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  1. Title: Philadelphia, PA (Aerial Imagery, 1971)

    • Not specified
    • 2012
    Contributors:

    Summary: The historical images consist of digital scans from original aerial photography film located at the Aerial Photography Field Office (APFO). The film is in a 9"x9" format and scanned to encompass the entire exposure or full frame to include fiducial marks required for georeferencing. The aerial imagery was mainly used to assist the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in administering federal farm programs and is now used by the private and public sector for a variety of purposes including but not limited to historical change detection, legal proceedings, and environmental assessments. The film is public domain and reproductions can be acquired by the government and private sectors including the general public. The scanned imagery was produced using either LH Systems DSW500 or Wehrli & Associates RM-6 photogrammetric scanners output to a raw tif format. Geotiff files were created using ESRI ArcMap software. Supporting files may include photo frame shapefiles, centroid text files, and metadata.

  2. Title: Philadelphia, PA (Aerial Imagery, 1981-1984)

    • Not specified
    • 2012
    Contributors:

    Summary: The historical images consist of digital scans from original aerial photography film located at the Aerial Photography Field Office (APFO). The film is in a 9"x9" format and scanned to encompass the entire exposure or full frame to include fiducial marks required for georeferencing. The aerial imagery was mainly used to assist the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in administering federal farm programs and is now used by the private and public sector for a variety of purposes including but not limited to historical change detection, legal proceedings, and environmental assessments. The film is public domain and reproductions can be acquired by the government and private sectors including the general public. The scanned imagery was produced using either LH Systems DSW500 or Wehrli & Associates RM-6 photogrammetric scanners output to a raw tif format. Geotiff files were created using ESRI ArcMap software. Supporting files may include photo frame shapefiles, centroid text files, and metadata.

  3. Title: Philadelphia, PA (Aerial Imagery, 1999)

    • Not specified
    • 2012
    Contributors:

    Summary: The historical images consist of digital scans from original aerial photography film located at the Aerial Photography Field Office (APFO). The film is in a 9"x9" format and scanned to encompass the entire exposure or full frame to include fiducial marks required for georeferencing. The aerial imagery was mainly used to assist the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in administering federal farm programs and is now used by the private and public sector for a variety of purposes including but not limited to historical change detection, legal proceedings, and environmental assessments. The film is public domain and reproductions can be acquired by the government and private sectors including the general public. The scanned imagery was produced using either LH Systems DSW500 or Wehrli & Associates RM-6 photogrammetric scanners output to a raw tif format. Geotiff files were created using ESRI ArcMap software. Supporting files may include photo frame shapefiles, centroid text files, and metadata.

  4. Title: Philadelphia, PA (Imagery, 2008)

    • Not specified
    • 2009
    Contributors:

    Summary: This data set contains imagery from the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP). NAIP acquires digital ortho imagery during the agricultural growing seasons in the continental U.S.. A primary goal of the NAIP program is to enable availability of of ortho imagery within one year of acquisition. NAIP provides four main products: 1 meter ground sample distance (GSD) ortho imagery rectified to a horizontal accuracy of within +/- 5 meters of reference digital ortho quarter quads (DOQQ's) from the National Digital Ortho Program (NDOP); 2 meter GSD ortho imagery rectified to within +/- 10 meters of reference DOQQs; 1 meter GSD ortho imagery rectified to within +/- 6 meters to true ground; and, 2 meter GSD ortho imagery rectified to within +/- 10 meters to true ground. This imagery is 1 meter DOQQ-based imagery. The tiling format of NAIP imagery is based on a 3.75' x 3.75' quarter quadrangle with a 300 meter buffer on all four sides. NAIP quarter quads are formatted to the UTM coordinate system using NAD83. NAIP imagery may contain as much as 10% cloud cover per tile.

  5. Title: Monroe County Indiana : line index to aerial photography

    • Index maps ; Aerial photographs
    • 1987
    Contributors:

    Summary: Blue line print. Base maps: USGS 1:100,000-scale quadrangles for Bloomington, Indiana and Bedford, Indiana. "Project: Monroe County, Indiana (18105) , Project code:NAPP , Year of Photography: 1987 , Film type: Color I.R. Positive, B/W internegative , Negative scale: 1:40,,, , Nominal focal length: 6" , Direction of flight: N-S , Contractor: Aero-Metric Engineering, Inc." Shows the center point of each photograph. Imprint: Salt Lake City, Utah : [U.S. Dept. of Agriculture] Aerial Photography Field Office, 1987 Scale: 1:100,000; Dimensions: 56 x 87 cm Coordinates: W0864100 W0861900 N0392100 N0390000

  6. Title: Land Use and Land Cover: Salinas Valley, Monterey County, California, 2005

    • Polygon data
    • 2014
    Contributors:

