Data collected and managed by Forest Service programs is available in a map service and two downloadable file formats – in a shape file and an ESRI file geodatabase.
Metadata is available that describes the content, source, and currency of the data.
You can filter the list by the topic categories in the menu at the left to help you find information you are interested in.
You can view the feature classes in a single dataset by clicking on the name of the parent dataset at the bottom of the abstract.
More Forest Service map services are available in ArcGIS Online
Shapefiles do not exist for all National Datasets.
This format has technical limitations which make them unsuitable for multiple datasets within this clearinghouse. These constraints include file size, attribute name length, field length, number of fields, limited data types, lack of topological representations and floating-point rounding errors leading to inevitable data loss.
The EDW Team is unable to support Shapefile exports for datasets that approach those limits. Esri File Geodatabases (FGDB) will remain available. Alternative formats including GeoPackage, GeoJSON, Character Separated Values (CSV), Map Services and Geospatial Discovery Tool offerings will be used to provide open format access to these National Datasets. Once these formats are available for all National Datasets, EDW will retire the shapefile format as a supported file exchange format.
Requests for KML/KMZ output
The Enterprise Data Warehouse Team tested exporting out to KML/KMZ files as a deliverable and due to the complexity and size of the datasets this has been unsuccessful.
To obtain a KML file for any EDW dataset, go to the Geospatial Data Discovery Tool and search for the dataset. An option to download to KML is available from that website.
If you have questions, contact: SM.FS.data@usda.gov.
Contextual Definition:
It is required for every National Forest to have a Land Management Plan (LMP), often referred to as a forest plan.
A Designated Area is an area or feature identified and managed to maintain its unique special character or purpose. Some categories of designated areas may be designated only by statute and some categories may be established administratively in the land management planning process or by other administrative processes of the Federal executive branch. Examples of statutorily designated areas are national heritage areas, national recreational areas, national scenic trails, wilderness areas, and wilderness study areas. Examples of administratively designated areas are experimental forests, research natural areas, scenic byways, botanical areas, and significant caves.
Land management plan decisions may include recommendations to establish additional designated areas. Some designated areas may be formally designated or established concurrently with a plan decision, while others may not. The term "designated area" refers to categories of area or feature established by, or pursuant to, statute, regulation, or policy. Once established the designation continues until a subsequent decision by the appropriate authority removes the designation.
Generally, areas that are described in 1909.12, Chapter 20 shall be used in this recommended designated area feature class. The list in Chapter 24, exhibit 01 is not comprehensive. Some plan areas may have unique designations created by special legislation or other administrative action in addition to the types identified in this section. If a land area does not qualify as a designated area or has not been designated, but needs specific guidance, the Responsible Official may identify the area as a management area or as a geographic area to apply specific plan components in the land management plan.
Eligible and Suitable Wild and Scenic Rivers will not be used in this recommended designated area feature class.
This feature class shows the geospatial extent of each Recommended Designated Area within land management plans, with pertinent metadata and includes data from both the 1982 and 2012 planning rules. This schema can also be used as a template to build data regionally or for individual units.
If and when the Recommended Designated Area becomes an official Designated Area then the authoritative data for the Designated Area will be stored in the LSRS designated area layer.
Recommended Designated Area definition:
Areas with a single unique special character or purpose designated by statue or administratively through regulation, policy or under the land management planning process.
Characteristics:
- Is labeled as "recommended" or "proposed" AND a Designation type, regardless of a proper noun (i.e. Recommended Wilderness or Ruby Mountains Recommended Wilderness).
- Has a single unique special character or purpose and may overlap with different Designated Areas.
- May overlap with Geographic and Management Areas.
- Not all LMPs include Recommended Designated Areas. However, if an LMP includes a Recommended Designated Area, it must be described in the LMP.
- May exist as a single-part or multi-part polygon.
- May have plan components or may only be described in the LMP without plan components.
This dataset is intended for read-only use. These data show the current boundaries of National Wilderness areas, including all additions/deletions/modifications to boundaries which occurred after the area was originally designated. The boundaries in this dataset are suitable for general mapping and analysis. In comparison to the Wilderness dataset, the WildernessStatus dataset includes discrete polygons for all additions/deletions/modifications to boundaries which occurred after the area was originally designated, as well as action dates and other details. The purpose of these data is to provide display, identification, and analysis tools for determining current boundary information for Forest Service managers, GIS specialists, and others.
This dataset is intended for read-only use. The boundaries in this dataset provide detailed information suitable for advanced land status mapping and analysis. The Wilderness dataset provides the current area boundaries (not split by transaction) which is suitable for most mapping and analysis. The purpose of these data is to provide display, identification, and analysis tools for determining current boundary information for Forest Service managers, GIS specialists, and others.
