U.S. Geological Survey Department of the Interior 199809 Map 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 rom USGS/BRD/CBI. http://www1.usgs.gov/vip/scbl/scbl.zip doi:10.5066/F7222RRN The vegetation units on this map were determined through the stereoscopic interpretation of aerial photographs supported by field sampling and ecological analysis. The vegetation boundaries were identified on the photographs by means of the photographic signature and collateral information on slope, hydrology, geography, and vegetation in accordance with the Standardized national Vegetation Classification System (October 1995). The mapped vegetation reflects conditions that existed during the specific year and season that the aerial photographs were taken. There is a margin of error inherent in the use of aerial photographs. Therefore, a detailed ground and historical analysis of a single site may result in a revision of the vegetation alliance boundaries established through photographic interpretation. Provide National Parks with the necessary tools to effectively manage their natural resources. 19950725 Source photography date Complete None planned Scotts Bluff National Monument and environs. -103.742941 -103.684904 41.866120 41.811202 None vegetation classification Standardized National Vegetation Classification SNVCS NVCS alliance community 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 Kingdom Plantae plants 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/scblvegmap.pdf Graphic image of map and key PDF UNIX-Arc/Info USGSBRD, Center for Biological Informatics 19980223 report The mapped data were originally produced by Aerial Information Systems, under sub-contract to the Environmental Systems Research Institute. The data were revised by the contractor after the initial accuracy assessment was performed by re-interpreting some existing classes and adding two additional classes. A second revision was made by CBI personnel, changing interpretations of some classes with no further revisions in line work. The raw accuracy assessment data can be downloaded at http://www1.usgs.gov/vip/scbl/scbl_aadata.txt. The contingency table derived from these data can be viewed at http://www1.usgs.gov/vip/scbl/scbl_aamatrix.xls All polygon features are checked for topology using the ARC/INFO software. Each polygon begins and ends at the same point with the node feature. All nodes are checked for error so that there are no dangling features. There are no duplicate lines or polygons. All nodes will snap together and close polygons based on a specified tolerance. If the node is not within the tolerance it is adjusted manually. The tests for logical consistency are performed in ARC/INFO. All attribute codes and attributes have been checked for typographical and logical errors. All data in the project area were photointerpreted and digitized. This includes alliances/community association classes, density classes, height classes, pattern groups, water, and unvegetated/landuse. The vegetation spatial data were visually fitted in small (2 inch square segments) to a custom-made orthophoto. The custom made orthophoto was ground tested for horizontal accuracy in three locations in and immediately adjacent to the park with Y-code (5 m accuracy) GPS with all test points falling within +/- 4-6 meters of the corresponding image location. The vegetation spatial data were test fitted to the orthophoto using a 2nd order polygon transformation using GRASS (Geographical Resources Analysis Support System) rectification software resulting in overall resiudals of +/- 5 meters. Not applicable Donahue Aerial Survey, Parker, CO 19950725 image Denver, CO USGS Center for Biological Informatics Aerial photography was taken at a scale of 1:12,000. Original media are in the form of positive transparencies. Photointerpretation was done on contact prints of the true color photos. http://www1.usgs.gov/vip/scbl/scblphotos.pdf 12000 Contact paper prints of film transparencies 19950725 Imagery date scbl Aerial Photos These aerial photographs were the basis for the photointerpretation process. County of Scottsbluff, Gering, NE Unknown BIL digital file Gering, NE County of Scottsbluff Scotts Bluff orthophoto is part of a larger project by the county of Scottsbluff to produce a digital basemap for the cities of Scottsbluff and Gering and their immediate surroundings, including all of Scotts Bluff National Monument. The orthophoto was independently verified for horizontal accuracy by use of GPS-derived control points by USGS/BRD. Cartridge Tape Unknown Imagery date scbl orthophoto This digital orthophoto provided the project basemap USGS/BRD, 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 digital 19980223 Ground Condition scbl field data This document provides the Field Key, and Vegetation categories used in the mapping process. USGS/BRD, Center for Biological Informatics 199411 document USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Scottsbluff National Monument Denver, CO USGS/BRD, Center for Biological Informatics This report was prepared by Environmental Systems Research Institute; Redlands, CA, National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA and The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA under contract from the U.S. Department of Interior National Biological Survey and National Park Service. http://www1.usgs.gov/vip/standards/NPSVI_Accuracy_Assessment_Guidelines_ver2.pdf electronic document 199411 publication date Accuracy Assessment Procedures Documents This document established the procedures and protocols for the accuracy assessment at Scotts Bluff National Monument. U.S. Geological Survey Department of the Interior 199810 report USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Scotts