A. Introduction

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) is pleased to provide you access to the Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service ("VaFWIS") via the Internet. VaFWIS will provides the capability of accessing biological databases maintained by or available to the Fish and Wildlife Information Services (FWIS) Section of the Wildlife Diversity Division. You are encouraged to provide comments on any aspect of this service.
 

Registered subscribers have access to data used for scientific research, land management, permit review, and other regulatory review of projects. There is no charge to government agencies, non-profit organizations or public school systems. For other entities, there may be an annual fee. If you wish to learn more about becoming a registered subscriber, please contact Shirl Dressler of VDGIF, at 804-367-6913 or email shirl.dressler@dgif.virginia.gov.

Databases currently available to unregistered visitors of VaFWIS are as follows:

Anadromous Fish Use Areas - This dataset identifies stream reaches that are confirmed or potential migration pathways, spawning grounds, or nursery areas for anadromous fish. The species included in this assessment are alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis), American shad (Alosa sapidissima), hickory shad (Alosa mediocris), striped bass (Morone saxatilis), and some populations of yellow perch (Perca flavescens). Data associated with each reach include stream name, reach length, species confirmed in the reach, watershed, and upstream boundary. Upstream boundaries were established at impediments or where habitat became unsuitable.

Bald Eagle Concentration Areas and Roosts (BECAR) - Areas identified as important to Bald Eagles. This data is compiled and maintained by Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologists.

Biota of Virginia (BOVA) - Virginia-specific information system begun in 1981 as a cooperative research project between VDGIF and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI&SU) that contains a variety of information on over 2300 faunal species.

Breeding Bird Atlas (BBA) - a 5-year cooperative project between VDGIF and the Virginia Society of Ornithology (VSO) that evaluated the status and distribution of breeding birds in the Commonwealth.

Impediments - This database contains information on the impediments to anadromous fish passage in the Atlantic Slope drainages in Virginia (Potomac, Rappahannock, James, York, and Chowan). Data were gathered from a variety of sources including this agency, USEPA, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Each impediment has several descriptive fields including impediment name, the name of the impeded stream, dam height, purpose of the dam, date constructed, etc.

Managed Trout Streams - contains biological, habitat and physicochemical data about each classified trout stream reach or specific collection location. Originally developed in 1981 by Department of Game and Inland Fisheries staff in cooperation with VPI&SU, data collection has been ongoing since 1976. Coldwater streams have been assessed as either wild (classes I to IV) or stocked (classes V and VI)

Public Land Holdings - This dataset identifies land owned by Federal, State, or local government.

Threatened and Endangered Species Waters (T&E Waters) - This dataset identifies streams and rivers that contain documented occurrences of federal/state- or state-listed threatened or endangered species and their associated habitat. Each reach contains descriptive fields including stream name, upstream and downstream boundaries, status (“federal/state” or “state”), and length.

Data found within the various system components have been collected and compiled by numerous researchers, collectors, contractors and staff in and outside of Virginia.  Their contributions to the knowledge base about the fauna of the Commonwealth are greatly appreciated.

The Department would like to acknowledge several agencies instrumental in the development of this Service.  Specifically, financial support was provided in part by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Norfolk District Office (Planning).  Some of the initial system design was completed by Jefferson L. Waldon, Conservation Management Institute, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.  The current system form is due primarily to the program development and mapping efforts of A. Blair Jones, III Conservation Management Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, under contract with VDGIF.

Disclaimer: The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is not responsible for the use and interpretation of these data outside of the agency.  While the Department strives to ensure that the data are as accurate as possible, errors can occur.  The Department does not warrant the data as suitable for the use to which it is being acquired.  Any questions concerning the use and interpretation of data should be directed to Shirl Dressler of VDGIF at 804-367-6913.

Note: You cannot edit data in this system. If you identify data errors, please notify Shirl Dressler of VDGIF at 804-367-6913, where the issue will be researched and handled accordingly.

Additional comments or information may be directed to:

FWIS Coordinator
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
4010 W. Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23230
(804) 367-1000

The VDGIF/FWIS On-line Service Help Desk telephone number is:(804) 367-2211.The Help Desk is staffed between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

B. Accessing the Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service

Two steps; first from the VDGIF's main web page at www.dgif.state.va.us choose  "Wildlife Information".

And then second, click on the link to “Virginia Fish & Wildlife information Service”.

C. Logging In to VaFWIS

This is the "Home Page" for visitors to the Virginia Fish and Wildlife Service. Without logging in (unregistered users), visitors may get lists of species using either "Species Information" of "Geographic Search" menu items. From each species in a list you can link to scientific information gathered using library literature reviews and research observations.

D. The Disclaimer

At the bottom of each page is a link to the Disclaimer.  Each user needs to be familiar 
with the terms of the disclaimer, which the user accepts when he or she uses the Service.

Disclaimer of Liability

Neither the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) nor the contributors to the Fish and Wildlife Information Service (FWIS) shall be held liable for any improper or incorrect use of the information contained herein and assume no responsibility for the use of the information.  In no event shall the VDGIF or the contributors to the FWIS be liable for any direct, indirect, or incidental damages arising in any way out of the use of this service.  This disclaimer of liability applies to any damages or injury, including but not limited to those caused by any failure of performance, error, omission, defect, delay in operation or transmission, computer virus, alteration or use of record.

Disclaimer of Accuracy of Data

No warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, reliability, or usefulness of any information contained herein.  The VDGIF provides these data on an "as is" basis.  All warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular use, freedom from computer viruses, and non-infringement of proprietary rights are disclaimed.  Information is added and changed periodically, and data may become out-of-date quickly.  It is recommended that the user not let a significant period of time elapse between obtaining and using the information.

Disclaimer of Applicability of Data

The FWIS is constantly being updated and expanded.  Information contained in the FWIS does not constitute an official opinion by the VDGIF, nor will it, by itself, meet any regulatory requirements.  The information in the FWIS does not replace the need for conducting field work.  The information must be used in consultation with appropriate federal, state, and local officials.  The absence of data confirming the occurrence of a species within a geographic area does not constitute a negative declaration.

Cookies

A cookie is a small piece of data managed by your web browser and stored on your local computer. Our VaFWIS server uses a cookie to associate the event of you contacting our server and allows VaFWIS to coordinate responses based on your previous requests. No personal information is ever stored in a cookie. This web site does not connect this data with any personal information.   Most browsers have cookies enabled by default, but you can usually change this setting to prevent cookies from being stored on your computer. You may use VaFWIS as a Visitor even without permitting your browser to store a cookie. For registered login, your browser is required to accept a cookie.