GIS data and Ecology grants

The Washington State Department of Ecology uses Geographic Information System (GIS) tools and procedures as aids in accomplishing its mission of protecting the land, air, and waters of the state. This technology is used widely in support of the agency’s geography-based approach to environmental management. Ecology strives to coordinate GIS data development under its grants and to ensure compatibility with established agency standards.

Spatial Data Standards

In an effort to better assure compatibility and encourage sharing of geospatial data among a variety of users, both public and private, Ecology encourages grant recipients to embrace these standards.

The Department of Ecology uses ESRI's ArcGIS Version 9.x; ArcGIS Server 9.x, ArcIMS 9.x, and ArcSDE 9.x. Data submitted to Ecology should be in ESRI ArcExport E00, shapefile, ESRI Personal Database or File Geodatabase format.

The agency utilizes the follow data storage and import standards:

• Horizontal Datum NAD 83 HARN*
• Vertical Datum NAVD-88
• Projection System Lambert Conic Conformal
• Coordinate System Washington State Plane Coordinates
• Coordinate Zone South (or zone-appropriate if not statewide)
• Coordinate Units U.S. Survey Feet
• Accuracy Standard +/-40 feet or better
• Vector Import Format ArcExport E00 file, Shapefile, File Geodatabase, Personal Geodatabase
• Raster Import Format TIFF, BIL/BIP, RLC, GRID, ERDAS
• Metadata Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC), Metadata Content Standards*

* More information is available on the Washington Geographic Information Council (WAGIC) website.

The Department of Ecology has assembled or acquired numerous statewide data sets to help depict the diverse natural and cultural environment of Washington state. Ecology’s spatially referenced information is arranged according to "Geographic Themes." These themes include:
 

Agriculture	Cartographic	Demography
Environmental Monitoring	Fish & Wildlife	Geology
Hydrographic	Political Subdivisions	Public Land Survey
Shorelines	Stream Flows	Water Quality
Biogeography	Climate	Elevation
Facilities/Sites	Geographic Names	Groundwater & Wells
Land Use/Land Cover	Public Land Ownership	Quadrangle Map Boundaries
Soils	Transportation	Wetlands

Ninety-seven statewide geospatial data sets and associated data descriptions are available for internal agency use. Fifty-seven of these coverages are available for external distribution. All data sets at Ecology are received and distributed in ARC/INFO export (.E00) format.

Data-coordination assistance is available to all grant recipients. The agency can help you locate data sets at Ecology or ones that may exist within other organizations. To access data listings, visit Ecology's GIS Web site, or call John Tooley at (360) 407-7128.

GIS Services

Ecology’s GIS Technical Services Group provides GIS assistance to various organizations. The group provides GIS technology services to all federal, state or local governmental organizations. All assistance is provided on a cost-recovery basis, and the following services are available:

• GIS Data Coordination and Management
• GIS Programming and Applications Development
• GIS Analysis and Mapping
• ArcView GIS Education and Training

For more information

For additional information about services, please contact:

John Tooley, Manager
GIS Technical Services
P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600
Phone: (360) 407-7128 Fax: (360) 407-6493
E-Mail: jtoo461@ecy.wa.gov