Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program, California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Vegetation - Suisun Marsh - 2015 [ds2676]
vector digital data
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/BIOS
https://filelib.wildlife.ca.gov/Public/BDB/GIS/BIOS/Public_Datasets/2600_2699/ds2676.zip
Vegetation delineations based on photo interpretation and formal vegetation classification plus change detection.
This is part of an ongoing monitoring project that the Biogeographic Data Branch (BDB) of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), in collaboration with the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the CDFW Bay Delta Region (BDR), started in 1999 to track changes in the Suisun Marsh vegetation over time. This is the sixth update using the current mapping standards since the original map was made in 1999. Previous vegetation maps can be viewed and downloaded using the online CDFW Biogeographic Information and Observation System (BIOS) and the links to the associated reports included in the metadata. The reports can also be downloaded from the CDFW website ( http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/vegcamp/veg_classification_reports_maps.asp ).
The report associated with this map is available for download at: http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=149178
To create the 2015 Suisun Marsh vegetation map, vegetation was interpreted from a mosaic of the true color imagery that was flown at 1:9600 (awaiting confirmation on scale but we believe this to be true) on June 15, 2015 and delivered to VegCAMP in October 2015. Polygons were delineated using heads-up digitizing (i.e., a photo interpreter manually drew polygons around each stand of vegetation) in ArcMAP 10.3 and polygon attributes were recorded within a personal geodatabase.
In 2009, staff from the DWR’s Mapping & Photogrammetry Section measured the positions of permanent residual features identified both in photographs and on the ground using Garmin 76CSx handheld GPS units. The published accuracy for these units is typically less than 5 meters. A total of 51 control points were measured and used to process the 2009 imagery, which resulted in an ortho-mosaic that closely agreed with NAIP digital orthorectified quarter quadrangle (DOQQ) aerial photography. The same method and control points were used to process the 2012 and 2015 imagery in order to produce vegetation maps that are spatially comparable (awaiting confirmation but we believe this to be true). Refer to VegCAMP (2012) for a complete description of the methods used for improving the spatial accuracy of the imagery.
All attributes were interpreted using the Suisun Marsh 2015 imagery as the base imagery. The photo interpreters used all available ancillary information to make the best decision for each attribute. Information was obtained from sources such as field surveys, reconnaissance points, and field photos from all mapping years. Several other imagery sources were used as ancillary data, including the 2015 NAIP, 2015 NAIP CIR, all imagery available through Google Earth (including street view), Bing, and Digital Globe, and the 1999, 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2012 Suisun Marsh imagery.
Minimum mapping unit (mmu): Typically, the minimum mapping size is 0.25 acre. However, the photo interpreters use their best judgment to determine if a stand below 0.25 acres should be separately delineated. A new occurrence of any non-native species of concern, such as Phragmites australis, Arundo donax, Carpobrotus edulis, Eucalyptus spp., and Lepidium latifolium, would be an example of when a polygon smaller than 0.25 acre would be appropriate. Additionally, the minimum mapping unit was 0.009 acre (400 square feet) for the Blacklock restoration project area.
Minimum mapping width: There are many long narrow polygons within the Suisun Marsh study area, most of which are roads, ditches, levees and sloughs. The minimum mapping width is typically 10 feet; however, if small sections of a stand fell below the minimum width, the polygon would not be split.
This mapping cycle included the collection of 340 reconnaissance points that were collected in June and July of 2015, except for two collected in May of 2016.
The vegetation mapping classification used for this project is based on the vegetation classification created in 1999 (Keeler-Wolf et al. 2000). The names of the mapping units have been updated over the years to reflect current nomenclature and/or current understanding of vegetation classification. We used the same map classes for the 2015 map as were used as for the 2012 map for the original mapping. However, as discussed in detail under Accuracy Assessment, below, we combined some classes that were not possible to consistently distinguish on the imagery to create a revised classification. The 2015 map has both the 2012 attributes and the crosswalked, revised 2015 type attributes.
In addition to the mapping unit, several other attributes are assigned to each polygon: percent vegetation cover, average vegetation height, degree of human disturbance, method of interpretation, habitat, and management region. For this update, we have added an attribute denoting the presence of Lepidium latifolium in the polygon, as discussed further below.
An accuracy assessment was conducted on the 2015 map based on 290 field samples collected in summer of 2016. The users’ accuracy was 79.4% and the producers’ accuracy was 83.7% . Because the state standard for map accuracy is 80%, we explored using higher levels of the classification hierarchy while still maintaining important information. After consulting with the Environmental Coordination Advisory Team (ECAT), we have reduced the number of map classes. Reassigning map classes per the revised map classification improved users’ accuracy to 84.3% and producers’ to 85.9%.
