This shape file represents an ecological boundary for the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem (CCE) as defined by the Crown Managers Partnership (CMP). The CMP developed the boundary through a series of meetings held in 2008, including a meeting between the CMP and non government organizations working in the Crown on July 23, 2008. The purpose of this exercise was to develop an ecological justification for the CCE, to enable analysis and tracking of the ecosystem from an ecological health perspective. The CMP notes that this extent does not represent the true economic, social and cultural impact on the CCE from surrounding urban areas. In Alberta the eastern boundary was delineated by the Foothills Fescue Subregion as defined by Alberta Natural Heritage Information Center (ANHIC), the northern boundary was delineated from Demarchi’s Northern Crown of the Continent ecoprovince. In British Columbia the boundary was delineated to the Kootenay River.In Montana, the western and southern boundary was delineated using Montana watersheds, while the eastern boundary used the Montana Foothills Grassland Ecoregion boundary.
