Glacier National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park Vegetation Mapping Project - Spatial Vegetation Data
Vegetation Inventory
Dates
Publication Date
2007
Time Period
1999-08-20
Summary
The geographic information system (GIS) format spatial data set of vegetation for Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP) was created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)-National Park Service (NPS) Vegetation Mapping Program (VMP) for the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (WGIPP). The WGIPP covers an area of approximately 458,556 ha (1,133,116 acres), and includes approximately 30.5 km (19 miles) of the Canada-United States International Boundary. The Canadian portion of this park (WLNP) is located in southwest Alberta, Canada. The map classification scheme used to create the vegetation data set is designed to represent local plant communities at the finest level possible using the National Vegetation Classification Scheme. Physiognomic [...]
Summary
The geographic information system (GIS) format spatial data set of vegetation for Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP) was created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)-National Park Service (NPS) Vegetation Mapping Program (VMP) for the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (WGIPP). The WGIPP covers an area of approximately 458,556 ha (1,133,116 acres), and includes approximately 30.5 km (19 miles) of the Canada-United States International Boundary. The Canadian portion of this park (WLNP) is located in southwest Alberta, Canada. The map classification scheme used to create the vegetation data set is designed to represent local plant communities at the finest level possible using the National Vegetation Classification Scheme. Physiognomic information was also recorded, including tree height, canopy density, and coverage patterns. The vegetation data set was developed by interpreting aerial photographs collected in 1999, supplemented with aerial photography collected in 1997-98 and extensive field surveys. Individuals who cooperated in this project include; USGS Center for Biological Informatics, USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, NPS Glacier National Park, Parks Canada Waterton Lakes National Park, NatureServe, and the Montana Natural Heritage Program. The vegetation data are distributed as a geographic information system (GIS) shapefile data set, using Universal Transverse Mercator zone 12 mapping coordinates, North American Datum 1983.
The USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program (VMP) is a cooperative effort by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service (NPS) to classify, describe, and map existing vegetation of United State's national park units. At the time Glacier National Park was scheduled to be mapped, Parks Canada, Waterton Lakes National Park partnered with these agencies so uniform vegetation map could be completed for the entire International Peace Park. The goals of the WGIPP vegetation mapping project were to (1) adequately describe and map plant communities of WGIPP and (2) provide the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program, Parks Canada, resource managers, and biological researchers with useful baseline vegetation information.
