Field data for the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Pinnacles National Monument

This reference is an assemblage of field data collected as part the baseline vegetation inventory for the park unit. Typical files here are vegetation plot data, accuracy assessment data, field photos, PDF showing locations of vegetation plots and accuracy assessment data, and other data for this type. Between 2003 – 2008, the vegetation within a study area of 18,210 hectares (44,997 acres) that encompasses the Pinnacles National Monument (PINN), a quarter-mile buffer and several additional parcels of interest adjacent to the Park was mapped. The map was produced from photo interpretation of 2003 and 2005 natural color and 2002 color infrared digital 1 meter NAIP imagery orthophotos. In 2003 and 2004 Park staff collected vegetation and environmental data from 591 relevés to support the map and classification. Assessment of map accuracy entailed sampling of 766 additional data points in 2008. Multivariate analysis of the 2003-2004 plot data revealed 67 National Vegetation Classification (NVC) plant associations, alliances or Park special vegetation types within the Monument and environs. Of these, 45 are described at the plant association level; seven others are described at the alliance level. The remaining 22 are described as ‘Park specials’ because they occur only in small stands and appear to be unique to the Monument. The vegetation of the mapping project area is relatively diverse, including 50 NVC alliances. Chaparral, oak woodlands and dry herbaceous areas dominate the vegetation, accounting for ~35 associations.