Wyoming Natural Diversity Database
1000 E. University Ave.
Department 3381
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-3023
Email: wyndd@uwyo.edu
WYNDD provides comprehensive information on Wyoming species and habitats to all requesters. Some data are sensitive for a variety of reasons, though, and their distribution must be restricted in some cases. The following policies and procedures explain different types of sensitive data and how we will manage them.
Records of species observations managed by WYNDD can be designated “sensitive” for three main reasons: 1) the observed species or feature is easily disturbed; 2) the provider of the observation record wishes it to remain sensitive; or 3) the observation is on private land surface, the landowner has not granted WYNDD permission to distribute the exact location, and the record is not available in any other publicly-accessible data repository.
When any of these conditions apply, the record is labeled “sensitive” in the WYNDD database and is distributed to data requesters with the PLSS Township within which it occurs as its only spatial representation. There are very few conditions under which WYNDD can change or override a sensitive designation of a record and provide the record’s precise location to a requester, and all such instances require careful documentation of permissions.
WYNDD’s management of sensitive observations is complicated and must comply with the Wyoming Public Records Act, particularly Section 16-4-203-h (https://wyoleg.gov/NXT/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm). The importance of correctly managing sensitive observations means that WYNDD will distribute observation records only from its central information system. This ensures that all sensitive records are addressed properly and consistently, and also requires that all observations first be entered into the central information system, in accordance with all data quality and evaluation procedures.
The location of observations meeting any of the three sensitivity criteria below is "fuzzed" by expressing the location as the township within which the species was observed. Most text attributes of sensitive observations are withheld.
WYNDD understands that in certain instances, observation data may need to be protected for a period of time. We refer to these as "Data Donor sensitivities"; this type of sensitivity is also sometimes known as a "data embargo". WYNDD can place automatic "sunsets" on a Data Donor sensitivity, so that the record will become available to data requesters in a precise form after the period of time specified by the donor. We allow data donors to choose from the following "sharing rules", as needed:
Wyoming Natural Diversity Database
1000 E. University Ave.
Department 3381
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-3023
Email: wyndd@uwyo.edu