MSL-USDA NRCS Natural Resource Data Partnership Environmental Characterization
Montana Land Cover Mapping
Land Cover mapping for Montana is under the stewardship of the Montana Natural Heritage Program (MTNHP) and is conducted by the University of Montana Spatial Analysis Lab (UM-SAL). Replacement of previous MSDI land cover mapping is ongoing. Currently recommended land cover data, mapping methods and Montana land cover data can be explored and downloaded from the following links:
- MSDI Land Cover homepage
- UM-SAL Land Cover story map
- Montana Land Cover working group theme lead
- Montana Natural Heritage Map Viewer
Ecological Site Reviewer
The Ecological Site Reviewer (ESR) is an ArcGIS online web map application that displays biophysical data such as soils, elevation, slopes, aspect, frost-free days, landscape level ecological units, ecological sites, classified vegetation and background locational data. The ESR can be used for preliminary site evaluation, navigating to locations of interest, assessing key environmental attributes and generating maps.
HUC Environment
A comprehensive set of environmental and locational data has been subset for each of the 101 Subbasins (8-digit Hydrologic Units) in Montana and is provided for download in a geodatabase format for individual HUCs. Data in the HUC Environment geodatabases is regularly updated with current versions of all MSDI, USDA and other statewide data sets.
- Review a list of the datasets included in each of the HUC-Environment geodatabases
- Reference Map of Watersheds
- Download HUC geodatabases via FTP or by picking a watershed using an interactive web map
- Download Readme, ArcMap Template, ArcMap layer files, and HUCEnv example exercises
Wetland and Riparian Mapping Data
The Wetlands Framework from the Montana Natural Heritage Program is a detailed digital map of wetlands and riparian areas in Montana. Read more.
