Presentations from the
7th Annual OFWIM Conference
Baltimore, Maryland
November 1st-5th, 2002

Managing Data Across Multiple Agencies Using a Regionally Consistent Data Exchange Format (DEF): The StreamNet Example (Schmidt, StreamNet)

Multiple state, tribal and federal fish and wildlife management agencies in the four-state Columbia River Basin collect fisheries related data. Even though the agencies collect similar kinds of information, there is no standardization among (and sometimes within) agencies for data collection methodology or for subsequent data management and dissemination, and the data are now made available regionally by the individual agencies. The agencies are independent, serve different missions, and until only recently have been unconcerned about sharing data on a regional basis. The need for regionally consistent information has become apparent due to various mandates, including the 1980 Power Act and recent listings under the Endangered Species Act, leading to formation of a regional data collection, standardization and dissemination project. Know as StreamNet, it is a cooperative project among the four state fish and wildlife agencies, the Columbia River Intertribal Fish Commission and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, funded by Bonneville Power Administration through the NW Power Planning Council. The approach is based on development of regionally agreed to 'data exchange formats' (DEF). These represent the core variables for each specific type of data. Data are obtained from each of the agencies in the regionally consistent DEF and then made available on-line through a query database and interactive mapper applications. Because the agencies have not been able to invest significantly in data management within their agencies, StreamNet staff are placed directly within the agencies to collect and standardize the data. The project thus shoulders much of each agency's load for data management and responses to data requests and makes data readily available in a regionally consistent and georeferenced format.

Visit the StreamNet Web-site at: http://www.streamnet.org

This presentation available as:
PowerPoint presentation (Schmidt): Managing Data-DEF (PPT)
Adobe Acrobat Reader file (Schmidt): Managing Data-DEF (PDF)