Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS

G16
B13 Sandsage Colorado Plateau Shrubland
Figure.G25..Ground.photo.for.map.class.B13,.
Sandsage.Colorado.Plateau.Shrubland.
Figure.G26..Photosignature.for.map.class.B13,.
Sandsage.Colorado.Plateau.Shrubland.
Location: This map class occurred frequently throughout the park. It mainly occurred on sandy soils and
on sand dunes. This map class was one of the most common map classes outside of the badlands, occurring
in areas with alluvial soil development. The highest number of map units occurred in the park and its
environs from the central hourglass portion to the southern project boundary.
Photosignature: Artemisia filifolia appeared as a soft, smooth, gray green shrub. It typically appeared
on the photos as a regularly spaced shrub. The herbaceous and associated species in the shrub layer were
highly variable. In some areas, small shrubs could co-occur with Artemisia filifolia, which appeared as a
smooth, light brown herbaceous cover, and/or a sparse understory. The most reliable feature of this map
class was typically the sandy soils. The sandy soils were light brown with a soft texture. In areas with active
sand dunes, the bumpy relief of the dunes was apparent on the photos.
Plant communities
Artemisia filifolia Colorado Plateau Shrubland
Group map class Southern Colorado Plateau Sand Shrubland (1 of 2)
Management map class
Sandsage - Fourwing Saltbush Colorado Plateau Shrubland
(1 of 2)
Macrogroup map class Southern Colorado Plateau Sand Shrubland (1 of 2)
Number of map units in park 747
Number of map units in park & environs 1032
Number of map units less than 0.5 ha 413 (2.3% of total map class area)
Area of map class in park
2577.8 ha / 6369.8 ac
Total area of map class
4492.3 ha / 11100.8 ac
Proportion of land cover in park 6.8%
Proportion of map class in project environs 42.6%
Base map class accuracy user 58.6 (43.5 - 72.3), producer 63.0 (47.2 - 76.4)
Group map class accuracy user 67.8 (57.2 - 76.8), producer 55.6 (45.9 - 64.8)
Management map class accuracy user 67.8 (57.3 - 76.8), producer 55.6 (45.9 - 64.8)
Macrogroup map class accuracy user 67.8 (57.2 - 76.8), producer 56.3 (46.6 - 65.6)
Documentation for base map class
8 2003 relevés, 6 1996 relevés, 28 AA observation sites
Vegetation Classification and Distribution Mapping Report: Petrified Forest National Park