Vegetation Mapping Feasibility at Boston Harbor Islands and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site Final Report
Sneddon L and NatureServe. 2004. Vegetation Mapping Feasibility at Boston Harbor Islands and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site Final Report. Boston Harbor Islands, Saugus Iron Works
The National Park Service requested a study of the feasibility of mapping vegetation according to the Vegetation Mapping Program standards at Saugus Iron Works National Historical Site and Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area. Because both of these parks are presently dominated by non-native vegetation and have been severely altered by human activities for many years, it was questioned whether to proceed with standard NPS vegetation mapping of " natural" communities at these parks. As vegetation sampling was underway at these parks including floristic inventory and community description, wetlands inventory, intertidal inventory or invasive species inventory, it was thought that a review of existing information was also appropriate should the decision to proceed be made. This report was prepared to allow for review the existing information related to vegetation mapping and to provide sound justification for why implementing a vegetation mapping effort would be valuable. NatureServe ecologist Lesley Sneddon met with park staff and with other knowledgeable individuals, and conducted field visits at both parks. Existing information from both parks, including draft digital vegetation maps and classifications, was assembled and evaluated to determine what data could be applied to a potential mapping and classification effort.