Field data for the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River

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. An eight-year, six-phase project was begun in 2010 to complete the inventorying and mapping of the vegetation at RIGR. In phase one, Cogan Technology, Inc. (CTI) reviewed the existing vegetation data, summarized the previous classification efforts, and created a new sampling plan. In phase two, NPS, Rio Grande Institute (RGI), and Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (LBJWC) ecologists collected vegetation data at 77 classification plot and 81 observation point locations. Field data was then entered into the NVIPspecific PLOTS database and reviewed by CHDN staff. In phase three, CTI analyzed the digital PLOTS data to classify 35 RIGR plant associations using the revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification (rUSNVC) standard. During phase four, CTI created the digital vegetation map layer. In the accuracy assessment (AA) phase, contracted field crews collected data at 169 AA point locations that were randomly placed throughout RIGR. In the final phase, CTI finalized the classification, reported the AA results, revised the final vegetation map, and delivered the final products to the NVIP.