Metadata for Yellowstone River Riparian Vegetation Types, 1950, 1976, and 2001 Metadata for Yellowstone River Riparian Vegetation Types, 1950, 1976, and 2001

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Identification Information:

Citation:

Originator: DTM Consulting, Inc., DTM Consulting, Inc.

Publication date: 04/25/2012

Title:

Yellowstone River Riparian Vegetation Types, 1950, 1976, and 2001

Publication place: Helena, MT
Publisher: Montana State Library

Online linkage: https://ftpgeoinfo.msl.mt.gov/Data/Spatial/NonMSDI/Collections/Yellowstone_River_Clearinghouse/Geodatabases/YellowstoneRiparian.zip

Larger Work Citation:

Title: Yellowstone River Clearinghouse GIS Layers
Online linkage: http://mslapps.mt.gov/Geographic_Information/Data/DataList/datalist_Details.aspx?did={17daa910-aba0-11e3-a5e2-0800200c9a66}

Abstract:

The vegetation mapping effort consisted of digitizing vegetation polygons using 1950's, 1976-1977, and 2001 aerial imagery in a GIS environment. The polygons are digitized at a scale of approximately 1:7,500, with a minimum mapping unit of approximately 10 acres. The goal of the delineation was to capture areas of similar vegetation structure as they appeared on the aerial imagery, while maintaining a consistent scale. This was notably challenging with the 1950 images due to locally poor resolution of the riparian areas. The 1977 and 2001 imagery has significantly better resolution.

Six vegetation classes were developed for the mapping effort. These classes were determined to be the highest level of detail permitted by all suites of imagery. For the purposes of this study, only the three woody vegetation classes are summarized as "riparian". The Herbaceous, Channel and Outside of Floodplain classes were not summarized or analyzed by this study.

It should be noted that, due to the remote nature of the mapping, the vegetation delineation is subject to interpretation errors. While polygon boundaries may be of good accuracy, the vegetation class assigned to them is in many places limited by the resolution of the photography. Efforts were made to verify the spatial and attribute accuracy of vegetation polygons, including checking them against field data collected by the avian study that was recently completed by MSU as part of the overall Yellowstone River Cumulative Effects Study.

Vegetation Class Codes:
Herbaceous = H
Shrub = S
Open Timber = TO
Closed Timber = TC
Channel = Ch
Outside of inundatin boundary or imagery extents = OUT

Purpose:

Riparian vegetation boundaries mapped from 2001 color infrared imagery. Approximate mapping scale is 1:7.500. Minimum Mapping Unit is approximately 10 acres. Some areas smaller than 10 acres were mapped if they were distinct and identifiable in the imagery. See the accompanying report for complete details on the mapping process.

Time period of content:

Beginning date: 1950
Ending date: 2001
Currentness reference: Ground Condition

Access constraints: None

Use constraints:

The Montana State Library provides this product/service for informational purposes only. The Library did not produce it for, nor is it suitable for legal, engineering, or surveying purposes. Consumers of this information should review or consult the primary data and information sources to ascertain the viability of the information for their purposes. The Library provides these data in good faith but does not represent or warrant its accuracy, adequacy, or completeness. In no event shall the Library be liable for any incorrect results or analysis; any direct, indirect, special, or consequential damages to any party; or any lost profits arising out of or in connection with the use or the inability to use the data or the services provided. The Library makes these data and services available as a convenience to the public, and for no other purpose. The Library reserves the right to change or revise published data and/or services at any time.

Point of contact:

Tony Thatcher
DTM Consulting, Inc.
211 N Grand Ave #J
Bozeman, MT 59715
Telephone: 406-585-5322
E-Mail: tony@dtmgis.com

Data set credit:

DTM Consulting, Inc., Yellowstone River Conservation Districts Council

Spatial Data Organization Information:

Point and vector object information:

SDTS object type: G-polygon

SDTS object count: 4400

Spatial Reference Information:

Horizontal coordinate system definition:

Grid coordinate system name: State Plane Coordinate System

SPCS zone identifier: 2500

Lambert conformal conic:

Standard parallel: 45.000000
Standard parallel: 49.000000
Longitude of central meridian: -109.500000
Latitude of projection origin: 44.250000
False easting: 600000.000000
False northing: 0.000000

Planar distance units: Meter

Geodetic model:

Horizontal datum name: D North American 1983
Ellipsoid name: GRS 1980
Semi-major axis: 6378137.0
Denominator of flattening ratio: 298.257222101

Entity and Attribute Information:

Entity type label: Attributes for each feature class

Attribute label: Shape_Length

Attribute definition: Length of feature in meters.

Attribute label: Shape_Area

Attribute definition: Area of feature in square meters.

Attribute label: BANK

Attribute definition:: Is the polygon on the left or right side of the primary channel centerline.

Attribute label: YR

Attribute definition:: Year(s) of base photography. Some photo series use photography from more than one year in order to build a complete imagery series.

Attribute label: Reach_ID