U.S. Geological Survey Department of the Interior 199808 Database USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Scotts Bluff National Monument Denver, CO USGS, Biological Resources Division, Center for Biological Informatics Created in part by Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. Redlands, CA under contract from USGS/BRD/CBI. http://www1.usgs.gov/vip/scbl/scblplot.zip doi:10.5066/F75T3HG2 Vegetation field plots at Scotts Bluff NM were visited, described, and documented in a digital database. The database consists of 3 parts - (1) Physical Descriptive Data, (2) Species Listings, and (3) Strata Descriptive Data. Provide National Parks with the necessary tools to effectively manage their natural resources. Plot data is collected and analyzed to develop a classification (using the Standardized National Vegetation Classification System) and description of vegetation types in preparation for photointerpretation and mapping of the monument's vegetation types. 19950710 19950815 Ground Condition Complete none planned Scotts Bluff National Monument and environs -103.725446 -103.688856 41.856040 41.813217 None National Park Service U.S. Geological Survey vegetation classification sampling plots alliance association None Nebraska NE Scottsbluff Gering Mitchell Mitchell Bottom North Platte River Roubadeau Scottsbluff County Scotts Bluff None vegetation classification Standardized National Vegetation Classification System alliance community association U.S. Government; Federal Geographic Data Committee 19971022 document Washington D.C. Federal Geographic Data Committee http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/FGDC-standards-projects/vegetation/index_html Vegetation associations were identified; no specimens nor vouchers were collected as a part of this process. Conforms with FGDC standardized vegetation classification system. Kingdom Plantae None Any person using the information presented here should fully understand the data collection and compilation procedures, as described in these metadata, before beginning analyses. The burden for determining fitness for use lies entirely with the user. For purposes of publication or dissemination, citations or credit should be given to the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service. USGS BRD Center for Biological Informatics 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 http://www1.usgs.gov/vip/scbl/scblplots.pdf Locations of vegetation plot samples; low resolution for web browsing. PDF Steve Rolfsmeier, in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy, collected field data. U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior 199809 Database USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Scottsbluff National Monument Denver, CO USGS, Biological Resources Division, Center for Biological Informatics Created in large part by Environmental Research Institute, Inc. Redlands, CA under contract from USGS/BRD/CBI. http://www.usgs.gov/core_science_systems/csas/vip/parks/scbl.html U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior 199810 Database USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Scotts Bluff National Monument Denver, CO USGS, Biological Resources Division, Center for Biological Informatics Created in large part by Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., Redlands, CA under contract from USGS/BRD/CBI. http://www1.usgs.gov/vip/scbl/scblaarpt.pdf U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior 199809 Database USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Scottsbluff National Monument Denver, Colorado U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Biological Informatics Created in large part by Environmental Research Institute, Inc. Redlands, CA under contract from USGS/BRD/CBI. U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior 199810 Database USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Scottsbluff National Monument Denver, Colorado U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Biological Informatics Created in large part by Environmental Research Institute, Inc. Redlands, CA under contract from USGS/BRD/CBI. Physical description - Descriptive plot data were collected for 71 sites whose vegetation represents a full spectrum of alliance types present within Scotts Bluff National Monument and its immediate surroundings. Attributes collected for each site include: a unique plot identification code, park name, quad name, UTM coordinates, UTM projection, plot survey date, surveyor's name, length, width, photo type, elevation, slope aspect, topographic position, landform, surface geology, Cowardin System category, hydrology, surface material description, soil texture, soil drainage, leaf phenology, leaf type, and physiognomy. Species - Descriptive plot data were collected for 71 sites whose vegetation represents a full spectrum of alliance types present within Scotts Bluff National Monument and its immediate surroundings. This database, which is the second of three databases containing plot field data, delineates species. Individual species described at each of 71 plots is listed, one line per species, with the following information: Plot Identification Code, Numeric Species Code, Species Name, Species Cover (0=trace, 1=< 1%, 2=1-5%, 3=5-25%, 4=25-50%, 5=50-75%, 6=75-100%), Plantcode, and Strata Code (T1=emergent, T2=canopy, T3=sub-canopy, S1=tall shrub, S2=short shrub, H=herbaceous, N=non-vascular, V=vinae/liana, E=epiphyte). Strata - Descriptive plot data were collected for 71 sites whose vegetation represents a full spectrum of alliance types present within Scotts Bluff National Monument and its immediate surroundings. This database which is the third of three databases containing plot field data, delineates plot strata. Most of the 71 plots have multiple strata, with each listed as a separate line entry in the database. Strata are described by plot code, descriptive name, height, cover, and an alpha-numeric strata code. Descriptive names include canopy, sub-canopy, tall shrub, short shrub, herbaceous, and emergent. Height classes, in meters, range from 1 to 7: 1=<0.5 