The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutAPA3509SOSITNA HYI:ROELEcrRIC ffiOJECr Vegetation Mapping Final Refort and User Guide April,1985 (revised April,1987) Prerared By: fKJlA\OO~£c[g®£®©@ SUSITNA JOINT VENTURE ALASFA :EQ\'"ER AU'IHORITY ii TABLE OF CX)N!'ENTS TK ly~5"" ,S <a f\;;t3 t\o.3509 ..... ..... 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 BACKGRaJID ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ERESENT STUDY -FORAGE VEGET~ION MAPPING •••••••••••••••••••••• OJNm.ACr HIS'lORY••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• MAPPING TECHNIQUES AND PROCEEDURES ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1 2 4 6 - - 5.0 6.0 4.1 Collection of Existing Field nata.........................6 4.1.1 University of Alaska AES (Palmer)rata.............8 4.1.2 Forestry Sciences Lab Data.........................9 4.1.3 Bureau of land M:magement (tenali)rata............9 4.2 SQSVEG Database for Analysis of Existing Field patg.......10 4.2.1 Purpose of Database ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••10 4.2.2 Database Fields and Scope.•••••••••••••••••••••••••13 4.2.3 Potential Insolation Index •••••••••••••••••••••••••14 4.2.4 other Database ~rations and Reports.•••••••••••••16 4.3 Airphoto and Image Coyetase of the StuQ&Ate~•••••••••••••22 4.3.1 GEOPIC Enhanced Landsat Image ••••••••••••••••••••••22 4.3.2 NPBA-Alaska High Altitude Photography Program(AHAP)22 4.3.3 NPBA-Susitna Basin 1:120,000 Coverage ••••••••••••••23 4.3.4 Susitna Project 1:24,000 Coverage ••••••••••••••••••23 4.3.5 BLM I:enali Project and Forest Service Large Scale Plot CO\1erage •••••••••••••••••e·.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •24 ( 4.4 Lagena Design •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••24 4.5 Ma~Technigyes••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••30 4.6 Test Ma~ing at 1:63,360 anQ 1:24,000 Scales••••••••••••••32 FIE:t.D .Pro'c:E:ElllR.ES.....e·.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •35 VEGE'I'M'ION TYPE DEFINITIONS ••••••••••'.•• • ••••••••• •• •••• •• •• •• •39 ..... 44-2 I Forest••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••39 A Co.nifer ••••••••••'••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••39 B Broadleaf••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••44 C Mixed.•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••49 ARLIS Alaska Resources Library &Information ServIces Anchorage,Ataska .Table of contents (cont'd)iii LQel Shrub••••••••••_•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••'••• Dwarf Shrub••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••- ,.... ,.... II III IV v VI VII VII Scrub••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• A Dwarf Tree••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• B Tall Shrub ••,••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••••••••••••• C D Herba.ceQUs •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• A Grantinoid•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• B Forb•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••'•••••••• C B'CYoid •••••••••,•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• D Fre~ater Aquatic ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• S:p:irse Vege'ta.tion ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Ba.rren.••••.'••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••~••••••••• Cultural or Urban ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• .Agricultural ••••••••'•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Water ••••••••••••'•••••••••••'•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 53 53 55 58 65 68 68 69 70 70 71 71 71 71 71 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 aONVERSION BE'IWEEN R.A.KREIG &ASSOCIATES,mc.AND UNIVERS ITY OF ALASKA VEGErlfi'ION MAPPIN3 LmENDS •••••••••••••••• DIGITIZING &DATA STORAGE FORMArrS •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• B~E MAP ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• DIsmSSION . 72 77 78 80 10.1 ~Methodology Di§cussian............................80 10.2 Ma~ing Accura~Discussion •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••83 11.0 SO'z.t!ARy ••••••••••••••••••••'•••••••••••"•••••••••••••••••••••••••85 .... .... m co C'J C'J...,....,. ooo LO LO "M M 12.0 44-2 REFERENCES •.............'-.-. ..... Table ojE contents (conti d) List of Tables iv - -- - - - Table 1 -Susitna Vegetation Mapping -Ground Data.................7 Table.2 -sample I~mali Project Vegetation Ground rata Form........11 Table 3 -Plotnovi sample Printout Report••••••••••••••••••••••••••18 Table 4 -Vierpiie Sample Printout Report ••••••••••••••••••••••••••19 Table 5 -Piivier Sample Printout Report•••••••••••••••••••••••••••21 Table 6 -Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Legend..26 Table 7 -Vegetation Mapping Ground Data Form ••••••••••••••••••••••37 Table 8 -Cross Reference Between Alaska Vegetation Classification and University of Alaska (AES)Legend ••••••••••••••••••••74 List of Figures Figurl~1 -Susitna River and major tributaries fran Devil canyon to Il::nali HigllN'ay ••,.....................................3 Figure 2 -Index to the susitna Vegetation Base Map................5 Figure 3 -Potential-insolation index,I,expressed as a ~rcentage of the potential insolation at the equator,as a function of latitude ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••16 Figurl~4 -Map ShGling Locations of Advance and Test Mapping Areas.34 44-2 I""'" i """ ...., susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide .--". R.A.Kreig &Associates,Inc. April,1985 (revised April,198?) '!he SUsitna Hydroelectric Project,located approximately 120 air miles northeast of Anchorage,Alaska,is planned for construction in two Ii1ases.'!he first };hase,watana ram,will be an earthfill structure located approximately 184 river miles upstream fran the Susitna River mouth at Cook Inlet.At its normal maximum operating water level elevation of 2,185 feet,the Watana Reservoir will OCCUR{a 48-mile long,38,OOO-acre area.'!he second tilase of developnent,Devil canyon Dam,will be a concrete arch structure located approxirrately 32 river miles -dCMnstream of the watana Dam. The Devil Canyon Reservoir will ocCURi a 26-mile long,7,SOo-acre arlea at its maximum operating water level elevation of 1,455 feet. Ancillary structures and facilities will be required to support construction and operation of the watana and Devil Canyon projects, including:borrcw areas,construction camps,villages,and work areas;a permanent access road extending soutlMard fr an the Denali Hi9hway to the watana camsite and fran there westward to the Devil Canyon damsitej a rail extension from the Alaska Railroad main line at Gold Creek to the Devil canyon area;a trananission corridor 1.After Harza-Ebasco Susitna Joint Venture (1984),p.4-5. Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetati.on Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 2 ..... ..- - ..... ..... ..... - - ..... e>..'tending alongside the road fran the Watana damsite to the Devil canyon damsite,and fran there to a junction with the planned Intertie transmission corridor near Gold Creek;temporary and };:ermanent service roads;and a t:ermanent village and airstr ip near the watana damsite.Locations of many of these facilities as cur rentiy planned are sham in Figure 1. An application for a federal license to develop the Susitna Hydroelectric Project was suhnitted by the Alaska PCMer Authority to the Federal Energy Regulatory Ccmnission (FmC)in February 19183 • 2.0 PRESENT S'lUDY -roRlGE VEGETATION MAPPIN3 As plrt of the licensing process,detailed mapping of existing vegetation which will be affected as a result of project cclnBtruetion and operation was l.ll'ldertaken.The emtilasis is on moose forage vegetation as an important requirement to support the / habitat-based impict assessnent,mitigation planning,and settlement process currently underway. The forage vegetation mapping described herein is designed to create a more detailed map database than that previously available. These maps are intended to be used,in general,for quantification of habitat-based implcts and,more st:ecif i cally,to prOlTide a more accurate basis for stratification of the brcwse inventory through improved statistical efficiency.'!he mapping will a1lCM mOre 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 3 precise habitat use and availability analyses to be conducted for big game s:t:ecies,thus,ref ining the proj ect I s ability to assess imfacts. ..- -- - ..... I)~N~; WATANA DAM SITE F~.