Riparian Areas (Midwest Conservation Blueprint 2026 Indicator)

Definition This indicator represents riparian health within the Midwest Landscape. It prioritizes areas based on the percentage of natural landcover within floodplains. Pixels can take the following values: 1 – 0-60% natural landcover 2 – 60-70% natural landcover 3 – 70-80% natural landcover 4 – 80-90% natural landcover 5 – >90% natural landcover Selection This indicator was chosen as a targetable, important feature of the MLI goals that will be used to track conditions over time and prioritize areas for conservation. Indicators were defined through elicitation and prioritization exercises with federal and state participants. Criteria for the indicators includes 1) actionable, 2) measurable, 3) relevant to multiple groups across the region, and/or 4) representative of other social and/or environmental values. Input Data & Mapping Steps This indicator originates from the EPA Percentage of Land Area in Estimated Floodplains Classified as Natural layer and the EPA Estimated Floodplain Map of the Conterminous U.S. To create this layer, MLI partners, members, and staff completed the following mapping steps: projected all input data to NAD83 (2011) UTM Zone 15N, converted the Percentage of Land Area in Estimated Floodplains Classified as Natural layer to a 30m raster, reclassified the raster in the following classes: 1 – 0-60% classified as natural, 2 – 60-70% classified as natural, 3 – 70-80% classified as natural, 4 – 80-90% classified as natural, 5 – 90-100% classified as natural, and clipped the reclassed raster to the Estimated Floodplain boundaries. Finally, we removed highly altered areas using our Highly Altered Areas mask. For full mapping details, please refer to the Midwest Conservation Blueprint Development Process. For a complete download of all Blueprint input and output data, visit the Midwest Conservation Blueprint 2026 Data Download.【定义】本指标用于表征中西部景观内的河岸带健康状况，依据洪泛平原内自然土地覆被占比对区域划定保护优先级。像元取值规则如下：1——自然土地覆被占比0-60%；2——60%~70%；3——70%~80%；4——80%~90%；5——自然土地覆被占比＞90%。 【遴选说明】本指标被选为可落地且具备重要意义的MLI目标特征，将用于长期追踪区域环境状况并划定保护优先级区域。该指标通过联合联邦及州级参与方开展征询与优先级排序工作确定，其遴选标准包括：1）具备可操作性；2）可量化；3）对区域内多群体具有相关性；或4）可代表其他社会及/或环境价值。 【输入数据与制图步骤】本数据集源自美国环境保护署（Environmental Protection Agency, EPA）的「估算洪泛平原自然土地占比分类图层」以及「美国本土估算洪泛平原地图」。为生成本图层，MLI合作伙伴、成员及工作人员完成了如下制图流程：将所有输入数据投影至NAD83（2011）UTM 15N分区；将「估算洪泛平原自然土地占比分类图层」转换为30米分辨率栅格；按照以下规则对栅格进行重分类：1——自然土地覆被占比0-60%，2——60%~70%，3——70%~80%，4——80%~90%，5——90%~100%；将重分类后的栅格裁切至估算洪泛平原边界范围内。最后，通过「高度改造区域」掩膜移除受人类活动严重干扰的区域。如需完整制图细节，请参阅《中西部保护蓝图开发流程》；如需下载所有蓝图输入及输出数据，请访问「2026年中西部保护蓝图数据下载页面」。