Oregon Caves National Monument and Proposed Expansion Area Vegetation Mapping Project: Spatial Vegetation Data
Vegetation Inventory
Dates
Publication Date
2013-07
Start Date
2009
End Date
2011
Summary
The geographic information system (GIS) format spatial data set of vegetation for for the Oregon Caves National Monument (ORCA) and proposed expansion area vegetation mapping and inventory project was created for the National Park Service (NPS) Vegetation Inventory Program (VIP). The project area covers over 1820 ha (4499 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 [...]
Summary
The geographic information system (GIS) format spatial data set of vegetation for for the Oregon Caves National Monument (ORCA) and proposed expansion area vegetation mapping and inventory project was created for the National Park Service (NPS) Vegetation Inventory Program (VIP). The project area covers over 1820 ha (4499 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 140 vegetation plots were sampled at Oregon Caves. 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 aerial photographs collected in 2007 and extensive field surveys.The project report for the Oregon Caves 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 16 mapping coordinates, North American Datum 1983.
The NPS VIP is an effort to classify, describe, and map existing vegetation of national park units. Managed by the NPS Biological Resources Management Division, the NPS VIP provides baseline vegetation information for the NPS Natural Resource I&M Program. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Vegetation Characterization Program lends a cooperative role in the NPS VIP and serves the data sets on the Internet. Vegetation layers and associated information support a wide variety of resource assessment, park management, and planning needs. They also provide structure for framing and answering critical scientific questions about vegetation communities and their relation to environmental processes across the landscape.