-122.137460
-121.849125
38.251313
38.038229
ISO 19115 Topic Category
biota
environment
None
tidal
marsh
vegetation
wetland
land cover
None
San Francisco Bay Delta
California
Suisun Marsh
Solano County
None
License: This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Using the citation standards recommended for BIOS datasets (https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/BIOS/Citing-BIOS) satisfies the attribution requirements of this license.Disclaimer: The State makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or adequacy of these data and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in these data. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to these data.CDFW appreciates learning how our datasets are being used so that we can leverage support for classifying and mapping new areas and let users know of any updates. Please contact VegCAMP Lead by phone at (916) 324-9765.
Department of Fish and Wildlife
VegCAMP (Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program)
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program
physical
1700 9th Street, 4th Floor
Sacramento
CA
95814
US
(916) 324-9765
VegCAMP@wildlife.ca.gov
Department of Fish and Wildlife
VegCAMP (Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program)
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program Lead
mailing and physical
1700 9th Street, 4th Floor
Sacramento
CA
95814
US
(916) 324-9765
VegCAMP@wildlife.ca.gov
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program (VegCAMP), Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Version 6.2 (Build 9200) ; Esri ArcGIS 10.5.1.7333
Vector
GT-polygon composed of chains
29034
NAD 1983 California Teale Albers
34.0
40.5
-120.0
0.0
0.0
-4000000.0
coordinate pair
0.0001
0.0001
meter
D North American 1983
GRS 1980
6378137.0
298.257222101
ds2676
OBJECTID
Internal feature number.
Esri
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
SHAPE
Feature geometry.
Esri
Coordinates defining the features.
NVCSName
The National Vegetation Classification System compliant vegetation type (see http://usnvc.org/). Since the NVCS does not have categories for human land use or otherwise unvegetated land, those descriptions were drawn from the California Wildlife Habitat Relationship.
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/VegCAMP/Publications-and-Protocols/Vegetation-Manual
NVCSLevel
The standardized level of the vegetation description used National Vegetation Classification System (see http://usnvc.org/).
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/VegCAMP/Publications-and-Protocols/Vegetation-Manual
MapClass
The finest level of vegetation type mapped (alliance, association, group, macrogroup or mapping unit); or land use for polygons that are not natural vegetation, per the mapping classification. This field is the name used per the revised 2015 mapping classification.
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=149178
MapClassCode
Numeric code corresponding to the MapClass.
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=149178
Original_2015
The name used per the original (2012) mapping classification, before revising the map classes based on the Accuracy Assessment (see text of report for discussion).
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=149178
Original_2015_Code
The mapping code associated with the 2012 vegetation name.
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=149178
Cov_2015
Percent bird’s-eye cover of total living vascular vegetation within a vegetation stand.
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=149178
0
N/A: Use when the polygon is labeled with a type that is not actually vegetation (i.e., roads, sloughs, structures, urban areas, but not bare ground, which gets attributed since it may have up to 10% cover).
1
<2%
2
2-10%
3
10-25%
4
25-50%
5
50-75%
6
>75%
Dist_2015
The percent of polygon that has been affected by human disturbance (including disking, plowing, mowing).
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=149178
0
N/A: Use when the polygon is labeled with a type that is not actually vegetation (i.e., roads, sloughs, structures, urban areas).
1
Not evident: No disturbances are visible from the aerial imagery and there is no field data.
2
Low: less than 33% of the polygon is affected.
3
Medium: between 33% and 66% of the polygon is affected.
4
High: More than 66% of the polygon is affected.
Ht_2015
Average height of the dominant vegetation within the polygon.
https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=149178
0
N/A: Use when the polygon is labeled with a type that is not actually vegetation (i.e, roads, sloughs, structures, urban areas, but not bare ground, which gets attributed since it may have up to 10% cover).
1
<0.5 meters
2
0.5-1 meters
3
1-2 meters
4
2-5 meters
5
5-10 meters
6
>10 meters
Notes_2015
Any additional useful information.
ID_2015
This field identifies the method in which the photo interpreter used to determine the attributes for that polygon.
P
Photo interpretation
R
Reconnaissance
S06
Sampled in 2006
F
Field Checked (post map)
S12
Sampled in 2012
Habitat
Identifies the areas within the Marsh that are tidally influenced versus areas that are leveed (or managed).
