To minimize redundancy in effort in developing riparian mapping standards, ensure consistency in application of standards, facilitate data sharing and integrate riparian spatial data with data developed under the FGDC Wetlands Standard. Riparian initiatives often concentrate on either functionality or land use application where an exact definition is not required. However, a riparian definition is essential for consistent and uniform identification and mapping.
Riparian areas are usually transitional between wetland and upland.
This proposed national standard would standardize and ensure consistency of the geospatial mapping of riparian areas in the United States where evaporation exceeds precipitation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has recently completed testing of this mapping standard to assess its completeness and utility by Federal client agencies. This standards development process under the FGDC would expand the review of the Agency standard, make any needed changes identified during the process, and propose the riparian mapping standards for adoption under the Federal Geographic Data Committee Standards. Once adopted, the Riparian Standard would be made available both through the Service s and the FGDC websites. Once a riparian standard is adopted, the digitized wetland-riparian maps will be made a part of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure.