Vegetation Database for Land-Cover Mapping, Clark and ...

Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management

Vegetation Database for Land-Cover Mapping, Clark and Lincoln Counties, Nevada

Data Series 827

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

Pleuraphis rigida Shrub Herbaceous Alliance at sample 5228 in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Ferocactus cylindraceous Limestone Bedrock Shrubland Alliance at sample 2004 in Coyote Springs Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

Yucca schidigera-Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa Wooded Shrubland Alliance at sample 5039 near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

Acacia greggii Intermittently Flooded Shrubland Alliance at sample 1999 in Piute-Eldorado Valley Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

Cover. Larrea tridentata-Ambrosia dumosa Shrubland Alliance at sample 1843 in Mormon Mesa Area of Critical Environmental Concern. All photos taken by David A. Charlet.

Vegetation Database for Land-Cover Mapping, Clark and Lincoln Counties, Nevada

By David A. Charlet1, Nancy A. Damar, and Patrick J. Leary1

1American West Ecology

Prepared in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management

Data Series 827

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Department of the Interior SALLY JEWELL, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2014

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Suggested citation: Charlet, D.A., Damar, N.A., and Leary, P.J., 2014, Vegetation database for land-cover mapping, Clark and Lincoln Counties, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey, Data Series 827, 18 p.,

ISSN 2327-638X (online)

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Contents

Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Concurrent Data Collection..................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope...............................................................................................................................1 Data Collection Methods...............................................................................................................................3 Modified National Vegetation Classification Plot Sampling Approach........................................3 Rapid Assessment Community Ecology Sampling Approach........................................................3 Sample Site Selection...........................................................................................................................4 Data Recorded.......................................................................................................................................4 Data Classification..........................................................................................................................................4 Database Design.............................................................................................................................................5 References Cited............................................................................................................................................7 Appendix 1. Geospatial Database Components and Attributes..............................................................8 Appendix 2. List of Symbols Used in Stand Names.................................................................................11

Figures

1. Map showing sample sites and study areas in Clark and Lincoln Counties, Nevada.....................................................................................................2

2. Schematic of the database design.............................................................................................6

Tables

1. Summary comparison of modified National Vegetation Classification plot and rapid assessment community ecology sampling methods......................................3

2. National Vegetation Classification hierarchy...........................................................................5

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Conversion Factors

SI to Inch/Pound Multiply

meter (m) kilometer (km) meter (m)

square meter (m2)

By

Length 3.281 0.6214 1.094

Area 0.0002471

To obtain

foot (ft) mile (mi) yard (yd)

acre

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Abbreviations

ACEC BLM DNWR GIS GPS RRCNCA NVC RACE USDA USGS

Area of Critical Environmental Concern Bureau of Land Management Desert National Wildlife Refuge geographic information system Global Positioning System Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area National Vegetation Classification rapid assessment community ecology U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Geological Survey

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Acknowledgments

Many College of Southern Nevada students contributed to the field data collection effort. Jeremy Chambers, Toni Leufven, Drew Pearson, Tim Schelz, Dagny Signorelli, and Tamara Wynn all made significant contributions that we greatly appreciated. Angela Pitt, Fred Landau, Phoenix King, and Jennifer Leary worked hard in the field in all kinds of weather conditions to put together a good data set for Red Rock Canyon. Doug Merkler was of tremendous assistance with soils information and field coordination. Craig Westenburg was essential to virtually every aspect of the work.

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