    Summary: This polygon shapefile represents land use and land cover for the Pajaro River and San Benito River Watershed in San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties of California for 2005. This shapefile was extracted from a generalized land use/land cover database of the Salinas-Pajaro region. Map unit categories were based on a modified Anderson Level II hierarchy. Mapping generally adhered to a 0.5 acre Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU) for riparian and agriculture types and 1 acre MMU for all upland, urban, or other land use types. Vegetation percent cover classes were assigned to the tree and shrub layers for each stand. Herbaceous vegetation was not assigned a cover class. All density values are measured in absolute cover, not relative cover. If tree cover is equal to or greater than 40% then the shrub cover is assigned a Not Assessed value of 9. The minimum mapping unit (MMU) resolution size of the land use/land cover polygons is twofold. In the intense agricultural region and for wetland and riparian areas the polygons have a 0.5 acre MMU. In the remainder of the study area, composed of non-agricultural areas, upland vegetation, and urban areas, the MMU is 1 acre. For thin linear-shaped polygons the MMU for width is one half the width of a full MMU square. Exceptions to the MMU guidance are noted in further criteria below. Because of the agricultural emphasis of the project, large urban developed areas, such as cities, towns, and villages, were not typically further subdivided other than for agricultural uses within their extents. The MMU size for these agricultural uses within urban areas is 0.5 acres. As noted above, the study area overlaps with the 2005 mapping of the Salinas River and San Benito river major riparian corridors that Aerial Information Systems, Inc. conducted for the Nature Conservancy. The MMU for the original projects was <0.5 acres. Where those units had not changed for 2005 and 2012 mapping, the map units were kept at the original polygon size. The 0.5 acre MMU is used for new mapping of riparian and wetland map units. Other Mapping Criteria includes photo interpretation of land cover is based on state-wide criteria for vegetation mapping. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Stanford University contracted Aerial Information Systems, Inc. to develop a 2005 and 2012 Anderson Level II terrestrial Land Use/Land Cover map for a portion of the Salinas Valley in Monterey County and portions of several valleys in the greater Pajaro River and San Benito River watershed in San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties, to support research and future modeling efforts in the area. Karp, D. and Gennet, S. (2014) Land Use and Land Cover: Salinas Valley, Monterey County, California, 2005. Available at: http://purl.stanford.edu/by476jb7889 MAPPING CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTIONS/CRITERIA The Land Use/Land Cover mapping classification is a simple life form classification representing trees, shrubs, herbs, agriculture, urban. Note that there is correlation to some of the upper level hierarchy (Formation to Macrogroup) of the National Vegetation Classification Hierarchy as Applied to California Vegetation in the Manual of California Vegetation, 2nd Edition, Appendix 3. Land Use/Land Cover Land use/land cover involves two aspects of mapping that overlap. Land use is how the land is being utilized, such as urban, agriculture, open space, vacant, etc. Land cover is what is covering the landscape, usually in the form of vegetation, buildings, structures, non-vegetated, etc. The two aspects may overlap such as when trees are an overstory to agriculture, or a naturally vegetated area is designated as a park. Mapping of Land Use and Land Cover may be done as two separate layers or as one. For this project, it was mapped as one layer. Therefore, following California Department of Fish and Wildlife criteria for state-wide vegetation mapping, when overlap occurs the land cover or vegetation takes precedence if it is dominant over the land use. 10 = Forest & Woodlands (Trees) 11 = California Forest & Woodland (Dry Upland Native Trees) Stands are represented by upland tree species that are typical of the California Forest & Woodland Macrogroup. These include Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), Blue oak (Q. douglasii), Interior live oak (Q. wislizenii), Valley oak (Q. lobata), and California buckeye (Aesculus californica). Where natural trees are the overstory to agriculture or orchards/vineyards, the trees will take precedence in mapping and the Comment field will note trees over agriculture. If the trees are scattered or sparse then the agriculture or orchards/vineyards will take precedence and the Comment field will note the tree presence. 12 = Riparian Forest & Woodland (Wetland Native Trees) Stands are represented by wetland and riparian tree species that are typical of the Southwestern North American Riparian, Flooded and Swamp Forest & Woodland Macrogroup. These include Red willow (Salix laevigata), Black willow (S. gooddingii), Shining willow (S. lucida), Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Box elder (Acer negundo), Big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), California sycamore (Platanus racemosa), and White alder (Alnus rhombifolia). Since the majority of the major riparian zones of the 2005 Salinas River and 2007 San Benito River projects were previously mapped, these databases were used as the starting point of the new mapping for this project. The MMU of the original map units was <0.5 acre. For this project, the map units within those areas were left even if they were below the current project MMU. However for the 2012 mapping if there was a change, then the 0.5 acre MMU was used. If wetland tree or shrub vegetation was predominant, those took precedence over the Water Feature Class. 13 = Exotic Trees (Dry Upland Exotic Trees) Stands are represented by exotic tree species including Conifers, Eucalyptus, Pepper, and Tamarisk, among others. Single rows of planted trees are not mapped unless the crowns are so large that they meet the MMU width. 20 = Shrublands 21 = Southwestern North American Riparian Scrub (Wetland Thickets) Stands are represented by wetland and riparian shrub and tree sapling species that are typical of the Southwestern North American Riparian Scrub/Wash Group. These include Mixed willow thickets (shrubs and saplings) of Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Salix spp. (Shining willow [S. lucida], Arroyo willow [S. lasiolepis], Narrowleaf willow [S. exigua], Black willow [S. gooddingii], and/or Red willow [S. laevigata]), Mule-fat (Baccharis salicifolia), Scale broom (Lepidospartum squamatum), and Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis). Since the majority of the major riparian zones of the 2005 Salinas River and 2007 San Benito River projects were previously mapped, these databases were used as the starting point of the new mapping for this project. The MMU of the original map units was <0.5 acre. For this project, the map units within those areas were left even if they were below the current project MMU. However for the 2012 mapping if there was a change, then the 0.5 acre MMU was used. If wetland tree or shrub vegetation was predominant, those took precedence over the Water Feature Class. 22 = Upland Scrub (Chaparral, California Coastal Scrub & Pacific Coast Scrub) Stands are represented by upland shrub species that are typical of the California Chaparral and the California Coastal Scrub Macrogroups. These include Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), Scrub oak (Quercus berberidifolia), Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Buckthorn (Rhamnus spp.), Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), California buckwheat (Eriogonum californica) and Dune scrub species among others. 30 = Herbaceous Vegetation 31 = Mediterranean Grasslands & Forbs (Dry Upland Herbaceous) Stands are represented by upland herbaceous species that are typical of the Mediterranean Grasslands & Forb Meadow Formation, and the Vancouverian Coastal Dune and Bluff Macrogroup. These include naturalized Mediterranean annual grasses such as Brome (Bromus spp.), Oats (Avena spp.), and Barley (Hordeum spp.), Mustards (Brassica spp.), and other invasive exotic species including Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), and Iceplant. Dry upland herbaceous (grass) map units range from small parcels of land that have been vacant for years, to large expanses of open or fenced land which is also referred to as rangeland. Rangeland can take the form of woodlands, shrublands, or herbaceous as the predominant vegetation. From a land use point of view they can be considered not in any use, or used for grazing of domesticated animals. For this project the vegetation takes precedence over the grazing aspect of land use. However, smaller fields that are typically improved, and periodically or often maintained and associated with a farmstead or animal operation/ranch (horses, cows, small animals), are mapped as Pasturelands. Remnant foundations of buildings that have been removed are included with the surrounding vegetation. Large ditches that predominantly contain the weeds/grass/ruderal vegetation are included in the Water Feature class. Instances of stand-alone small corrals within a large area of grass in an agricultural area or in the outer rangeland area, with no buildings present, are mapped as Urban/Built-up, with a “Corrals” note in the Comment field. If the corrals within the grassland are below MMU, then the grassland polygon is noted for the presence of corrals in the Comment field. Otherwise, small corrals adjacent to buildings or other urban uses are mapped as part of the Urban/Built-Up. If corrals are associated with confined feeding operations, then they are mapped with those uses. 32 = Meadow & Marsh (Wetland/Wet Herbaceous) Stands are represented by wetland or riparian herbaceous species that are typical of Temperate and Boreal Freshwater Marsh Formation and the Temperate and Boreal Salt Marsh Formation, which include meadows and marshes. These include Bulrush (Schoenoplectus sp.), Cattails (Typha latifolia), sedges (Carex sp.), Rushes (Juncus spp.), Spike-rush (Eleocharis sp.), Alkali heath (Frankenia sp.), Pickleweed (Salicornia sp.), Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), Jaumea sp., and Gumweed (Grindelia sp.). Also present is the invasive exotic Giant cane (Arundo donax), which can form large stands. Presence of Arundo donax was noted in the Comment field. Where a dammed wetland feature occurs in a “natural environment”, that is, occurring along a drainage and not impounded on all sides, the Water Feature is separated from the wetland herbaceous where possible. Large mappable ditches whose delineations may contain wet herbs are mapped as Water Feature. Since the majority of the major riparian zones of the Salinas and San Benito Rivers were previously mapped in 2005, these databases were used as the starting point of the map. 40 = Little or No Vegetative Cover 41 = Naturally Occurring Unvegetated Areas with little or no vegetation that area that are not of human cause. Typically these are sparsely vegetated stream or river flats or temporarily flooded minor stream channels, but may include upland rock outcrops or escarpments. 42 = Human Caused Unvegetated Areas with little or no vegetated that are of human origin, with no buildings or permanent structures. These areas are typically “staging” or storage areas for agricultural equipment (irrigation, tanks, vehicles, etc.), and cleared areas adjacent to agricultural fields. Also included are berms, and cleared or scraped land. It does not include land tilled or prepped for agriculture. Cleared areas associated with a building or cluster of buildings are included with the buildings as Urban/Built-Up. Strips of cleared land along the riparian corridor edge may be mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated if it meets the minimum MMU width. There may be a dirt road within the cleared area, and agriculture adjacent to the cleared area. Orchards/Vineyards that had been recently cut down and the land cleared may be called as Human Caused Unvegetated if the current temporal and future imagery shows that the land has not returned to Orchard/Vineyards. If the imagery shows the land as grassy, then it is mapped as Mediterranean Grasslands & Forbs. 50 = Agriculture 51 = Active and Recently Active Agriculture Vegetable and grain row or field crop and nursery agricultural fields and greenhouses. Includes fallow land that has been in similar agricultural production within the last 5 years of the base imagery (2005/2012). May include berry bush crops. Agriculture within an Urban developed area, such as a city or town, was mapped if the agricultural field was greater or equal to 0.5 acres. Nursery buildings, paved areas, parking areas, and areas of weedy/disturbance are mapped as Urban-Built-Up. Fallow agricultural land is coded as Active and Recently Active Agriculture. It can appear grassy, weedy, or scraped. If the supplemental imagery shows that the land appears to have active agriculture within the last 5 years of the base image then it is coded as Active and Recently Active Agriculture. If it appears to not have been in production during that time, then it is coded as its current state of cover. If an area was mapped as Agriculture, but looked grassy/weedy on 2012 image, then the comment field will note that map unit was grassy in 2012, but had agriculture within 5-year cycle. It is difficult to differentiate heavily disked/mowed grass areas from agricultural grain field crops. Therefore a general guideline was established for mowed features within the intensive agricultural areas. These features were typically classified as Active or Recently Active Agriculture. However, similar features occurring in the rangeland areas were categorized as Mediterranean Grassland & Forbs. In both cases a note in the Comment field was used to address this discrepancy. Raspberry fields are bush/vine crops whose photo signature is difficult to differentiate from row crops. They appear to have very narrow rows and tend to be low growing with very little shadow. Often they are covered by plastic hoop covers in the field. Because of the narrow rows and inconsistent cover by plastic hoops, it is very difficult to distinguish the raspberry fields from row crops. Therefore they are included within the Active or Recently Active Agriculture class. Where natural trees are the overstory to agriculture, the trees will take precedence in mapping and the Comment field will note trees over agriculture. If the trees are scattered or sparse, the agriculture will take precedence and the Comment field will note the tree presence. Wide strips of cleared land along the edges of agricultural fields or orchards/vineyards may be mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated if they met the minimum MMU width. There may be a dirt road within the cleared area. Some of these cleared areas are narrow slopes or embankments. 52 = Pasturelands Fields that are typically improved, and periodically or often maintained fenced land associated with a farmstead or animal operation/ranch (horses, cows, small animals). They may also be irrigated at times. The map unit may represent one to several adjacent individually fenced pasture fields. The individual fenced areas may range in size from 1 to approximately 40 acres. Small animal pens, corrals, and back yard pens are not included, but are mapped as Urban/Built-up. This category does not include large open or fenced rangeland, which is typically mapped as natural vegetation. 53 = Orchards/Vineyards Includes citrus, fruit and nut tree crops, and vineyards. Fallow land that has been in similar agricultural production within the last 5 years of the base imagery (2005/2012) is also included. Orchards/Vineyards within an Urban developed area, such as a city or town, were mapped if the orchard/vineyard was greater or equal to 0.5 acres. Orchards/Vineyards that have been cleared completely are coded as Human Caused Unvegetated. However if rows or hummock are present, but the vines are not discernible or are very small, then the map unit is still mapped as Orchard/Vineyard. Raspberry fields are bush/vine crops whose photo signature is difficult to differentiate from row crops. They appear to have very narrow rows and tend to be low growing with very little shadow. Often they are covered by plastic hoop covers in the field. Because of the narrow rows and inconsistent cover by plastic hoops, it is very difficult to distinguish the raspberry fields from row crops. Therefore they area included within the Active or Recently Active Agriculture class. Where natural trees are the overstory to an orchard or vineyard, the trees will take precedence in mapping and the Comment field will note trees over agriculture. If the trees are scattered or sparse then the Orchard/Vineyard will take precedence and the Comment field will note the tree presence. Wide strips of cleared land along the edges of agricultural fields or orchards/vineyards may be mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated if they meet the minimum MMU width. There may be a dirt road within the cleared area. Some of these cleared areas are narrow slopes or embankments. 54 = Dairy, and Other Bovine Confined Feeding Operations Dairies, feed lots, and pens associated with bovine animals. May include barns, storage buildings, other structures, and/or associated residence. 55 = Poultry and Other Small Animal Confined Feeding Operations Facilities for chickens, turkeys, pigs, goats, and other small animals. May include barns, storage buildings, other structures, and/or associated residence. 60 = Urban/Built-Up Urban/Built-Up areas are typically composed of isolated as well as clustered permanent buildings and structures typically associated with residential, commercial, or industrial use. Horse ranches, agricultural buildings not associated with confined feeding operations, mines, major highways (typically divided with four lanes), interchanges, and paved areas are included. Urban sewage and water treatment settling basins are included in Urban/Built-up. Note that nursery greenhouses are mapped as Active and Recently Active Agriculture, but other building structures, parking areas, and small weed/disturbed areas within the nursery complex are included in Urban/Built-Up. Small corrals and backyard pens associated with adjacent farmsteads/residences/ranchettes are also included as Urban/Built-up. Mappable major highways are typically divided with a center median and have four lanes of traffic. The vegetated edge right-of-way is mapped separately if it is greater than the 0.5 acre MMU in the intense agricultural region. If the vegetation in the right-of-way is the same as the adjacent vegetated polygon, then it is included there. In transportation corridors where a paved road was situated adjacent to a railroad right-of-way and the width of the corridor was above MMU, the corridor was mapped as Urban/Built-Up. Note that riparian vegetation and river Water Feature take precedence over a highway bridge when they overlap. This category also includes intensive areas of urban development include cities, small towns, and isolated farmsteads/ranchettes and associated buildings. Single or clusters of agricultural buildings sometimes occur on small parcels of otherwise cleared land within the intensive agricultural area. Cleared parcels of land within the agricultural areas that contain stored equipment (irrigation, vehicles, equipment, etc.) and no buildings are mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated. Instances of stand-alone small corrals within a large area of grass in an agricultural area or in the outer rangeland area, with no buildings present, are mapped as Urban/Built-up, with a “Corrals” note in the Comment field. If the corrals within the grassland are below MMU, then the grassland polygon is noted for the presence of corrals in the Comment field. Otherwise, small corrals adjacent to buildings or other urban uses are mapped as part of the Urban/Built-Up. If corrals are associated with confined feeding operations, then they are mapped with those uses. Where a disturbance corridor containing a paved road occurs within the intense agricultural area, and is >0.5 ac MMU full side width, then the corridor is mapped as Urban/Built-Up. Because of the agricultural emphasis of the project, large urban developed areas were not typically further subdivided other than for agricultural uses (0.5 acre MMU) within their extents. Grass (Mediterranean Grassland & Forbs) and Water Features were also mapped if they were greater than or equal to 10 acres.   70 = Water Features Permanently, seasonally, temporarily, and intermittently flooded water features, such as lakes, ponds, basins, reservoirs, large ditches, major canals, and rivers. Includes the active channel (as defined by the current baseline imagery) of the Salinas River, San Benito River, Arroyo Seco, and San Lorenzo Creek. Dry impoundments such as farm ponds, duck ponds, and flood control basins are also included in this category. Large mappable ditches are also included, and delineations may contain the immediately adjacent disturbed area and wet herbs/weeds/grass/ruderal/cleared area. However, if wetland tree or shrub vegetation is predominant, then those would take precedence over the Water Feature Class. Emergent marsh vegetation, where discernible and mappable, are mapped separately. Urban sewage and water treatment settling basins are included in Urban/Built-up. The Pacific Ocean is also mapped as Water Feature. The shoreline is represented by the extreme high waterline (Upland-Littoral interface). This interface is normally not affected by the fluctuation of the tides. The demarcation was photo interpreted and mapped as best as could be done with the 2005 imagery as part of the original 2005 Salinas River project. Since 2009 Salinas River update retained the 2005 database shoreline, then the 2012 mapping also retained the 2005 shoreline. Cover Density – Tree and Shrub only 0 = 0-2%, not perceptible 1 = >2-10% 2 = >10-25% 3 = >25-40% 4 = >40-60% 5 = >60% 9 = Not applicable, Not assessed Other Mapping Criteria Photo interpretation of land cover is based on state-wide criteria for vegetation mapping. However, as mapping progressed there was a slight change in perspective on the mapping of grasslands/pastures. Typically the vegetation type would take precedence over the land use. Thus, large areas of “rangeland’ grasses could also be extensively used for grazing. Mowed grasslands were sometimes difficult to distinguish from agricultural lands and may have been called cropland rather than grass, especially if the area is frequently mowed and otherwise maintained. An attempt was made to add a note in the Comment field for the mapped unit when this situation was noticed.   This layer is presented in the WGS84 coordinate system for web display purposes. Downloadable data are provided in native coordinate system or projection.

  7. Title: Land Use and Land Cover: Additional Sites within the Pajaro River and San Benito River Watershed, California, 2005

    • Polygon data
    • 2014
    Contributors:

