Vegetation classification and mapping of Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
Erixson JA and Cogan D. 2009. Vegetation classification and mapping of Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/UCBN/NRTR—2009/212. National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center. Fort Collins, Colorado
To better understand the distribution of the plant assemblages at Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument (HAFO), the National Park Service (NPS) Upper Columbia Basin Inventory and Monitoring Network (UCBN) initiated a three-year vegetation mapping and classification effort at HAFO in 2006. Phase one, directed by HAFO and network staff in conjunction with NatureServe, developed a vegetation classification using the National Vegetation Classification System (NVCS). Phase two, directed by Northwest Management, Inc.’s (NMI) GIS Laboratory and Cogan Technology, Inc (CTI) produced a digital vegetation map. To classify the vegetation, 85 representative plots located throughout the approximately 4,314 acre project area (park plus environs) were sampled during the summer of 2006. Analysis of the plot data by Idaho Conservation Data Center in the winter of 2006-2007 produced 34 distinct plant associations. In addition, CTI described two additional alliances and one distinctive stand of vegetation (i.e., a Park Special) that primarily occurred outside of the park boundary. Vegetation descriptions and a field key for all 14 unique plant assemblages for HAFO are included in this report. Digital map production used 1:12,000-scale true color digital ortho-imagery acquired in 2004 and 2006 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Farm Service Agency’s Aerial Photography Field Office and the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP). The final map includes 38 map units (21 vegetation and 17 land use) matched to corresponding plant associations and land use classes. All of the interpreted and remotely sensed data were converted to Geographic Information System (GIS) databases using ArcGIS© software. Draft maps were printed, field tested, reviewed, and revised. Two hundred and seventy accuracy assessment (AA) data points were collected in 2008 and used to determine the maps’ accuracy. After final revisions, the accuracy assessment revealed an overall thematic accuracy of 87%. Final project products include a final report, a spatial GIS database, digital photos from sample plots and miscellaneous park views, metadata for all spatial data (Federal Geographic Data Committee compliant), and a vegetation description and photo signature key.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Erixson, John; Cogan, Daniel
- Date of Issue
- 2009-04
- Publisher
- National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center
- Units
- HAFO , NRSS , UCBN , VMI
- Keywords
- Distribution (Biodiversity), inventory and monitoring program, national vegetation classification standard (NVCS), Observations, Presence (Biodiversity), Vegetation Classification, Vegetation Inventory, Vegetation Map