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Tennessee Bulletin Number 290-08-1

November 2, 2007

Subject: INV – Update On NRI Status And Activities

Purpose: To provide information on 2006 and 2007 Annual NRI data collection activities.

Expiration Date: September 30, 2008

2006 National Resources Inventory

Local data collection for the 2006 Annual National Resources Inventory (NRI) will be conducted in a manner similar to the 2004/2005 Annual Inventories we completed this past winter. Local data collection for the 2006 Annual NRI for Tennessee is scheduled to begin sometime in January. As data collection is completed for a county at the East Remote Sensing Laboratory (ERSL), that county will be notified that they may begin local data collection. The deadline for completion is four weeks from the date each county is given the notification to begin. Local data collection includes completing cropping histories, USLE and RUSLE2 information, wetland information, and USDA program information for selected NRI segments.

One major difference in the 2006 Annual NRI is that in addition to the CORE segments we inventoried in the 2004/2005 Annual NRIs, additional ROTATIONAL segments will be included in this inventory.

CORE segments

  • CORE segments are inventoried every year.
  • Tennessee has 870 CORE segments.
  • An estimated 626 segments/1233 points will require local data collection.

ROTATIONAL segments

  • ROTATIONAL segments require data collection only when selected by ISU-CSSM.
  • Tennessee has 642 ROTATIONAL segments selected for the 2006 Annual NRI.
  • An estimated 451 segments/915 points will require local data collection.
  • The selected ROTATIONAL segments have not been inventoried since the 1997 Foundation NRI.

Data will once again be collected using a web-based application, the Local Data Survey Instrument (LDSI). The LDSI used by field staff for local data collection has been updated to improve data collection efficiency. Major improvements in the software and process include:

  • Linkage to Common Land Unit (CLU) will be available via a separate application, providing quicker access to necessary file records.
  • Field staff will have access to additional years of imagery through the LDSI to assist in data collection activities; imagery for 2004, 2005, and 2006 will be provided for Core samples, and imagery for 2004 and 2006 will be provided for Rotation samples.
  • A “same as option” has been added for points located in the same fields. This can be used to reduce data entry time where the needed management information is exactly the same.
  • Historical data will be displayed (where available) to assist in local data collection. If conditions are unchanged from the last data collection period, some data can be copied forward to save data entry time.
  • The Remote Sensing Laboratory (RSL) will make interpretations for 2006 before states are asked to perform local data collection. This means states will only be sent segments and/or points that need local data collection.
  • The LDSI will provide more options for leaving notes, which will aid in communication with the RSL.

2007 National Resource Inventory

Local data collection for the 2007 Annual NRI will begin approximately 60 days after the completion of the 2006 Annual NRI. The data collection State-sequence and schedule for the 2007 NRI will be provided prior to the conclusion of the 2006 NRI. Tennessee’s workload for the 2007 Annual NRI will be similar to that of the 2006 NRI.

Other Information

An attached spreadsheet, TN_Segments_06_07.pdf, shows the anticipated number of segments by county that will require local data collection by field office staffs.

Schedules, a link to the LDSI website, and additional information will be sent via e-mail to the Area Conservationists to distribute when available. Any questions pertaining to local data collection for the 2006 and 2007 Annual NRIs should be directed to Kevin Davis, State Resources Inventory Coordinator (SRIC), at 931-359-6268 Ext. 102 or via email

Time spent on NRI data collection should be charged to “CTA-NRI Data Collection”. NRI local data collection by field offices is essential in conducting high quality, accurate and timely resource inventories. Every effort should be made to complete our local data collection in the timeline designated by the RSL.

/s/
Kevin Brown
State Conservationist

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