Summary

Description

This report accompanies the spatial vegetationhabitat database produced for Camas National Wildlife Refuge NWR. The purpose of this report is to provide enough information so that the spatial vegetation database can be used with full knowledge of the quality of the data. The goal is to provide enough relevant information so that the methods could be followed with similar results. This project occurred over the time period from Spring 2011 to Fall 2012. It was funded through the USFWS Inventory and Monitoring Initiative, under Grant xxxx. The articulated goals of the project were to a provide a vegetation mapping pilot project in Region 1 with a focus on articulating lessons learned, b provide Camas NWR with a vegetation database that can be used for planning and refuge management, based upon methods with some rigor. This report will first provide background for the project, including background on past habitat mapping projects, and an articulation of refuge needs that drove the project. Second, field methods and subsequent vegetation classification and legend development will be discussed. Next, remote sensing methodology is discussed, followed by the validation and accuracy assessment AA field campaign. Finally, AA results will be evaluated, with an emphasis on understanding confusion between mapping classes. The appendices provide important information that accompany the use of the map. First, is a dichotomous key to the mapping classes of Camas NWR. Second, is an articulation of how ruderal classes are defined in the NVC. Third, are the National Vegetation Classificiation System NVCS full descriptions for NVCS Groups. Included in these descriptions are NVCHabitat relationships developed by Refuge Biologists. The fourth appendix provides more detail on the NVCS Alliances, a finer grain of detail in the NVCS.