NRIS History: 1982 to 1998

1982

In 1982, the Montana Governor's Council on Management, recognizing the growing amounts of natural resource data and the growing need for quick access to the data, identified (in its final report) the need for greater coordination and information sharing among natural resource agencies.

1983

In response, the 1983 Montana Legislature created the Natural Resource Information System (NRIS) and the Natural Heritage Program (NHP) with the chief objective: "...to be a comprehensive program for the acquisition, storage, and retrieval of existing data relating to the natural resources of Montana." (Sections 90-15-101 through 90-15--304, MCA)

The law creating the NRIS/NHP also established a Natural Resource Data System Advisory Committee, with representatives from the state's major natural resource agencies. This committee was charged with the task of directing the development of the NRIS/Heritage programs. The committee decided to locate the programs at the Montana State Library, given its primary mandate to disseminate information and its neutral role. It also decided that the Natural Heritage Program should be implemented through a contract with The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy developed the national network of Heritage Programs with the NRIS administering that contract.

1985–1987

The 1985 Legislature provided start-up funding through a variety of sources including a Resource Indemnity Trust grant; Fish, Wildlife and Parks license fees; Office of Surface Mining funds; and funds from the Montana Nature Conservancy.

The Heritage Program began operations in October, 1985 with four people: David Genter as Director and zoologist; Steve Shelly as botanist, Nancy Grulke as community ecologist, and Lisa Shepard as the data manager. NRIS program began in December, 1985 with Larry Thompson as it's first Director and Diane Capron as assistant and data technician.

1987–1989

The 1987 Legislature reinforced the importance of NRIS/NHP. After reviewing the significant progress made in the first year of operation, legislators approved two new grants: an RIT award for NRIS/NHP operations, and a Water Development Grant to develop a comprehensive water information system. Jim Stimson joined the program in the fall of 1987 to establish the Montana Water Information System (WIS).

In addition, in the fall, NRIS entered into a contract with the Montana Department of Health and Environmental Sciences; to develop a geographic information system (GIS) to support the Clark Fork Superfund remediation. Allan Cox joined NRIS in November 1987 to establish the NRIS GIS program. Jon Sesso joined NRIS in January of 1988 as it's second Director. In February, 1988 we mourned the passing of Larry Thompson.

1989–1991

From 1989 to 1991, NRIS continued to grow with increased staff and services in the NHP, GIS, and Water programs. In particular, the GIS program expanded to provide GIS services to a wide range of users and worked to develop methods for the transfer of GIS technology into other state agencies. NHP added the management of the Montana Natural Areas database to its growing services. WIS began to develop its program to support the Governor's Drought Monitoring System.

1991–1993

1991–1993 was a busy two years for NRIS: The Natural Heritage Program responded to over 440 information requests and published 28 reports including P. D. Skaar's Montana Bird Distribution, 4th edition. The Water Information System responded to 230 information requests and began the successful implementation of the Drought Monitoring System. The Geographic Information System responded to over 210 service requests, while re-tooling with new hardware and software that greatly increased system capabilities.

Also, during 1992 Allan Cox became the third NRIS Director and Fred Gifford became the new GIS Coordinator. During 1992–1993, the Heritage program responded to over 600 information requests and published more than 20 reports. Of particular note is that the Heritage database was loaded onto the U.S. Forest Service Region 1 computer in Missoula. This allowed USFS personnel from all of Region 1, down to the ranger district level, to directly access the Heritage information. The Water Information System filled nearly 300 information requests and began work on a groundwater atlas for Montana. The Geographic Information System responded to over 500 service requests while also managing 15 different GIS projects. Total NRIS staff grew to 19 people.

1993–1995

During FY 1994 we filled over 1850 requests for natural resource information and services. This year also marked NRIS’s initial use of Internet services. That usage continued into 1995 with the initial development of an on–line natural resource information clearinghouse.

NRIS also had the distinction of being the first state in the nation to develop an automated service for the search and retrieval of digital map information, as part of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. NRIS staff now included 22 people in Helena with three Heritage staff located as shared positions with the U.S. Forest Service in Missoula.

For the 1996–97 biennium, NRIS became one of the first State programs to develop a performance budget based on measurable goals and objectives. This innovative method of budgeting and managing budgets called for NRIS to implement three major goals:

Operate a Natural Resource Information Clearinghouse
Support Interagency Data and Standards Coordination
Provide User Support and Assistance

1996–1998

Fiscal year 1996 was a busy time for NRIS. The GIS, WIS, and NHP filled over 2,180 mediated requests for natural resource information and services. During 1996, 1997, and 1998, NRIS continued to expand internet services including deployment of a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server, electronic mail services for all of the NRIS staff and the State Library, and a Telnet server that allowed remote log in to the NRIS network. The most visible Internet service, the public Web site, was enhanced and expanded to be the center piece of NRIS clearinghouse activities and services. With its myriad of links to other related sites around the nation, the NRIS web site was a major step forward in making natural resource information easily and readily accessible for all Montanans.

During FY 1997 alone, there was an average of nearly 1,700 user sessions per week on the NRIS web site. In addition, NRIS began hosting Web sites for other state agencies including: the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and the Montana Historical Society. The Internet services NRIS and these agencies are providing extend access to all Montana citizens regardless of the time of day or where they may live.

In 1998, Jim Stimson became NRIS's fourth Director.