U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, 2630 Fanta Reed Road, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54603 201206 vector digital data NPS Vegetation Inventory Program Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway Vegetation Mapping Project Fort Collins, Colorado NPS Natural Resource Inventory & Monitoring Program A detailed report on how this data set was created is available to download from the program's website. The report discusses methods and results, and includes descriptions and dichotomous keys to vegetation types, map classification and descriptions, and accuracy assessment (AA) contingency tables. It also provides information on the aerial photographs and how they were interpreted. Detailed background information for each map class and attribute code contained in this data set is provided in the project report, which is available at the program's websites (website locations provided in Online_Linkage). http://www1.usgs.gov/vip/sacn/sacngeodata.zip doi:10.5066/F72N506C The vegetation point data layer for the Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway (SACN) vegetation mapping project was developed to show locations and provide field data from two efforts associated with the vegetation mapping project, of which both support the vegetation spatial polygon layer (vegetation map) produced of SACN (based from interpreting aerial imagery that was collected in October 2005). These two efforts include 1) vegetation plot sampling data and 2) accuracy assessment (AA) site data. Vegetation plot sampling was conducted to describe vegetation types and to develop the map classification scheme. A total of 230 vegetation plots were sampled in and around the SACN. A detailed vegetation analysis of these data along with information collected from previous classification projects were used to develop the map classification scheme, in accordance with the National Vegetation Classification Standard (NVCS) Version 2. Quick plots were also collected during the 2006 field season for vegetation plot sampling. These additional quick plots were used as an ancillary data set to better understand the vegetation of the SACN. A total of 63 quick plots are included in this database, of which 59 were collected during the 2006 vegetation plot sampling season. An additional 4 plots were added to the quick plot dataset later on to preserve data from some AA sites that had received duplicate site numbers. The AA site sampling was conducted to measure the probability that a particular location has been assigned its correct vegetation class in the vegetation map layer. An AA estimates thematic errors in the data, giving users information needed to determine data suitability for a particular application. Two views of an AA are provided: 1) "producers' accuracy," which is the probability that an AA point has been mapped correctly (also referred to as an error of omission), and 2) "users' accuracy," which is the probability that the map actually represents what was found on the ground (also referred to as error of commission). The AA was performed on map classes representing floristic-level vegetation types in the NVCS (and one map class representing a group-level type in the NVCS). A total of 1,291 AA observation sites were collected, and 1,257 were used in the analysis. From the thematic AA study, results present an overall accuracy of 77.2% (kappa index of 76.4%). Most individual map-class themes exceed the NPS VIP standard of 80% with a 90% confidence interval. Results are shown via a contingency table. The project report for the SACN vegetation mapping project provides details pertaining to the methods of the vegetation plot sampling and accuracy assessment studies, as well as results from the analyses of each study. The vegetation database used to populate the feature classes and relationship classes of the vegetation point data locations is available on the program's websites. The GIS data set contains point data features, projected to Universal Transverse Mercator zone 15 mapping coordinates, North American Datum 1983. The NPS VIP is an effort to classify, describe, and map existing vegetation of national park units. Managed by the NPS Biological Resources Management Division, the NPS VIP provides baseline vegetation information for the NPS Natural Resource I&M Program. The USGS Vegetation Characterization Program lends a cooperative role in the NPS VIP and serves the data sets on the Internet. Vegetation layers and associated information support a wide variety of resource assessment, park management, and planning needs. They also provide structure for framing and answering critical scientific questions about vegetation communities and their relation to environmental processes across the landscape. 200605 200708 ground condition Complete None planned Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway and environs -92.899269 -91.135166 46.269611 44.783320 none vegetation plot accuracy assessment NPS Vegetation Inventory Program Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway National Vegetation Classification Standard NVCS NVC USNVC National Park Service Theme Category Thesaurus Land Use / Cover Monitoring Remote Sensing ISO 19115 Topic Category biota none United States of America Minnesota Wisconsin National Park System Unit Name Thesaurus Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway National Park System Unit Code Thesaurus SACN None Standardized National Vegetation Classification System vegetation classification alliance community association Kingdom Plantae A computer software program capable of reading and displaying data stored as an ESRI format file geodatabase is required. 1) Those using the spatial database should understand the data and determine for themselves the fitness of the data prior to use. 2) Mention of trade names or commercial products in this metadata report does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. USGS Biological Resources Division, Center for Biological USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator mailing and physical address

