Vegetation - San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area [ds172]

The map was created to aid in preparation of a management plan for the Wildlife Area by Jones and Stokes Associates under contract to DFG; to focus selection of animal monitoring points; to allow monitoring of vegetation change over time; and to allow modeling of habitat for sensitive or otherwise important species. The 174 vegetation field samples were marked using Garmin 12 XL GPS units and can serve as long-term monitoring points. Additionally, eight digital ground-level photographs were taken facing 8 cardinal directions (N, NE, E, SE, etc.) at each sample location. (The vegetation sample and ground photo datasets are available through the Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program.) DATA ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS: No accuracy assessment of this map has been performed, although other maps using similar methodology have roughly 80% accuracy. Most of the sample points were at the higher elevations on Vulcan Mountain or in the lower elevations; the mid-elevations in the western portion of the WLA were largely inaccessible and so map accuracy may be lower in this area. The minimum mapping unit was 1 acre (1/2 acre for wetland types). KNOWN CAVEATS OF THE DATA: The CIR image on which this map is based predated the 2002 Pines Fire, which burned much of the western half of the Wildlife Area. Although most of the sampling was post-fire, the map represents pre-fire vegetation types.