This is a vector polygon dataset representing areas within Big Bend National Park that meet NPS wilderness eligibility criteria as outlined in NPS Management Policies 2006, Chapter 6 (https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1548/upload/ManagementPolicies2006.pdf). This dataset is utilizing the updated Core Data Standard dated 08/10/2016. This dataset does NOT represent a proposal or recommendation for wilderness within Big Bend National Park, nor does this dataset represent an update of the Big Bend wilderness recommendation provided to the U.S. Congress in 1978. This dataset is intended to be used as a reference only.

Methods

These data were selected from boundary and tract datasets provided by the NPS Lands Office in March 2017. The original park boundary dataset and metadata are available for download at the NPS DataStore. Although these data are the best available spatial representations of the boundaries of NPS lands and tracts within, features within the datasets are of variable quality and spatial accuracy and are not intended to serve as survey-quality boundary lines.

Park staff conducted an inventory of all known manmade infrastructure and other features in conflict with wilderness character in the park between September 2021 and March 2022. The inventory involved: GNSS surveys of manmade erosion control and drainage features along over 200 miles of roadway; 2 aerial surveys; and over 30 miles of travel on foot to inventory abandoned manmade features in backcountry areas. The data from this inventory was compiled and visualized by the park cartographer, and reviewed by park staff from all divisions. The resulting dataset breaks the park into the following categories, found in the 'Legend' attribute:

• Meets wilderness eligibility criteria

• Requires restoration to meet wilderness eligibility criteria

• Does not meet wilderness eligibility criteria

• Not evaluated for wilderness eligibility criteria

• Inholding