Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - the USGS

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USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Wind Cave National Park MATERIALS AND METHODS The organization of this project followed the protocols outlined in Field Methods for Vegetation Mapping, Standardized National Vegetation Classification System (NVCS), and Accuracy Assessment Procedures (The Nature Conservancy 1994). The basic steps included: 1. Planning and Scoping 2. Preliminary Data Collection and Review of Existing Information 3. Aerial Photography Acquisition 4. Gradsect Design 5. Field Survey 6. Vegetation Classification and Characterization 7. Vegetation Map Preparation 8. Accuracy Assessment 1. Planning and Scoping This project incorporated the combined expertise and oversight of several organizations. Oversight and programmatic considerations were managed by the Center for Biological Informatics (CBI) of the USGS/BRD. NPS and WICA personnel provided additional guidance on specific Park needs. The technical mapping portion was contracted to the BOR RSGIG in Denver, CO. TNC was sub-contracted to collect, analyze, and write-up the requisite plant association data and conduct fieldwork to support the accuracy assessment (AA). The specific technical responsibilities and deliverables for the mapping portion included the following: BOR Responsibilities and Deliverables: • Interpret aerial photographs; • Transfer interpreted information to a digital spatial database and produce hard copy (paper) vegetation maps; Materials and Methods 15
USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Wind Cave National Park • Create digital vegetation coverages including relevant attribute information; • Produce Arc/Info export file of vegetation plot, observation point, and accuracy assessment locations; • Provide an annotated list of representative field site photographs/slides; • Create a spreadsheet and contingency table comparing the mapped classes with the AA classes in order to determine map accuracy; • Provide any ancillary digital files developed during the mapping process; • Document and record digital FGDC compliant metadata files (*.html) for all created spatial data; • Final report and CD-ROM describing procedures used in preparing all products; TNC Responsibilities and Deliverables: • Develop a preliminary vegetation classification for the study area from secondary sources; • Design a sampling strategy; • Collect observation points to refine the preliminary classification and familiarize investigators with community characteristics and their range of variation; • Select and sample representative stands for all community types; • Prepare final classification, community descriptions, and key to community types; • Field test final classification, descriptions, and key during accuracy assessment; • Collect accuracy assessment points; Scoping Meeting: A scoping meeting was held at the WICA visitor center with all interested parties during Spring 1997. The purpose of this meeting was to determine the project mapping extent, discuss logistics, and develop a sampling approach. At this time, various project boundaries around the Park were presented. It was decided that the mapping environs would include the town of Pringle, SD in the northwest corner and extend to the intersection of SD Highway 79 and County Road 101 in the southeast (Figure 2). This mapping boundary effectively covered two large expanses of Beaver Creek, an important riparian corridor and waterway through the Park. In order to sample in the environs, WICA personnel agreed to contact, and try to obtain permission from, all private landowners south and east of the Park. Following the data sampling protocols Materials and Methods 16
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Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - the USGS

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