~<e.r SUSITNA RIVER AND MAJOR TRIBUTARIES FROM DEVIL CANYON TO DENALI HIGHWAY / -! Figure 1 -Susitna River and major tributaries fran Devil caI1Yon to D::na1i HigtMay.· 44-1 .,...Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetati.on Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 4 .,... - - 'n1ie objectives of the vegetation mapping were to prepare:I}a de!tailed 1:63,360 -scale nap of vegetation for the Susitna Project area,and 2}a concise user guide to accantaIlY the map product. The vegetation mapping study area boundary incluces approximately 2,550 square miles (figure 2). 3.0 <XJiN'IRACI'HIS'IORY 'Ibe request for pro{X)sal for vegetation mapping services was issued by Harza-Ebasco on behalf of the Alaska ~er Authority in January, 1984.R.A.Kreig &Associates,Inc.responded with a statement of interest and pro{X)sal,on February 14,1984.It was accepted and - authorization to proceed on the contract was received on March 14, 1984.Personnel involved in the Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation mapping include (all from R.A.Kreig &Associates Inc. unless otherwise noted): - 44-1 Raymond A.Kreig,Principal - Raymond A.Koleser,Forester - Deborah Heebner,Biologist - Kenneth Winterberger,Forester - (US Forest service,Forestry SCiences Lab) Project nanager Mapping &fieldwork Mapping &fieldwork Rev iewer and pr oj ect planning - - - - - Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide I I I, ",~,.,--..._...--......D:..,,::i: ."...'........._-,............ ,,," ,/', ,".,. •'/l -/~7',.""}..~ I I, ", ,,/ ", ""I I I I / Page 5 --..._-----,,' - Figure 2.Index to SUsi tna vegetation mapping study area shCMing individual map sheets. 44-1 ....Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetati.on Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 6 4 .0 MP..PPIN3 TEQINlQUES AND PROCEIlJRES A thorough revie,y and collection of all available reference and ground plot data prooided a basis for pre-field legend and mapping ....me~thodology developnent • - - 4.1 k9llection of Existing Field Data Prior to commencing work on the project,two main existing ground data soura:s were knOtm: Vegetation studies };:erformed unrer contract to the Alaska PCMer Authority by the University of Alaska Agricultural Experiment Station in Palmer.. Plot data gathered by the Forestry Sciena:s lab of the U.S. Forest Servia:as tart of their ongoing vegetation and land inventory process. ,.... 1- -2. 'A large amOlmt of additional ground cata collected by the Bureau of land M:magernent as tart of their 1977-78·r:enali study was identified later.The aCXjUistion of this information was fortunate - because it more than tripled the nunber of ground sites that could be used in formulation of the mapping legend and methodology ('.Eable 1).After collection,all of this existing data was ..... reformated so that the };hotointerpreters could more easily and efficiently utilize it during mapping.Previous studies are described in more retail in the follCMing sections. 44-1 .-. Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide TABLE 1 Susitna Vegetation Mapping -Ground Daj;:a Page 7 r '"'"' Inside Outside Mapping Mapping .source Area Area Total University of Alaska- Ag.Expt.Sta.(Palmer) BrCMse Studies Phenology Transects 62 25 87 Forestry Sciences lab (USPS) Ground Plots 52 35 87 I.a~ge Scale Plots 3 5 8 Bureau of land Mgt. Denali Study 625 600 1,225 Total Prefield 742 665 1,407 RA Kreig &Associates Ground Transect Sites 675 (approx)675 ADF&G Brcwse Inventory Transect Quadrats 2,376 (approx)2,376 Totals for grQUfldplots 3,793 665 4,458 RA Kreig &Associates Stereo Oblique Sites 87 87 ------=-- Total all sites 3,880 665 4,545 44-1 - Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide 4.1.1 University of Alaska AES (Palmer)Data Page 8 - - ...., 'llie plant ecology group of the University of Alaska,Agricultural Experiment Station at Palrrer (ABS)described,classified and mapped the vegetationjhabitat types found in the upper Susitna River basin and the floodplain as far south as Talkeetna in the first fhase of their study.Field locations were visited in 1980 and landsat imagery and 1:120,000 scale cm ];i1otcx:Jra];i1y were used to map the vegetation cover types at 1:250,000 for the entire basin and 1:24 ,000 for the direct imFact areas.In addition,the area extending 16 kIn on either side of the upper SUsitna River between Gold Creek and the mouth of the Maclaren River was mapped at 1:63,360. In the final ];i1ase,a brGlse inventory,plant fhenology study in the middle Susitna River Basin and a pre-burn inventory and a.seessnent study in the Al];i1abet Hills to the east were conducted. In the brCMse inventory study,canoR{cover,shrub stem density, brCMse utilization,brCMse availability,and current annual grCMth were measured.The ];i1enology study involved transects along the canyon slopes above the middle Susitna River to evaluate forage availability for CCM moose during tarturition.Exc10sures along four transects were sampled at time intervals to document the Itliene10gical deve10pnent of the vegetation.'Ihese studies are described in McKendrick et ale (1982)and Steigers et ale (1983). 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide 4.1.2 Forestry Sciences Lab Data Page 9 ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... I:a.ta were collected in and adjacent to the study area as tBrt of a U.S.Forest service multi-level sampling plan.Information for each individual plot was taken fran a 20 acre area on the ground and fran interpretation of large scale,color infrared aerial !±lotos.For the ground plots,information was taken on timber vohilile and grade,sIBtial distribution of overstory and understory vegetation,bianass and cover of shrub species and wildlife cover. 'lhe information fran the shrub and wildlife plots was very useful and was easily adapted to fit our data base.In addition to the ground data,there is also information fran the large scale !±loto plots.'!his data involves cover and height information by sI;ecies for vegetation t.yp:s mapFed on the !hotos. 4.1.3 Bureau of land Management (Denali)Data A large amount of data used in the study area was obtained fran d9.ta oove1oI;ed for the Denali Project in a Bureau of Land M3.nagement vegetation study conducted from 1977 to 1979 in the Susitna area.Tl).e information fran this study included large scale aerial !hotography and extensive,very useful ground vegetatioI1 sampling that was later incorporated into a large tBrt of our d9.tal::ase • The study had 168 cluster 53lnp1e units (12-points each)randomly selected on topographic maps.Ground information on vegetation 44-1 """, ,... Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 10 ..... - r typ:s,as well as,35mn ground };tlotos were obtained for half of the cluster units.In addition to this,all of the sites had 1:6,000 scale color };tlotography flam (which will be futher described belON).The 12 points in each cluster were later located and marked on the };tlotos.'lhe canbination of large scale I;hotos, ground J.i1otos and ground information for specific areas was a great asset in the mapping process. During this study,the Denali data was analyzed,p:ltterns identified and graphics CEsigned to better display the data on the I;hotograIils for the vegetation mappers.A sample Denali ground data form for one of the twelve cluster points at a sample location is illustrated in Table 2. 4.2 ~SVEG Database for AnalYsis of Existing Field Data 4 .2.1 Purpose of ratal:ase Fran the mapping perspective,one of the main purposes in studying the data l:ase of all existing plots was to identify the variation in forage cover classes and Level W detail which might not always be directly recognizable on 1:60,000 CIR aerial };tlotograJ.i1Y. Variation that cannot be directly interpreted can frequently be mapped qy association with other factors that can be directly ~pped (such as slope and·aspect,Viereck Level III vegetation class,landform,soil type,permafrost,site drainage,etc.)To do this,it was necessary to identify mapping guidelines for these 44-1 - Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetati.on Mapping Final Report and User Guide / Table 2.sample ~nali Project ground data form. Page 11 .7..LC1uster t ~samPle Unit ..DENALI PROJECT L)' Summer-Fall·:.1979 -( ~Field Data SUlDIIlary Class NO.~-'/'-..J:::L;..;;:=-__ o p.•i.Data Name._ Date: Collector: <6 II'Ll 79 c..... Level U._ Level UI'--~_ ,;;E,;;l,;;ev,;.;..:--·....F...t....;..··,--m..,.Aspect Ground Photo:Roil Frame------'=---_. ____-:.:N-:Lat.""W:-L.ong.·-:UTM NNE..