    Summary: This polygon shapefile represents land use and land cover for additional sites within the Pajaro River and San Benito River Watershed in San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties of California for 2005. This shapefile was extracted from a generalized land use/land cover database of the Salinas-Pajaro region. Map unit categories were based on a modified Anderson Level II hierarchy. Mapping generally adhered to a 0.5 acre Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU) for riparian and agriculture types and 1 acre MMU for all upland, urban, or other land use types. Vegetation percent cover classes were assigned to the tree and shrub layers for each stand. Herbaceous vegetation was not assigned a cover class. All density values are measured in absolute cover, not relative cover. If tree cover is equal to or greater than 40% then the shrub cover is assigned a Not Assessed value of 9. The minimum mapping unit resolution size of the land use/land cover polygons is twofold. In the intense agricultural region and for wetland and riparian areas the polygons have a 0.5 acre MMU. In the remainder of the study area, composed of non-agricultural areas, upland vegetation, and urban areas, the MMU is 1 acre. For thin linear-shaped polygons the MMU for width is one half the width of a full MMU square. Exceptions to the MMU guidance are noted in further criteria below. Because of the agricultural emphasis of the project, large urban developed areas, such as cities, towns, and villages, were not typically further subdivided other than for agricultural uses within their extents. The MMU size for these agricultural uses within urban areas is 0.5 acres. As noted above, the study area overlaps with the 2005 mapping of the Salinas River and San Benito river major riparian corridors that Aerial Information Systems, Inc. conducted for the Nature Conservancy. The MMU for the original projects was <0.5 acres. Where those units had not changed for 2005 and 2012 mapping, the map units were kept at the original polygon size. The 0.5 acre MMU is used for new mapping of riparian and wetland map units. Other Mapping Criteria includes photo interpretation of land cover is based on state-wide criteria for vegetation mapping. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Stanford University contracted Aerial Information Systems, Inc. to develop a 2005 and 2012 Anderson Level II terrestrial Land Use/Land Cover map for a portion of the Salinas Valley in Monterey County and portions of several valleys in the greater Pajaro River and San Benito River watershed in San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties, to support research and future modeling efforts in the area. Karp, D. and Gennet, S. (2014) Land Use and Land Cover: Additional Sites within the Pajaro River and San Benito River Watershed, California, 2005. Available at: http://purl.stanford.edu/yb381px4022 MAPPING CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTIONS/CRITERIA The Land Use/Land Cover mapping classification is a simple life form classification representing trees, shrubs, herbs, agriculture, urban. Note that there is correlation to some of the upper level hierarchy (Formation to Macrogroup) of the National Vegetation Classification Hierarchy as Applied to California Vegetation in the Manual of California Vegetation, 2nd Edition, Appendix 3. Land Use/Land Cover Land use/land cover involves two aspects of mapping that overlap. Land use is how the land is being utilized, such as urban, agriculture, open space, vacant, etc. Land cover is what is covering the landscape, usually in the form of vegetation, buildings, structures, non-vegetated, etc. The two aspects may overlap such as when trees are an overstory to agriculture, or a naturally vegetated area is designated as a park. Mapping of Land Use and Land Cover may be done as two separate layers or as one. For this project, it was mapped as one layer. Therefore, following California Department of Fish and Wildlife criteria for state-wide vegetation mapping, when overlap occurs the land cover or vegetation takes precedence if it is dominant over the land use. 10 = Forest & Woodlands (Trees) 11 = California Forest & Woodland (Dry Upland Native Trees) Stands are represented by upland tree species that are typical of the California Forest & Woodland Macrogroup. These include Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), Blue oak (Q. douglasii), Interior live oak (Q. wislizenii), Valley oak (Q. lobata), and California buckeye (Aesculus californica). Where natural trees are the overstory to agriculture or orchards/vineyards, the trees will take precedence in mapping and the Comment field will note trees over agriculture. If the trees are scattered or sparse then the agriculture or orchards/vineyards will take precedence and the Comment field will note the tree presence. 12 = Riparian Forest & Woodland (Wetland Native Trees) Stands are represented by wetland and riparian tree species that are typical of the Southwestern North American Riparian, Flooded and Swamp Forest & Woodland Macrogroup. These include Red willow (Salix laevigata), Black willow (S. gooddingii), Shining willow (S. lucida), Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Box elder (Acer negundo), Big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), California sycamore (Platanus racemosa), and White alder (Alnus rhombifolia). Since the majority of the major riparian zones of the 2005 Salinas River and 2007 San Benito River projects were previously mapped, these databases were used as the starting point of the new mapping for this project. The MMU of the original map units was <0.5 acre. For this project, the map units within those areas were left even if they were below the current project MMU. However for the 2012 mapping if there was a change, then the 0.5 acre MMU was used. If wetland tree or shrub vegetation was predominant, those took precedence over the Water Feature Class. 13 = Exotic Trees (Dry Upland Exotic Trees) Stands are represented by exotic tree species including Conifers, Eucalyptus, Pepper, and Tamarisk, among others. Single rows of planted trees are not mapped unless the crowns are so large that they meet the MMU width. 20 = Shrublands 21 = Southwestern North American Riparian Scrub (Wetland Thickets) Stands are represented by wetland and riparian shrub and tree sapling species that are typical of the Southwestern North American Riparian Scrub/Wash Group. These include Mixed willow thickets (shrubs and saplings) of Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Salix spp. (Shining willow [S. lucida], Arroyo willow [S. lasiolepis], Narrowleaf willow [S. exigua], Black willow [S. gooddingii], and/or Red willow [S. laevigata]), Mule-fat (Baccharis salicifolia), Scale broom (Lepidospartum squamatum), and Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis). Since the majority of the major riparian zones of the 2005 Salinas River and 2007 San Benito River projects were previously mapped, these databases were used as the starting point of the new mapping for this project. The MMU of the original map units was <0.5 acre. For this project, the map units within those areas were left even if they were below the current project MMU. However for the 2012 mapping if there was a change, then the 0.5 acre MMU was used. If wetland tree or shrub vegetation was predominant, those took precedence over the Water Feature Class. 22 = Upland Scrub (Chaparral, California Coastal Scrub & Pacific Coast Scrub) Stands are represented by upland shrub species that are typical of the California Chaparral and the California Coastal Scrub Macrogroups. These include Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), Scrub oak (Quercus berberidifolia), Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Buckthorn (Rhamnus spp.), Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), California buckwheat (Eriogonum californica) and Dune scrub species among others. 30 = Herbaceous Vegetation 31 = Mediterranean Grasslands & Forbs (Dry Upland Herbaceous) Stands are represented by upland herbaceous species that are typical of the Mediterranean Grasslands & Forb Meadow Formation, and the Vancouverian Coastal Dune and Bluff Macrogroup. These include naturalized Mediterranean annual grasses such as Brome (Bromus spp.), Oats (Avena spp.), and Barley (Hordeum spp.), Mustards (Brassica spp.), and other invasive exotic species including Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), and Iceplant. Dry upland herbaceous (grass) map units range from small parcels of land that have been vacant for years, to large expanses of open or fenced land which is also referred to as rangeland. Rangeland can take the form of woodlands, shrublands, or herbaceous as the predominant vegetation. From a land use point of view they can be considered not in any use, or used for grazing of domesticated animals. For this project the vegetation takes precedence over the grazing aspect of land use. However, smaller fields that are typically improved, and periodically or often maintained and associated with a farmstead or animal operation/ranch (horses, cows, small animals), are mapped as Pasturelands. Remnant foundations of buildings that have been removed are included with the surrounding vegetation. Large ditches that predominantly contain the weeds/grass/ruderal vegetation are included in the Water Feature class. Instances of stand-alone small corrals within a large area of grass in an agricultural area or in the outer rangeland area, with no buildings present, are mapped as Urban/Built-up, with a “Corrals” note in the Comment field. If the corrals within the grassland are below MMU, then the grassland polygon is noted for the presence of corrals in the Comment field. Otherwise, small corrals adjacent to buildings or other urban uses are mapped as part of the Urban/Built-Up. If corrals are associated with confined feeding operations, then they are mapped with those uses. 32 = Meadow & Marsh (Wetland/Wet Herbaceous) Stands are represented by wetland or riparian herbaceous species that are typical of Temperate and Boreal Freshwater Marsh Formation and the Temperate and Boreal Salt Marsh Formation, which include meadows and marshes. These include Bulrush (Schoenoplectus sp.), Cattails (Typha latifolia), sedges (Carex sp.), Rushes (Juncus spp.), Spike-rush (Eleocharis sp.), Alkali heath (Frankenia sp.), Pickleweed (Salicornia sp.), Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), Jaumea sp., and Gumweed (Grindelia sp.). Also present is the invasive exotic Giant cane (Arundo donax), which can form large stands. Presence of Arundo donax was noted in the Comment field. Where a dammed wetland feature occurs in a “natural environment”, that is, occurring along a drainage and not impounded on all sides, the Water Feature is separated from the wetland herbaceous where possible. Large mappable ditches whose delineations may contain wet herbs are mapped as Water Feature. Since the majority of the major riparian zones of the Salinas and San Benito Rivers were previously mapped in 2005, these databases were used as the starting point of the map. 40 = Little or No Vegetative Cover 41 = Naturally Occurring Unvegetated Areas with little or no vegetation that area that are not of human cause. Typically these are sparsely vegetated stream or river flats or temporarily flooded minor stream channels, but may include upland rock outcrops or escarpments. 42 = Human Caused Unvegetated Areas with little or no vegetated that are of human origin, with no buildings or permanent structures. These areas are typically “staging” or storage areas for agricultural equipment (irrigation, tanks, vehicles, etc.), and cleared areas adjacent to agricultural fields. Also included are berms, and cleared or scraped land. It does not include land tilled or prepped for agriculture. Cleared areas associated with a building or cluster of buildings are included with the buildings as Urban/Built-Up. Strips of cleared land along the riparian corridor edge may be mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated if it meets the minimum MMU width. There may be a dirt road within the cleared area, and agriculture adjacent to the cleared area. Orchards/Vineyards that had been recently cut down and the land cleared may be called as Human Caused Unvegetated if the current temporal and future imagery shows that the land has not returned to Orchard/Vineyards. If the imagery shows the land as grassy, then it is mapped as Mediterranean Grasslands & Forbs. 50 = Agriculture 51 = Active and Recently Active Agriculture Vegetable and grain row or field crop and nursery agricultural fields and greenhouses. Includes fallow land that has been in similar agricultural production within the last 5 years of the base imagery (2005/2012). May include berry bush crops. Agriculture within an Urban developed area, such as a city or town, was mapped if the agricultural field was greater or equal to 0.5 acres. Nursery buildings, paved areas, parking areas, and areas of weedy/disturbance are mapped as Urban-Built-Up. Fallow agricultural land is coded as Active and Recently Active Agriculture. It can appear grassy, weedy, or scraped. If the supplemental imagery shows that the land appears to have active agriculture within the last 5 years of the base image then it is coded as Active and Recently Active Agriculture. If it appears to not have been in production during that time, then it is coded as its current state of cover. If an area was mapped as Agriculture, but looked grassy/weedy on 2012 image, then the comment field will note that map unit was grassy in 2012, but had agriculture within 5-year cycle. It is difficult to differentiate heavily disked/mowed grass areas from agricultural grain field crops. Therefore a general guideline was established for mowed features within the intensive agricultural areas. These features were typically classified as Active or Recently Active Agriculture. However, similar features occurring in the rangeland areas were categorized as Mediterranean Grassland & Forbs. In both cases a note in the Comment field was used to address this discrepancy. Raspberry fields are bush/vine crops whose photo signature is difficult to differentiate from row crops. They appear to have very narrow rows and tend to be low growing with very little shadow. Often they are covered by plastic hoop covers in the field. Because of the narrow rows and inconsistent cover by plastic hoops, it is very difficult to distinguish the raspberry fields from row crops. Therefore they are included within the Active or Recently Active Agriculture class. Where natural trees are the overstory to agriculture, the trees will take precedence in mapping and the Comment field will note trees over agriculture. If the trees are scattered or sparse, the agriculture will take precedence and the Comment field will note the tree presence. Wide strips of cleared land along the edges of agricultural fields or orchards/vineyards may be mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated if they met the minimum MMU width. There may be a dirt road within the cleared area. Some of these cleared areas are narrow slopes or embankments. 52 = Pasturelands Fields that are typically improved, and periodically or often maintained fenced land associated with a farmstead or animal operation/ranch (horses, cows, small animals). They may also be irrigated at times. The map unit may represent one to several adjacent individually fenced pasture fields. The individual fenced areas may range in size from 1 to approximately 40 acres. Small animal pens, corrals, and back yard pens are not included, but are mapped as Urban/Built-up. This category does not include large open or fenced rangeland, which is typically mapped as natural vegetation. 53 = Orchards/Vineyards Includes citrus, fruit and nut tree crops, and vineyards. Fallow land that has been in similar agricultural production within the last 5 years of the base imagery (2005/2012) is also included. Orchards/Vineyards within an Urban developed area, such as a city or town, were mapped if the orchard/vineyard was greater or equal to 0.5 acres. Orchards/Vineyards that have been cleared completely are coded as Human Caused Unvegetated. However if rows or hummock are present, but the vines are not discernible or are very small, then the map unit is still mapped as Orchard/Vineyard. Raspberry fields are bush/vine crops whose photo signature is difficult to differentiate from row crops. They appear to have very narrow rows and tend to be low growing with very little shadow. Often they are covered by plastic hoop covers in the field. Because of the narrow rows and inconsistent cover by plastic hoops, it is very difficult to distinguish the raspberry fields from row crops. Therefore they area included within the Active or Recently Active Agriculture class. Where natural trees are the overstory to an orchard or vineyard, the trees will take precedence in mapping and the Comment field will note trees over agriculture. If the trees are scattered or sparse then the Orchard/Vineyard will take precedence and the Comment field will note the tree presence. Wide strips of cleared land along the edges of agricultural fields or orchards/vineyards may be mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated if they meet the minimum MMU width. There may be a dirt road within the cleared area. Some of these cleared areas are narrow slopes or embankments. 54 = Dairy, and Other Bovine Confined Feeding Operations Dairies, feed lots, and pens associated with bovine animals. May include barns, storage buildings, other structures, and/or associated residence. 55 = Poultry and Other Small Animal Confined Feeding Operations Facilities for chickens, turkeys, pigs, goats, and other small animals. May include barns, storage buildings, other structures, and/or associated residence. 60 = Urban/Built-Up Urban/Built-Up areas are typically composed of isolated as well as clustered permanent buildings and structures typically associated with residential, commercial, or industrial use. Horse ranches, agricultural buildings not associated with confined feeding operations, mines, major highways (typically divided with four lanes), interchanges, and paved areas are included. Urban sewage and water treatment settling basins are included in Urban/Built-up. Note that nursery greenhouses are mapped as Active and Recently Active Agriculture, but other building structures, parking areas, and small weed/disturbed areas within the nursery complex are included in Urban/Built-Up. Small corrals and backyard pens associated with adjacent farmsteads/residences/ranchettes are also included as Urban/Built-up. Mappable major highways are typically divided with a center median and have four lanes of traffic. The vegetated edge right-of-way is mapped separately if it is greater than the 0.5 acre MMU in the intense agricultural region. If the vegetation in the right-of-way is the same as the adjacent vegetated polygon, then it is included there. In transportation corridors where a paved road was situated adjacent to a railroad right-of-way and the width of the corridor was above MMU, the corridor was mapped as Urban/Built-Up. Note that riparian vegetation and river Water Feature take precedence over a highway bridge when they overlap. This category also includes intensive areas of urban development include cities, small towns, and isolated farmsteads/ranchettes and associated buildings. Single or clusters of agricultural buildings sometimes occur on small parcels of otherwise cleared land within the intensive agricultural area. Cleared parcels of land within the agricultural areas that contain stored equipment (irrigation, vehicles, equipment, etc.) and no buildings are mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated. Instances of stand-alone small corrals within a large area of grass in an agricultural area or in the outer rangeland area, with no buildings present, are mapped as Urban/Built-up, with a “Corrals” note in the Comment field. If the corrals within the grassland are below MMU, then the grassland polygon is noted for the presence of corrals in the Comment field. Otherwise, small corrals adjacent to buildings or other urban uses are mapped as part of the Urban/Built-Up. If corrals are associated with confined feeding operations, then they are mapped with those uses. Where a disturbance corridor containing a paved road occurs within the intense agricultural area, and is >0.5 ac MMU full side width, then the corridor is mapped as Urban/Built-Up. Because of the agricultural emphasis of the project, large urban developed areas were not typically further subdivided other than for agricultural uses (0.5 acre MMU) within their extents. Grass (Mediterranean Grassland & Forbs) and Water Features were also mapped if they were greater than or equal to 10 acres.   70 = Water Features Permanently, seasonally, temporarily, and intermittently flooded water features, such as lakes, ponds, basins, reservoirs, large ditches, major canals, and rivers. Includes the active channel (as defined by the current baseline imagery) of the Salinas River, San Benito River, Arroyo Seco, and San Lorenzo Creek. Dry impoundments such as farm ponds, duck ponds, and flood control basins are also included in this category. Large mappable ditches are also included, and delineations may contain the immediately adjacent disturbed area and wet herbs/weeds/grass/ruderal/cleared area. However, if wetland tree or shrub vegetation is predominant, then those would take precedence over the Water Feature Class. Emergent marsh vegetation, where discernible and mappable, are mapped separately. Urban sewage and water treatment settling basins are included in Urban/Built-up. The Pacific Ocean is also mapped as Water Feature. The shoreline is represented by the extreme high waterline (Upland-Littoral interface). This interface is normally not affected by the fluctuation of the tides. The demarcation was photo interpreted and mapped as best as could be done with the 2005 imagery as part of the original 2005 Salinas River project. Since 2009 Salinas River update retained the 2005 database shoreline, then the 2012 mapping also retained the 2005 shoreline. Cover Density – Tree and Shrub only 0 = 0-2%, not perceptible 1 = >2-10% 2 = >10-25% 3 = >25-40% 4 = >40-60% 5 = >60% 9 = Not applicable, Not assessed Other Mapping Criteria Photo interpretation of land cover is based on state-wide criteria for vegetation mapping. However, as mapping progressed there was a slight change in perspective on the mapping of grasslands/pastures. Typically the vegetation type would take precedence over the land use. Thus, large areas of “rangeland’ grasses could also be extensively used for grazing. Mowed grasslands were sometimes difficult to distinguish from agricultural lands and may have been called cropland rather than grass, especially if the area is frequently mowed and otherwise maintained. An attempt was made to add a note in the Comment field for the mapped unit when this situation was noticed.   This layer is presented in the WGS84 coordinate system for web display purposes. Downloadable data are provided in native coordinate system or projection.

  8. Title: Land Use and Land Cover: Salinas Valley, Monterey County, California, 2012

    • Polygon data
    • 2014
    Contributors:

    Summary: This polygon shapefile represents land use and land cover for the Salinas Valley in Monterey County, California for 2012. This shapefile was extracted from a generalized land use/land cover database of the Salinas-Pajaro region. Map unit categories were based on a modified Anderson Level II hierarchy. Mapping generally adhered to a 0.5 acre Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU) for riparian and agriculture types and 1 acre MMU for all upland, urban, or other land use types. Vegetation percent cover classes were assigned to the tree and shrub layers for each stand. Herbaceous vegetation was not assigned a cover class. All density values are measured in absolute cover, not relative cover. If tree cover is equal to or greater than 40% then the shrub cover is assigned a Not Assessed value of 9. The minimum mapping unit (MMU) resolution size of the land use/land cover polygons is twofold. In the intense agricultural region and for wetland and riparian areas the polygons have a 0.5 acre MMU. In the remainder of the study area, composed of non-agricultural areas, upland vegetation, and urban areas, the MMU is 1 acre. For thin linear-shaped polygons the MMU for width is one half the width of a full MMU square. Exceptions to the MMU guidance are noted in further criteria below. Because of the agricultural emphasis of the project, large urban developed areas, such as cities, towns, and villages, were not typically further subdivided other than for agricultural uses within their extents. The MMU size for these agricultural uses within urban areas is 0.5 acres. The study area overlaps with the 2005 mapping of the Salinas River and San Benito river major riparian corridors that Aerial Information Systems, Inc. conducted for the Nature Conservancy. The MMU for the original projects was <0.5 acres. Where those units had not changed for 2005 and 2012 mapping, the map units were kept at the original polygon size. The 0.5 acre MMU is used for new mapping of riparian and wetland map units. Other Mapping Criteria includes photo interpretation of land cover is based on state-wide criteria for vegetation mapping. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Stanford University contracted Aerial Information Systems, Inc. to develop a 2005 and 2012 Anderson Level II terrestrial Land Use/Land Cover map for a portion of the Salinas Valley in Monterey County and portions of several valleys in the greater Pajaro River and San Benito River watershed in San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties, to support research and future modeling efforts in the area. Karp, D. and Gennet, S. (2014) Land Use and Land Cover: Salinas Valley, Monterey County, California, 2012. Availabe at: http://purl.stanford.edu/cn773xf9654 MAPPING CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTIONS/CRITERIA The Land Use/Land Cover mapping classification is a simple life form classification representing trees, shrubs, herbs, agriculture, urban. Note that there is correlation to some of the upper level hierarchy (Formation to Macrogroup) of the National Vegetation Classification Hierarchy as Applied to California Vegetation in the Manual of California Vegetation, 2nd Edition, Appendix 3. Land Use/Land Cover Land use/land cover involves two aspects of mapping that overlap. Land use is how the land is being utilized, such as urban, agriculture, open space, vacant, etc. Land cover is what is covering the landscape, usually in the form of vegetation, buildings, structures, non-vegetated, etc. The two aspects may overlap such as when trees are an overstory to agriculture, or a naturally vegetated area is designated as a park. Mapping of Land Use and Land Cover may be done as two separate layers or as one. For this project, it was mapped as one layer. Therefore, following California Department of Fish and Wildlife criteria for state-wide vegetation mapping, when overlap occurs the land cover or vegetation takes precedence if it is dominant over the land use. 10 = Forest & Woodlands (Trees) 11 = California Forest & Woodland (Dry Upland Native Trees) Stands are represented by upland tree species that are typical of the California Forest & Woodland Macrogroup. These include Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), Blue oak (Q. douglasii), Interior live oak (Q. wislizenii), Valley oak (Q. lobata), and California buckeye (Aesculus californica). Where natural trees are the overstory to agriculture or orchards/vineyards, the trees will take precedence in mapping and the Comment field will note trees over agriculture. If the trees are scattered or sparse then the agriculture or orchards/vineyards will take precedence and the Comment field will note the tree presence. 12 = Riparian Forest & Woodland (Wetland Native Trees) Stands are represented by wetland and riparian tree species that are typical of the Southwestern North American Riparian, Flooded and Swamp Forest & Woodland Macrogroup. These include Red willow (Salix laevigata), Black willow (S. gooddingii), Shining willow (S. lucida), Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Box elder (Acer negundo), Big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), California sycamore (Platanus racemosa), and White alder (Alnus rhombifolia). Since the majority of the major riparian zones of the 2005 Salinas River and 2007 San Benito River projects were previously mapped, these databases were used as the starting point of the new mapping for this project. The MMU of the original map units was <0.5 acre. For this project, the map units within those areas were left even if they were below the current project MMU. However for the 2012 mapping if there was a change, then the 0.5 acre MMU was used. If wetland tree or shrub vegetation was predominant, those took precedence over the Water Feature Class. 13 = Exotic Trees (Dry Upland Exotic Trees) Stands are represented by exotic tree species including Conifers, Eucalyptus, Pepper, and Tamarisk, among others. Single rows of planted trees are not mapped unless the crowns are so large that they meet the MMU width. 20 = Shrublands 21 = Southwestern North American Riparian Scrub (Wetland Thickets) Stands are represented by wetland and riparian shrub and tree sapling species that are typical of the Southwestern North American Riparian Scrub/Wash Group. These include Mixed willow thickets (shrubs and saplings) of Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Salix spp. (Shining willow [S. lucida], Arroyo willow [S. lasiolepis], Narrowleaf willow [S. exigua], Black willow [S. gooddingii], and/or Red willow [S. laevigata]), Mule-fat (Baccharis salicifolia), Scale broom (Lepidospartum squamatum), and Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis). Since the majority of the major riparian zones of the 2005 Salinas River and 2007 San Benito River projects were previously mapped, these databases were used as the starting point of the new mapping for this project. The MMU of the original map units was <0.5 acre. For this project, the map units within those areas were left even if they were below the current project MMU. However for the 2012 mapping if there was a change, then the 0.5 acre MMU was used. If wetland tree or shrub vegetation was predominant, those took precedence over the Water Feature Class. 22 = Upland Scrub (Chaparral, California Coastal Scrub & Pacific Coast Scrub) Stands are represented by upland shrub species that are typical of the California Chaparral and the California Coastal Scrub Macrogroups. These include Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), Scrub oak (Quercus berberidifolia), Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Buckthorn (Rhamnus spp.), Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), California buckwheat (Eriogonum californica) and Dune scrub species among others. 30 = Herbaceous Vegetation 31 = Mediterranean Grasslands & Forbs (Dry Upland Herbaceous) Stands are represented by upland herbaceous species that are typical of the Mediterranean Grasslands & Forb Meadow Formation, and the Vancouverian Coastal Dune and Bluff Macrogroup. These include naturalized Mediterranean annual grasses such as Brome (Bromus spp.), Oats (Avena spp.), and Barley (Hordeum spp.), Mustards (Brassica spp.), and other invasive exotic species including Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), and Iceplant. Dry upland herbaceous (grass) map units range from small parcels of land that have been vacant for years, to large expanses of open or fenced land which is also referred to as rangeland. Rangeland can take the form of woodlands, shrublands, or herbaceous as the predominant vegetation. From a land use point of view they can be considered not in any use, or used for grazing of domesticated animals. For this project the vegetation takes precedence over the grazing aspect of land use. However, smaller fields that are typically improved, and periodically or often maintained and associated with a farmstead or animal operation/ranch (horses, cows, small animals), are mapped as Pasturelands. Remnant foundations of buildings that have been removed are included with the surrounding vegetation. Large ditches that predominantly contain the weeds/grass/ruderal vegetation are included in the Water Feature class. Instances of stand-alone small corrals within a large area of grass in an agricultural area or in the outer rangeland area, with no buildings present, are mapped as Urban/Built-up, with a “Corrals” note in the Comment field. If the corrals within the grassland are below MMU, then the grassland polygon is noted for the presence of corrals in the Comment field. Otherwise, small corrals adjacent to buildings or other urban uses are mapped as part of the Urban/Built-Up. If corrals are associated with confined feeding operations, then they are mapped with those uses. 32 = Meadow & Marsh (Wetland/Wet Herbaceous) Stands are represented by wetland or riparian herbaceous species that are typical of Temperate and Boreal Freshwater Marsh Formation and the Temperate and Boreal Salt Marsh Formation, which include meadows and marshes. These include Bulrush (Schoenoplectus sp.), Cattails (Typha latifolia), sedges (Carex sp.), Rushes (Juncus spp.), Spike-rush (Eleocharis sp.), Alkali heath (Frankenia sp.), Pickleweed (Salicornia sp.), Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), Jaumea sp., and Gumweed (Grindelia sp.). Also present is the invasive exotic Giant cane (Arundo donax), which can form large stands. Presence of Arundo donax was noted in the Comment field. Where a dammed wetland feature occurs in a “natural environment”, that is, occurring along a drainage and not impounded on all sides, the Water Feature is separated from the wetland herbaceous where possible. Large mappable ditches whose delineations may contain wet herbs are mapped as Water Feature. Since the majority of the major riparian zones of the Salinas and San Benito Rivers were previously mapped in 2005, these databases were used as the starting point of the map. 40 = Little or No Vegetative Cover 41 = Naturally Occurring Unvegetated Areas with little or no vegetation that area that are not of human cause. Typically these are sparsely vegetated stream or river flats or temporarily flooded minor stream channels, but may include upland rock outcrops or escarpments. 42 = Human Caused Unvegetated Areas with little or no vegetated that are of human origin, with no buildings or permanent structures. These areas are typically “staging” or storage areas for agricultural equipment (irrigation, tanks, vehicles, etc.), and cleared areas adjacent to agricultural fields. Also included are berms, and cleared or scraped land. It does not include land tilled or prepped for agriculture. Cleared areas associated with a building or cluster of buildings are included with the buildings as Urban/Built-Up. Strips of cleared land along the riparian corridor edge may be mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated if it meets the minimum MMU width. There may be a dirt road within the cleared area, and agriculture adjacent to the cleared area. Orchards/Vineyards that had been recently cut down and the land cleared may be called as Human Caused Unvegetated if the current temporal and future imagery shows that the land has not returned to Orchard/Vineyards. If the imagery shows the land as grassy, then it is mapped as Mediterranean Grasslands & Forbs. 50 = Agriculture 51 = Active and Recently Active Agriculture Vegetable and grain row or field crop and nursery agricultural fields and greenhouses. Includes fallow land that has been in similar agricultural production within the last 5 years of the base imagery (2005/2012). May include berry bush crops. Agriculture within an Urban developed area, such as a city or town, was mapped if the agricultural field was greater or equal to 0.5 acres. Nursery buildings, paved areas, parking areas, and areas of weedy/disturbance are mapped as Urban-Built-Up. Fallow agricultural land is coded as Active and Recently Active Agriculture. It can appear grassy, weedy, or scraped. If the supplemental imagery shows that the land appears to have active agriculture within the last 5 years of the base image then it is coded as Active and Recently Active Agriculture. If it appears to not have been in production during that time, then it is coded as its current state of cover. If an area was mapped as Agriculture, but looked grassy/weedy on 2012 image, then the comment field will note that map unit was grassy in 2012, but had agriculture within 5-year cycle. It is difficult to differentiate heavily disked/mowed grass areas from agricultural grain field crops. Therefore a general guideline was established for mowed features within the intensive agricultural areas. These features were typically classified as Active or Recently Active Agriculture. However, similar features occurring in the rangeland areas were categorized as Mediterranean Grassland & Forbs. In both cases a note in the Comment field was used to address this discrepancy. Raspberry fields are bush/vine crops whose photo signature is difficult to differentiate from row crops. They appear to have very narrow rows and tend to be low growing with very little shadow. Often they are covered by plastic hoop covers in the field. Because of the narrow rows and inconsistent cover by plastic hoops, it is very difficult to distinguish the raspberry fields from row crops. Therefore they are included within the Active or Recently Active Agriculture class. Where natural trees are the overstory to agriculture, the trees will take precedence in mapping and the Comment field will note trees over agriculture. If the trees are scattered or sparse, the agriculture will take precedence and the Comment field will note the tree presence. Wide strips of cleared land along the edges of agricultural fields or orchards/vineyards may be mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated if they met the minimum MMU width. There may be a dirt road within the cleared area. Some of these cleared areas are narrow slopes or embankments. 52 = Pasturelands Fields that are typically improved, and periodically or often maintained fenced land associated with a farmstead or animal operation/ranch (horses, cows, small animals). They may also be irrigated at times. The map unit may represent one to several adjacent individually fenced pasture fields. The individual fenced areas may range in size from 1 to approximately 40 acres. Small animal pens, corrals, and back yard pens are not included, but are mapped as Urban/Built-up. This category does not include large open or fenced rangeland, which is typically mapped as natural vegetation. 53 = Orchards/Vineyards Includes citrus, fruit and nut tree crops, and vineyards. Fallow land that has been in similar agricultural production within the last 5 years of the base imagery (2005/2012) is also included. Orchards/Vineyards within an Urban developed area, such as a city or town, were mapped if the orchard/vineyard was greater or equal to 0.5 acres. Orchards/Vineyards that have been cleared completely are coded as Human Caused Unvegetated. However if rows or hummock are present, but the vines are not discernible or are very small, then the map unit is still mapped as Orchard/Vineyard. Raspberry fields are bush/vine crops whose photo signature is difficult to differentiate from row crops. They appear to have very narrow rows and tend to be low growing with very little shadow. Often they are covered by plastic hoop covers in the field. Because of the narrow rows and inconsistent cover by plastic hoops, it is very difficult to distinguish the raspberry fields from row crops. Therefore they area included within the Active or Recently Active Agriculture class. Where natural trees are the overstory to an orchard or vineyard, the trees will take precedence in mapping and the Comment field will note trees over agriculture. If the trees are scattered or sparse then the Orchard/Vineyard will take precedence and the Comment field will note the tree presence. Wide strips of cleared land along the edges of agricultural fields or orchards/vineyards may be mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated if they meet the minimum MMU width. There may be a dirt road within the cleared area. Some of these cleared areas are narrow slopes or embankments. 54 = Dairy, and Other Bovine Confined Feeding Operations Dairies, feed lots, and pens associated with bovine animals. May include barns, storage buildings, other structures, and/or associated residence. 55 = Poultry and Other Small Animal Confined Feeding Operations Facilities for chickens, turkeys, pigs, goats, and other small animals. May include barns, storage buildings, other structures, and/or associated residence. 60 = Urban/Built-Up Urban/Built-Up areas are typically composed of isolated as well as clustered permanent buildings and structures typically associated with residential, commercial, or industrial use. Horse ranches, agricultural buildings not associated with confined feeding operations, mines, major highways (typically divided with four lanes), interchanges, and paved areas are included. Urban sewage and water treatment settling basins are included in Urban/Built-up. Note that nursery greenhouses are mapped as Active and Recently Active Agriculture, but other building structures, parking areas, and small weed/disturbed areas within the nursery complex are included in Urban/Built-Up. Small corrals and backyard pens associated with adjacent farmsteads/residences/ranchettes are also included as Urban/Built-up. Mappable major highways are typically divided with a center median and have four lanes of traffic. The vegetated edge right-of-way is mapped separately if it is greater than the 0.5 acre MMU in the intense agricultural region. If the vegetation in the right-of-way is the same as the adjacent vegetated polygon, then it is included there. In transportation corridors where a paved road was situated adjacent to a railroad right-of-way and the width of the corridor was above MMU, the corridor was mapped as Urban/Built-Up. Note that riparian vegetation and river Water Feature take precedence over a highway bridge when they overlap. This category also includes intensive areas of urban development include cities, small towns, and isolated farmsteads/ranchettes and associated buildings. Single or clusters of agricultural buildings sometimes occur on small parcels of otherwise cleared land within the intensive agricultural area. Cleared parcels of land within the agricultural areas that contain stored equipment (irrigation, vehicles, equipment, etc.) and no buildings are mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated. Instances of stand-alone small corrals within a large area of grass in an agricultural area or in the outer rangeland area, with no buildings present, are mapped as Urban/Built-up, with a “Corrals” note in the Comment field. If the corrals within the grassland are below MMU, then the grassland polygon is noted for the presence of corrals in the Comment field. Otherwise, small corrals adjacent to buildings or other urban uses are mapped as part of the Urban/Built-Up. If corrals are associated with confined feeding operations, then they are mapped with those uses. Where a disturbance corridor containing a paved road occurs within the intense agricultural area, and is >0.5 ac MMU full side width, then the corridor is mapped as Urban/Built-Up. Because of the agricultural emphasis of the project, large urban developed areas were not typically further subdivided other than for agricultural uses (0.5 acre MMU) within their extents. Grass (Mediterranean Grassland & Forbs) and Water Features were also mapped if they were greater than or equal to 10 acres.   70 = Water Features Permanently, seasonally, temporarily, and intermittently flooded water features, such as lakes, ponds, basins, reservoirs, large ditches, major canals, and rivers. Includes the active channel (as defined by the current baseline imagery) of the Salinas River, San Benito River, Arroyo Seco, and San Lorenzo Creek. Dry impoundments such as farm ponds, duck ponds, and flood control basins are also included in this category. Large mappable ditches are also included, and delineations may contain the immediately adjacent disturbed area and wet herbs/weeds/grass/ruderal/cleared area. However, if wetland tree or shrub vegetation is predominant, then those would take precedence over the Water Feature Class. Emergent marsh vegetation, where discernible and mappable, are mapped separately. Urban sewage and water treatment settling basins are included in Urban/Built-up. The Pacific Ocean is also mapped as Water Feature. The shoreline is represented by the extreme high waterline (Upland-Littoral interface). This interface is normally not affected by the fluctuation of the tides. The demarcation was photo interpreted and mapped as best as could be done with the 2005 imagery as part of the original 2005 Salinas River project. Since 2009 Salinas River update retained the 2005 database shoreline, then the 2012 mapping also retained the 2005 shoreline. Cover Density – Tree and Shrub only 0 = 0-2%, not perceptible 1 = >2-10% 2 = >10-25% 3 = >25-40% 4 = >40-60% 5 = >60% 9 = Not applicable, Not assessed Other Mapping Criteria Photo interpretation of land cover is based on state-wide criteria for vegetation mapping. However, as mapping progressed there was a slight change in perspective on the mapping of grasslands/pastures. Typically the vegetation type would take precedence over the land use. Thus, large areas of “rangeland’ grasses could also be extensively used for grazing. Mowed grasslands were sometimes difficult to distinguish from agricultural lands and may have been called cropland rather than grass, especially if the area is frequently mowed and otherwise maintained. An attempt was made to add a note in the Comment field for the mapped unit when this situation was noticed.   This layer is presented in the WGS84 coordinate system for web display purposes. Downloadable data are provided in native coordinate system or projection.

