Fred Watson, California State University Monterey Bay, Professor 20210827 vector digital data https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/BIOS https://filelib.wildlife.ca.gov/Public/BDB/GIS/BIOS/Public_Datasets/2900_2999/ds2945.zip The study area for this project was Garrapata State Park in northwestern Monterey County, California. Development of Garrapata State Park land by Spanish missionaries began in the late 1700s (Costanoan Rumsen Carmel Tribe 2001). Cattle ranching on the land began in the 1830s with land grants to ranchers, beginning a long stint of grazing on most of the land south of the Carmel River. In 1980, the state of California began purchasing parcels of land and the area was officially classified as a state park in 1985 (Garrapata State Park Monterey Sector 2003).Garrapata State Park encompasses 2,866 acres along the pacific coast, immediately south of Carmel Highlands. The area is largely dominated by steep foothills of the coastal Santa Lucia Range and is dissected by several steep creeks: Wildcat Creek, Malpaso Creek, Soberanes Creek, Doud Creek and Granite Creek. Elevation ranges from sea level to 2,011 ft atop Rocky Ridge. The park also contains an approximately 4.1-mile stretch of coastal bluff, rocky intertidal zone, and beach west of Highway. The park’s Mediterranean climate is characterized by dry summers and cool wet winters and receives approximately 28 inches of mean annual precipitation (PRISM 2012). Wildfire is a prominent disturbance in this landscape; the Soberanes Fire which began in Garrapata State Park in 2016 was one of the largest fires recorded in California history, burning 132,127 acres (CAL Fire 2016).The National Vegetation Classification System allows vegetation to be mapped at three broad levels— physiognomy, biogeography, and floristics—each of which can be broken down into multiple sublevels (USNVC 2020). Floristic-level mapping provides the finest resolution and is the only level to reflect local environmental conditions. Such fine-scale data resolution helps establish a more precise inventory of native and non-native vegetation communities, which benefits land managers interested in protecting valued natural resources, monitoring fuel loads for fire management, and understanding habitat requirements of wildlife. We attempted to map vegetation communities to the alliance sublevel, which is the broadest sublevel at the floristic level of mapping. We did not attempt to map associations, which occur at the level below alliances.Vegetation community mapping comprised preliminary delineation of somewhat homogeneous vegetation stands, field-based classification of alliances and other mapping units, and quality assurance. We first estimated the boundaries of stands using aerial and satellite-derived orthoimagery which were later classified through field observations. Most of the stands we mapped were conformant with previously defined alliances. Non-conformant stands were classified within novel mapping units, defined in Appendix B. We also used novel mapping units for two situations where the exact alliance could not be readily determined in fall; these classes were “Willows” and “Unidentified annual grasses”.We examined aerial and satellite imagery to initially digitize polygons around areas where vegetation looked homogenous and distinct from surrounding areas. We used a mosaic of natural color (red, green, blue [RGB] band) and color infrared (CIR) National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) orthophotos to conduct initial digitizing of vegetation alliance polygons. Polygons were delineated based on areas of visible homogeneity within the landscape; breaks or abrupt changes in color, structure, or relative height of vegetation usually indicated the need to create separate vegetation community polygons. We established minimum mapping units (MMUs) of 0.25 acres for common mapping units and 0.1 acres for uncommon classes, to maximize the level of detail conveyed in vegetation maps given time constraints and clarity of aerial and satellite imagery. The status of each vegetation community polygon was indicated as “unconfirmed” until field crews verified whether initial delineations were correct.Polygons were classified based on the dominant species composition of each polygon. Classification rules were based on rules provided by CNPS, and where rules contradicted each other, we adopted a rule based on either the most recent or the most locally relevant CNPS-listed rule. Most rules were based on the percent cover of the tallest stratum of vegetation. Rules for novel mapping units were that the nominate dominant species should have 50% relative cover.The vegetation map was prepared for publication in California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Biogeographic Information and Observation System by staff from the Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program. This is a high-resolution floristic map of vegetation communities at the National Vegetation Classification Standard's “Alliance” level in Garrapata State Park, California. The work was done for the California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks). The map and associated report are intended to contribute data to statewide vegetation mapping efforts and provide species-specific information to assist resource managers at a local scale. The results of this work may be used to inform future monitoring and management efforts locally and contributes to the growing knowledge of vegetation community patterns across California. The field research and subsequent report are the work of an eight-week graduate class through the Department of Applied Environmental Science at California State University Monterey Bay. Complete Unknown -121.937727 -121.888043 36.499808 36.418014 None vegetation, California, biota, environment, National Vegetation Classification Standard, A Manual of California Vegetation, California Wildlife Habitat Relationships, Garrapata State Park ISO 19115 Topic Categories biota environment None California 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 Rachelle Boul by email Rachelle.Boul@wildlife.ca.gov or by phone at (916) 324-9765.