-"SlopeZO"3S- \. De,c.lination 2gj;,0 floodplain 0 moraineO eskers 0 other _ flats C rolling hillsfi' lower 1{3 slope C ,valley floor C mountains C (if checked,mark below) mid-slope 0 upper 1/3 slope C ridge crest D LANDCOVER COMPbNENT (based on framework description) Coniferous Forest Deciduous Forest Mixed Forest cQ)1 2 3 4 O(D2 3 4 (])11 234L9J234 Level HI Dense Conifel' Open Conifer Dense Deciduous 'Open Deciduous Deciduous Mix Coniferous Mix Low Shru"®1 (JJ 3 4 ·1.ow Shrub (ratio dwarf birch ~:willow)) (conifer 1%5~--r-) r 44-1 Tall Shrub (Q)1 2 3 4 (ratio Tall Shrub alder :_:willow ~) - Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetati.on Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 12 -'Iable 2.sample Denali Project ground data form (cont'dr~ Dry Tundra Mesic Tundra Wet Tundra Wetlands (§,l 2 3 4 ~12 3 4 &Gl2 3 4 @'1234 Fellf.f.eld Prostrate Shrub Woody Tundra Non-woody Tundra Wet Ttindra Wetlands Water ~l 2 3 4 Water silty 0 clear C shallow C lee/Snow @l2 34 lee/Snow ~lis+Do-r e~LA;Sf '-4,--" It[,,,,,,,",, '00...C c.., M-6'75 ";.'?~ r ;c.kev..s ~~" ~,~I~J... '..):\\~ ().\O-e-r 5~;V'e 0-. :)Y'tt'7.$ C1&t ...Jbe~ $tJ'I""d ,\OS'e - - I""" I I 44-1 Bare Rock/Soil Comments: @>1 2 3 4 Bare Rock/Soil rock outcrop C gravelC soil C organicC naturalC man-caused C '0+c£'5eeJfl~j ~,{:",,, I ""CtretA Se C I{<S':_)1-\,c..(0 ,~If"e Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 13 - - 1""'l, .- IBtterns of occurrence that could then be used to infer vegetation characteristics belCM the resolution of the thotograIilY. 'ilie &JSVEG microcanputer data base was designed to handle the 1407 prefield plots shCMn on Table 1. 4.2.2 D3.tabase Fields and Scope Before arw of the plot data could be input,it had to be examined for canp:irability between the different studies.As expected,each study follCMed scmewhat different field procedure guidelines and same transformation and normalization of the data was necessary. For example,forage cover classes were assigned in the University of Alaska AES (Palmer)plots by ignoring airspace between leaves or foliage in the canol?{and understory cover shadows while Forest service and I:enali project data ignored interfoilage sp:icing and counted everything within the outer liJnits of a plant canOE{shadow as contributing to resultant cover class.estiInates.After inspection,it appeared that multiplying the Palmer cover classes by a factor of three was a reasonable ap~oa.dJ.to allCM cOOlp:irison with plots fran the other studies.It was also necessary to contirm plot locations and satisfy ourselves of the reliability of the field data fran the different projects.All plot information contained for each location in each study has not been added to the data base.Only those ccrnrron elements have been added which 1) contribute to the forage mapping task and 2)were collected in 44-1 -Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 14 .... - .... ..... - nearly all studies.lfue follcwing data items are included as se];E.rate fields in the catal:ase: 1.Plot No.P -University of Alaska AES (Palmer)Forage Plots PI'-Univer sity of Alaska AES (Palmer) Phenology Transect Sites D -~nali Project 2.Viereck Classification Level III call 3.Viereck Classification Level rv Call 4.Cover p:rcent for Willcw 5.IMarf Birch cover percent 6.Alder cover p:rcent 7.Moss cover percent (this cata was collected only on Palmer ];henology transect and FSL plots. 8.Lichen {this data was collected only on Palmer :r;:henology transect and FSL plots. 9.Unvegetated {this data was collected only on Palmer :r;:henology transect and FSL plots. 10.Slope 11.Asp:ct 12.Elevation. The catal:ase has been set up on an IBM-PC using Kncwledgeman Data Base M3.nagement software (Micro Datatase Systems,Inc.)lfue tasic data input and error checking is complete for all 1407 existing plot sites• 4.2.3 Potential Insolation Index To evaluate variations in forage cover,it was felt desirable to program a subroutine that COOlpired the sites to one another utilizing slope and aspect.'!he approach used is the equivalent latitude method (Dingman and Koutz,1974,originally developed l:¥ Lee,1962,1964). 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 15 ..... • 'Ihe relationship between the differing vegetation communities on north-facing versus south-facing slop:s has freq:uently been noted by researchers working throughout Alaska.When working with a large amount of plot data,it is necessary to quantify slop:and as:p:ct site factors.'!he concept is l::ased on the fact that every slop:is pirallel to a horizontal plane on the earth's surface which receives the same potential insolation as that plane.'lhe latitude of that plane is called the equivalent latitude,1',and it dep:nds on the inclination,k,and aszirnuth,h,of the slop:as foll<Ms: (1)I'=sin-l (sin k cos h cos 1 +cos k sin 1) Where 1 is the actual latitude of the site. The effects of eq:uivalent latitude (i.e.slop:and asp:ct)on vegetation are related to differences of in the quantity of solar energy that surfaces receive over the course of the season (absent the effect.$of orographic rainfall).Equivalent .latitude is not linearly related to potential solar insulation.This relationship is shCMI1 in Figure 3 which relates potential insulation,I (as a p:rcentage of the amount received at the equator)as a function of latitude,1. 44-1 ..... - Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetati.on Mapping Final Re{X>rt and User Guide Page 16 - I 'Y. o 20 40 601.deq-rees 80 - .- - Figure 3.Potential-insolation index,I,expressed as a percentage of the {X>tential insolation at the equator,as a function of latitude,1. Because of the definition of Equivalent latitude,Figure 3 is also a gram of :potential insulation,p,versus equivalent latitude.We have approximated this relationship 1::¥the following sine function: (2)P =59 (0.5 (1 +cos 21'»+41 Combining expressions (I)and (2)results in the s;ubr.outine used to carrg;>ute the :potential insolation index for each site on the SUS'VEX3 data base. 4.2.4 Other Database Operations and Re{X>rts Cover percentage classes in the willOtl,d.varf birch and alder fields were each evaluated and the appropriate cover class forage denaninator that would be used in the mapping legend symbology was canputed for each groundtruth point in the data base.This 44-1 -Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetati.on Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 17 - .... .... .... permitted much easier can:r;:arison of field data sites with the units on the draft vegetation maps. At present,three data sorting reports have been written: PI.QI'N)VI -'!his is the basic mta listing sorted by plot number ('I'able 3). YIERPIIE -This report sorts the d3.tabase by sorting the first field by Viereck Level III vegetation call.This is normally the limit that can be mapped by direct observation of grCMth form on the 1:63,360 em fhotography (without the interpretor's analysis including other rnapIBble site conditions)•Note that the Viereck Level III classes are not ordered alp,.abetically but rather by grwth form and precedents according to the order in the Alaska Vegetation Classification,i.e.1st -coniferous forest,then deciduops,etc.then shrub,then herooceous,last l:a.rrensite typ:s,etc.'!he second level of sorting (within a given Viereck .r.evrel III type)is ascending order of increasing potential insolation index (PIl).'!he last sort is by increasing elevation. M example of this report format is inclucEd as Table 4• 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetati.on Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 18 Table 3 -P1otnovi sample pr intout report T01 PLOTNO VIER VIE HAP WIL DBI ALD HOS LIC UNV SLO ASP ELEV ~ 300 D 25-07 SHo e 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700 301 D 25-08 SNo e 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700 302 D 25-09 SLo bw 110 10 25 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700 F"303 D 25-10 SLo b 010 0 25 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700 304 D 25-11 SLo bw 110 10 25 0 0 0 0 17 90 .3700 305 D 25-12 8Lo b",110 5 5 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700 306 D 25-13 SLo bw 110 5 5 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700 307 D 25-14 SHo e 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700 IjIi'JIlIIll 308 D 25-15 SI'lo 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700,e 309 D 25-16 S1'10 e 000 0 0 a 0 0 ·0 .17 90 3700 310 D 25-17 SLo b 010 0 25 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700 311 D 25-18 SNo e 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700-312 D 25-19 Sf<lo e 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700 313 D 25-20 8140 w 100 5 0 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700 314 D 25-21 SNo b~l no 5 5 