Bluff National Monument Denver, CO USGS, Biological Resources Division, Center for Biological Informatics Created in large part by Aerial Information Systems, Inc. under contract rom USGS/BRD/CBI. http://www1.usgs.gov/vip/scbl/scblpirpt.pdf digital 199810 Report date scbl mapping report Photo interpretation was done by trained interpreters familiar with the vegetation communities of the Monument on overlays registered to the aerial photographs under a stereoscope. Vegetation communities were idendified n the basis of their color, pattern, texture, and location on the landscape and lines were drawn around the communities. The photo interpreters had visited the monument and conferred with the ecologists who performed the vegetation classification and were familiar with the vegetation communities. Not all vegetation associations could be identified on the photography due to size constraints and complexity of the vegetation. Map classes were assigned in these cases and a cross-walk was made to the vegetation classification Accuracy assesment field data collection was performed independently of the mapping effort. 512 field plots were taken which were then compared with the attributes of the spatial data. A contigency table was developed comparing the attributes of 21 vegetation map classes with the field data developed by the accuracy assessement. AA Report 1994 Aerial photography was taken of the Monument to serve as the basis for photo interpretation. Vegetation communities were identified on the aerial photography. scbl Aerial Photos 1995 Ortho imagery was developed to serve as a registration base to transfer the photo interpreted polygons. The ortho imagery is registered to locations on the surface of the earth and image distorttions due to terrain relief have been eliminated. When the polygons registered to the aerial photos have been transferred and registered to the ortho images the polygons are registered to locations on the surface of the earth and terrnain distortions have been eliminated. scbl orthophoto Unknown Classification of the vegetation communities was performed by ecologists based on the field data that were collected. Compiled data are assembled into a single file and transformed mathematically to a common abundance scale. The element classification process is implemented using quantitative approaches of ordination, clustering, and correlation depending on the information available. Multivariate analysis programs are used to examine the floristic patterns and their relationships to measured environmental variables. Despite their utility in synthesizing large data sets, many of the analytical programs identify vegetation patterns that are statistically but not ecologically meaningful. The quantitative analysis to determine vegetation patterns must be carried out under the guidance and review of experts who have a practical understanding of the ecological relationships in the field. scbl field data 1998 vector G-polygon 1367 Universal Transverse Mercator 13 0.999600 -105.000000 0.000000 500000.000000 0.000000 coordinate pair 1 1 meters North American Datum of 1983 Geodedic Reference System 80 6378137.000000 298.257222 scblveg 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 Positive real numbers that are automatically generated. PERIMETER Perimeter of feature in internal units. ESRI Positive real numbers that are automatically generated. VEG_ Internal feature number. ESRI. Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. VEG_ID User-defined feature number. ESRI. Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. HT_CODE Height Code USGS Numerical height code. HT_DESCRIP Height Description USGS Height description. DEN_CODE Density Code USGS Numerical density code. DEN_DESCRI Density Description USGS Density description with percentage. PATTERN_CO Pattern Code USGS Numerical pattern code. PATTERN_DE Pattern Description USGS Textual pattern description. LANDUSE Land Use Code USGS Numerical land use. LANDUSE_DE Landuse Description USGS Textual landuse description. COMMUNITY_ Community Association Code USGS Numerical association code. COMMUNITY1 Community Association Name USGS Textual association scientific name. The National Vegetation Classification Standard is organized hierarchically to support conservation and resource stewardship applications across multiple scales. The upper levels of the hierarchy are based on the physical form or structure of the vegetation (physiognomy) and have been refined from the international standards developed by the United nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The two most detailed levels of the hierarchy are based on the species composition of existing vegetation (floristics) and reflect the phyto-sociological standards that were originally developed by European ecologists. The vegetation classification is continually advanced through the collection and analysis of new field data and will be greatly strengthened during the course of the USGS/NPS mapping efforts. Data file attributes include vegetation height, density, species, alliance, community element, and land cover. HEIGHT 1=< 0.5 meters 2=0.5 - 2 meters 3=2 - 5 meters 4=5 - 15 meters 5=15 - 35 meters 6=35 - 50 meters 7=> 50 meters 9=Not Applicable DENSITY 1=Closed/Continuous < 60% 2=Discontinuous 40% - 60% 3=Dispersed 25% - 40% 4=Sparse 10% - 25% 5=Rare 2% - 10% 9=Not Applicable Pattern 1,'Evenly Dispersed' 2,'Clumped/Bunched' 3,'Gradational/Transitional' 4,'Alternating' 9,'Not Applicable' Grossman, D. Et al. 1994. National Park Service/ National Biological Service Vegetation Mapping Project, Standardized National Vegetation Classification System 209 pp. 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 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