for download in the Source section. 
Source
 An electronic copy of the official values to be used for this data element is available here. These values are current as of April 4, 2003. The source files include Region numbers to identify the ecosystem units associated with each Region.
Historical Data The initial data standard and source data is available here:  Ecosystem Unit Number
Reference(s)

Part 270, FW 6, Data Management and Standards, dated September 30, 2002.

Ecosystem Approach to Fish and Wildlife Conservation - Original Document

Ecosystem Approach to Fish and Wildlife Conservation: An Assessment by Ohio State University - An evaluation of the above document and results

Part 052, FW 1, Ecosystem Approach to Fish and Wildlife Conservation, dated April 19, 1996
Use Instructions
 As of the approval date, this data element will be used in any new automated system, data set, database, or information application, including new Geographic Information System (GIS) data and applications. This data element will also be used in any major modifications to existing systems or versions of these data-related items that use numbers to identify the Service's ecosystem unit boundaries. The Ecosystem Unit Boundaries data standard references the spatial component of the ecosystem unit boundary information, using the same names and coding scheme as this data element. The ecosystem unit boundaries can be downloaded from this site as geographic information system (GIS) coverages or graphic files.

To ensure compliance with the Service Information and Technology Architecture (SITA), Service staff are strongly encouraged to utilize this data element in existing systems, data sets, databases, and information applications. Where existing systems and data-related items are not in compliance, they should be modified to achieve compatibility and implement this data standard.

The ecosystem unit number should normally be used in conjunction with the ecosystem unit name. The Service data standard for Ecosystem Unit Name can be viewed at this site. It references the official names used by the Service to identify the ecosystem unit boundaries of the United States. The numeric designation of "00" (Not Applicable) should be assigned to Service organizations that do not have an ecosystem association, such as the Regional Directorate and Regional administration offices. Further guidance on using the "00" designation will be provided in the future. 

Ecosystem unit numbers and ecosystem unit names will be handled as separate data fields in any new or modified automated system, and will not be combined in a single data field.
Phase
 Adopted
Approval Date
 March 21, 2000
Validation Date
 December 29, 2004
Data Steward Pending
Point of Contact
 Barbara White, National Data Administrator, Branch of Data and Systems Services, Division of Information Technology Management

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These pages are maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Information Technology Management. Please feel free to contact Barb White with any questions and comments.

Keywords=ecosystem, unit, watershed, boundary, hydrologic, data, standards, elements
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