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. California Department of Fish and Wildlife Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program VegCAMP@wildlife.ca.gov California Department of Fish and Wildlife Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program VegCAMP@wildlife.ca.gov Map created by CSUMB Class ENVS 660: Perez-Jimenez, J., Solis, L., Bogdan, M., McGee, M., Brown, R., Franklin, L., Gautreaux, S., Larson, D., Robinson, T., Schnieders, J., Van Orman, B., Walmsley, E., Watson, F. 2020. Prepared for publication in BIOS by CDFW VegCAMP Version 6.2 (Build 9200) ; Esri ArcGIS 10.6.1.9270 Vector GT-polygon composed of chains 526 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 ds2945 OBJECTID Internal feature number. Esri Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. Shape Feature geometry. Esri Coordinates defining the features. MCVName The name of the vegetation type as described in the Manual of California Vegetation and California Natural Community List (https://wildlife.ca.gov/Data/VegCAMP/Natural-Communities). These standardized names correspond as much as possible to the National Vegetation Classification System (see http://usnvc.org/) or are submitted to the regional editors for induction. Classes for human land use or otherwise unvegetated land were drawn from the California Wildlife Habitat Relationship. Online MCV :https://vegetation.cnps.org/ MCVLevel The standardized level of the vegetation as described in the Manual of California Vegetation corresponding with levels of the National Vegetation Classification System. http://usnvc.org MapCode The code for a vegetation association, alliance, group, unvegetated type, or land use for polygons that are not natural vegetation, as defined by the original mappers. CSUMB Class ENVS 660: Perez-Jimenez, J., Solis, L., Bogdan, M., McGee, M., Brown, R., Franklin, L., Gautreaux, S., Larson, D., Robinson, T., Schnieders, J., Van Orman, B., Walmsley, E., Watson, F. 2020. Mapping of vegetation communities, invasive plants, and sensitive plants at Garrapata State Park, Monterey County, California. Watershed Institute, California State University Monterey Bay, Publication No. WI-2020- 03, 123 pp. MapClass The finest level of vegetation type mapped (alliance, association, group or macrogroup); or descriptions for polygons that are not natural vegetation per the mapping classification, including land use and natural barrens or water features. Map classes are described in the mapping report. Erratum: We recently (Feb 2020) noticed some confusion between Lupinus chamissonis and L. albifrons in the report & map. Some of what we'd called L. chamissonis is actually L. albifrons. This may fall under an MCV alliance not mentioned in the report: "Lotus scoparius - Lupinus albifrons - Eriodictyon spp. [pending]" Another possibility althogh perhaps less likely is: "Lupinus albifrons Shrubland Alliance" CSUMB Class ENVS 660: Perez-Jimenez, J., Solis, L., Bogdan, M., McGee, M., Brown, R., Franklin, L., Gautreaux, S., Larson, D., Robinson, T., Schnieders, J., Van Orman, B., Walmsley, E., Watson, F. 2020. Mapping of vegetation communities, invasive plants, and sensitive plants at Garrapata State Park, Monterey County, California. Watershed Institute, California State University Monterey Bay, Publication No. WI-2020- 03, 123 pp. CalVegType A crosswalk to the Classification and Assessment with Landsat of Visible Ecological Groupings (CalVeg) vegetation system (USDA Forest Service). Note that there may be a one-to-many relationship between CalVeg and NVCS, but the best crosswalk for this area is chosen. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r5/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=stelprdb5347192 CalVegCode The code used for the CalVeg type. https://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, but the best fit for this area has been chosen. https://wildlife.ca.gov/Data/CWHR/Wildlife-Habitats CWHRCode The code for the CWHR type. https://wildlife.ca.gov/Data/CWHR/Wildlife-Habitats GlobalRank The global rarity ranking of the plant community mapped (ranks are available for all California alliances, and some associations). Ranks are based on a set of criteria including the rarity of the community (extent and occupancy), the threats that the community is subject to, and any known trends in the quality, size, or quantity of stands within the state. Ranks go from G1 which is critically imperiled/has very few occurrences to G5, when a community is demonstrably secure due to broad distribution with area not subject to threats. Ranks G1-G3 are considered sensitive. See: http://www.natureserve.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/natureserveconservationstatusmethodology_jun12_0.pdf and https://wildlife.ca.gov/Data/VegCAMP/Natural-Communities Ranks are current as of the publication date or update date. http://www.natureserve.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/natureserveconservationstatusmethodology_jun12_0.pdf and https://wildlife.ca.gov/Data/VegCAMP/Natural-Communities StateRank The state rarity ranking of the plant community mapped (ranks are available for all California alliances, and some associations). Ranks are based on a set of criteria including the rarity of the community (extent and occupancy), the threats that the community is subject to, and any known trends in the quality, size, or quantity of stands within the state. Ranks go from S1 which is critically imperiled/has very few occurrences to S5, when a community is demonstrably secure due to security globally. Ranks S1-S3 are considered sensitive. See: http://www.natureserve.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/natureserveconservationstatusmethodology_jun12_0.pdf and https://wildlife.ca.gov/Data/VegCAMP/Natural-Communities Ranks are current as of the publication date or update date. http://www.natureserve.org/sites/default/files/publications/files/natureserveconservationstatusmethodology_jun12_0.pdf and https://wildlife.ca.gov/Data/VegCAMP/Natural-Communities Sensitive A binary Yes/No attribute indicating the sensitivity of a vegetation type. Alliances and associations with global ranks of G1-G3 state ranks of S1-S3 are considered sensitive natural communities. Additionally if an association has not gone through the ranking process, but is estimated to be sensitive, Y will be shown without a G or S rank. Ranks are current as of the publication date or update date. https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/VegCAMP/Natural-Communities/Background CaCode California Natural Community Codes - unique code assigned to alliances and associations. https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/VegCAMP/Natural-Communities MCVAlliance The standardized name for the alliance within the National Vegetation Classification System as interpreted in the Manual of California Vegetation. https://vegetation.cnps.org/ MCVGroup The standardized name for the group within the National Vegetation Classification System interpreted in the Manual of California Vegetation. https://vegetation.cnps.org/ MCVMacrogroup The standardized name for the macrogroup within the National Vegetation Classification System as interpreted in the Manual of California Vegetation. https://vegetation.cnps.org/ area_ac Area of a polygon in acres Esri CommunityLink 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. 20210830 California Department of Fish and Wildlife Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program Torrance Haynes Biologist Interpreter - Contractor torrance.haynes@wildlife.ca.gov FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001-1998 local time