Vegetation - Santa Clara River Update - 2016 [ds2961]

Species composition data collected in the field was compiled and reviewed in the office to assign the appropriate MCV alliance to each sampled location. In cases where the species present were best described by an MCV association (a sub-category of the broader MCV alliance), one was assigned. For field sampled locations with unique species composition not currently represented by an existing MCV alliance or association, a provisional alliance or association was created.

In addition, some areas were classified into broader land cover types (e.g., agriculture, developed, riverwash). The vegetation map was produced applying digital aerial imagery (natural color, 2-foot resolution) from the National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) (USDA-FSA 2016) flown in May, June, and July 2016. The minimum mapping unit (MMU) is 0.5 acres for most types and 0.1 for more unusual types that were discernable from areal photography and/or documented in the field.

Once the map was made photointerpretation of the NAIP imagery took place in order to identify vegetation types. Field mapping took place after to refine the vegetation type definitions, CNPS vegetation reconnaissance field forms were used in the field. There was a total of 91 mapping classes.

There was no accuracy assessment was done for this project. More information can be found in the project report, which is bundled with the vegetation map published for BIOs here: filelib.wildlife.ca.gov/Public/BDB/GIS/BIOS/Public_Datasets/2900_2999/ds2961.zip