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700 315 D 25-22 SHo \v 100 20 0 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700 r-316 D 25-23 SLo w 200 30 0 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700 317 D 25-24 SLo w 200 30 0 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700 318 D 25-25 SLo \v 300 60 0 0 0 0 0 17 90 3700 319 D 33-01 SLe bw 230 30 60 0 0 0 0 22 0 3200 320 D 33-02 SLe w 400 90 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 3200 r-"321 D 33-03 SLe w 400 90 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 3200 322 D 33-04 SLe w 400 90 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 3200 323 D 33-05 SLe w 400 80 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 3200 324 D 33-06 SLe w 400 80 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 3200 ~325 D 33-07 SLe ~l 400 90 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 3200 326 D 33-08 SLe bw 120 13 39 0 0 0 0 22 0 3200 327 D 33-09 SLe b\"120 17 34 0 0 0 0 15 0 3200 328 D 33-10 SLe b~l 130 20 60 0 0 0 0 15 0 3200 329 D 33-11 SLo b 020·0 50 0 0 0 0 15 0 3200 330 I)33-12 SLe b 020 0 50 a ere 0 0 Hi 0 3200 331 D 33-13 8Le b 040 0 80 0 0 0 0 15 0 3200 332 D 33-14 SLe bw 310 60 20 0 0 0 0 15 0 3200 333 D 33-15 SLe bw 310 60 20 0 0 0 0 15 0 3200F'334 D 33-16 SLe w 400 80 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 3200 335 D 33-17 8Lo b 020 0 50 0 0 0 0 19 0 3200 336 D 33-18 SLe bw 130 20 60 0 0 0 0 19 0 3200 337 D 33-19 SLe bw 130 12 72 0 0 0 0 19 0 3200 ~338 D 33-20 8Lo bw 110 20 20 0 0 0 0 19 45 3200 339 D 33-21 SLe bw 140 15 90 0 0 0 0 12 45 3200 340 D 33:"'22 SLe bw 410 100 5 0 0 0 0 12 45 3200 341 D 33-23 SLe bw 230 26 52 0 0 0 0 10 315 3200 342 D 33-24 SLe bw 230 26 52 0 0 0 0 12 3:).5 3200 343 D 33-25 8Le w 400 100 0 0 0 0 0 10 315 3200 922 D 37-01 SLe bw 220 50 50 0 0 0 0 40 135 3300 923 D 37-02 SLe b\v 230 38 .62 0 0 0 0 40 135 3300 924 D 37-03 SLe bw 230 41 58 0 0 0 0 40 135 3300 925 D 37-04 SLe b~l 230 33 66 0 0 0 0 40 135 3300 926 D 37-05 SLe b 140 15 85 0 0 0 0 40 135 3300 927 D 37-06 SLe b 140 10 90 0 0 0 0 60 135 3300 928 D 37-07 SLe bw 140 70 25 0 0 0 0 60 135 3300 929 D 37-08 SLe bw 230 40 60 0 0 0 0 60 135 3300 930 D 37-09 SLe bw 230 40 60 0 0 0 0 60 135 3300 931 D 37-10 SLo b 130 16 56 0 0 0 0 60 135 3300 932 D 37-11 SLo b 120 15 50 0 0 0 0 50 135 3300 933 D 37-12 8Le bw 220 45 45 0 0 0 0 50 135 3300 44-1 - Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 19 ..... Table 4 -Vierpiie sample pr intout report Page 1 VIER VIE PI!ELEV MAP PLOTNO WIL DBI ALD MOS LIC UNV SLO ASP TOI Cc w 53 1400 002 F 8-0 0 50 20 12 0 0 0 70 Cc w 53 2600 310'F 23-70 10 0 32 17 0 0 0 85 I"""Cc w 54 2500 110 F 1-10 20 0 36 18 0 10 258 63 i Co m 41 2200 212 P 65-40 18 32 75 3 0 40 0 42 Co w 44 2100 121 D 79-01 15 45 5 0 0 0 28 23 469 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-02 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 470 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-03 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 471 I"""Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-04 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 472 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-05 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 473 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-06 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 474 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-07 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 475 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-08 15 .45 0 0 0 0 25 23 476 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-09 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 477 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-10 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 478 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-11 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 479 ~Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-12 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 480 !Co w 44 2100 120 D.79-13 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 481 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-14 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 482 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-15 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 483 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-16 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 484 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-17 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 485 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-18 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 486 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-19 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 487 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-20 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 488-Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-21 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 489 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-22 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 490 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-23 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 491 Co w 44 2100 120 D 79-24 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 492 r-Ca m 50 1800 111 P 63-7 11 22 57 10 0 10 45 40 Co m 51 2200 IIIa P 53-3 24 0 48 5 0 ..,315 32 Co mw 51 2800 220 F 45-50 50 0 12 7 0 3 0 107 Co w 52 1680 010 PT43-0 12 0 90 0 0 3 70 62 Co w 52 1900 202 F 2-30 0 50 6 3 0 3 282 64 Co w 52 1700 003 F 5-0 0 60 16 0 0 8 70 67 Co w 52 2300 220 F 11-40 50 0 60 15 0 1 329 73 Co w 52 2700 220 F 36-30 50 0 42 10 0 3 69 98 Co w 52 2300 300 D 57-10 75 0 0 0 0 0 2 18 981.-Co 53 2100 010 P 22-2 17 0 0 9 1 7 270 13m Co w 53 2100 311 P 67-61 22 10 53 1 0 9 90 44 Co w 53 1700 100 P 68-12 3 1 50 7 0 0 0 45 Co mw 53 2600 140 F 32-10 90 0 20 8 0 0 0 94 Co w 53 2700 110 D 67-01 25 25 0 0 0 0 2 90 444 Co w 53 2700 110 D 67-02 25 25 0 0 0 0 2 90 445 Co w 53 2700 110 D 67-03 25 25 0 '0 0 0 2 90 446 Co w 53 2700 110 D 67-04 25 25 0 0 0 0 2 90 447 I"""Co w 53 2700 110 D 67-05 10 10 0 0 0 0 2 90 448 Co w 53 2700 110 D 67-06 25 25 0 0 0 0 2 90 449 Co w 53 2700 110 D 67-07 25 25 0 0 0 0 2 90 450 Co w 53 2700 110 D 67-08 25 25 0 0 0 0 2 90 451 Co w 53 2700 110 D 67-09 25 25 0 0 0 0 2 90 452~Co 53 2700 110 D 67-10 25 25 0 0 0 0 2 90 453w Co w 53 2700 110 D 67-11 25 25 0 0 0 0 2 90 454 Co w 53 2700 110 D 67-12 25 25 0 0 0 0 2 90 455 Co w 53 2700 110 D 67-13 25 25 0 0 0 0 2 90 456 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 20 - PIIVIER -The third report orders all sites,first,by potential insolation index (PII),second,within a given PII1 by Viereck Level III call.An example output is included as Table 5. We can provide machine readable copies of the data base on 5-1/4 inch fl0PP.f disks in the follCMing four formats: 1-KnCMledgernan rata Table """" 2.ASCII File 3.Unquoted ASCII File 4.Data interchange format (DIF) l"IJIIIII 5.Basic Compatible File r ! ..... ..... 44-1 ""'"' Susitna B;ydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 21 .!JlaIII. Table 5 -Piivier sample printout report page 1 PH VIER VIE ELEV MAP PLOTNO WIL OBI ALD MOS LIC UNV SLO ASP T01 41 Co m 2200 212 P 65-40 18 32 75 3 0 40 0 42 41 SMe 4600 000 D151-01 0 0 0 0 0 25 55 0 1197 41 SMa w 4300 000 F 86-0 0 0 11 0 0 55 349 148 r-41 SMa 4600 000 D151-02 0 0 0 0 0 50 55 0 1198 41 SMa 4600 000 0151-03 0 0 0 0 0 50 48 0 1199 41 SMa 4600 000 0151-04 0 0 0 0 0 50 50 0 1200 41 SMa 4600 000 0151-05 0 0 0 0 0 75 45 0 1201 41 SMa 4600 000 0151-06 0 0 0 0 0 75 45 0 1202 ~41 SMo 4600 000 D151-07 0 0 0 0 0 75 50 0 1203 41 SMo 4600 000 0151-08 0 0 0 0 0 50 45 0 1204 41 SMe 4600 000 D151-09 0 0 0 0 0 25 45 0 1205 41 SMo 4600 000 D151-13 0 0 0 0 0 25 45 0 1209 ""'"41 SMe 4600 000 D151-14 0 0 0 0 0 50 40 0 1210 41 SMa 4600 000 D151-15 0 0 0 0 0 50 40 0 1211 41 SMa 4600 000 0151-16 0 0 0 0 0 50 40 0 1212 41 SMe 4600 000 0151-17 0 0 0 0 0 50 40 0 1213 "'"'41 SMe 4600 000 D151-25 0 0 0 0 0 75 40 0 1221 42 SLe bw 3400 110 P 39-17 9 17 0 0 0 0 30 0 963 42 SLe bw 3400 110 P 39-18 7 13 0 0 0 0 30 0 964 42 SMa 3700 110 D105-01 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 693 42 SMa 3700 110 0105-02 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 694 42 SMa 3700 110 D105-03 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 695 42 SMe 3700 110 D105-04 25 25 0 0 0 Q 33 360 696 . 