Minnesota 1997 National Resources Inventory (NRI) Information for Use in Basin Planning

The 1997 NRI is the largest and most comprehensive natural resource database in the world, including land cover and use, soil erosion, prime farmland, wetlands, and other natural resource characteristics on non-Federal land in the United States. The NRI provides a record of the Nation's conservation accomplishments and future program needs.

NRI data are collected at scientifically selected sample sites located in every county in Minnesota and throughout the United States. The sample design is the result of more than 40 years of research and application.

It is important to distinguish the NRI as a sample as opposed to a census. Samples for the NRI are selected using a stratified, two stage, area sampling scheme. Although sampling rates vary across strata, the sampling units constitute about 3 percent of all the total land and water areas of the 48 conterminous States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

NRCS field personnel, resources inventory specialists, and remote sensing data collectors at the Inventory Collection and Coordination Site in Madison, Wisconsin collected data for the 1997 NRI for more than 8,100 locations in Minnesota. NRI data are statistically reliable for national, regional, state and sub-state analysis. Generally, however, interpretations at the local level may be misleading.

Values derived from the 1997 NRI database are estimates based on sample points. Each estimate has a standard error associated with it that has been included in the attached tables. The margin of error at the 95% confidence level can be computed by multiplying the standard error by 1.96.

A variety of types of data reports can be derived from analyzed NRI data.

• Area reports on acreage within a specified area that does or does not meet the user defined condition, practice, or use.
• Non area reports about year specific units of measure other than acreage that meet user defined condition, practice, or use.
• Trending analyses 5-year, 10-year and 15-year time spans for some data elements in the 1997 NRI.
• Change reports on the shift from one use, condition, or practice to another.

Data reported and illustrated in this document have been selected specifically to be useful in the basin planning process. All estimates are based on the seven geographic planning areas, and statistically determined standard errors are reported for each estimate.

Additional information and assistance is available. Contact:

Susan Ploetz
Resources Inventory Specialist
USDA-NRCS
375 Jackson St.
St. Paul, MN 55101

(651) 602-7888

susan.ploetz@mn.usda.gov

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