  9. Title: Land Use and Land Cover: Pajaro River and San Benito River Watershed, California, 2012

    • Polygon data
    • 2014
    Contributors:

    Summary: This polygon shapefile represents land use and land cover for the Pajaro River and San Benito River Watershed in San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties of California for 2012. This shapefile was extracted from a generalized land use/land cover database of the Salinas-Pajaro region. Map unit categories were based on a modified Anderson Level II hierarchy. Mapping generally adhered to a 0.5 acre Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU) for riparian and agriculture types and 1 acre MMU for all upland, urban, or other land use types. Vegetation percent cover classes were assigned to the tree and shrub layers for each stand. Herbaceous vegetation was not assigned a cover class. All density values are measured in absolute cover, not relative cover. If tree cover is equal to or greater than 40% then the shrub cover is assigned a Not Assessed value of 9. The minimum mapping unit resolution size of the land use/land cover polygons is twofold. In the intense agricultural region and for wetland and riparian areas the polygons have a 0.5 acre MMU. In the remainder of the study area, composed of non-agricultural areas, upland vegetation, and urban areas, the MMU is 1 acre. For thin linear-shaped polygons the MMU for width is one half the width of a full MMU square. Because of the agricultural emphasis of the project, large urban developed areas, such as cities, towns, and villages, were not typically further subdivided other than for agricultural uses within their extents. The MMU size for these agricultural uses within urban areas is 0.5 acres. As noted above, the study area overlaps with the 2005 mapping of the Salinas River and San Benito river major riparian corridors that Aerial Information Systems, Inc. conducted for the Nature Conservancy. The MMU for the original projects was <0.5 acres. Where those units had not changed for 2005 and 2012 mapping, the map units were kept at the original polygon size. The 0.5 acre MMU is used for new mapping of riparian and wetland map units. Other Mapping Criteria includes photo interpretation of land cover is based on state-wide criteria for vegetation mapping. The Salinas Valley mapping area encompasses 412,508 acres along the entire width of the valley, including the lower foothill toeslopes, from the San Ardo Oil Field in the south, to the Monterey Bay shoreline in the north between Marina and Castroville. The valley lies entirely within the outer coastal ranges; its western edge is bounded by the Sierra de Salinas and Santa Lucia Range with the eastern extent defined by the western slopes of the Gabilan Range. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Stanford University contracted Aerial Information Systems, Inc. to develop a 2005 and 2012 Anderson Level II terrestrial Land Use/Land Cover map for a portion of the Salinas Valley in Monterey County and portions of several valleys in the greater Pajaro River and San Benito River watershed in San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties, to support research and future modeling efforts in the area. Karp, D. and Gennet, S. (2014) Land Use and Land Cover: Pajaro River and San Benito River Watershed, California, 2012. Available at: http://purl.stanford.edu/jp529sh7785 MAPPING CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTIONS/CRITERIA The Land Use/Land Cover mapping classification is a simple life form classification representing trees, shrubs, herbs, agriculture, urban. Note that there is correlation to some of the upper level hierarchy (Formation to Macrogroup) of the National Vegetation Classification Hierarchy as Applied to California Vegetation in the Manual of California Vegetation, 2nd Edition, Appendix 3. Land Use/Land Cover Land use/land cover involves two aspects of mapping that overlap. Land use is how the land is being utilized, such as urban, agriculture, open space, vacant, etc. Land cover is what is covering the landscape, usually in the form of vegetation, buildings, structures, non-vegetated, etc. The two aspects may overlap such as when trees are an overstory to agriculture, or a naturally vegetated area is designated as a park. Mapping of Land Use and Land Cover may be done as two separate layers or as one. For this project, it was mapped as one layer. Therefore, following California Department of Fish and Wildlife criteria for state-wide vegetation mapping, when overlap occurs the land cover or vegetation takes precedence if it is dominant over the land use. 10 = Forest & Woodlands (Trees) 11 = California Forest & Woodland (Dry Upland Native Trees) Stands are represented by upland tree species that are typical of the California Forest & Woodland Macrogroup. These include Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), Blue oak (Q. douglasii), Interior live oak (Q. wislizenii), Valley oak (Q. lobata), and California buckeye (Aesculus californica). Where natural trees are the overstory to agriculture or orchards/vineyards, the trees will take precedence in mapping and the Comment field will note trees over agriculture. If the trees are scattered or sparse then the agriculture or orchards/vineyards will take precedence and the Comment field will note the tree presence. 12 = Riparian Forest & Woodland (Wetland Native Trees) Stands are represented by wetland and riparian tree species that are typical of the Southwestern North American Riparian, Flooded and Swamp Forest & Woodland Macrogroup. These include Red willow (Salix laevigata), Black willow (S. gooddingii), Shining willow (S. lucida), Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Box elder (Acer negundo), Big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), California sycamore (Platanus racemosa), and White alder (Alnus rhombifolia). Since the majority of the major riparian zones of the 2005 Salinas River and 2007 San Benito River projects were previously mapped, these databases were used as the starting point of the new mapping for this project. The MMU of the original map units was <0.5 acre. For this project, the map units within those areas were left even if they were below the current project MMU. However for the 2012 mapping if there was a change, then the 0.5 acre MMU was used. If wetland tree or shrub vegetation was predominant, those took precedence over the Water Feature Class. 13 = Exotic Trees (Dry Upland Exotic Trees) Stands are represented by exotic tree species including Conifers, Eucalyptus, Pepper, and Tamarisk, among others. Single rows of planted trees are not mapped unless the crowns are so large that they meet the MMU width. 20 = Shrublands 21 = Southwestern North American Riparian Scrub (Wetland Thickets) Stands are represented by wetland and riparian shrub and tree sapling species that are typical of the Southwestern North American Riparian Scrub/Wash Group. These include Mixed willow thickets (shrubs and saplings) of Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Salix spp. (Shining willow [S. lucida], Arroyo willow [S. lasiolepis], Narrowleaf willow [S. exigua], Black willow [S. gooddingii], and/or Red willow [S. laevigata]), Mule-fat (Baccharis salicifolia), Scale broom (Lepidospartum squamatum), and Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis). Since the majority of the major riparian zones of the 2005 Salinas River and 2007 San Benito River projects were previously mapped, these databases were used as the starting point of the new mapping for this project. The MMU of the original map units was <0.5 acre. For this project, the map units within those areas were left even if they were below the current project MMU. However for the 2012 mapping if there was a change, then the 0.5 acre MMU was used. If wetland tree or shrub vegetation was predominant, those took precedence over the Water Feature Class. 22 = Upland Scrub (Chaparral, California Coastal Scrub & Pacific Coast Scrub) Stands are represented by upland shrub species that are typical of the California Chaparral and the California Coastal Scrub Macrogroups. These include Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), Scrub oak (Quercus berberidifolia), Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Buckthorn (Rhamnus spp.), Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), California buckwheat (Eriogonum californica) and Dune scrub species among others. 30 = Herbaceous Vegetation 31 = Mediterranean Grasslands & Forbs (Dry Upland Herbaceous) Stands are represented by upland herbaceous species that are typical of the Mediterranean Grasslands & Forb Meadow Formation, and the Vancouverian Coastal Dune and Bluff Macrogroup. These include naturalized Mediterranean annual grasses such as Brome (Bromus spp.), Oats (Avena spp.), and Barley (Hordeum spp.), Mustards (Brassica spp.), and other invasive exotic species including Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), and Iceplant. Dry upland herbaceous (grass) map units range from small parcels of land that have been vacant for years, to large expanses of open or fenced land which is also referred to as rangeland. Rangeland can take the form of woodlands, shrublands, or herbaceous as the predominant vegetation. From a land use point of view they can be considered not in any use, or used for grazing of domesticated animals. For this project the vegetation takes precedence over the grazing aspect of land use. However, smaller fields that are typically improved, and periodically or often maintained and associated with a farmstead or animal operation/ranch (horses, cows, small animals), are mapped as Pasturelands. Remnant foundations of buildings that have been removed are included with the surrounding vegetation. Large ditches that predominantly contain the weeds/grass/ruderal vegetation are included in the Water Feature class. Instances of stand-alone small corrals within a large area of grass in an agricultural area or in the outer rangeland area, with no buildings present, are mapped as Urban/Built-up, with a “Corrals” note in the Comment field. If the corrals within the grassland are below MMU, then the grassland polygon is noted for the presence of corrals in the Comment field. Otherwise, small corrals adjacent to buildings or other urban uses are mapped as part of the Urban/Built-Up. If corrals are associated with confined feeding operations, then they are mapped with those uses. 32 = Meadow & Marsh (Wetland/Wet Herbaceous) Stands are represented by wetland or riparian herbaceous species that are typical of Temperate and Boreal Freshwater Marsh Formation and the Temperate and Boreal Salt Marsh Formation, which include meadows and marshes. These include Bulrush (Schoenoplectus sp.), Cattails (Typha latifolia), sedges (Carex sp.), Rushes (Juncus spp.), Spike-rush (Eleocharis sp.), Alkali heath (Frankenia sp.), Pickleweed (Salicornia sp.), Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), Jaumea sp., and Gumweed (Grindelia sp.). Also present is the invasive exotic Giant cane (Arundo donax), which can form large stands. Presence of Arundo donax was noted in the Comment field. Where a dammed wetland feature occurs in a “natural environment”, that is, occurring along a drainage and not impounded on all sides, the Water Feature is separated from the wetland herbaceous where possible. Large mappable ditches whose delineations may contain wet herbs are mapped as Water Feature. Since the majority of the major riparian zones of the Salinas and San Benito Rivers were previously mapped in 2005, these databases were used as the starting point of the map. 40 = Little or No Vegetative Cover 41 = Naturally Occurring Unvegetated Areas with little or no vegetation that area that are not of human cause. Typically these are sparsely vegetated stream or river flats or temporarily flooded minor stream channels, but may include upland rock outcrops or escarpments. 