Center for Conservation Biology, University of California Riverside 20151201 vector digital data The University of California, Riverside Center for Conservation Biology (CCB) created a fine‐scale vegetation map of the Mecca Hills and Orocopia Mountains Conservation Area in the Coachella Valley of Riverside County, California covers approximately 112,775 acres. This map and report were prepared for the Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) under contract with the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission (CVCC). The Mecca Hills and Orocopia Mountains final vegetation map, ecological descriptions, classification, and report, were completed in 2015. Initial mapping began with photo-interpretation and field work in 2013 and 2014, with additional work continuing until 2015. One hundred eighty-six reconnaissance vegetation assessment plots were conducted within the study area. Photo-interpretation of 2013 imagery was completed in October 2015 and match the most recent vegetation classification presented in the Manual of California Vegetation Second Edition (Sawyer et al.2009). Thus, the current version of the map best represents the status of vegetation in 2013. The vegetation classification follows Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and National Vegetation Classification Standards (NVCS; Federal Geographic Data Committee 2008). The classification is based on previous survey and classification work done by California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program (VegCaMP) and Aerial Information Systems (AIS) for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, and by the National Park Service for Joshua Tree National Park.This unit was mapped using the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and California Natural Plant Society Combined (CNPS) Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program protocol (CNPS 2011, 2014). The primary purpose was to develop a dynamic and accurate vegetation map for the Coachella Valley Mecca Hills and Orocopia Mountains Conservation Area, so that it may be applied to future conservation efforts, and assist with management of the 27 species and 27 natural communities listed within the plan. The map was produced by applying heads‐up digitizing techniques using a base of true‐color and color infrared 2013 six-inch imagery from the National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) and local flights provided by the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission. Map polygons were assessed for vegetation type, percent cover, presence of exotics, anthropogenic disturbance, and roadedness. This, the current version of the vegetation classification for the Mecca Hills and Orocopia Mountains Conservation Area of the Coachella Valley MSHCP includes 1,149 polygons with 24 Alliances and 65 Associations. Alliances were assigned for all polygons, and the additional Association attribute was assigned where field plot data (Vegetation Assessment plot) was available within the polygon boundaries. This unit has two map classes that have less than 2% absolute vegetation cover, including Disturbed/Built-Up, a generic Non-Vegetated Habitat type. The largest amount of land cover is of the Non-Vegetated Habitat type, encompassing 69,600 acres (28,200 ha). Of the alliances within the vegetated areas, the largest amount of vegetation area is classified under the Larrea tridentate-Encelia farinosa Shrubland Alliance. This Alliance covers a total of 12,730 acres (5152 ha), representing 11.3% of the total area within the map. For most alliances occurring in expansive areas, a minimum mapping unit of 2.47 acres (1 ha) was observed. To better focus on conservation of particular habitats, there are several alliances where the minimum mapping unit (MMU) is less than an acre; including Prosopis glandulosaWoodland Alliance, Xylorhiza cognataProvisional Alliance (MMU 0.3 acres and MMU 0.5 acres, respectively), and Washingtonia filifera Shrubland Alliance (MMU 0.34 acres), as well as wetlands and certain wash types which displayed complexity that would necessitate delineation. This report and accompanying data are to be released at the end of 2015. Periodically, a review of the original polygons and fieldwork will be performed to update the map and determine change across the landscape. The Mecca Hills and Orocopia Mountains Vegetation Map Report is available for download here: http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=138028. The Mecca Hills and Orocopia Mountains Conservation Area Vegetation Map was funded by the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission to provide data on characteristics of the vegetation within the Mecca Hills and Orocopia Mountains Conservation Area, and to complement concurrent species and habitat monitoring. In work As needed -116.097821 -115.567242 33.673004 33.492703 None vegetation desert biota environment ISO 19115 Topic Categories biota environment None Riverside County California Colorado Desert None 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 Diana Hickson by email Diana.Hickson@wildlife.ca.gove or by phone at (916) 327-5956. Center for Conservation Biology, University of California Riverside Lynn Sweet lynn.sweet@ucr.edu Center for Conservation Biology, University of California Riverside Lynn Sweet lynn.sweet@ucr.edu Data was produced by the Center for Conservation Biology, University of California Riverside Microsoft Windows 7 Version 6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1; Esri ArcGIS 10.5.1.7333 Vector GT-polygon composed of chains 1149 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 ds2692 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 or association ); or land use for polygons that are not natural vegetation, per the mapping classification. http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=138028 MapClassCode Numeric code corresponding to the MapClass. http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=138028 Common_Name The common name of the of the alliance (or the alliance to which an association falls under) identified in the MapClass field. http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=138028 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. PlotData Identifies if plot data was collected for a polygon. http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=138028 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. 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/ UID Unique identifier for each polygon. Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program NVCSAlliance The National Vegetation Classification System compliant alliance which contains this vegetation type. https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/VegCAMP/Publications-and-Protocols/Vegetation-Manual NVCSGroup The National Vegetation Classification System compliant group which contains this vegetation type. https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/VegCAMP/Publications-and-Protocols/Vegetation-Manual NVCSMG The National Vegetation Classification System compliant macrogroup which contains this vegetation type. https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/VegCAMP/Publications-and-Protocols/Vegetation-Manual XYCO_pres Identifies if Xylorhiza cognata is present. http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=138028 SAGR_pres Identifies if Salvia greatae is present. http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=138028 See access and use constraints information. https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/BIOS ftp://ftp.wildlife.ca.gov/BDB/GIS/BIOS/Public_Datasets/2600_2699/ds2692.zip 20180207 Center for Conservation Biology, University of California Riverside Lynn Sweet lynn.sweet@ucr.edu FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998 local time 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 Diana Hickson by email Diana.Hickson@wildlife.ca.gove or by phone at (916) 327-5956.