42 SMe 3700 110 D105-05 25 25 0 0 0 ~33 360 697 42 SMa 3700 110 D105-06 25 25 0 0 0 33 360 698-42 SMa 3700 110 D105-07 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 699 42 SMo 3700 110 D105-0 8 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 700 42 SMe 3700 110 0105-09 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 701 42 SMe 3700 110 D105-10 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 702 42 SMa 3700 110 D1Oi-ll 25 2.5 a 0 0 a 11 360.70J 42 SMo 3700 UO D105-12 2:$2$()0 0 0 33 360 704 42 SMa 3700 110 0105-13 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 705 42 SMa 3700 110 0105-14 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 706 42 SMe 3700 110 0105-15 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 707 42 SMa 3700 110 0105-16 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 708 42 SMa 3700 110 0105-17 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 709 42 SMe 3700 110 0105-17 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 710 42 SMa 3700 110 D105-18 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 711 pPII 42 SMa 3700 110 D105-19 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 712 42 SMo 3700 110 0105-20 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 713 42 SMe 3700 110 D105-21 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 714 42 SMo 3700 110 0105-22 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 715 !""'i 42 SMo 3700 110 0105-23 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 716 42 SMo 3700 110 0105-24 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 717 42 SMo 3700 110 0105-25 25 25 0 0 0 0 33 360 718 42 SMo 4600 000 0151-10 0 0 0 0 0 25 35 0 1206 :-'43 SLo bw 1800 020 P 42-2 47 0 25 14 7 29 0 26 43 SMe e 5000 000 F 94-0 0 0 12 28 0 30 9 156 43 SMe 3700 000 L119-02 0 0 0 42 10 0 30 339 204 43 SMo 3700 000 L119-08 0 0 0 0 20 40 30 339 205 43 SMe 3700 000 L1l9-13 0 0 0 1 15 83 30 339 206 43 SMe 3700 000 L119-19 0 0 0 0 20 79 30 339 208 43 B 3700 000 L119-14 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 339 207 44 Co w 2100 121 o 79-01 15 45 5 0 0 0 28 23 469 44 Co w 2100 120 o 79-02 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 470 44 Co w 2100 120 D 79-03 15 45 0 0 0 0 25 23 471 I""" I 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide 4 .3 Airphoto and Image Coverage of the Study Area Page 22 - -I -I ! -!.I l The study area has a variety of aerial :t:hotcx:l'ra:t:hic and image coverage available ranging fran 1)a landsat image for general overviews at scales of 1:1,000,000 to 1:250,000,2)high altitude 1:120,000 and 1:60,000 cm aiq:hoto coverage for meditml to snall scale mapping purposes and 3)Color PlotograPlY at scales fran 1:6,000 to 1:24,000 is available for significant portions of the project area.'!he individual coverages are described in more detail in the follCMing sections. 4.3.1 GEDPIC Enhanced Landsat Image The Talkeetna Mountains ]mage (Scene #11470-19560 dated August 1,1976)is a virtually cloud-free cm landsat image that cOllers the entire project area.It has been produced by the GWPIC process of Earth satellite COrporation (Washington,D.C.)The scene has been detanded,edge enhanced,and geanetrically corrected.It has served as an excellent 1 :250,000 base for canpilation of tasic data,planning of field work and reference during meetings and presentations. 4.3.2 NASA-Alaska High Altitude Ihotography Program (1IRAP) 'Ihe prime mapping PhotograPlY used on this project is 1:60,000 em :t:hotography flCMn 1981 to 1984.'Ihis coverage is generally of adequate exposure and print quality.Sane flightlines contain 44-1 -i - Susitna Hydroelectric Project Page 23 Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide excessive amounts of red tones in the original negatives.The eastern half of flightline 90 contained a coverage gap that resul ted in a sj;:ecial request to NASA to obtain coverage in this gap.It was flCMn in August,1984 and used for the vegetation mapping.Unfortunately this nEW flightline still left a very thin holiday (coverage gap)between the adjoining flightlines. Enlargements of the older 1:120,000 cm (described in follCMing section)were ultimately used for mapping this ranaining area. 4.3.3 NASA-Susitna Basin 1:120,000 Coverage 'lhe entire map area had been previously flCMn in 1977-78 with 1:120,000 CIR coverage on northeast-southwest trending flightlines as part of NASA coverage acquired for the Soil Conservation service-Susitna River Basins Study.'!his coverage was used in the previous mapping effort j;:erformed by the University of Alaska (Palner)•These flights were selected as the Plato base for the project because of superior image quality and other factors (discussed further in tase map section). 4.3.4 Susitna Project 1:24,000 Coverage Approximately 40 percent of the project map area has been covered by 1:24,000 color flavn by North Pacific Aerial Surveys for the Susitna project.This coverage served as a reference and tackup source used in conjunction with the 1:60,000 CIR.It is generally of high quality,havever,flightlines covering the access corridors 44-1 ..... r Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 24 - - - north to the Denali Highway are snCM covered and not usable for vegetation mapping.1:20,000 Bureau of land Management color coverage dated 1978 is available for this missing area. 4.3.5 BLM Denali Project and Forest Service Large Scale Plot COV'erage Approximately 610 frames of 1:6,000 color transparencies were flown in 1976 by BLM as FaIt of the Denali project.'lhese flights cover 625 plot locations inside the map area.They are cona:ntrated generally north of the Susitna River and in the a:ntral and eastern part of the map area.This coverage has proven to be very useful to the mapping effort.1:3,000 em plot lilotography has also been aQ:luired l::¥the Forestry Sciena:s Lab for three plots within and near the western portion of the map area. - - 4.4 44-1 Legend Design 'Ihe mapping scheme and symbology Ck:signed for this effort consists of a fractional symbol with the numerator denoting level three and four calls tmder the Alaska Vegetation Classification (Viereck et Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 25 al,.1982)and the denaninator denoting a three-p:u:t forage cover call thus: 5 point scale: o=0-4%cover 1 =5-25%cover 2 =26-50%cover 3 =51-75%cover 4 =76-100%cover- Viereck Level I,II,III calli-r Viereck Level Community Classification DQib ~002Shr:~~~r_Cl_a_s_se_._s ~II Birch (Shrub ~ &IMarf only) Alder ----------' IV call - Level I,II,and III calls occur left of a colon in the numerator while the Level IV call occurs to the right of the colon.The symbology for the Viereck units is ta.sed on the design we develoI;ed for the statewide 1:250,000 scale Department of Na,tural Resour~s, Alaska Resource Mapping Project (ALARM).'!he symbols are alI;:ha characters chosen as mnenonics to help new users rapidly associate map unit labels with vegetation types.For the complete list for - the entire Susitna mapping area see Table 6. In most cases,the symOOlogy for Viereck Level III calls is identical to that used on the ALARM statewide inventory.Our symbology has been modified to include changes made during the Alaska Vegetation Classification Workshop (Anchorage -February 21, 1984),conseg:uently,the six dwarf tree catagories and scrub are new •.Hereafter,references to the Viereck classification should be understood to include Viereck et ale (1982)as modified l:¥the 1984 workshop.'Ihe lower case letters used to denote Level IV classifications were originally designed to be included as IBrt of 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 26 -, - TABLE 6 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation ~ing R.A.Kreig &Associates,Inc. Mapping Legend (Revision 4) March 1,1987 ---- Susitna Hydroelectric Project Page 27 Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide ~ Table 6 -Susitna Vegetation Mapping Legend 3/87 (Cont'd) 2.Scrub A.IWarf Tree «5m)Conifer 1.Closed FCc "'""(60-100%),, 2.Open FCo ~(25-60%) 3.Woodland Few (10-25%) Broadleaf 1.Closed FOer-(60-100%) 2.Open FOe (25-60%) 3.Woodland FDw-(10-25%) Mixed 1.Closed FMc (60-100%) 2.Open FMo (25-60%) 3.Woodland (10-25%) B.Tall Shrub 1.Closed A)WillCM src:w (>1.5m)(75-100%)B)Alder STc:l C)Shrub Birch STc:b D)Alder -Willow STc:lw E)Shrub Birch -WillCM STc:1::M ""'"*)Alder -Shrub Birch - WillCM STc:ltw -2.Open A)Willew STo:w (25-75%)B)Alder STo:l C)Shrub Birch STo:b-D)Alder -WillCM sro:lw E)Shrub Birch -Willow STo:bw *)Alder -Shrub Birch STo:lb C.Lew Shrub 1-Closed A)!Marf Birch SLc:b (0.2-1.5m)(75-100%)B)Lew WillCM SLc:w C)!Marf Birch -Lew Willew SLc:bw D)Ericaceous Shrub Tundra SLc:e E)Dwarf Birch -Ericaceous SLc:be 68-3 ..... Susitna l~droelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide ~rable 6 -Susitna Vegetation Mapping Legend 3/87 (Cent I d) Page 28 - r- I ..... ..... 