Vegetation Mapping Project, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
Wolken P, Apel J, Garrett L, Rust S, Svancara L, Erixson JA, Richards TM. 2006. Vegetation Mapping Project, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. Natural Resource Technical Report. Moscow, ID
In 1994, the Unites States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service (NPS) began the process of mapping the vegetation found in the National Parks throughout the Unites States. In cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS) the Vegetation Mapping Program began with an emphasis on the parks found in the upper Midwest. In 2006, funding became available for the vegetation mapping of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve (CRMO). Northwest, Management, Inc. (NMI) was contracted to collect vegetation survey information in April 2006. During May-July 2006, NMI collected field data information for the 753,222 acres across the monument and preserve. The vegetation mapping survey project at CRMO follows the standards and procedures of the National Parks Service Vegetation Mapping program. National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) was utilized for the CRMO project. Preliminary Vegetation Classification was provided by Steven K. Rust, Lead Ecologist, Idaho Conservation Data Center. Some unique conditions were considered when developing the field data forms for the CRMO project. NAIP imagery was utilized for the delineation of the vegetative signatures for Crater of the Moon. The resolution of the photography allowed us to identify unique features and the associated vegetative signatures necessary to identify sampling points. A target of 3 Vegetation Plots and 1 Observation Point were identified as the minimum number of data points for each dominant plant association found in the monument and preserve. A total of 398 Vegetation Plots and 108 Observation Points were placed across the monument and preserve. Due to limited existing information, these data points were placed primarily on NPS property; however, a limited number of data points were placed on the adjacent BLM lands to achieve the desired number of points for each plant association. Where pre-existing vegetation information was limited or lacking on the adjoining BLM properties, additional points were placed.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Wolken, Paige; Apel, John; Garrett, Lisa; Rust, Steven; Svancara, Leona; Erixson, John; Richards, Thomas
- Date of Issue
- 2006-11
- Units
- CRMO , NRSS , UCBN , VMI
- Keywords
- inventory and monitoring program, national vegetation classification standard (NVCS), Observations, Presence (Biodiversity), Vegetation Classification, Vegetation Inventory, Vegetation Map