Northwest GAP
Update underway for 5-state region encompassing Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
Contact:
Jocelyn Aycrigg
National Gap Analysis Program
530 Asbury, Suite 1
Moscow, ID 83843
208-885-3901
aycrigg@uidaho.edu The Northwest GAP project started in August 2004 and is currently mapping the land cover, species distributions, and land stewardship for Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. These data will help with conservation efforts throughout the Northwest.
Land cover:
Map zone 1: Complete and available in draft form from National Gap Analysis Program (gapanalysis.nbii.gov) Note: We need to get these data available on our web site.
Map zones 2 & 7: Mapping began in May 2006 in partnership with the USFS and Oregon State Univ. Both zones are scheduled to be complete by December 2007.
Map zones 8 & 9: Non-forested areas were completed by Sagebrush and Grassland Ecosystem Map Assessment Project (SAGEMAP). We partnered with USFS and Oregon State University to complete the forested areas. They delivered a draft map in April 2006 that we are currently reviewing. These data will be available as soon as our review is complete.
Map zones 10 & 21: The mapping for these zones is being conducted by personnel in our Moscow, Idaho office. During May through September 2006, we are collecting field vegetation plot data.
Map zone 18: Completed by SAGEMAP
Map zone 19: We are conducting the mapping of this zone in our Moscow, Idaho office. We started this zone in May 2005 and it is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2006.
Map zone 20: We have contracted with Sanborn Solutions to conduct the mapping for this zone. Sanborn started their work in October 2005 and they plan to complete it by the end of 2006.
Map zone 22+: This includes portions of zones 16 and 28 that extend into Wyoming. The mapping of this zone is scheduled to begin in 2006.
Map zone 29+: This includes portions of 30 and 33 that extend into Montana and Wyoming respectively. The mapping of this zone is scheduled to begin in 2006.
Vertebrate modeling:
We are partnering with the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD) to conduct the vertebrate modeling for the Northwest. Each of the Natural Heritage programs in the five states is responsible for collecting the species’ records of occurrence for their state. All these data are projected to be delivered to WYNDD in early 2007 so that the models can be developed. Both deductive and inductive modeling approaches will be used to develop the best possible model for each species. We intend to map the range, distribution, and habitat of each species within the Northwest. For more information please see the Northwest Gap Analysis Project web site: www.gap.uidaho.edu/Northwest/home.htm.
Southeast Regional GAP
Update underway
Anticipated completion date Nov 2006.
Contacts:
Alexa J. McKerrow and Steven G. Williams
Biodiversity and Spatial Information Center
North Carolina State University, Raleigh
alexa_mckerrow@ncsu.edu, 919-513-2853
steve_williams@ncsu.edu
919-513-7413
Elizabeth R. Kramer
Natural Resource and Spatial Analysis Laboratory
University of Georgia, Athens
lkramer@arches.uga.edu,
706-542-3577
Amy L. Silvano
Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Auburn University,
Auburn, Alabama
silvaal@auburn.edu,
334-844-9294
Land cover: As one component of the regional land cover mapping effort, seven mapping zones of National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD) 2001 have been completed. Those data are currently available for viewing and download at through the Multi-resolution Landscape Characteristics Consortium’s (MRLC) Dynamic Download Tool ( http://gisdata.usgs.net/website/MRLC/). In addition to the NLCD land cover, impervious surface estimates are complete and canopy closure estimates will be finalized by June 2006 for those same seven mapping zones. Each of these datasets were developed using the NLCD 2001 mapping protocols (Homer et al. 2004), with some modifications to address local land cover patterns. For example, in order to accurately map large acreages of evergreen wetlands that occur in the Atlantic Coastal Plain (Zones 58 and 55) we found it necessary to incorporate wetland masks into the decision tree process (McKerrow and Earnhardt 2004). The NLCD 2001 land cover is available for 9 of the 10 southeastern mapping zones. Two of those mapping zones were completed by the Kentucky Landscapes Snapshot project and USGS is taking the lead on Southern Florida (Zone 56) mapping.
Gap level mapping is ongoing with a scheduled completion date of August 2006 for the 10 mapping zones. Mosaicking and edge matching into a regional land cover map will be done as adjacent mapping zones are finalized. The target map legend includes 135 vegetated cover classes, with NatureServe’s Ecological Systems as the basis for the natural vegetation map units. In the Southeast we defined a series of modifiers to the Ecological Systems where we expected the variability within a system to be important to habitat modeling. For example the Southern Piedmont Dry Oak – (Pine) Forest is a matrix forest community of the Piedmont. Historically the forests of the Piedmont were hardwood dominated, with clearing followed by abandonment; much of the forest is now dominated by loblolly pine. For the SEReGAP map legend we have added three modifiers to that system (hardwood, mixed forest, and the pine dominated). A large proportion of the acreage in the Piedmont is being mapped as the pine dominated expression of this System. In addition to the modifications to the Ecological Systems classification we have split some of the NLCD 2001 cover classes into categories that are informative for habitat modeling. For example, shrub/scrub habitats are being mapped as clear cut shrub/scrub, power line corridors, with the remaining scattered shrub/scrub areas being left as the general shrub/scrub class. Our vertebrate modelers felt that it was important that we make those distinctions in order to accommodate the different patterns in the shape and succession within that land cover class.