2.Op:n (25-75%) D.Dwarf Shrub 1.Closed «0.2m)(75-100%) 2.Op:n 3.HE:rreceous A.Graminoid 1.Dry 2.Mesic 3.Wet B.Forb 1.Dry 2.~sic 3.wet A)IMarf Birch B)Low Willow C)IMarf Birch -WillCM ,*)Birch -Ericaceous-Grass D)LcM Alder J)Ericaceous Shrub - sthagnum Bog S)Willow Grass Tundra T)Birch &Ericaceous Shrub *)Birch -Willow -Grass *)Eiicaceous Shrub *)Ericaceous Shrub -Grass A)Mat &Olshion -Sedge B)Mat &eusion -Grass D)Cassiope G)Lc:M Er icaceous Shrub E)Low Willow *)Ericaceous Shrub A)Wet Sedge Meadow C)Wet Sedge -Herb M)Sedge -Moss llog C)Alpine Herbs SLo:b SLo:w SLo:l:w SLo:beg SLo:l SLo:eu SLo:wg SLo:be SLo:l:wg SLo:e SLo:eg SMc SMc:s SMc:g SMc:j SMc:e SMo SMo:w SMo·:e B3d HGm HGw B3w:s HQv:sh HGw:sm HFd HFd:h HFm HEW D.lquatic 1.Fresh water 4.S};arse A.Forest Vegetation B.Scrub C.Herbaceous 5.Barren A.Bedrock 6.Artificial Disturl:ance fran Cultural,Urren Developnent,etc. 7.Agricultural 8.water ..... 68-3 C.Bryoid 1.fobsses 2.Lichens RBm RBl HM Pf Ps Ph D Db U A W Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 29 - the statewide system (but were not rnapfed nor included in the technical sfecifications for these previous 1 :250,000 I:NR projects)• '!he three forage scrub cover sfecies (willow-birch-alder)in the denaninator are rated on the five };X)int scale shaYn.'!he first term is the cover for willavs (Salix sp.excluding decumbent dNarf salix sp).'!he second term is the cover for dwarf birch (Betula ngng and B.glandulosa),while the third figure is the cover fercentage for alder (Alnus crigpa). Map units are labeled with one symbol if one type represents at least 75 percent of a };X)lygon or more.In cases where more than one type is present in a polygon,where cartographic sep3.rationof two or more vegetative types is not };X)ssible,the };X)lygon is labeled as a canplex with the major cOOl};X)nent occurring first in the·label.The minor canponent .must have at least 25 ·percent of the unit area to be included.'lhese canplexes are used in distinct :f6.tterned vegetation,such as a };X)lygon of mesic graminoid herbacous (HGm)that contains clumj;:ed lCM willav shrubs (SLo:w). canplexes are us~in this manner: Major canponent l2Q..;.b 002 +SLo:bw 240 Minor canponent (not less than 25%---------------' of unit area) 44-1 sus:Ltna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Ma.pping Final Report and User Guide Page 30 The first legend was pretared April 23,1984 (entitled "Tentative Mapping Legend").Revision 2 was prepared June 15,1984 after an initial field reconnaissance.It incorporated several minor changes including 1)a shift in the zero shrub cover class fran "not present"to 0 to 4%cover.We felt that it was desireable to differentiate trace occurrences of a brCMse species fran larger and more significant forage occurrences (for instance,10-20%cover occurrences)at the lONer end of the forage cover class scale. After discussion with LGL and ADF&G,it was agreed that this mange should be made.Several new Level IV ty'f:es were also added to the legend,including four not presently recognized in Viereck.A rearrangerrent of the nine scrub dwarf tree catagories and a symbology change has been made to improve the overall design of the classification and symbology and to incorporate parallelism with the structure of the classification in the forest and scrub sections.These changes are not strictly in accordance with the Viereck classification.Ken Winterberger with the ForestIy Sciences Lab originated these types (which were ultimately incorporated late into the Viereck classification.) 4 .5 Ma}2Ping Techniques All vegetative t,ypes were mapped to at least cartogra};hic 40 acre minimums at 1:63,360 scale (one-fourth inch square)with a minimum categorical interpretation to Level III 1::¥Viereck.All forest, dwarf tree,tall shrub and ION shrub ty'f:es were mapped to Level IV. Where cartogra};hically possible,mapping dCMn to 10 acre minimums 44-1 r Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 31 r was done.'!be (Warf shrub,herbaceous and sIBrse vegetation types were mapI;:ed at least to Level III but usually the forage cover was less than 5%,therefore,the forage cover class calls were anitted. '!he tall shrub and forest vegetation typ=s were mapped with the most detailed categorical resolution.Forage cover class I;:ecentage calls were mapped for willow-birch-alder.If there was a distinct mosaic of vegetation types or forage cover classes within a given vegetation polygon that was not cartographically mapable,canplexes were used.JIbe inclusion of 1)percentage forage sI;:ecies distribution,2)over story cover mapping,and 3)canplexes within a polygon were necessary for accurate stratification for the moose forage study.'!he canbination of all three of these data attr ibutes on one map is a sI;:ecial feature of our mapping methodology which,we feel,has permitted the mapping of more canplexity at a higher level of resolution. To obtain the rnaxirnmn and most accurate amount of forage species detail fran the aerial photography,it was necessary to analyze all existing data and incorporate the analysis into the photo interpretation process so that relationships between vegetation assocJ.ations,physiography,and {iloto signature could be made.A multiscale approach was used to analyse and display the data on the photographs.'Jhe site/photosignature/vegetation relationships demonstrated were a cr itical IBrt of the process that resulted in a more uniform and repeatable photo interpretation Iroduct. Vegetation type/forage cover class/site condition relationships 44-1 i~ Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Repor?and User Guide I ./ .-// Page 32 ..... .- - ..... were first studied and identifiedfrQ11 large scale (1:6,000)Denali project thotos and ground plots.'!hese relationships were then ,.__r" extended to the smaller scales of thotograthY (ie.1:24,000 and 1:60,000)where sudl cover classes cannot be dl.rectly interpreted because they are belaY the minimum level of thoto resolution• 4.6 Test Mggpins at 1:63,36Q and 1:24,000 Scales The moose carrying cap::l.city modeling which was used to assess roth 1)the impact of the reservoir and related facilities and 2)the necessary mitigation measures reqUired a vegetation map which can adequately separate the important forage shrub elements (birch, alder and willav).For many sites in the upper Susitna,it is not possible for an interpreter to.separate these three forage classes on the basiS of direct recognition (thoto signature)alone.This sepa.ration has to be made by the use of thoto interpretive skills and the specific experien~of the mappers in the upperSusitna area through the recognition of vegetation ccmnunity characteristics and site relationships.These relationships were established by examining all existing plot data in reference to vegetation,landform and moisture gradient corr;elations through a multiscale theto interpretative approach. The preliminary forage mapping legend was tested 1::¥trial mapping for several purposes: 1)To determine what could actually be observed and mapped on the thotography. 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vege:tation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 33 ,.... - 2)To canpare the proposed legend against the extensive ground truth da.ta that already existed in the UPter Susitna. 3)To make an informed decision on the most appropriate final scale for the vegetation mapping (either 1:63,360 or 1:24,000 scales)• 4)To obtain canments fran users (habitat modeling group)that the map was intended to serve. rrwo locations were selected for test mapping in areas with extensive existing ground truth.Criteria used for selecting these locations included 1)that the area be of interest to IGL and ADF&G because of high moose utilization,2)suitable forage vegetation, such as willow,be present,3)there be ample existing plot da.ta, ground truth and lOiV level 1:6,000 scale Denali color coverage (because this test mapping had to be canpleted prior to any opportunity for field verification)and 4)the area be covered with suitable 1:24,000 color aiqhotos. Two areas satisfying these criteria were selected for mapping.'