Vegetation - Lava Beds National Monument - 2019 [ds2859]

The geographic information system (GIS) format spatial data set of vegetation for the Lava Beds National Monument (LABE) vegetation mapping and inventory project was created for the National Park Service (NPS) Vegetation Mapping Inventory Program (VMIP). The project area covers over 18,936 ha (46, 792 acres). The map classification scheme used to create the vegetation data set is designed to represent local vegetation types at the finest level possible using the National Vegetation Classification Standard (NVCS) Version 2. The associations present in each map unit are also coded into the database. Vegetation plot sampling was conducted to describe the associations and to develop the map classification scheme. A total of 169 vegetation plots were sampled at LABE. A detailed vegetation analysis of these data was undertaken along with historic information to develop the map classification scheme, in accordance with the National Vegetation Classification Standard (NVCS) Version 2. The vegetation data set was developed by interpreting 2009 NAIP aerial imagery and extensive field surveys. The project report for the LABE vegetation mapping project provides details pertaining to the methods of the vegetation sampling, classification, and mapping. The vegetation data are distributed as an ESRI format file geodatabase, stored in Universal Transverse Mercator zone 10 mapping coordinates, North American Datum 1983. The vegetation map consists of 582 polygons. 65 of these polygons were 100% dominated by one vegetation type, the rest were interpreted to be a mix of two vegetation types. The percent cover attribute for the primary and secondary (if present) vegetation in each polygon was estimated from photographic and field evidence. In addition, the occurrence of up to two associations and their percent cover were identified as composing the primary and secondary vegetation. The minimum mapping unit of each polygon is 0.5 hectares. Identified secondary map units within each polygon were intermixed at a scale below the minimum map unit.Vegetation types were crosswalked to MCV, CalVeg, and CWHR types by CDFW's Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program (VegCAMP). For the purpose of crosswalking, only the primary map unit was used.The mapping report is available from the document library here: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=235741 The report is also bundled with the dataset, which can be downloaded from BIOS here: https://filelib.wildlife.ca.gov/Public/BDB/GIS/BIOS/Public_Datasets/2800_2899/ds2859.zip