FWS-R9-NWI-DU

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The US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wetlands Inventory, intends to award Ducks Unlimited, Great Lakes and Atlantic Regional Office (DU-GLARO), a single source award under the terms of this cooperative agreement. DU-GLARO will work cooperatively with the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) National Standards and Support Team (NSST) to investigate techniques for the identification, classification, and boundary determination of temperate freshwater wetlands primarily in the Great Lakes and Atlantic regions. DU-GLARO is uniquely qualified for this cooperative venture for a number of reasons. The FWS has previously worked with DU-GLARO to refine methods for updating wetland maps, conducting wetland change studies, and developing geospatial tools for various applications. This project will incorporate recent advances in remote sensing technology specifically image analysis and the detection and appropriate classification of wetland habitats. DU-GLARO and FWS will also continue this working cooperation by conducting data verification and quality control reviews to ensure products developed through this agreement meet FWS quality standards. Recently DU has partnered with USDA-Forest Service, having received a grant to investigate the utility of new remote sensing technologies to map wetlands in forested regions of northern Wisconsin. The application of such technologies is of great interest to FWS, since the detection and classification of forested wetlands pose technical problems. A detailed Sole Source Justification and Statement of Substantial Involvement is attached.

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