The National Fish Habitat Partnership Data System supports coordinated effort of scientific assessment and data exchange among the partners and stakeholder of the aquatic habitat community. It is being developed by the USGS Core Science Analytics and Synthesis program under the guidance of the National Fish Habitat Partnership Science and Data Committee. The system consists of data access and visualization tools and underlying data management tools and functions.
The National Data Viewer, released in early 2011, allows for the visualization of the primary results reported in Through a Fish’s Eye: The Status of Fish Habitats in the United States 2010 at various spatial scales. It depicts the condition of stream and coastal habitats across the country on a variety of base maps, provides one-click access to more detailed information at finer scales, and offers the option to download data files and map services.
For users, the data system provides streamlined data access and download capabilities for national and partnerships’ data via a familiar Web page format. Behind the scenes, data management and delivery tools are powered by two existing USGS systems to enhance the data sharing, documentation, and delivery capabilities available to partners: USGS ScienceBase provides the data file upload and catalog services, while the USGS Core Science Metadata Clearinghouse assists with documentation and preservation best practices that will improve the ability for partners, researchers, and managers to access and use data now and in the future..
As the National Science and Data Committee, with assistance from USGS, works with representatives of Fish Habitat Partnerships to catalog available data and products, more datasets will be made freely available through the system.