1
Tidal: Tidal wetlands (including muted tidal) are those areas naturally affected regularly by tidal fluctuation The area may or may not be vegetated with vascular or non-vascular plants and may or may not have any evidence of human modification such as ditches, excavations, interrupted levees or berms etc.
2
Leveed: Leveed wetlands are those areas that are completely enclosed and are totally restricted to any natural tidal influence.
3
Slough: Generally applied to the wide, naturally occurring (at least not linear) waterways affected by tides.
MgmtRegion
Each polygon falls within one of the four numbered management Regions described in the Suisun Marsh Habitat Management, Preservation, and Restoration Plan (USDI Bureau of Reclamation et al. 2013)
http://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_projdetails.cfm?Project_ID=781
1
Region 1
2
Region 2
3
Region 3
4
Region 4
Lepidium
This field identifies if Lepidium latifolium is present in the polygon.
CalVegName
A crosswalk to the CalVeg vegetation system. Note that there may be a one-to-many relationship between CalVeg and NVCS. See http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=stelprdb5347192.
CalVegCode
The two letter code for the crosswalked CalVeg vegetation system. Note that there may be a one-to-many relationship between CalVeg and NVCS. See http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=stelprdb5347192.
CWHRType
A crosswalk to the California Wildlife Habitat Relationships system. Note that there is usually a one-to-many relationship between CWHR and NVCS. See http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cwhr/.
CWHRCode
The three letter code for the crosswalked California Wildlife Habitat Relationship habitat type. Note that there is usually aone-to-many relationship between CWHR and NVCS. See http://www.dfg.ca.gov/biogeodata/cwhr/.
GlobalRank
The global rarity rank of the plant community (only for polygons mapped to the alliance level). G1: Fewer than 6 viable occurrences and/or 2000 acres worldwide; G2: 6-20 viable occurrences and/or 2000-10,000 acres worldwide; G3: 21-100 viable occurrences and/or 10,000-50,000 acres worldwide; G4: Greater than 100 viable occurrences and/or greater than 50,000 acres worldwide; G5: Community demonstrably secure due to secure worldwide abundance. See: http://www.natureserve.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/natureserveconservationstatusmethodology_jun12_0.pdf
http://vegetation.cnps.org/
StateRank
The state rarity rank of the plant community (only for polygons mapped to the alliance level). S1: Fewer than 6 viable occurrences and/or 2000 acres statewide; S2: 6-20 viable occurrences and/or 2000-10,000 acres statewide; S3: 21-100 viable occurrences and/or 10,000-50,000 acres statewide; S4: Greater than 100 viable occurrences and/or greater than 50,000 acres statewide; S5: Community demonstrably secure due to secure statewide abundance. See: http://www.natureserve.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/natureserveconservationstatusmethodology_jun12_0.pdf
http://vegetation.cnps.org/
Rare
Rarity of the vegetation type. Alliances and associations with state ranks of S1-S3 are considered rare.
http://vegetation.cnps.org/
Y
Rare
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/VegCAMP/Natural-Communities
N
Not Rare
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/VegCAMP/Natural-Communities
CaCode
California Natural Community Codes - unique code assigned to alliances and associations.
http://vegetation.cnps.org/
NVCSAlliance
The National Vegetation Classification System compliant alliance which contains this vegetation type.
http://vegetation.cnps.org/
NVCSGroup
The National Vegetation Classification System compliant group which contains this vegetation type.
http://vegetation.cnps.org/
NVCSMG
The National Vegetation Classification System compliant macrogroup which contains this vegetation type.
http://vegetation.cnps.org/
UID
Unique identifier for each polygon.
Acres
GIS-calculated area measurements of each mapped polygon.
Hectares
GIS-calculated area measurements of each mapped polygon.
SHAPE_Length
Length of feature in internal units.
Esri
Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.
SHAPE_Area
Area of feature in internal units squared.
Esri
Positive real numbers that are automatically generated.
The attributes for this map include three potentially different names for vegetation type. Original_2015 is the name assigned to a polygon during the initial 2015 mapping effort. Following analysis of the original map, the Suisun vegetation hierarchy was revised and some vegetation types were consolidated into more inclusive types. MapClass contains names from this revised hierarchy. The MapClass was then crosswalked to a vegetation type that conforms to the structure and standards of the National Vegetation Classification System (NVCS). This name is reflected in the NVCSName and NVCSLevel.
20221215
Department of Fish and Wildlife
VegCAMP (Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program)
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program
physical
1700 9th Street, 4th Floor
Sacramento
CA
95814
US
(916) 324-9765
VegCAMP@wildlife.ca.gov
FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
FGDC-STD-001-1998
local time