Lake Mead vegetation mapping project begins!

Joe Stevens recently traveled to Boulder City, NV to attend the kick-off meeting for the Lake Mead National Recreation Area (LAKE) Vegetation Mapping Project. The LAKE Vegetation mapping project is funded by the National Park Service under their effort to complete vegetation inventories at nearly all of the National Park units. The project at LAKE began in 2010 with the collection and classification of field plot data by the California Native Plant Society. Analysts from the Bureau of Reclamation are currently performing Image interpretation and mapping.

The Semi-Desert Wash Woodland/Scrub Map Class dominated by Ericameria paniculata and Chilopsis linearis,
with Creosote bush and Semi-Desert Scrub map classes on the hillsides in the background.

The Yucca Shrub Map Class with Yucca schidigera, Ambrosia dumosa, Eriogonum fasciculatum,
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa, and Larrea tridentata.

Following release of the completed map in the fall of 2013, CNHP will conduct accuracy assessment (AA) field sampling to quantify the map accuracy. AA field sampling will entail collecting 1,000 or more field plots and will require several crews working for several months. Hiring for those positions will be in the fall of 2013.