What is the purpose of the LPC application?

The application is designed to standardize data collection methods for the state of Texas, store LPC data in a secure and centralized database, and allow biologists to analyze sighting locations spatially. These capabilities are intended to develop a robust database of baseline information that will help TPWD biologists answer questions about LPC range, behavior and trends.

This application is not designed to be a decision support tool. For planning data, please refer to the Western Governors Association Lesser Prairie Chicken Decision Support Tool. (http://www.westgov.org/wildlife/310)

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Definitions

General Public

Users that are not TPWD staff and who have not registered to enter data into the application. Anyone can view LPC and lek presence generalized to the county level. The general public only sees the Map tab.

Registered User

has created a user profile and is allowed to enter data; can include Internal users (TPWD staff) or External users (Landowners and Citizen Scientists).

Widget

A moveable box on the left panel of the application that contains controls allowing the user to interact with the map; an example is the login widget.

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How does the map work?

The Google Map background provides a canvas for user interaction with the map. Users may overlay data layers on the satellite imagery through the “Layers” widget. Layer visibility, layer identification, and opacity are also controlled in the Layers widget. The base layers, including Counties, Vegetation, Current Range and Historic Range are static. Two dynamic layers, Known Leks and verified LPC sightings, are generated from the database each time the application is loaded and displayed on the map.

Controls in the Map Tab:

Identify Button:

When the Counties and Vegetation layers are selected, an identify icon activates. Clicking the icon and then clicking a point location on the map opens an information window, which provides additional information about the record.

Clear Identify Markers:

This link removes any identify information from the map.

Refresh Data Button:

Pressing the Refresh Data button reruns the database query and brings back the most current data. It also takes the two dynamic layers back to their default state (in which LPC Sightings are turned on and the lek layer is turned off).

Checkboxes:

Checkboxes next to each layer allow the user to turn the layer on or off.

Sliders:

The slider bars next to each layer allow the user to change the opacity of the layers.

Sightings County Report:

Lists all the counties where LPC sightings have been reported. Clicking on the county name zooms to that county on the map.

Leks County Report:

Lists all the counties where Leks have been reported. Clicking on the county name zooms to that county on the map.

Layers in the Map Tab:

Counties:

All 254 Texas counties are shown. Use the identify tool to get the county name.

Current Range:

Estimated 2011 Lesser Prairie-Chicken occupied range

Historic Range:

Estimated 1940s Lesser Prairie Chicken occupied range

Vegetation:

A land classification map currently being developed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and several partner agencies. Not all of the data displayed in this layer is final and the remainder of state is not expected to be completed until September 2014. More information on this layer can be found here: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/land/maps/gis/tescp/index.phtml

TX LPC Presence:

Presence/Absence of LPC sightings symbolized by county. This is a dynamic layer that reflects the data input into this application's database.

TX Known Leks:

Numbers of Known Leks symbolized by county. This is a dynamic layer that reflects the data input into this application's database.

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What if the map does not display properly?

The Internet Explorer browser needs to be set to show background colors. To make this setting go to: Tools > Internet Options and choose the Advanced tab. Scroll down to Printing and check the print background colors and images checkbox, and click Ok. In Mozilla FireFox, go to File > Page Setup and choose the Format & Options tab. Check the print background (colors & images) checkbox, and click Ok.

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How do I become a registered user of the site?

Using the Login widget, click the Register for an Account button. Fill out the form and click Create User.

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Who handles open records requests?

Contact Bob Gottfried (512.389.8744) for all opens records requests that concern LPC or lek data.

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What is the geographic reference system of the application?

The datum or geographic reference system defines a fixed reference point for determining locations on the surface of the Earth. The Lesser Prairie-Chicken Mapping application is in World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84).

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The website seems to be loading slowly. What is wrong?

In most cases nothing is wrong. Please bear in mind that it may take several seconds for the requested map to load. Unlike a static map, the application generates a dynamic map on the fly based on the user’s query. Although every effort has been made to ensure that images load as quickly as possible, variations in your internet service provider's connection rate (baud rate) as well as variations in how fast your computer connects to the internet in general may cause the site to load slowly on your computer. Please wait until all layers have completed drawing.

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What if the site is not working properly?

To fully utilize the application, users may need to enable pop-ups.

• Click Start > Control Panel and then double click Security Center. Under Manage security settings click Internet Options and select the Privacy tab. Under Pop-up Blocker make sure the Block pop-ups box is unchecked.
  
• You may also elect to simply add the TPWD domain (*.tpwd.state.tx.us) to your browser’s Allowed Sites under the pop-up blocker settings rather than disabling the blocker all-together. Click on Tools > Pop-Up Blocker > Pop-Up Blocker Settings.
• If you are using third party software to manage pop-ups, you will have to add this page to your pop-up blocker's safe/exception/ok list before accessing this application.
• If your problems continue, please contact your internet provider or your software manufacturer.

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Contact us:

If you experience technical difficulties after attempting the suggestions above, you may contact the TPWD GIS Lab at 512-389-8070 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (central time) or via e-mail at gis.lab@tpwd.state.tx.us.

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