m, 2=0.5-1m, 3=1-2m, 4=2-5m, 5=5-10m, 6=10-15m and 7=15-20m. Cover groupings, in percent, range from 1 to 4: 1=0-10%, 2=10-25%, 3=25-60%, and 4=60-100%. The diagnostic species for each stratum is listed by latin name. Stratum codes are defined in the following manner: T1=emergent, T2=canopy, T3=sub-canopy, S1=tall shrub, S2=short shrub, and H=herbaceous. Physical description - Entries for each of the listed attributes are in the form of consistent groupings of either textual or numerical descriptors. Species & Strata - Entries for each of the listed attributes are in the form of consistent groupings of either textual or numerical descriptors, as defined above under "Attribute Accuracy Report". NOTE1: The significance of numbers appended to some of the Plant Codes is not known. Physical description - Descriptive entries for each of the 71 plots are complete for each of the applicable attributes listed in the database. Species & Strata - One species is entered per line, by plot code, with multiple species listed for each plot, one per row. Plot codes and species names are complete for each row, but some species codes, cover and strata information is missing (because it was not present on the original field forms). X,Y UTM coordinates representing each of the 71 plots were collected via GPS under selective availability with post processing for differential correction. The differentially correted GPS coordinates have accuracies in the X and Y direction of +/- 2 to 5 meters. Elevations for plots were obtained from the USGS 24,000 quad map for Scottsbluff South, and are estimated to be +/- 15 m. Field None releve plot sampling Field sampling using releve plots Field Field Methods for Vegetation Mapping National Biological Survey (Now USGS/Biological Resources Division) and National Park Service 199411 Final Draft report USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Protocol documents Denver, CO USGS/BRD, Center for Biological Informatics Report prepared under contract by The Nature Conservancy, 1815 N. Lynn Street, Arlington, Virginia 22209 and Environmental Systems Research Institute, 380 New York Street, Redlands, California 92373 http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/projects/FGDC-standards-projects/vegetation/NVCS_V2_FINAL_2008-02.pdf Online 199411 2010 Publication Date and indefinitely SNVCS protocol document This document describes and defines the vegetation classification system which is to be used for describing and mapping the vegetation at Scottsbluff National Monument USGSBRD, Center for Biological Informatics 19980223 report USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Scottsbluff National Monument Denver, CO USGS/BRD, Center for Biological Informatics This report was generated by The Nature Conservancy under contract to the USGS/BRD, Center for Biological Informatics http://www1.usgs.gov/vip/scbl/scblrpt.pdf Online 19950710 19950815 Ground Condition, summer 1995 SCBL sample and classification Report summarizing plot data collection effort United States Dept. of the Interior, National Biological Survey (no USGS Biological Resources Division) and the National Park Service 199412 document Denver, CO USGS/Biological Resources Division, Center for Biological Informatics This report was generated by The Nature Conservancy under contract to the USGS/BRD, CBI http://www1.usgs.gov/vip/standards/fieldmethodsrpt.pdf Online 199412 2010 Publication Date and indefinitely field methods protocol document This document defines the methods and protocols for field data collection to be used as part of the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program The following describes the tasks performed by The Nature Conservancy to produce descriptive data for 71 vegetation sampling plots in three separate database files. The first of the three contains general descriptive information at each of the plots. Plot sites were selected by information obtained during a reconnaissance visit to the park in August of 1995, and by examining tone and textural patterns on the SCBL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS. Site physical parameters, species types, and vegetation strata were described at each site. The PLOTS database contains tabulations of site physical factors, listed under the ATTRIBUTE ACCURACY REPORT for each of the 71 plots. Plot data were manually recorded on field forms on-site, and subsequently keyed into the database files described herein. Information in the plot database was then used to develop the classification system and plant identification keys contained in the TNC SCBL SAMPLING AND CLASSIFICATION REPORT. 199508 The following describes the tasks performed by The Nature Conservancy to produce descriptive data for 71 vegetation sampling plots in three separate database files. The second of the three contains listings of individual species found in each plot, along with height and cover estimates, and strata delineations. The SPECIES LISTING database contains line entries for each species including the Plot Code, Numeric species code, full scientific species name, cover estimate, a unique alphnumeric species identifier (plant code), and Plant Strata delineation. Plot sites were selected subjectively because of the heterogeneity of the vegetation and the small number of samples per type. Since aerial photos were not available at the time of plot selection, visual reconnaissance was conducted at the summit of the bluff to examine vegetation patterns for the purpose of plot placement. Plot data were manually recorded on field forms on-site, and subsequently keyed into the database files described herein. Information in the plot database was then used to develop the classification system and plant identification keys contained in the SCOTTSBLUFF SAMPLING AND CLASSIFICATION REPORT. 199508 The following describes the tasks performed by The Nature Conservancy to produce descriptive data for 71 vegetation sampling plots in three separate database files. The third of the three contains listings of individual strata found in each plot, along with cover estimates and height (strata) delineations. The STRATA LISTING database contains line entries for each strata including the Plot Code, full species name, height, cover, and Strata delineation. Plot data were manually recorded on field forms on-site, and subsequently keyed into the database files described herein. Information in the plot database was then used to develop the classification system and plant identification keys contained in the TNC SCBL SAMPLING AND CLASSIFICATION REPORT. SNVCS protocol document Field Methods for Vegetation Mapping 199508 scbl sample and classification scbl Vegetation Descriptions Jim Drake The Nature Conservancy Regional Chief Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy Physical Address

