Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS

G32
B29 Arizona Siltbush Sparse Vegetation
Figure.G57..Ground.photo.for.map.class.B29,.
Arizona.Siltbush.Sparse.Vegetation.
Location: Arizona Siltbush Sparse Vegetation, one of the most common map classes in the badlands of
the park, occurred in large areas. It occurred in the northern half of the northern wilderness area, and to
the south from The Tepees all the way into the southern project environs. It most commonly occurred on
white, grey blue, and reddish clay soil and in areas with periodic sheet flow.
Photosignature: This map class was most commonly identified by the washed out striations in the white
and grey blue to reddish clay soils. The low total vegetation cover and the strong color signature of the
soils made it difficult to pick out the vegetation on the aerial photos. Where the vegetation could be seen,
it appeared as small, light, grey brown specks with very large and irregular spaces between plants.
Plant communities
Zuckia brandegeei Sparse Vegetation
Group map class Inter-Mountain Basins Shale Badland (1 of 5)
Management map class Badland Sparse Vegetation (1 of 3)
Macrogroup map class
Inter-Mountain Basins Semi-Desert Grassland and
Steppe (1 of 17)
Number of map units in park 180
Number of map units in park & environs 213
Number of map units less than 0.5 ha 37 (0.3% of total map class area)
Area of map class in park
2165.3 ha / 5350.7 ac
Total area of map class
2685.0 ha / 6634.8 ac
Proportion of land cover in park 5.68%
Proportion of map class in project environs 19.4%
Base map class accuracy user 13.3 (6.1 - 26.6), producer 33.3 (15.9 - 56.9)
Group map class accuracy user 60.2 (51.5 - 68.4), producer 62.4 (53.5 - 70.5)
Management map class accuracy user 71.0 (62.7 - 78.0), producer 72.5 (64.6 - 79.5)
Macrogroup map class accuracy user 93.0 (90.1 - 95.0), producer 77.2 (73.3 - 80.6)
Documentation for base map class
17 2003 relevés, 12 1996 relevés, 12 AA observation
sites
Vegetation Classification and Distribution Mapping Report: Petrified Forest National Park
Figure.G58..Photosignature.for.map.class.B29,.
Arizona.Siltbush.Sparse.Vegetation.