Identification_Information: Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, 2630 Fanta Reed Road, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54603 Publication_Date: 2007 Title: Vegetation Classification Plots - Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data Series_Information: Series_Name: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Issue_Identification: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Denver, Colorado Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Biological Informatics Other_Citation_Details: A detailed report on how this data set was created is available to download from the Vegetation Mapping Program's Web site. The report discusses methods and results, and includes plant community descriptions and dichotomous keys, map classification and descriptions, and AA contingency tables. Online_Linkage: http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/glac/index.html Description: Abstract: The classification of vegetation project was conducted to support an international effort to produce the first park-wide vegetation map for the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (WGIPP). Photointerpreters, ecologists, and botanists from the U.S. and Canada collaborated to develop the map classification scheme. A detailed vegetation analysis of the Park along with information collected during previous classification projects were used to develop the map classification scheme, in accordance with the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) System plant associations (communities). A total of 682 vegetation plot samples were sampled for the map classification project, 628 within Glacier National Park and 54 from Waterton Lakes National Park. Vegetation samples from other previous sampling efforts were also used, to provide over 1,100 sampling plots of data for the vegetation analysis project. This project was conducted under the guidance of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)-National park Service (NPS) Vegetation Mapping Program. Participants include; the USGS Center for Biological Informatics, NPS Biological Resources Management Division, USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC), NPS Glacier National Park (GNP), Parks Canada Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP), NatureServe, and the Montana Natural Heritage Program. The vegetation plots spatial database contains background information on the locations of the vegetation plots and plant associations. These data are distributed as shapefile format geographic information system (GIS) data, projected to Universal Transverse Mercator zone 12 mapping coordinates, North American Datum 1983. Purpose: The USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program (VMP) is a cooperative effort by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service (NPS) to classify, describe, and map existing vegetation of national park units for the Natural Resource Inventory and Monitoring Program. The goals of the WGIPP vegetation mapping project were to (1) adequately describe and map plant communities of WGIPP and (2) provide the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program, resource managers, and biological researchers with useful baseline vegetation information. Supplemental_Information: A detailed report on the vegetation plot is available. This report also documents how these data were used to create the map classification scheme for Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, and how the vegetation map was created. The vegetation plots sampled for the mapping project were collected in Glacier National Park (GNP) from 1999 through 2002, and within Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP) in 1999. The GNP grassland ecology data were collected from 1999 through 2001. The WLNP ecological land classification data were collected during 1994 and 1995. These data were entered into the PLOTS Database System, for analysis and classification. Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Range_of_Dates/Times: Beginning_Date: 19940607 Ending_Date: 20020905 Currentness_Reference: ground condition Status: Progress: Complete Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed Spatial_Domain: Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Glacier National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park Bounding_Coordinates: West_Bounding_Coordinate: -114.404447 East_Bounding_Coordinate: -113.244166 North_Bounding_Coordinate: 49.214757 South_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.206314 Keywords: Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: none Theme_Keyword: vegetation plot Theme_Keyword: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Theme_Keyword: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Theme_Keyword: Glacier National Park Theme_Keyword: Waterton Lakes National Park Theme_Keyword: National Park Service Theme_Keyword: Parks Canada Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: none Place_Keyword: Glacier National Park Place_Keyword: Waterton Lakes National Park Place_Keyword: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Place_Keyword: United States of America Place_Keyword: Canada Place_Keyword: Montana Place_Keyword: Alberta Place_Keyword: Flathead County Place_Keyword: Glacier County Taxonomy: Keywords/Taxon: Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus: None Taxonomic_Keywords: Standardized National Vegetation Classification System Taxonomic_Keywords: vegetation classification Taxonomic_Keywords: alliance Taxonomic_Keywords: community association Taxonomic_Classification: Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom Taxon_Rank_Value: Plantae Access_Constraints: none Use_Constraints: none Point_of_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Person_Primary: Contact_Person: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical address Address: U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Biological Informatics, MS 302, Room 8000, Building 810, Denver Federal Center City: Denver State_or_Province: Colorado Postal_Code: 80225 Country: United States of America Contact_Voice_Telephone: (303) 202-4220 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (303) 202-4219 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov Native_Data_Set_Environment: Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 2; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.2.2.1350 Data_Quality_Information: Attribute_Accuracy: Attribute_Accuracy_Report: Several accuracy checks were made against the automated data and the original reports or data sheets, during and after data entry. Logical_Consistency_Report: The southeastern corner/edge of each vegetation plot was estimated using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver or topographic map. The mapping coordinates were recorded on data sheets, which was later entered into a digital database. The database was converted into a geographic information system (GIS) data set, containing point features. Completeness_Report: Data forms were filled out for each vegetation plot sampled. Each set of data sheets had a data record recorded for that site in the GIS data set. Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: The locations of the vegetation plots were recorded using global positioning system (GPS) receivers. If a GPS reading wasn't possible, the location of the vegetation plot was estimated using a topographic map. Lineage: Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Achuff, P.L., R.L. McNeil, M.L. Coleman, C. Wallis, and C. Wershler. Publication_Date: 2002 Title: Ecological land classification of Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. Vol. I: integrated resource description. Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: report Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Waterton Park, Alberta Publisher: Parks Canada, Type_of_Source_Media: report Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 2002 Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Achuff 2002a Source_Contribution: Provided additional information about the vegetation types and communities within Waterton Lakes National Park. Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Damm, C. Publication_Date: 2001 Title: A phytosociological study of Glacier National Park, Montana, U.S.A., with notes on the syntaxonomy of alpine vegetation in western North America. Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: report Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Gottingen, Germany Publisher: University of Gottingen Online_Linkage: http://webdoc.sub.gwdg.de/diss/2001/damm/index.html Type_of_Source_Media: report Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 2001 Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Damm 2001 Source_Contribution: Provided additional information about the vegetation types and communities within Glacier National Park. Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Shea, D., S. Olin, and J. Asebrook. Publication_Date: Unknown Title: Glacier National Park Eastside Grasslands Ecology Project Draft Final Report. Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: report Publication_Information: Publication_Place: West Glacier, MT Publisher: Glacier National Park, Type_of_Source_Media: unpublished report Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 2004 Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date Source_Citation_Abbreviation: Shea et. al., 2004 Source_Contribution: Unknown Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Originator: The Nature Conservancy Originator: Environmental Systems Research Institute Publication_Date: Unknown Title: Standardized National Vegetation Classification System, USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: report Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Denver, Colorado Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Biological Informatics Other_Citation_Details: This document has two fundamental purposes. First, it is to describe the structure, content, and origins of the Standard National Vegetation Classification System proposed for adoption by the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program. Second, it is to describe the process by which the system is to be applied to changing requirements. Online_Linkage: http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/classification/index.html Type_of_Source_Media: report Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: 199411 Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date Source_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS/NPS Veg. Classification Source_Contribution: Contains the standard operating procedures used by individuals classifying vegetation for the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program. Source_Information: Source_Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Originator: The Nature Conservancy Originator: Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. Publication_Date: 199412 Title: Field Methods for Vegetation Mapping, USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: report Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Denver, Colorado Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Biological Informatics Other_Citation_Details: This report proposes a standardized planning and field methods process that will meet the objectives of the NBS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Project. Online_Linkage: http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/fieldmethods/index.html Type_of_Source_Media: report Source_Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Single_Date/Time: Calendar_Date: unknown Source_Currentness_Reference: publication date Source_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS-NPS Field Procedures Source_Contribution: Contains the standard field procedures used by individuals classifying vegetation for the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program. Process_Step: Process_Description: Key environmental variables thought to be driving vegetation pattern were identified, including elevation, aspect, fire history, and soils. These data were analyzed, to locate areas with unique combinations (i.e., biophysical units (BPUs)). Areas containing clusters of different BPUs were identified, especially those within close proximity to roads and hiking trails. Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS-NPS Veg. Classification Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS-NPS Field Procedures Process_Date: 1999 through 2002 Process_Step: Process_Description: Field crews visited and established vegetation plots within the BPUs. Using procedures and methods outlined in the Plot Sampling Form and Field Manual (Appendix C, U.S. Geological Survey-National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park project report), the field crews filled out detailed sampling forms for each sampling site. Note: If the field crews noticed a unique vegetation community as they were navigating to their appointed sampling site, this information was relayed to their field supervisor. In some incidences, additional vegetation plots were collected to record this information. Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS-NPS Veg. Classification Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS-NPS Field Procedures Process_Date: Unknown Process_Step: Process_Description: A database was compiled that contained the geographic coordinates of each vegetation plot, the park location that was sampled (Glacier or Waterton), the vegetation association classification for the plot, along with additional coding and locational information. These data were then converted to a geographic information system (GIS) point file. Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS-NPS Veg. Classification Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: USGS-NPS Field Procedures Process_Date: 2004 Spatial_Data_Organization_Information: Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector Point_and_Vector_Object_Information: SDTS_Terms_Description: SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Entity point Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 1113 Spatial_Reference_Information: Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition: Planar: Grid_Coordinate_System: Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator Universal_Transverse_Mercator: UTM_Zone_Number: 12 Transverse_Mercator: Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.999600 Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -111.000000 Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.000000 False_Easting: 500000.000000 False_Northing: 0.000000 Planar_Coordinate_Information: Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair Coordinate_Representation: Abscissa_Resolution: 0.000001 Ordinate_Resolution: 0.000001 Planar_Distance_Units: meters Geodetic_Model: Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum of 1983 Ellipsoid_Name: Geodetic Reference System 80 Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.000000 Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222 Entity_and_Attribute_Information: Detailed_Description: Entity_Type: Entity_Type_Label: WGIPP_VegPlots Entity_Type_Definition: The attribute table for the point file of the vegetation plot locations. Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project Attribute: Attribute_Label: FID Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number. These numbers are automatically generated by the software program ArcInfo Workstation, and are used by the software to track individual polygon features stored in shapefiles. Most software program will not display these numbers when the data set's attribute table is displayed. Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. Attribute: Attribute_Label: Shape Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry. Attribute_Definition_Source: ESRI Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features. Attribute: Attribute_Label: PLOT_SITE Attribute_Definition: Character codes used to link individual plot locations to the data sheets prepared for that site. Each sampling site has a unique ID number. Attribute_Definition_Source: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Random IDs defining the features. Attribute: Attribute_Label: ASSN_CEGL Attribute_Definition: Association codes used to link individual records to one of the 190 different vegetation associations identified for the park. Attribute_Definition_Source: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Association codes used to link individual records to one of the 190 different vegetation associations identified for the park. Attribute: Attribute_Label: ASSN_NAME Attribute_Definition: The scientific names of the major vegetation types associated with each vegetation association. A complete plant species list (linking common name to scientific names) is available in Appendix F of the project report. Detailed descriptions of the plant associations are available in Appendix G. Attribute_Definition_Source: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: The scientific names of the major vegetation types associated with each vegetation association. A complete plant species list (linking common name to scientific names) is available in Appendix F of the project report. Detailed descriptions of the plant associations are available in Appendix G. Attribute: Attribute_Label: PROJECT Attribute_Definition: The name of the project each vegetation plot was associated with. Attribute_Definition_Source: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: The name of the project each vegetation plot was associated with.. Attribute: Attribute_Label: LOCATION Attribute_Definition: The abbreviation code of the park associated with each vegetation plot. Attribute_Definition_Source: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project Attribute_Domain_Values: Enumerated_Domain: Enumerated_Domain_Value: GLAC Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Glacier National Park Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project Attribute_Domain_Values: Enumerated_Domain: Enumerated_Domain_Value: WATE Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition: Waterton Lakes National Park Enumerated_Domain_Value_Definition_Source: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project Attribute: Attribute_Label: QUAD_24K Attribute_Definition: The name of the 1:24,000-scale topographic quadrangle associated with each vegetation plot. Attribute_Definition_Source: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: The name of the 1:24,000-scale topographic quadrangle associated with each vegetation plot. Attribute: Attribute_Label: X_EASTING Attribute_Definition: The east/west (e.g., longitude) mapping coordinate that marks the southeastern corner of each vegetation plot. Attribute_Definition_Source: GPS receiver or USGS topographic quadrangle Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinate defining features Attribute: Attribute_Label: Y_NORTHING Attribute_Definition: The north/south (e.g., latitude) mapping coordinate that marks the southeastern corner of each vegetation plot. Attribute_Definition_Source: GPS receiver or USGS topographic quadrangle Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinate defining features Attribute: Attribute_Label: PLOT_DATE Attribute_Definition: The calendar date each plot was sampled, recorded as YYYYMMDD (Y=year, M=month, and D=day). Attribute_Definition_Source: Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Vegetation Mapping Project Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Dates defining features Beginning_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20030609 Ending_Date_of_Attribute_Values: 20051004 Distribution_Information: Distributor: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: USGS Biological Resources Division, Center for Biological Informatics Contact_Person: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator Contact_Address: Address_Type: Physical Address Address: USGS Address: Biological Resources Division, CBI Address: Building 810, Room 8000 City: Denver State_or_Province: Colorado Postal_Code: 80225-0046 Country: USA Contact_Address: Address_Type: Mailing Address Address: USGS Address: Biological Resources Division, CBI Address: PO BOX 25046, DFC, MS302 City: Denver State_or_Province: Colorado Postal_Code: 80225-0046 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: (303) 202-4220 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (303) 202-4229 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (303) 202-4219 (org) Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov Resource_Description: Downloadable Data Distribution_Liability: The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. These data and related graphics (if available) are not legal documents and are not intended to be used as such. The information contained in these data is dynamic and may change over time. The data are not better than the original sources from which they were derived. It is the responsibility of the data user to use the data appropriately and consistent within the limitations of geospatial data in general and these data in particular. Any related graphics (if available) are intended to aid the data user in acquiring relevant data; it is not approriate to use the related graphics as data. The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data. It is strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired from an U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service servers and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the utility of the data on another system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. It is also strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this metadata report does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U. S. Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey and National Park Service. Standard_Order_Process: Digital_Form: Digital_Transfer_Information: Format_Name: HTML Digital_Transfer_Option: Online_Option: Computer_Contact_Information: Network_Address: Network_Resource_Name: http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/glac/index.html Fees: None Metadata_Reference_Information: Metadata_Date: 20070718 Metadata_Review_Date: 20080130 Metadata_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical address Address: U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Biological Informatics, MS 302, Room 8000, Building 810, Denver Federal Center City: Denver State_or_Province: Colorado Postal_Code: 80225 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: (303) 202-4220 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: (303) 202-4219 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999 Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata, 1998 Part 1: Biological Data Profile, 1999 Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998 Metadata_Extensions: Online_Linkage: http://metadata.nbii.gov/portal/community/Communities/Toolkit/Metadata/FGDC_Metadata/ Profile_Name: Biological Data Profile FGDC-STD-001.1-1999