42 = Human Caused Unvegetated Areas with little or no vegetated that are of human origin, with no buildings or permanent structures. These areas are typically “staging” or storage areas for agricultural equipment (irrigation, tanks, vehicles, etc.), and cleared areas adjacent to agricultural fields. Also included are berms, and cleared or scraped land. It does not include land tilled or prepped for agriculture. Cleared areas associated with a building or cluster of buildings are included with the buildings as Urban/Built-Up. Strips of cleared land along the riparian corridor edge may be mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated if it meets the minimum MMU width. There may be a dirt road within the cleared area, and agriculture adjacent to the cleared area. Orchards/Vineyards that had been recently cut down and the land cleared may be called as Human Caused Unvegetated if the current temporal and future imagery shows that the land has not returned to Orchard/Vineyards. If the imagery shows the land as grassy, then it is mapped as Mediterranean Grasslands & Forbs. 50 = Agriculture 51 = Active and Recently Active Agriculture Vegetable and grain row or field crop and nursery agricultural fields and greenhouses. Includes fallow land that has been in similar agricultural production within the last 5 years of the base imagery (2005/2012). May include berry bush crops. Agriculture within an Urban developed area, such as a city or town, was mapped if the agricultural field was greater or equal to 0.5 acres. Nursery buildings, paved areas, parking areas, and areas of weedy/disturbance are mapped as Urban-Built-Up. Fallow agricultural land is coded as Active and Recently Active Agriculture. It can appear grassy, weedy, or scraped. If the supplemental imagery shows that the land appears to have active agriculture within the last 5 years of the base image then it is coded as Active and Recently Active Agriculture. If it appears to not have been in production during that time, then it is coded as its current state of cover. If an area was mapped as Agriculture, but looked grassy/weedy on 2012 image, then the comment field will note that map unit was grassy in 2012, but had agriculture within 5-year cycle. It is difficult to differentiate heavily disked/mowed grass areas from agricultural grain field crops. Therefore a general guideline was established for mowed features within the intensive agricultural areas. These features were typically classified as Active or Recently Active Agriculture. However, similar features occurring in the rangeland areas were categorized as Mediterranean Grassland & Forbs. In both cases a note in the Comment field was used to address this discrepancy. Raspberry fields are bush/vine crops whose photo signature is difficult to differentiate from row crops. They appear to have very narrow rows and tend to be low growing with very little shadow. Often they are covered by plastic hoop covers in the field. Because of the narrow rows and inconsistent cover by plastic hoops, it is very difficult to distinguish the raspberry fields from row crops. Therefore they are included within the Active or Recently Active Agriculture class. Where natural trees are the overstory to agriculture, the trees will take precedence in mapping and the Comment field will note trees over agriculture. If the trees are scattered or sparse, the agriculture will take precedence and the Comment field will note the tree presence. Wide strips of cleared land along the edges of agricultural fields or orchards/vineyards may be mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated if they met the minimum MMU width. There may be a dirt road within the cleared area. Some of these cleared areas are narrow slopes or embankments. 52 = Pasturelands Fields that are typically improved, and periodically or often maintained fenced land associated with a farmstead or animal operation/ranch (horses, cows, small animals). They may also be irrigated at times. The map unit may represent one to several adjacent individually fenced pasture fields. The individual fenced areas may range in size from 1 to approximately 40 acres. Small animal pens, corrals, and back yard pens are not included, but are mapped as Urban/Built-up. This category does not include large open or fenced rangeland, which is typically mapped as natural vegetation. 53 = Orchards/Vineyards Includes citrus, fruit and nut tree crops, and vineyards. Fallow land that has been in similar agricultural production within the last 5 years of the base imagery (2005/2012) is also included. Orchards/Vineyards within an Urban developed area, such as a city or town, were mapped if the orchard/vineyard was greater or equal to 0.5 acres. Orchards/Vineyards that have been cleared completely are coded as Human Caused Unvegetated. However if rows or hummock are present, but the vines are not discernible or are very small, then the map unit is still mapped as Orchard/Vineyard. Raspberry fields are bush/vine crops whose photo signature is difficult to differentiate from row crops. They appear to have very narrow rows and tend to be low growing with very little shadow. Often they are covered by plastic hoop covers in the field. Because of the narrow rows and inconsistent cover by plastic hoops, it is very difficult to distinguish the raspberry fields from row crops. Therefore they area included within the Active or Recently Active Agriculture class. Where natural trees are the overstory to an orchard or vineyard, the trees will take precedence in mapping and the Comment field will note trees over agriculture. If the trees are scattered or sparse then the Orchard/Vineyard will take precedence and the Comment field will note the tree presence. Wide strips of cleared land along the edges of agricultural fields or orchards/vineyards may be mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated if they meet the minimum MMU width. There may be a dirt road within the cleared area. Some of these cleared areas are narrow slopes or embankments. 54 = Dairy, and Other Bovine Confined Feeding Operations Dairies, feed lots, and pens associated with bovine animals. May include barns, storage buildings, other structures, and/or associated residence. 55 = Poultry and Other Small Animal Confined Feeding Operations Facilities for chickens, turkeys, pigs, goats, and other small animals. May include barns, storage buildings, other structures, and/or associated residence. 60 = Urban/Built-Up Urban/Built-Up areas are typically composed of isolated as well as clustered permanent buildings and structures typically associated with residential, commercial, or industrial use. Horse ranches, agricultural buildings not associated with confined feeding operations, mines, major highways (typically divided with four lanes), interchanges, and paved areas are included. Urban sewage and water treatment settling basins are included in Urban/Built-up. Note that nursery greenhouses are mapped as Active and Recently Active Agriculture, but other building structures, parking areas, and small weed/disturbed areas within the nursery complex are included in Urban/Built-Up. Small corrals and backyard pens associated with adjacent farmsteads/residences/ranchettes are also included as Urban/Built-up. Mappable major highways are typically divided with a center median and have four lanes of traffic. The vegetated edge right-of-way is mapped separately if it is greater than the 0.5 acre MMU in the intense agricultural region. If the vegetation in the right-of-way is the same as the adjacent vegetated polygon, then it is included there. In transportation corridors where a paved road was situated adjacent to a railroad right-of-way and the width of the corridor was above MMU, the corridor was mapped as Urban/Built-Up. Note that riparian vegetation and river Water Feature take precedence over a highway bridge when they overlap. This category also includes intensive areas of urban development include cities, small towns, and isolated farmsteads/ranchettes and associated buildings. Single or clusters of agricultural buildings sometimes occur on small parcels of otherwise cleared land within the intensive agricultural area. Cleared parcels of land within the agricultural areas that contain stored equipment (irrigation, vehicles, equipment, etc.) and no buildings are mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated. Instances of stand-alone small corrals within a large area of grass in an agricultural area or in the outer rangeland area, with no buildings present, are mapped as Urban/Built-up, with a “Corrals” note in the Comment field. If the corrals within the grassland are below MMU, then the grassland polygon is noted for the presence of corrals in the Comment field. Otherwise, small corrals adjacent to buildings or other urban uses are mapped as part of the Urban/Built-Up. If corrals are associated with confined feeding operations, then they are mapped with those uses. Where a disturbance corridor containing a paved road occurs within the intense agricultural area, and is >0.5 ac MMU full side width, then the corridor is mapped as Urban/Built-Up. Because of the agricultural emphasis of the project, large urban developed areas were not typically further subdivided other than for agricultural uses (0.5 acre MMU) within their extents. Grass (Mediterranean Grassland & Forbs) and Water Features were also mapped if they were greater than or equal to 10 acres.   70 = Water Features Permanently, seasonally, temporarily, and intermittently flooded water features, such as lakes, ponds, basins, reservoirs, large ditches, major canals, and rivers. Includes the active channel (as defined by the current baseline imagery) of the Salinas River, San Benito River, Arroyo Seco, and San Lorenzo Creek. Dry impoundments such as farm ponds, duck ponds, and flood control basins are also included in this category. Large mappable ditches are also included, and delineations may contain the immediately adjacent disturbed area and wet herbs/weeds/grass/ruderal/cleared area. However, if wetland tree or shrub vegetation is predominant, then those would take precedence over the Water Feature Class. Emergent marsh vegetation, where discernible and mappable, are mapped separately. Urban sewage and water treatment settling basins are included in Urban/Built-up. The Pacific Ocean is also mapped as Water Feature. The shoreline is represented by the extreme high waterline (Upland-Littoral interface). This interface is normally not affected by the fluctuation of the tides. The demarcation was photo interpreted and mapped as best as could be done with the 2005 imagery as part of the original 2005 Salinas River project. Since 2009 Salinas River update retained the 2005 database shoreline, then the 2012 mapping also retained the 2005 shoreline. Cover Density – Tree and Shrub only 0 = 0-2%, not perceptible 1 = >2-10% 2 = >10-25% 3 = >25-40% 4 = >40-60% 5 = >60% 9 = Not applicable, Not assessed Other Mapping Criteria Photo interpretation of land cover is based on state-wide criteria for vegetation mapping. However, as mapping progressed there was a slight change in perspective on the mapping of grasslands/pastures. Typically the vegetation type would take precedence over the land use. Thus, large areas of “rangeland’ grasses could also be extensively used for grazing. Mowed grasslands were sometimes difficult to distinguish from agricultural lands and may have been called cropland rather than grass, especially if the area is frequently mowed and otherwise maintained. An attempt was made to add a note in the Comment field for the mapped unit when this situation was noticed.   This layer is presented in the WGS84 coordinate system for web display purposes. Downloadable data are provided in native coordinate system or projection.