Mapping ecological systems in the Southeast has taken a hybrid approach, combining expert and decision tree modeling, pattern recognition, and for a few systems manual delineation.For each matrix, large patch, and linear system a range map has been developed by NatureServe ecologists to guide the mapping effort. Those ranges were delineated using primarily ecoregional boundaries. Additional information such as species range maps are being used to indicate turnover from one Ecological System to another. For example, the range maps of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) were used to identify the boundary between the East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Upland Longleaf Pine Woodland and the East Gulf Coastal Plain Interior Shortleaf Pine-Oak Forest Systems. In addition to the Systems ranges, ancillary data including the three seasons of LANDSAT TM imagery, the general land cover classes of the NLCD 2001, landform models, blackwater/brownwater rivers, geology, National Wetland Inventory data, STATSGO and SSURGO soils data are being used in mapping the Ecological Systems and the additional general land cover classes.
Draft maps of ecological systems for the East Gulf Coast (Zone 46), Southern Piedmont (Zone 54) and Interior Low Plateau portion of Tennessee and Alabama (Zone 48) have been reviewed internally and minor edits are being made. The Southern Blue Ridge (Zone 57), Northern Piedmont (Zone 59), the Mississippi Alluvial Valley portion of Mississippi and Tennessee (Zone 45 in part), and Northern and Southern Atlantic Coastal Plain (Zones 58 and 55) are underway. Upon completion of the regional mosaic, reference data previously set aside will be used to assess the regional land cover map, with statistics provided on a mapping zone and ecoregional basis.
Animal Modeling: The habitat affinity database and species ranges maps are complete for the 614 species being modeled. The ancillary datasets will be finalized this summer (2006). In order to take advantage of the fact that the National Hydrologic Dataset (NHD) was being continuously updated with higher resolution stream data, the bulk of the work was put off until this spring when high-resolution data became available for the majority of the region Upon completion of the Gap level land cover maps, the land cover derivative layers (forest interior, edge habitats) will be generated and the models run and internally reviewed. Workshops and one-on-one meetings will be held to solicit reviewer comments on three components of the vertebrate models, the ranges, the habitat affinities and finally the modeling parameters. A database to track reviewer comments has been designed based on experiences from previous GAP projects in both the Southeast and Southwest and on discussions with biologists. Running of the animal models will be initiated in late summer (2006) and the final models with reviews will be available in the Fall 2006.
Other accomplishments and innovations: The SEReGAP and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service project continues (see Laurent et al. this volume). We are actively involved in the Onslow Bight Landfire Pilot project, using GAP land cover and vertebrate models for helping to identify areas where partnering on prescribed burning can benefit wildlife in addition to meeting the broader goals of ecosystem maintenance, restoration, and fuels reduction. We are representing GAP in the Federal Geographic Data Committee Vegetation Subcommittee in their efforts to update the National Vegetation Classification Standard. Our work with modeling peak fire season throughout the Southeast for use in modeling pre-settlement fire frequencies at the fire block level will be presented at the Ecological Society of America in August 2006.
Literature Cited
Comer, P., D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Evans, S. Gawler, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, M. Pyne, M. Read, K. Schulz, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2003. Ecological Systems of the United States: A working classification of U.S. terrestrial systems. Arlington, Va.: NatureServe.
Homer, C., C. Huang, L. Yang, B. Wylie, and M. Coan. 2004. Development of a 2001 National Land-Cover Database for the United States. Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing. Vol. 70 (7) 829-840.
McKerrow, A. J. and T. S. Earnhardt. 2004. Southeast Gap Analysis Project a Regional Approach to Land Cover Mapping. Proceedings ASPRS Annual Conference Proceedings. May 2004. Denver , Colorado .
Southwest Regional GAP (SWReGAP)
An update is under way for the five-state region encompassing Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. State coordination for the project is facilitated through the SWReGAP web site <http://fws-nmcfwru.nmsu.edu/swregap/.
Nearly complete: Review underway
Contacts:
Julie Prior-Magee, SWReGAP Coordinator
USGS/BRD, Las Cruces, New Mexico
jpmagee@nmsu.edu
505-646-1084
Pat Comer and Keith Schulz
NatureServe, Boulder, Colorado
pat_comer@natureserve.org, 303-541-0352
keith_schulz@natureserve.org, 303-541-0356
Arizona: Kathryn A. Thomas, PI
USGS/BRD Southwest Biological Science Center
Sonoran Desert Research Station, Tucson
Kathryn_A_Thomas@usgs.gov, 520-670-5534
Colorado: Donald L. Schrupp, PI
Colorado Division of Wildlife
Habitat Resources Section, Denver
hqwris@lamar.colostate.edu,
303-291-7277
Nevada: David F. Bradford, Co-PI
U.S. EPA—Office of Research and Development, Las Vegas
bradford.david@epa.gov
702-798-2681
William G. Kepner, Co-PI
U.S. EPA—Office of Research and Development, Las Vegas
kepner.william@epa.gov
702-798-2193
New Mexico: Ken Boykin, Co-PI
NM Coop. Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Las Cruces
kboykin@nmsu.edu
505-646-6303
Utah: John Lowry, Co-PI
RS/GIS Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan
jlowry@gis.usu.edu, 435-797-0653
Land cover: Complete
The SWReGAP land cover data set is currently available to the public with “provisional” status from <http://earth.gis.usu.edu/swregap/>. The web site allows users to download specific geographic segments of the region, such as individual states, counties, or ecoregions. Additionally, the web site offers an Internet map server from which users can interactively clip a specified rectangle in the region. The clipped data set i s subsequently bundled with metadata and made available for downloading.
Animal habitat modeling: Complete
SWReGAP animal habitat modeling data is currently available to the public with “provisional” status from <http://fws-nmcfwru.nmsu.edu/swregap/>.Land stewardship mapping: Complete
SWReGAP land stewardship data is currently available to the public with “provisional” status from <http://fws-nmcfwru.nmsu.edu/swregap/>.Analysis: Complete
Reporting and data distribution: All products derived from SWReGAP are complete and undergoing review.