Devils Tower National Monument Spatial Vegetation Data:Cover Type/Association Level of the National Vegetation Classification System

The vegetation classification was created after extensive on site sampling and numerical analysis. The vegetation map units were derived from the vegetation classification. Other non-natural or cultural mapping units used the Anderson Level II classification system.

The mapped area includes a buffer around the Monument boundary. This mapping effort originates from a long-term vegetation monitoring program that is part of a larger Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) program started by the National Park Service (NPS). I&M goals are, among others, to map the vegetation of all national parks and monuments and provide a baseline inventory of vegetation.

The I&M program currently works in close cooperation with the Biological Resources Division (BRD) of the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS/BRD continues overall management and oversight of all ongoing mapping efforts in close cooperation with the NPS. The purposes of the mapping effort are varied and include the following: Provides support for NPS Resources Management.

Promotes vegetation-related research for both NPS and USGS/BRD. Provides support for NPS Planning and Compliance. Adds to the information base for NPS Interpretation.

Assists in NPS Operations. The geographic extent of the data set is Devils Tower National Monument and about a 2 mile environs around Monument Boundaries - Black Hills, Wyoming, USA. Information was obtained from "biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/deto/metadetospatial.html" and converted to NASA Directory Interchange Format.