!he OShetnaand Watana test map areas (Figure 4).Resultswere presented and discussed on April 23,1984 with LGL and ADF&G. Canparisons were made of the different levels of detail possible at the two different scales.While there is definitely sane loss of detail (primarily cartogra:t:hic,as opposed to categorical)at the 1:63,360 scale,the general consensus was that mapping should move ahead at 1:63 ,360 due to budget 1 imitations and the incanplete partial coverage of existing suitable 1:24,000 scale aiqnotos. ADF&G (S.Miller)requested test mapping at 1:24,000 scale in three additional areas (Figure 4)other than the Watana and Oshetna test 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 34 .... l~ r areas.Further mapping was required to assess the actual detail loss at the smaller scale when directly cantared to the 1984 brCMse inventory analysis of the forage clipping program results.This was accanplished by mapping at 1:24,000 scale the area of vegetation influence around 35 BrCMse Inventory transects (an approximate area of 1 mile in length by .5 miles in width)that were located in the test areas.Vegetation mapping at 1:63 ,360 scale was also made available for the brCMse sampling activities in summer 1984 for the five P1oto map areas on Figure 4. o 5 to .... =-'"~1P IS KMDoNt...... Figure 4.Map shCMing locations of Oshetna (H)and Watana (B) advance 1:63 ,360 scale mapping areas and three additional test map areas:Devil Creek (C),Pistol lake (D),and Fog lakes (E).All areas were mapped at 1:63,360 for the entire area and 1:24,000 scale encompassing seven transects each.. 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide 5.0 FIEID PROCEDURES Page 35 - - R.A.Kreig &Associates field efforts concentrated on the collection of representative forage cover percentages,checking of pref ield and advance test area mapping,the interpretation of difficult or canplex site/signature relationships and the establishment of a consistent approach to use of the legend. An initial helicopter reconnaissance of the mapping area was };erformed fran June 10 to June 12,1984.Approximately 10 sites were visited and numerous overflights were made to check problem areas detected in the earlier data analysis and test area mapping. Field observations were recorded on 1:60,000 eIR,1:24,000 color, and 1:6,000 color,airphotos. On July 10 to 12,1984 we prooided orientation and training in the use octile photograPlY and mapping legend to ADF&G crE:.WS associat.so with the seperate BrCMse Inventory Study forage sampling effort. We also develo};ed procedures for coo};erative field checking and verification of the mapping t:eoduets.'!his integral involvement with the BrCMse Inventory study prooided us with a very large amount of additional field data as well as interactive refinement of the map prodUct while the project was progressing.'!be BraYse Inventory Study stratl.fied vegetation types in the study area by elevation,slo};e,and asp:ct.Within these vegetation types,one mile long transects were then plotted at random locations.At each transect·site,the BrCMse Inventory crew located approximately 22 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 36 ..... - ..... quadrats at randan locations along the transect and collected the data outlined on the Vegetation Mapping Ground rata form CI'able 7). Current annual woody grcwth of brcwse species important in winter moose diets was clipped and bagged by species.ADF&G personnel provided us with the data and subsequent analyses fran the 108 transects done in the summer of 1984.TWo additional R.A.Kreig & Associates field trips occurred fran July 10-17 and August 11-20, 1984. Forty-four transects were checked on the ground with an average of 15 sites located along each transect.'ilie transects were located in representative forage cover types with due regard to percentage variations and differing levels of canplexity.lJhe transects were plotted on 1:60,000 em and 1:24,000 color Iflotografhy.In the field they were located on the ground using CaRp:iss triangulation and reference to Iflotoidentifiable vegetation and topograIflic features.'!he transect line was walked and vegetation type-forage species cover changes and locations of the calls were recorded on the airIflotos. rata recorded at each site included vegetation classification legend type,forage shrub cover class,understory species,and qualitative observations on the togograIi1Y.All fieldwork was done by the sarne interpreters who did·the mapping.'fuese interpreters field checked the transects and collaborated on all vegetation type,forage species cover class calls to establish consistency in the application of legend descriptions to all napping.Site 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 37 Site No.(arbitrary) - - Table 7 -Vegetation M:lpping Ground rata Form Vegetation Map,ping Gtound Data Form Susitna aydroelectric Project Prep:ired 6-29-84 by R.A.Kreig &Associates,Inc. CIR-coL Photo No:_ Line i Roll i (optional)Print f Viereck.vegetation call _ Level 3 Level 4 Cover call %%% WillOW"two Birch Alder Elevation ft.SIo};e %As};ect 0 Azimuth undulating flats hills or mtns. (if yes,Ithen where on slopes:) I Local Topografhy (100 ft.radius of site):Convex Landscape setting (1/2 mile radius of site):flats Simple Slo};e Concave Canplex valley floor lcwer 1/3 slope Surface drainage (runoff):Fast mid-slope Intermediate upper 1/3 slope Ponded ridge crest -1 Site Moisture:Very dry 2 Dry 3 4 5 Moist 6 7 8 Wet Examples:Exposed Soil on steep slQPes sand or gravel Moss Mat on slope or flats. No~n standing water Standing water 0t soggy High water table Organic Terrain Type: Mineral soil in active layer? 44-1 Cmbotrophic No Minerotrophic Yes ..... r I Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Ma.pping Final Report and User Guide Page 38 .... -, .... r- i vegetation calls along the transect were considered in terms of Iilotointerpreted polygons on the 1:60,000 cm (approximately 100 meters square in minimum area).The Iilotosignatures of the sites were examined and the consistenqr of v~tation type and forage species cover class calls were established. On August 30,1984 and September 14,1984,a systematic helicopter check was made to map additional forage detail during the optimum fall sh.rub color change (senescence).stereo 35mrn color slide obliques were taken of 87 different locations throughout the mapped area of both representative and canplex forage cover classes.The timing of this final check also allCMed additional understory shrub discr imination in forest areas.Vegetation type cover calls and forage species cover class information was interpreted later in the office fran each slide and the information was then transferred and plotted on the 1:60,000 cm Ihotography. 44-1 .- Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation l>1apping Final Report and User Guide 6.0 VEGFJrATION TYPE DEFINITIONS I.Forest Page 39 -. All forest typ:s are canposed of at least 10%canopy cover of trees over five meters in height at maturity.The forest ty];:es are classl.fied according to the species contributing at least 75%of the cano:p'!cover :r;ercentage.They are further classified t¥the total ccmop.y cover percentage. A.Conifer forest ty];:es have at least 75%of the total forest canow cover value canposed of conifer species.Deciduous s~cies may occur with up to 25%crCMn cover. 1.All closed conifer typ:s have canoW cover values of 60-100%of the total area. a.Cc:w -Closed white spruce is a camnunity with 75% of the total canow cover canposed of white spruce (Picea glauca).This type generally occurs along drainages or well-drained slo:r;es of North,Northeast or Northwest as~cts.WillCM (Salix plgnifolia ssp.pulchra),&arf birch (Betula glandulosa)and alder (Alnus crispa)occur in the understory.Ground cover species include EYbus chamaernorus,Rubus arcticus, 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation M:lpping Final Report and User Guide Page 40 Eguisetum silvaticum,Linnaea borealis and HylocQIDiurn splendens. b.Cc:m -Closed black spruce is a canrounity with 75% ....of the total canopy cover canposedof black spruce (Picea mariana).This type typically ~, occurs on poorly drained organic permafrost soils.WillCM,dwarf birch and alder occur in the shrub layer.Ground cover species include Ledum groenlandietml,Vaccinium uliginosum,Erqpet;rum nigrum,Rubus arcticus, Rubus chanaemorus,Carex sp.and.5P.ha9mml sp. c.Cc:mw -.Closed black and white spruce is a camnunity with neither black spruce nor white spruce cbninating:the c:a:n<:Ql'COVer witb 75%of tha cover value.This type occurs on terraces, r I 44-1 at the base of south-facing sloI:es and on poorly drained north facing slopes.Willow, dvarf birch and alder occur in the understory.Ground cover species include Ledurn groe1andicum,Vaccinium u1jginosurn, Vaccinium yitis-idaea,Emwtrum nigrum, Rubus arcticus,Rubus chauaemorus,Sj;>hagnum sp.and Hylocomium splendens. Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 41 - 44-1 2.All oJ?en conifer forest types have canoI¥cover values of 25-50%of the total area. a.Co:w -Op:n white spruce is a carmunity with 75%of the total can0:P.l cover canposed of white spruce.'Ibis ty}?e carmonly occurs on well-drained convex sites,along drainages and near treeline.'