  10. Title: Land Use and Land Cover: Additional Sites within the Pajaro River and San Benito River Watershed, California, 2012

    • Polygon data
    • 2014
    Contributors:

    Summary: This polygon shapefile represents land use and land cover for additional sites within the Pajaro River and San Benito River Watershed in San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties of California for 2012. This shapefile was extracted from a generalized land use/land cover database of the Salinas-Pajaro region. Map unit categories were based on a modified Anderson Level II hierarchy. Mapping generally adhered to a 0.5 acre Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU) for riparian and agriculture types and 1 acre MMU for all upland, urban, or other land use types. Vegetation percent cover classes were assigned to the tree and shrub layers for each stand. Herbaceous vegetation was not assigned a cover class. All density values are measured in absolute cover, not relative cover. If tree cover is equal to or greater than 40% then the shrub cover is assigned a Not Assessed value of 9. The minimum mapping unit resolution size of the land use/land cover polygons is twofold. In the intense agricultural region and for wetland and riparian areas the polygons have a 0.5 acre MMU. In the remainder of the study area, composed of non-agricultural areas, upland vegetation, and urban areas, the MMU is 1 acre. For thin linear-shaped polygons the MMU for width is one half the width of a full MMU square. Exceptions to the MMU guidance are noted in further criteria below. Because of the agricultural emphasis of the project, large urban developed areas, such as cities, towns, and villages, were not typically further subdivided other than for agricultural uses within their extents. The MMU size for these agricultural uses within urban areas is 0.5 acres. As noted above, the study area overlaps with the 2005 mapping of the Salinas River and San Benito river major riparian corridors that Aerial Information Systems, Inc. conducted for the Nature Conservancy. The MMU for the original projects was <0.5 acres. Where those units had not changed for 2005 and 2012 mapping, the map units were kept at the original polygon size. The 0.5 acre MMU is used for new mapping of riparian and wetland map units. Other Mapping Criteria includes photo interpretation of land cover is based on state-wide criteria for vegetation mapping. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Stanford University contracted Aerial Information Systems, Inc. to develop a 2005 and 2012 Anderson Level II terrestrial Land Use/Land Cover map for a portion of the Salinas Valley in Monterey County and portions of several valleys in the greater Pajaro River and San Benito River watershed in San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties, to support research and future modeling efforts in the area. Karp, D. and Gennet, S. (2014) Land Use and Land Cover: Additional Sites within the Pajaro River and San Benito River Watershed, California, 2012. Available at: http://purl.stanford.edu/fn952dg3239 MAPPING CLASSIFICATION DESCRIPTIONS/CRITERIA The Land Use/Land Cover mapping classification is a simple life form classification representing trees, shrubs, herbs, agriculture, urban. Note that there is correlation to some of the upper level hierarchy (Formation to Macrogroup) of the National Vegetation Classification Hierarchy as Applied to California Vegetation in the Manual of California Vegetation, 2nd Edition, Appendix 3. Land Use/Land Cover Land use/land cover involves two aspects of mapping that overlap. Land use is how the land is being utilized, such as urban, agriculture, open space, vacant, etc. Land cover is what is covering the landscape, usually in the form of vegetation, buildings, structures, non-vegetated, etc. The two aspects may overlap such as when trees are an overstory to agriculture, or a naturally vegetated area is designated as a park. Mapping of Land Use and Land Cover may be done as two separate layers or as one. For this project, it was mapped as one layer. Therefore, following California Department of Fish and Wildlife criteria for state-wide vegetation mapping, when overlap occurs the land cover or vegetation takes precedence if it is dominant over the land use. 10 = Forest & Woodlands (Trees) 11 = California Forest & Woodland (Dry Upland Native Trees) Stands are represented by upland tree species that are typical of the California Forest & Woodland Macrogroup. These include Coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia), Blue oak (Q. douglasii), Interior live oak (Q. wislizenii), Valley oak (Q. lobata), and California buckeye (Aesculus californica). Where natural trees are the overstory to agriculture or orchards/vineyards, the trees will take precedence in mapping and the Comment field will note trees over agriculture. If the trees are scattered or sparse then the agriculture or orchards/vineyards will take precedence and the Comment field will note the tree presence. 12 = Riparian Forest & Woodland (Wetland Native Trees) Stands are represented by wetland and riparian tree species that are typical of the Southwestern North American Riparian, Flooded and Swamp Forest & Woodland Macrogroup. These include Red willow (Salix laevigata), Black willow (S. gooddingii), Shining willow (S. lucida), Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Box elder (Acer negundo), Big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), California sycamore (Platanus racemosa), and White alder (Alnus rhombifolia). Since the majority of the major riparian zones of the 2005 Salinas River and 2007 San Benito River projects were previously mapped, these databases were used as the starting point of the new mapping for this project. The MMU of the original map units was <0.5 acre. For this project, the map units within those areas were left even if they were below the current project MMU. However for the 2012 mapping if there was a change, then the 0.5 acre MMU was used. If wetland tree or shrub vegetation was predominant, those took precedence over the Water Feature Class. 13 = Exotic Trees (Dry Upland Exotic Trees) Stands are represented by exotic tree species including Conifers, Eucalyptus, Pepper, and Tamarisk, among others. Single rows of planted trees are not mapped unless the crowns are so large that they meet the MMU width. 20 = Shrublands 21 = Southwestern North American Riparian Scrub (Wetland Thickets) Stands are represented by wetland and riparian shrub and tree sapling species that are typical of the Southwestern North American Riparian Scrub/Wash Group. These include Mixed willow thickets (shrubs and saplings) of Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Salix spp. (Shining willow [S. lucida], Arroyo willow [S. lasiolepis], Narrowleaf willow [S. exigua], Black willow [S. gooddingii], and/or Red willow [S. laevigata]), Mule-fat (Baccharis salicifolia), Scale broom (Lepidospartum squamatum), and Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis). Since the majority of the major riparian zones of the 2005 Salinas River and 2007 San Benito River projects were previously mapped, these databases were used as the starting point of the new mapping for this project. The MMU of the original map units was <0.5 acre. For this project, the map units within those areas were left even if they were below the current project MMU. However for the 2012 mapping if there was a change, then the 0.5 acre MMU was used. If wetland tree or shrub vegetation was predominant, those took precedence over the Water Feature Class. 22 = Upland Scrub (Chaparral, California Coastal Scrub & Pacific Coast Scrub) Stands are represented by upland shrub species that are typical of the California Chaparral and the California Coastal Scrub Macrogroups. These include Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), Scrub oak (Quercus berberidifolia), Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Buckthorn (Rhamnus spp.), Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), Coyote brush (Baccharis pilularis), California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), California buckwheat (Eriogonum californica) and Dune scrub species among others. 30 = Herbaceous Vegetation 31 = Mediterranean Grasslands & Forbs (Dry Upland Herbaceous) Stands are represented by upland herbaceous species that are typical of the Mediterranean Grasslands & Forb Meadow Formation, and the Vancouverian Coastal Dune and Bluff Macrogroup. These include naturalized Mediterranean annual grasses such as Brome (Bromus spp.), Oats (Avena spp.), and Barley (Hordeum spp.), Mustards (Brassica spp.), and other invasive exotic species including Pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium), Poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), and Iceplant. Dry upland herbaceous (grass) map units range from small parcels of land that have been vacant for years, to large expanses of open or fenced land which is also referred to as rangeland. Rangeland can take the form of woodlands, shrublands, or herbaceous as the predominant vegetation. From a land use point of view they can be considered not in any use, or used for grazing of domesticated animals. For this project the vegetation takes precedence over the grazing aspect of land use. However, smaller fields that are typically improved, and periodically or often maintained and associated with a farmstead or animal operation/ranch (horses, cows, small animals), are mapped as Pasturelands. Remnant foundations of buildings that have been removed are included with the surrounding vegetation. Large ditches that predominantly contain the weeds/grass/ruderal vegetation are included in the Water Feature class. Instances of stand-alone small corrals within a large area of grass in an agricultural area or in the outer rangeland area, with no buildings present, are mapped as Urban/Built-up, with a “Corrals” note in the Comment field. If the corrals within the grassland are below MMU, then the grassland polygon is noted for the presence of corrals in the Comment field. Otherwise, small corrals adjacent to buildings or other urban uses are mapped as part of the Urban/Built-Up. If corrals are associated with confined feeding operations, then they are mapped with those uses. 32 = Meadow & Marsh (Wetland/Wet Herbaceous) Stands are represented by wetland or riparian herbaceous species that are typical of Temperate and Boreal Freshwater Marsh Formation and the Temperate and Boreal Salt Marsh Formation, which include meadows and marshes. These include Bulrush (Schoenoplectus sp.), Cattails (Typha latifolia), sedges (Carex sp.), Rushes (Juncus spp.), Spike-rush (Eleocharis sp.), Alkali heath (Frankenia sp.), Pickleweed (Salicornia sp.), Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), Jaumea sp., and Gumweed (Grindelia sp.). Also present is the invasive exotic Giant cane (Arundo donax), which can form large stands. Presence of Arundo donax was noted in the Comment field. Where a dammed wetland feature occurs in a “natural environment”, that is, occurring along a drainage and not impounded on all sides, the Water Feature is separated from the wetland herbaceous where possible. Large mappable ditches whose delineations may contain wet herbs are mapped as Water Feature. Since the majority of the major riparian zones of the Salinas and San Benito Rivers were previously mapped in 2005, these databases were used as the starting point of the map. 40 = Little or No Vegetative Cover 41 = Naturally Occurring Unvegetated Areas with little or no vegetation that area that are not of human cause. Typically these are sparsely vegetated stream or river flats or temporarily flooded minor stream channels, but may include upland rock outcrops or escarpments. 42 = Human Caused Unvegetated Areas with little or no vegetated that are of human origin, with no buildings or permanent structures. These areas are typically “staging” or storage areas for agricultural equipment (irrigation, tanks, vehicles, etc.), and cleared areas adjacent to agricultural fields. Also included are berms, and cleared or scraped land. It does not include land tilled or prepped for agriculture. Cleared areas associated with a building or cluster of buildings are included with the buildings as Urban/Built-Up. Strips of cleared land along the riparian corridor edge may be mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated if it meets the minimum MMU width. There may be a dirt road within the cleared area, and agriculture adjacent to the cleared area. Orchards/Vineyards that had been recently cut down and the land cleared may be called as Human Caused Unvegetated if the current temporal and future imagery shows that the land has not returned to Orchard/Vineyards. If the imagery shows the land as grassy, then it is mapped as Mediterranean Grasslands & Forbs. 50 = Agriculture 51 = Active and Recently Active Agriculture Vegetable and grain row or field crop and nursery agricultural fields and greenhouses. Includes fallow land that has been in similar agricultural production within the last 5 years of the base imagery (2005/2012). May include berry bush crops. Agriculture within an Urban developed area, such as a city or town, was mapped if the agricultural field was greater or equal to 0.5 acres. Nursery buildings, paved areas, parking areas, and areas of weedy/disturbance are mapped as Urban-Built-Up. Fallow agricultural land is coded as Active and Recently Active Agriculture. It can appear grassy, weedy, or scraped. If the supplemental imagery shows that the land appears to have active agriculture within the last 5 years of the base image then it is coded as Active and Recently Active Agriculture. If it appears to not have been in production during that time, then it is coded as its current state of cover. If an area was mapped as Agriculture, but looked grassy/weedy on 2012 image, then the comment field will note that map unit was grassy in 2012, but had agriculture within 5-year cycle. It is difficult to differentiate heavily disked/mowed grass areas from agricultural grain field crops. Therefore a general guideline was established for mowed features within the intensive agricultural areas. These features were typically classified as Active or Recently Active Agriculture. However, similar features occurring in the rangeland areas were categorized as Mediterranean Grassland & Forbs. In both cases a note in the Comment field was used to address this discrepancy. Raspberry fields are bush/vine crops whose photo signature is difficult to differentiate from row crops. They appear to have very narrow rows and tend to be low growing with very little shadow. Often they are covered by plastic hoop covers in the field. Because of the narrow rows and inconsistent cover by plastic hoops, it is very difficult to distinguish the raspberry fields from row crops. Therefore they are included within the Active or Recently Active Agriculture class. Where natural trees are the overstory to agriculture, the trees will take precedence in mapping and the Comment field will note trees over agriculture. If the trees are scattered or sparse, the agriculture will take precedence and the Comment field will note the tree presence. Wide strips of cleared land along the edges of agricultural fields or orchards/vineyards may be mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated if they met the minimum MMU width. There may be a dirt road within the cleared area. Some of these cleared areas are narrow slopes or embankments. 52 = Pasturelands Fields that are typically improved, and periodically or often maintained fenced land associated with a farmstead or animal operation/ranch (horses, cows, small animals). They may also be irrigated at times. The map unit may represent one to several adjacent individually fenced pasture fields. The individual fenced areas may range in size from 1 to approximately 40 acres. Small animal pens, corrals, and back yard pens are not included, but are mapped as Urban/Built-up. This category does not include large open or fenced rangeland, which is typically mapped as natural vegetation. 53 = Orchards/Vineyards Includes citrus, fruit and nut tree crops, and vineyards. Fallow land that has been in similar agricultural production within the last 5 years of the base imagery (2005/2012) is also included. Orchards/Vineyards within an Urban developed area, such as a city or town, were mapped if the orchard/vineyard was greater or equal to 0.5 acres. Orchards/Vineyards that have been cleared completely are coded as Human Caused Unvegetated. However if rows or hummock are present, but the vines are not discernible or are very small, then the map unit is still mapped as Orchard/Vineyard. Raspberry fields are bush/vine crops whose photo signature is difficult to differentiate from row crops. They appear to have very narrow rows and tend to be low growing with very little shadow. Often they are covered by plastic hoop covers in the field. Because of the narrow rows and inconsistent cover by plastic hoops, it is very difficult to distinguish the raspberry fields from row crops. Therefore they area included within the Active or Recently Active Agriculture class. Where natural trees are the overstory to an orchard or vineyard, the trees will take precedence in mapping and the Comment field will note trees over agriculture. If the trees are scattered or sparse then the Orchard/Vineyard will take precedence and the Comment field will note the tree presence. Wide strips of cleared land along the edges of agricultural fields or orchards/vineyards may be mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated if they meet the minimum MMU width. There may be a dirt road within the cleared area. Some of these cleared areas are narrow slopes or embankments. 54 = Dairy, and Other Bovine Confined Feeding Operations Dairies, feed lots, and pens associated with bovine animals. May include barns, storage buildings, other structures, and/or associated residence. 55 = Poultry and Other Small Animal Confined Feeding Operations Facilities for chickens, turkeys, pigs, goats, and other small animals. May include barns, storage buildings, other structures, and/or associated residence. 60 = Urban/Built-Up Urban/Built-Up areas are typically composed of isolated as well as clustered permanent buildings and structures typically associated with residential, commercial, or industrial use. Horse ranches, agricultural buildings not associated with confined feeding operations, mines, major highways (typically divided with four lanes), interchanges, and paved areas are included. Urban sewage and water treatment settling basins are included in Urban/Built-up. Note that nursery greenhouses are mapped as Active and Recently Active Agriculture, but other building structures, parking areas, and small weed/disturbed areas within the nursery complex are included in Urban/Built-Up. Small corrals and backyard pens associated with adjacent farmsteads/residences/ranchettes are also included as Urban/Built-up. Mappable major highways are typically divided with a center median and have four lanes of traffic. The vegetated edge right-of-way is mapped separately if it is greater than the 0.5 acre MMU in the intense agricultural region. If the vegetation in the right-of-way is the same as the adjacent vegetated polygon, then it is included there. In transportation corridors where a paved road was situated adjacent to a railroad right-of-way and the width of the corridor was above MMU, the corridor was mapped as Urban/Built-Up. Note that riparian vegetation and river Water Feature take precedence over a highway bridge when they overlap. This category also includes intensive areas of urban development include cities, small towns, and isolated farmsteads/ranchettes and associated buildings. Single or clusters of agricultural buildings sometimes occur on small parcels of otherwise cleared land within the intensive agricultural area. Cleared parcels of land within the agricultural areas that contain stored equipment (irrigation, vehicles, equipment, etc.) and no buildings are mapped as Human Caused Unvegetated. Instances of stand-alone small corrals within a large area of grass in an agricultural area or in the outer rangeland area, with no buildings present, are mapped as Urban/Built-up, with a “Corrals” note in the Comment field. If the corrals within the grassland are below MMU, then the grassland polygon is noted for the presence of corrals in the Comment field. Otherwise, small corrals adjacent to buildings or other urban uses are mapped as part of the Urban/Built-Up. If corrals are associated with confined feeding operations, then they are mapped with those uses. Where a disturbance corridor containing a paved road occurs within the intense agricultural area, and is >0.5 ac MMU full side width, then the corridor is mapped as Urban/Built-Up. Because of the agricultural emphasis of the project, large urban developed areas were not typically further subdivided other than for agricultural uses (0.5 acre MMU) within their extents. Grass (Mediterranean Grassland & Forbs) and Water Features were also mapped if they were greater than or equal to 10 acres.   70 = Water Features Permanently, seasonally, temporarily, and intermittently flooded water features, such as lakes, ponds, basins, reservoirs, large ditches, major canals, and rivers. Includes the active channel (as defined by the current baseline imagery) of the Salinas River, San Benito River, Arroyo Seco, and San Lorenzo Creek. Dry impoundments such as farm ponds, duck ponds, and flood control basins are also included in this category. Large mappable ditches are also included, and delineations may contain the immediately adjacent disturbed area and wet herbs/weeds/grass/ruderal/cleared area. However, if wetland tree or shrub vegetation is predominant, then those would take precedence over the Water Feature Class. Emergent marsh vegetation, where discernible and mappable, are mapped separately. Urban sewage and water treatment settling basins are included in Urban/Built-up. The Pacific Ocean is also mapped as Water Feature. The shoreline is represented by the extreme high waterline (Upland-Littoral interface). This interface is normally not affected by the fluctuation of the tides. The demarcation was photo interpreted and mapped as best as could be done with the 2005 imagery as part of the original 2005 Salinas River project. Since 2009 Salinas River update retained the 2005 database shoreline, then the 2012 mapping also retained the 2005 shoreline. Cover Density – Tree and Shrub only 0 = 0-2%, not perceptible 1 = >2-10% 2 = >10-25% 3 = >25-40% 4 = >40-60% 5 = >60% 9 = Not applicable, Not assessed Other Mapping Criteria Photo interpretation of land cover is based on state-wide criteria for vegetation mapping. However, as mapping progressed there was a slight change in perspective on the mapping of grasslands/pastures. Typically the vegetation type would take precedence over the land use. Thus, large areas of “rangeland’ grasses could also be extensively used for grazing. Mowed grasslands were sometimes difficult to distinguish from agricultural lands and may have been called cropland rather than grass, especially if the area is frequently mowed and otherwise maintained. An attempt was made to add a note in the Comment field for the mapped unit when this situation was noticed.   This layer is presented in the WGS84 coordinate system for web display purposes. Downloadable data are provided in native coordinate system or projection.

