INTRODUCTIONS AND UPDATES FROM MEMBERS

Kyle Anderson, Washoe County
Wes Andrews, Community College of Southern Nevada
Marianne August, USGS-WRD
Dave Bortnem, USGS-NMD
Kathy Branton, U.S. Forest Service-Toiyabe National Forest
Kathy Covert, Federal Geographic Data Committee
David Edwards, Clark County
Art Ehrenberg, LVVWD
Rick Free, Nevada Department of Transportation
Terri Garside, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Ben Grisson, Nevada Department of Transportation
Paul Hartley, ADGIS
Kelvin Hickenbottom, Nevada Division of Water Planning
Gary Johnson, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology
Ingrid Landgraf, USGS-NMD
Rose Medina, USGS-WRD
Scott Mensing, University of Nevada, Reno
Mark O'Brien, Bureau of Land Management
Randy Pahl, Nevada Division of Water Planning
J.R. Peay, Community College of Southern Nevada
Dave Pickel, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Bruce Piper, Bureau of Land Management
Jonathan G. Price, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology (SMAC Chair)
Sherry Sorensen, U.S. Forest Service-Toiyabe National Forest
Fred Stanio, Nevada Department of Transportation
Jerry Vivant, Nevada Department of Transportation

Jon Price, SMAC Chair, welcomed everyone and asked individuals to introduce themselves and briefly report on mapping projects. He explained that SMAC's main function has been to provide a state perspective to the U.S. Geological Survey's National Mapping Division with regard to priorities for map products. SMAC also has a GIS Subcommittee, which is currently undertaking a survey of the need for better coordination of geographic information, and a Geologic Mapping Subcommittee, which is helping to set priorities for geologic mapping by the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology.

Mark O'Brien (BLM) reported completion of all 7.5-minute Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) for Nevada, a cooperative project among several agencies.

Kyle Anderson reported that Washoe County has flown the county with color digital aerial photography.

J.R. Peay reported that CCSN now offers four courses in GIS.

Dave Pickel (Natural Resources Conservation Service) plans to develop a spatial data set of hydrologic units at 1:24,000.

The Nevada Department of Transportation plans to be able to produce digital orthophotoquads by the end of the year with their own equipment.

Dave Edwards noted that all of Clark County's metadata is one the Web.

REPORT ON THE FEDERAL GEOGRAPHIC DATA COMMITTEE PROJECT

Jon Price suggested that SMAC have a Web site, including pointing to GIS metadata and data available on Web sites of various state, federal, and local agencies and the private sector. [NOTE ADDED AFTER THE MEETING: SMAC does now have a Web site (http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/smac/smac.htm); this site contains information on the purposes of SMAC, how it is organized, its subcommittees, minutes of recent meetings, and agendas for future meetings. In addition, the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology established a Virtual Clearinghouse for Nevada Geographic Information on the Web (http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/geoinfo/geoinfo.htm), with links to many providers of geographic information, and a Web site for the Nevada Geographic Names Board (http://www.nbmg.unr.edu/geonames/geonames.htm). We encourage everyone to visit the Virtual Clearinghouse and supply additional links to other appropriate Web sites where Nevada geographic information and metadata can be found.]

REPORT ON THE GIS CONFERENCE

REPORT FROM THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Although all the 7.5-minute DEMs have been produced for Nevada, not all are available for sale at this time. They should be available within a few months. There is a program to upgrade from DEM level 1 to level 2.

There is no USGS plan to produce hypsography digital line graphs (DLGs); sharing in the cost for these projects is $700 per file (per 7.5-minute quadrangle).

The USGS will be phasing out PLSS DLG production during 1998. The USGS is also unsure about its role in transportation (including railroads and miscellaneous transportation).

DOI agencies can request updates of paper maps (about 1000 per year). It is likely that Las Vegas NE, Las Vegas SE, Las Vegas SW and Hoover Dam will be updated in 1998.

DRGs are all done for the state.

The group thanked Ingrid and the USGS for their help in seeing that many of SMAC's priorities for mapping have been addressed in the last few years.

DISCUSSION OF MAPPING PRIORITIES TO BE RELAYED TO THE USGS

1. Digital Orthophoto Quads (DOQs) in northwestern Nevada (specifically Washoe County south of 39o52.5'N, all of Storey County, Lyon County, and Mineral County) - restatement of last year's second priority. Agencies with requirements in this area include the U.S. Geological Survey - Water Resources Division, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service, Nevada Department of Transportation, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Division of Water Planning, Washoe County, and other county and city agencies. Applications include land-use planning in and around rapidly developing urban centers, emergency flood response, soil-survey field-mapping support, farm and ranch planning, water- resource management, environmental monitoring and planning, ecosystem management, hazardous material accident response, transportation engineering and safety, and framework-mapping updates.
2. DOQs and Digital Line Graphs (DLGs) for hypsography, transportation, and hydrography for all of Clark County - rewording of last year's third priority. Agencies with requirements in this area include the U.S. Geological Survey - Water Resources, Biological Resources, and Geologic Divisions, Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Department of Transportation, Nevada Division of Water Planning, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Clark County, Las Vegas Valley Water District, and city agencies. Applications include land-use planning in and around the most rapidly developing urban area in the United States, water-resource management, environmental monitoring and planning, ecosystem management, hazardous material accident response, transportation engineering and safety, and framework- mapping updates. [NOTE ADDED AFTER THE MEETING: Ingrid Landgraf reported that the DOQs for eight 7.5-minute quadrangles in Las Vegas Valley will be done before the surrounding quads, which are due in September 1998. The 32 quarter-quads will be reprocessed in-house to meet standards.]
3. DOQs and DLGs for transportation for all Wilderness Study Areas in Nevada - rewording of last year's fourth priority. Agencies with requirements in this area include the U.S. Geological Survey - Water Resources, Geologic, and Biological Resources Divisions, Bureau of Land Management, and Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. Applications include land-use planning and boundary definition to support BLM's mission and Congressional action on Wilderness designations, water-resource management, ecosystem management, environmental monitoring and planning, and framework-mapping updates.
4. DOQs for the Walker Lane area of mineral deposits (a belt about 100 miles wide that parallels the northwest-trending border with California, including, in addition to areas identified under this year's priority 1, all of Esmeralda County and southern Nye County (south of 38o15'N)). Agencies with requirements in this area include the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Geological Survey Geologic and Biological Resources Divisions, Nevada Division of Water Planning, and the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. Applications include land-use planning in areas with high potential for development of metallic mineral resources, ecosystem management, and water-resource management.
5. DOQs for southern Eureka and southern Lander Counties. Agencies with requirements in this area include the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Geological Survey Geologic and Biological Resources Divisions, Nevada Division of Water Planning, and the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. Applications include land-use planning in areas with high potential for development of metallic mineral resources, ecosystem management, and water-resource management.
6. DOQs on agricultural lands throughout the state (see list of quadrangles supplied in attached e-mail from Dave Pickel). Agencies with requirements in this area include Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources and Biological Resources Divisions, and Nevada Division of Water Planning. Applications include land-use planning, farm management, water-resource management, and ecosystem management.

Minutes respectfully submitted by Jon Price, 25 January 1998

COPY OF E-MAIL FROM DAVE PICKEL