The Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS) is the USDA Forest Service's nationally supported framework for forest growth and yield modeling. A 'variant' is a model calibrated to a specific geographic area. A polygon in this GIS layer represents an FVS variant that could be used as the default based on geographic location alone. There is exactly one FVS variant for every location within the United States. This layer is not intended to identify the only variant, nor even the best variant, for any particular location. Please refer to the FVS documentation for a description of the geographic extent of the data used to develop each variant.
This GIS layer was designed to provide a unique default FVS variant designation for any location within the United States based solely on its coordinates. An example of its intended use is the automated assignment of a default FVS variant to a large number of points based on latitude and longitude alone. It is important to understand that regardless of the default variant assigned, a user of the FVS model is free to select whatever variant they feel is appropriate for their data.
Additional layers of USA States, counties, National Forest System (NFS) boundaries and Robert Bailey's Ecoregion are included. These are the base layers to which the FVS Variant layer was registered. The states and county layers are from ESRI. Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. The NFS layer is from GSTC (Geospatial Service and Technology Center), 2222 West 2300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84119 Dr. Robert Bailey's Ecoregions: <http://www.fs.fed.us/institute/ecoregions/eco_download.html> or <http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html>
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The USDA Forest Service makes no guarantees, representations or warranties with respect to the data, either express or implied, arising by law or otherwise, including but not limited to, effectiveness, completeness, accuracy, or fitness for purpose.
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The following individuals were involved in the construction of this document: Gary Boyack, Josie Wedlock, Mara Kali, Carol Apple, The following individuals expetise influenced the location of the variant boundaries: Ralph Johnson, Mike Van Dyck, Tommy Greggs The following individuals contributed to the data set: Don Vandendriesche, Leah Rathbun, Janice Naylor, Deirdre McClarin