  11. Title: Salinas-Parajo Generalized Land Use/Land Cover Mapping

    • Not specified
    • 2012
    Contributors:

    Summary: The Nature Conservancy and Stanford University contracted Aerial Information Systems to develop a 2005 and 2012 Anderson level II terrestrial Land Use/Land Cover map for a portion of the Salinas Valley in Monterey County and portions of several valleys in the greater Pajaro River and San Benito River watershed in San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties, to support research and future modeling efforts in the area. This collection contains 2 geodatabases as well as 5 shapefiles, which were derived from the database feature classes. System requirements: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software that reads ESRI shapefile format.

  12. Title: City of Bloomington

    • Not specified
    • 1980
    Contributors:

    Summary: Blue line print. "Date of mapping April 1976, date revised February 1980"--Sheet 2. Imprint: [Bloomington, Ind.?] : [Publisher not identified], [198-?] Dimensions: 127 x 149 cm, on sheets 138 x 107 cm and 135 x 108 cm; Scale: 1:12,000 Coordinates: W0863532 W0862816 N0391315 N0390716

  13. Title: Topographic map of Indiana University

    • Topographic maps
    • 1967
    Contributors:

    Summary: Blue line print. "Date of photography May 1966." "Date of mapping March 1967." Imprint: [Bloomington, Ind.] : [Indiana Univ. Physical Plant], [1967?] Scale: 1:1,200; Dimensions: 80 x 82 cm or smaller Coordinates: W0863148 W0863108 N0390953 N0390942

  14. Title: Topographic map of Indiana University

    • Topographic maps
    • 1961
    Contributors:

    Summary: Blue line print. "Date of photography March 1961." "Date of mapping May 1961." Imprint: [Bloomington, Ind. : Indiana Univ. Physical Plant, 1961?] Dimensions: 146 x 80 cm or smaller; Scale: 1:1,200 Coordinates: W0863532 W0862816 N0391315 N0390716

  15. Title: Cropland Data Layer, New York, 2020

    • Raster data
    • 2021
    Contributors:

    Summary: The USDA, NASS Cropland Data Layer (CDL) is a raster, geo-referenced, crop-specific land cover data layer. The 2020 CDL has a ground resolution of 30 meters. The CDL is produced using satellite imagery from the Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS sensor, the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) DEIMOS-1, the ISRO ResourceSat-2 LISS-3, and the ESA SENTINEL-2 sensors collected during the current growing season. Some CDL states used additional satellite imagery and ancillary inputs to supplement and improve the classification. These additional sources can include the United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Elevation Dataset (NED) and the imperviousness and canopy data layers from the USGS National Land Cover Database 2016 (NLCD 2016). Agricultural training and validation data are derived from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) Common Land Unit (CLU) Program. The most current version of the NLCD is used as non-agricultural training and validation data. Please refer to the 'Supplemental_Information' Section of this metadata file for a complete list of all imagery, ancillary data, and training/validation data used to generate this state's CDL. The strength and emphasis of the CDL is agricultural land cover. Please note that no farmer reported data are derivable from the Cropland Data Layer. The purpose of the Cropland Data Layer Program is to use satellite imagery to (1) provide planted acreage estimates to the Agricultural Statistics Board for the state's major commodities and (2) produce digital, crop-specific, categorized geo-referenced output products.

  16. Title: California Vegetation

    • Polygon data
    • 2010
    Contributors:

    Summary: Existing Vegetation Coverage in Napa County.

  17. Title: Soil Survey, Tompkins County NY, 1965

    • Polygon data
    • 1965
    Contributors:

    Summary: Various county departments, local municipal agencies, and other not-for-profit organizations have identified the need for a digital soil coverage data set for Tompkins County, NY. The Tompkins County ITS GIS Division initiated and developed a digital soil coverage from the official analog soil map series produced and published by the United States Geology Survey (USGS) and Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station. The field survey has been conducted during the 60es. To provide a GIS countywide coverage that consists of polygons defining the soils boundaries and to add enough basic attributes to achieve a fundamental degree of categorization. Open, all-purpose data set.

  18. Title: Aerial photographic mosaic, Washington, D.C. 1918

    • Image data
    • 1918
    Contributors:

    Summary: American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing "Production of the mosaic donated to the ASP Foundation by Photo Science Inc. Proceeds to the ASP Foundation, 210 Little Falls street, Falls Church VA. 22046."

  19. Title: Cropland Data Layer, New York State, 2002

    • Raster data
    • 2006
    Contributors:

    Summary: The USDA-NASS 2002 New York Cropland Data Layer (CDL) is a raster, geo-referenced, categorized land cover data layer produced using satellite imagery from the Thematic Mapper (TM) instrument on Landsat 5 and the Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) on Landsat 7. The imagery was collected between May 4, 2002 and September 12, 2002. The approximate scale is 1:100,000 with a ground resolution of 30 meters by 30 meters. The CDL emphasis is on agricultural land cover. The area of coverage is the entire State of New York. This land cover dataset is part of a one-time series in which ten Mid-Atlantic States were categorized based on the extensive field observations collected during the 2002 annual NASS June Agricultural Survey. No farmer reported data is included or derivable from the Cropland Data Layer. The area of coverage for the 2002 Mid-Atlantic CDL includes the entire states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia. The funding for this project was shared between the USDA-NASS and Towson State University. The 2002 Mid-Atlantic CDL is currently a special one-time project. However, the possibility does exist to establish an annual cropland data layer for any state that shows significant interest and can offer an in-state cooperative agreement with another federal, state, local, or university agency or group. If interested, please contact the Section Head of the USDA-NASS Spatial Analysis Research Section at 703/877-8000. There are several additional Mid-Western States for which Cropland Data Layers are produced on an annual basis. The website below provides information and examples of all publicly available Cropland Data Layers: http://www.nass.usda.gov/research/Cropland/SARS1a.htm The purpose of the Cropland Data Layer Program is to use satellite imagery to (1) provide supplemental acreage estimates for the state's major commodities and (2) produce digital, crop specific, categorized geo-referenced output products. These data are intended for geographic display and analysis at the state level. The cropland data layers are provided "as is". USDA-NASS does not warrant results you may obtain using the data.

  20. Title: Metropolitan Greenspace Initiative, Eastern Massachusetts, 1997 (Raster Image)

    • Raster data
    • 2013
    Contributors:

    Summary: This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Metropolitan Greenspace Initiative : developed land & open space. It was published by Metropolitan Area Planning Council in 1997. Scale ca. 1:200,000. The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Massachusetts State Plane Coordinate System, Mainland Zone (in Feet) (Fipszone 2001). All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as roads, drainage, cities and other human settlements, territorial boundaries, shoreline features, and more. Includes also developed land and open space. This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

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