USGS

Biological Resources Division, CBI

Building 810, Room 8000

PO BOX 25046, DFC, MS302

Denver Colorado 80225-0046 United States of America (303) 202-4220 303-202-4229 gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, NatureServe, Great Lakes Network of the NPS Natural Resource Inventory and Monitoring Program, NPS Vegetation Inventory Program, and USGS Vegetation Characterization Program Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 3; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.1.3500 Several accuracy checks were made against the automated data and the original reports or data sheets, during and after data entry. Each vegetation plot and accuracy assessment site was estimated using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. The mapping coordinates were recorded on data sheets, which were later entered into a digital database. The database was converted into a geographic information system (GIS) data set, containing point features. Data forms were filled out for each vegetation plot and accuracy assessment site. Each set of data sheets had a data record recorded for that site in the GIS data set. The locations of the vegetation plots and accuracy assessment sites were recorded using GPS receivers. National Park Service Vegetation Inventory Program Unknown imagery 12000 paper 20051010 ground condition Aerial photos The field crew used hard-copy aerial photographs for location and other information. National Parks Service Unknown maps paper unknown publication date NPS Maps Existing park maps were obtained from the parks and used by the field crews as needed. Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center Unpublished Material raster digital data 12000 digital photo mosaic 20071020 ground condition CIR Aerial Photo Mosaic Mosaic used by field crews as backdrop for AA points Vegetation Plots / Quick Plots: Field sampling methodology was adapted from the NPS Vegetation Inventory Program standards (NatureServe 2004). Field crews sampled 230 vegetation plots during the summers of 2006 and 2007. Another 59 quick plots were collected during 2006, and an additional 4 plots were added to the quick plot database after the AA analysis as a placeholder of some AA sites that had been numbered incorrectly, resulting in duplicate site numbers but different sites. Aerial Photos National Park Service Maps 2007 Vegetation Plots / Quick Plots: Field data collected during the 2006 and 2007 field seasons were entered into PLOTS2, an MS Access database designed for this vegetation mapping program (NatureServe 2005b). The vegetation plots were analyzed using ordination (non-metric multidimensional scaling or NMS) and clustering techniques (Flexible Beta) with PC-Ord 5.0 (McCune and Mefford 1999). The quick plots were used as an ancillary data set to better understand the vegetation of the SACN. Point shapefile sets were produced in ArcGIS 9.3 of both the vegetation plots and the quick plots. Results of the vegetation plot analyses are in the project report, available on the program's websites. 2008 Accuracy Assessment: Field crews were provided with listings of GPS coordinates of AA sites along with field maps. During the summer of 2009 and 2010, field crews navigated to their sampling sites, then established AA observation plots within the minimum mapping unit (MMU) area. A number of physical characteristics were recorded for each site (e.g., location, slope, aspect, elevation) along with land cover information (e.g., dominant and subdominant vegetation, percent cover). Detailed descriptions on how these plots were established and sampled are available in the report for the vegetation mapping project, available online. A total of 1,291 AA sites were collected. CIR Aerial Photo Mosaic 2010 Accuracy Assessment: All field data were entered into PLOTS2, an MS Access database designed for this vegetation mapping program (NatureServe 2005b). 2010 Accuracy Assessment: The field data were then automated and brought into ArcGIS. An analysis was conducted, comparing the field classification of sites to their corresponding locations on the vegetation map layer. A total of 1,257 of the 1,291 AA sites were used in the analysis. Results of this analysis, including a contingency table showing thematic errors of omission and commission, are available in the project for the vegetation mapping project and is available on the program's websites. 2011 Vegetation Points: In ArcGIS, shapefiles were produced of the vegetation plots, quick plots, and AA sites and then imported into the project geodatabase as a feature class. Several relationship tables produced populated with information from the PLOTS2 vegetation database to support each feature class with the field data that was collected. 201109 Vector Entity point 1583 Universal Transverse Mercator 15 0.999600 -93.000000 0.000000 500000.000000 0.000000 coordinate pair 0.000100 0.000100 meters North American Datum of 1983 Geodetic Reference System 80 6378137.000000 298.257222 sacn_vegpt The sacn_vegpt attribute table contains attribute information directly associated with the feature class data set. If this data set were to be exported out of the file geodatabase and saved as a shapefile, the information contained within fcl_sacn_vegpt are the only attributes which would carry through to the new shapefile. The other attributes within the various lookup tables (e.g., tbl_vegpt_vp_clsf, tbl_vegpt_vp_location, etc.) contain additional information and are associated to the feature class data set within the geodatabase through a series of geodatabase relationship classes (e.g., vegpt_vp_clsf, vegpt_vp_location, etc.). For these tables to export along with the feature class into a shapefile, they would first need to be joined to the feature class data set prior to exporting. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program OBJECTID Internal feature number. ESRI Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. Shape Feature geometry. ESRI Coordinates defining the features. Veg_Point Unique identifier for this Accuracy Assessment, Observation or Plot point Plots V2.0 Unique plot number. Point_Type Data point type (vegetation plot, accuracy assessment site). Plots V2.0 Accuracy Assessment Point AA Point Plots V2.0 Observation Point Observation Point Plots V2.0 Plot Point Plot Point Plots V2.0 X_Easting Meters East (X) coordinate in pre-defined Grid system (UTM Zone 16, NAD83). Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center Easting coordinate. Y_Northing Meters North (Y) coordinate in pre-defined Grid system (UTM Zone 16, NAD83). Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center Northing coordinate. vegpt_vp_spp Species data of vegetation plots. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_aa_location Physical location of accuracy assessment sites. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_aa_enviro Environmental description of accuracy assessment sites. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_vp_clsf Classification of vegetation plots. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_vp_info General information of vegetation plots. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_vp_enviro Environmental description of vegetation plots. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_aa_clsf Classification of accuracy assessment sites. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_aa_spp Species data of accuracy assessment sites. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_aa_info General informatoin of accuracy assessment sites. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_vp_desc Vegetation description of vegetation plots. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_vp_location Physical location of vegetation plots. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_aa_photo Ground photos of accuracy assessment sites. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_aa_vegdesc Vegetation description of accuracy assessment sites. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_vp_photo Ground photos of vegetation plots. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_qp_clsf Classification of quick plots NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_qp_location Physical location of quick plots. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_qp_info General information of quick plots. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_qp_enviro Environmental description of quick plots. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_qp_vegdesc Vegetation description of quick plots. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_qp_spp Species data of quick plots. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program vegpt_qp_photo Ground photos of quick plots. NPS Vegetation Inventory Program For feature class and relationship table field information, see vegpt_scheme within the geodatabase. Within the vegpt_scheme table, items listed in parenthesis are the original item names within the PLOTS2 vegetation database (mdb) for the vegetation mapping project. Detailed descriptions of these items are provided within the vegetation database. Also, for data that is listed as <blob> (Binary Large Object) in the relationship tables, refer to the source vegetation database (mdb) file for the vegetation mapping project. Unknown USGS/CSS/Core Science Analytics and Synthesis USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator mailing and physical address

Denver Federal Center, Building 810, MS 302

Denver Colorado 80225 (303) 202-4220 303-202-4219 gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov Downloadable Data The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. These data and related graphics (if available) are not legal documents and are not intended to be used as such. The information contained in these data is dynamic and may change over time. The data are not better than the original sources from which they were derived. It is the responsibility of the data user to use the data appropriately and consistent within the limitations of geospatial data in general and these data in particular. Any related graphics (if available) are intended to aid the data user in acquiring relevant data; it is not approriate to use the related graphics as data. The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data. It is strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired from an U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service servers and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the utility of the data on another system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. It is also strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this metadata report does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U. S. Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey and National Park Service. HTML http://www.usgs.gov/core_science_systems/csas/vip/parks/sacn.html Internet Access None 20111104 20121130 USGS/CSS/Core Science Analytics and Synthesis USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator mailing and physical address

Denver Federal Center, Building 810, MS 302

Denver Colorado 80225 (303) 202-4220 303-202-4219 gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001.1-1999 http://www.nbii.gov/portal/server.pt/community/fgdc_metadata/255