1313 5th Street SE

Suite 314

Minneapolis MN 55414 USA (612)331-0729 jdrake@tnc.org 0 vector Entity point 70 Universal Transverse Mercator 13 0.999600 -105.000000 0.000000 500000.000000 0.000000 Coordinate pair 100 100 Meters North American Datum of 1983 Geodedic Reference System 80 6378137.000000 298.257222 scblplot Shapefile attribute table USGS FID Internal feature number. ESRI Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. Shape Feature geometry. ESRI. Coordinates defining the features. AREA Area of feature in internal units squared. ESRI. Area is always zero for point coverages. Values are automatically generated. PERIMETER Perimeter of feature in internal units. ESRI. Perimeter is always zero for point coverages. Values are automatically generated. PLOT_ Internal feature number. ESRI. Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. PLOT_ID User-defined feature number. ESRI. Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. OBJECTID Internal feature number. ESRI. Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. SCBL_PLOT User-defined feature number. ESRI. Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. PLOT_CODE Vegetation plot number USGS Plot number. COMM_NAME Community Scientific Name. USGS Textual scientific community name. FIELD_NAME Unknown field created by originator but not documented. USGS Textual field name. QUAD_NAME Name of the USGS Quadrangle. USGS Quad name. DATUM The Projection Datum of the GPS Point USGS NAD 83. GPS_FILE Internal GPS File Name USGS GPS file name. X_EASTING Easting coordinate of site location. USGS Easting coordinate. Y_NORTHING Northing coordinate of site location. USGS Northing coordinate. UTM_ZONE UTM Zone USGS UTM Zone 13. DATE Date of Data Collection USGS Numerical of the date the plot was observed. SURVEYORS Names of the Surveyors Who Collected the Data USGS Textual surveyors last name. XDIM X Dimension of Field Plot USGS Textual and numerical of X dimension (whole numbers). YDIM Y Dimension of Field Plot USGS Textual and numerical of Y dimension (whole numbers). ELEV Elevation of the Plot USGS Numerical elevation of plot. SLOPE Degree of Slope in the Plot USGS Numerical of slope in degrees. ASPECT General Aspect of the Point in Degrees USGS Numerical of aspect type. TOPO_POS General Position of the Plot on the Landscape USGS Textual of topology position type description. LANDFORM General Landform that the Plot Occurs On USGS Textual of landform description. GEOLOGY Presence of any Geological Features USGS Textual description of the geology surface. COWARDIN General Wetland Description USGS Textual cowadrin classification description. SOIL_TEXT Soil Texture in the Plot USGS Textual of soil texture description. SOIL_DRAIN Comments on the Soil Drainage within the Plot USGS Soil drainage description type. PHENOLOGY Phenology of the Dominant Stratum in the Plot USGS Textual of leaf phenology type description. LEAF_TYPE General Leaf Type of the Dominant Stratum USGS Textual of leaf type description. PHYSIOLOGY Physiognomic Description of the Dominant Stratum USGS Textual of physiology class type description. POLYGONI_1 Unknown field created by originator but not documented USGS Numerical. SCALE Unknown field created by originator but not documented. USGS Numerical. ANGLE Unknown field created by originator but not documented. USGS Numerical. Each of 71 vegetation plots has attributes for physical description, species and strata. Physical description - (Plot number, plot code, common name, scientific name, state, park name, quad name, utm zone, map project, gps file, raw utm x, raw utm y, corrected utm x, corrected utm y, surveyors date, surveyors, length, width, photos, permenant, elevation, slope, aspect, topographical position, landform, surficial geology, cowardin system type, hydrography, bedrock, large rock, small rock, sand, litter duff, wood, bare soil, other soil, soil texture, soil drainage, leaf phenology, leaf type, and physiololgy). Species - (sp_code is a project specific code for each species found, species is the scientific name for that species, spcover is the species present and the percent cover for each species, plant code is the first two letters of the genus and first two letters of the species. If the code are not unique a number is added to make the code unique). Strata - (height and cover are average percent cover of that particular species, 1 = 0-10%, 2 = 10-25%, 3 = 25-60% and 4 = 60-100%, pstrata is the type of vegetation, T1 = emergent, T2 = canopy, T3 = sub-canopy, S1 = tall shrub, S2 = short shrub, H = herbaceous, N = non-vascular, V = vine/liana, and E = epiphyte). Field Methods for Vegetation mapping, December 1994. Prepared for: the United States Department of the Interior, National Biological Survey (now the USGS Biological Resources Division) and the National Park Service. Prepared by: The Nature Conservancy, and Environmental Systems Research Institute. http://www1.usgs.gov/vip/standards/fieldmethodsrpt.pdf. USGS/CSS/Core Science Analytics and Synthesis USGS-NPS Vegetation Characterization 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. SCBL Plots Data; Physical Descriptive Data and Species Listing 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/scbl.html Internet Access None 20011022 20100615 USGS/CSS/Core Science Analytics and Synthesis USGS-NPS Vegetation Characterization 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.usgs.gov/core_science_systems/csas/metadata/index.html