Terrestrial Landscape Intactness (1 Km), Colorado Plateau Ecoregion

This dataset provides an estimate of current terrestrial intactness (i.e. condition) based on the extent to which human impacts such as agriculture, urban development, natural resource extraction, and invasive species have disrupted the landscape across the Colorado Plateau Ecoregion. Terrestrial intactness values will be high in areas where these impacts are low.

This 1 km2 resolution dataset (v2_13F) was created for the Colorado Plateau REA stepdown analysis using the open-source logic modeling framework Environmental Evaluation Modeling System (EEMS). Spatially-explicit logic modeling hierarchically integrates numerous and diverse datasets into composite layers, quantifying information in a continuous rather than binary fashion. This technique yields accessible decision-support products that state and federal agencies can use to craft scientifically-rigorous management strategies.

A diagram of the fuzzy logic model and a complete list of input data are provided as attachments to this dataset.

This model integrates agriculture development (from LANDFIRE EVT), urban development (from LANDFIRE EVT and NLCD Impervious Surfaces), polluted areas (from NHD treatment ponds and EPA Superfund and Brownfield sites), linear development (roads from TIGER, utility lines, railroads, and pipelines from various state and BLM sources), point development (communication towers from the FCC), energy and mining development (from state and USGS MRDS mines datasets, state geothermal wells, USGS wind turbines, and state oil/gas wells), invasive vegetation (compiled from multiple sources including LANDFIRE EVT, LANDFIRE Vegetation Departure, NatureServe Landcover, and NISIMS BLM database), and measures of natural vegetation fragmentation calculated using FRAGSTATS (percent natural core area, number of patches, and nearest neighbor) .

The input data, intermediate layers, and final results of this analysis can be explored via the EEMS Explorer of Data Basin (http://databasin.org/), where they are accessible as online interactive maps showing the signature of human impact across the landscape.

Caution is warranted in interpreting this dataset because it provides a single estimate of terrestrial intactness based on available data. The degree of terrestrial intactness likely varies for a particular species or conservation element, and may depend on additional factors or thresholds not included in this model. This model should be taken as a general measure of intactness that can serve as a template for evaluating across many species at the ecoregion scale, and provides a framework within which species-specific parameters can be incorporated for more detailed analyses.