Geospatial data for the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Curecanti National Recreation Area

The files linked to this reference are the geospatial data created as part of the completion of the baseline vegetation inventory project for the NPS park unit. Current format is ArcGIS file geodatabase but older formats may exist as shapefiles. The CURE vegetation mapping project area was divided into 11,133 polygons and 42 map classes. A total of 10,520 map polygons represent 27 natural and semi-natural vegetation map classes. Fifteen land use map classes describe 613 other polygons within the mapping area. Average polygon size across all map classes is 4.4 ha (10.8 acres). The mapping component of the CURE project used a combination of methods to interpret and delineate vegetation polygons. Initial line work was prepared by USBOR photointerpreters who delineated the most contrasting signatures, e.g., water bodies, exposed shoreline, unvegetated geology, land use types, and vegetation at the physiognomic level. The project photo interpreter used this baseline mapping and refined it by examining digital orthophotos in stereo. The stereo photography was used as needed to distinguish fine scale vegetation patterns. Ancillary datasets including plot and observation point data and classification and local descriptions of plant associations were used by the photointerpreter to assist with map class definitions and guide manual delineations. Polygons were drawn on Mylar overlays of printed orthophotos that were later scanned, or were drawn digitally on a computer screen. Heads-up digitizing consisted of delineating map class polygons on an electronic version of the digital orthophotos at a computer workstation. Digitizing was performed using vector editing in ArcGIS. The line work was refined and finalized by the SEUG GIS Specialist and the map class and other descriptive attributes for each polygon were assigned. The recreation area and the environs were interpreted and mapped to the same level of detail.

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  "010:24"
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[
  "https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2233273"
]

[
  "geospatial"
]