Summary

Description

This report details the Vegetation Mapping Project at the Massasoit National Wildlife Refuge NWR inPlymouth, Massachusetts Figure 1 which is part of the Eastern Massachusetts NWR Complex owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service USFWS. The mapping project has been initiated by the USFWS in response to the need for background data to meet resource management needs and deal with existing and potential resource issues at Massasoit NWR. The project involves production of new aerial photographic imagery, interpretation of imagery and field data to determine the vegetation cover types existing at the NWR, and production of vegetation community cover type maps based upon those determinations. The vegetation cover types are based upon the National Vegetation Classification System NVCS developed by U.S. Geological Survey USGS and the National Park Service NPS. The purpose of this mapping project is to create a product which will allow the USFWS to better address conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats present at the Massasoit NWR. The NVCS data and inventory methodology used provides the USFWS land managers with comparable units upon which to focus management practices based on the characteristics and management concerns specific to the Massasoit NWR.