!he understory of this ty}?e is similar to the closed white spruce ty}?e but with more shrub cover because of the more oI=en tree ca.n0P.i.Willcw,dvarf birch and occasionally alder canpose the shrub layer.The wetter sites generally support a greater percentage of willcw and the dryer sites support more dvarf birch. 'IYPical ground cover species are Empetrum nigrum,Ledum ~s;Vaccinium uliginosum,Vaccinium yitis-idaea,Eguisetum silyaticuro,calarnagro§tis canadensis, Hylocomium splendens,Cladonia sp.and Stereocaulon sp. b.Co:rn -Op2n black spruce is a camnunity with 75%of the total can0P.i cover canposed of black spruce.'Ihe open black spruce type is caronon on poorly drained,cold sites. WillOW',dvarf birch and occasionally alder Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetatiqn Mapping Final Report and User Guide /I~ //"/ /~c'"••, Page 42 -I ,.... .... -i ..- I occur in the understory.other important understory sFecies are vaccinium llliginosum, Ledurn sp.,Erwetrum nignnn,Rubus chamaemorus,carex sp.,Equisetum silvaticum,Rurnex arcticus,Petasites hYPerboreus and Sphagnum sp. c.Co:mw -ot:en black and white spruce is a ce;mnunity with both black spruce and white spruce occurring with cover values of greater than 25%of the total COVer value.'l11is type occurs near treeline,on moist sloFes and in transitional areas between black and white spruce.'!he shrub layer is canposed of willCM,dvarf birch and occasionally alder • 'lhe major species of the understory are vaccinium ulig1nQsum,SR1rea.b=-weJ;Q;!i\M, Rosa acicular is,calaroagrost1s canadensie, EgJ,lisetum silvat1cum,carex bigelouii,redum sp.,Rubus arcticue,Rubus cbamaemorus, Erqpetrum nigrum,Vaccinium yitis-1daea, feather mosses and Sphagnum. 3.All woodland conifer forest types have canoPl cover values of 10-25%.'lhese types are freqUently difficult to distinguish fram a non-forest type. 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 43 ..... - a•Cw:w -Woodland white spruce is a community with 75%of the total canol?f cover value canposed of white spruce.This type generally occurs on well-drained sites at elevational treelines,in areas of regenerating vegetative grCMth,or in transitional areas between white spruce and lCM shrub.This type is similar to the open white spruce type,but with even more shrub cover because of the more open tree canopy.Willow,dNarf birch and occasionally alder canpose the shrub layer.Important ground cover species are Ledum decurnbens,Vaccinum uliginosum, Vaccinimn yitis-idaea,Eguisetmn silvaticmn, Arctagrostis latifolia,~ilobium latifolium and feather mosses. i" I I b.Cw:m -Woodland black spruce is a canmunity with 75%of the total C'anOl?f cover value canposed of black spruce.This type occurs on wet poorly drained cold sites and it often grades into a s};hagnum bog.The shrub layer is composed of willow and dNarf birch. Ground cover species are salix fuscescens, Q,\¥coccus microcarpus,Ledum groeulandicum, Vacciniurn uliginosum,Erio:ghorum sp.,carex sp.and SPhagnum sp. 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 44 -- c.C\.'l:mw -Woodland black and white spruce is a community with neither black spruce nor white spruce daninating the tree canopy cover value with 75%of the cover value. This type occurs near altitudinal limits of trees,on moist sites,and in transitional areas between black and white spruce. WillCM,dwarf birch and occasionally alder occur in the shrub layer.Under story species are commonly salix retiCYlata, Potentilla fruticosa,Vaccinium uliginosum, Vaccinium yitis-idaea,Eguisetum silvaticum, ca.rex sp.,IiYlocanium splendens,Ledurn sp., and EIm;letrumnigrum. B.Broadleaf fOrest types have at least 75%of the tree carer percentage composed of broadleaf species.Coniferous species may occur with up to 25%cram cover. 1.All closed broadleaf forest types have canoW cover values of 60-100%of the total area. a.Dc:o -Closed black cottorMood is a can:munity with 75%of the total canow cover canposed of black cottonwood (Populus balsamifera ssp. trichocar::r;:a.)•It is generally found along 44-1 .... Susitna HydrOf-'Jectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 45 ..... ..... ..... streams or river in the extreme southwestern portion of the Susitna study area.WillCM and alder occur in the shrub layer. Understory species include calarnagrostis canadensis,Epilobium angustifolium, Gerianum erianthum,Geracleum lanatum and Pleurozium schrgberi. b.Dc:p -Closed talsam poplar is a canmunity with 75% of the tree canow cover canposed of balsam poplar (PQpulus balsamifera sQP. balsamifera).'lb.is type occur s most fre::Juently on river floodplains.The deciduous types have more canplete foliage cover than the conifer types and,therefore, the understory layers are not as well develo:t;:ed.Willav and alder occur in the shrub layer.'llie ground cover species are Festuca altacai,senecio lugens,EQs.a acicularis Mertensia panigulata and Egyiseturo siliyaticum. c.Dc:b -Closed p3.per birch is a carmunity with 75% of the total canop.{cover canposed of p3.per birch (Betula mRlrifera).This type occurs on well-drained slopes,along floodplains, and drainage ravines.Willav and alder 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 46 occur with ION percentage cover values in the shrub layer because of the alnost canplete foliage cover of P3-per birch. Understory cover species include calarrasrostis canadensis,I.edum groenlandicuro,Cornys canadensie, Gymnocarpium dryo.pterie,and Polytrichum juniperinum. d.Dc:a -Closed aspen is a carmunity with 75%of the total canoR{cover canposed of aspen (Populus tremuloidee).'!his type occurs on well-drained steep slopes with southern aspects.'fYpically,there is no developed shrub layer but willON'does occasionally occur.Understory species are Viburnum edule,LitIPaea.borealjs and Arctostaphylos uya-ursi. e.Dc:ba -Closed IBper birch and aspen is a canmuni.ty with neither IBper birch nor aspen daninating the can0I:¥cover with 75%of the total cover value.This type is found on well-drained sloPeS with southern aspects. WillON and alder occasionally occur in the understory with lCM percentage cover values. Understory species are Rosa acjcularjs, 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 47 ..... - - -I - - Ga1aroagrostis canadensis and Arctostaphylos uva-ursi • 2.'ll1e open broadleaf forest types have canol!.{cover values of 25-60%. a.Do:b -Op;m P9per birch is a carmunity with 75%of the total canoPi cover canposed of paper birch.This type occurs on well-drained slopes and drainages.The shrub layer is better developed especially on the moist sites than in closed paper birch types. Willow,dwarf birch and alder occur. Understory species include LeM groe1aodicurn,Ga1amagrostis canadensis, EJnpetrum nigrum,vaccinium uliginosum, canadensis. b.Do:a -Open aspen forest is a canmunity with 75%of the total canoPi cover canposed of aspen. This type occurs on extremely dry steep south facing slopes.The shrub layer is canposed of willow.'Ule understory species are Arctostqphylos uva-ursi,EPilobium angustifolium,Lycopgdium sp.,vaccinium yitis-idaea,Comus canadensis and 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Repor t and User Guide PoJ,ytrichium sp. Page 48 - .- c.Do:p -Open balsam poplar forest is a carmunity with 75%of the total canoR{cover ccmposed of balsam poplar.'Ibis type occurs along drainages and as open clumps near treeline. ']he shrub layer is canposed of willcw and alder.Understory species include Calamagrostis canadensis,Cornus canadensis, Ribes triste,SPiraea beauyerdiaoa,and Polytrichium sp. d.Do:bp -'Open p;iper birch-balsam poplar forest is a type in which neither Iaper birch nor balsam poplar daninate 75%of the total tree canoR{ cOller value.This type occurs on floodplains and stream banks.Shrub sp!cies are willCM and alder.Understory species include Ledum decumbeDS,Vaccinium uliginosum,Vaccinium vitis-idaea,Equisetum sjlvaticum and Comus canadensis • 3.']he woodland broadleaf forest t:TIes have canol?{cOller values of 10-25%.The woodland deciduous types are analagous in species canposition to the open broadleaf types.The shrubs and understory species have higher percentage cover values than in the open deciduous types. 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 49 - 44-1 c.Mixed conifer -broadleaf types have neither conifer sI;:ecies nor broadleaf species daninating with 75%of the tree cano:py cover value. 1.'!he closed mixed conifer-broadleaf types have cano:py cover values of 60-100%. a.Mc:sb -'lhe closed spruce-faper birch mixture occurs with black spruce and/or white spruce as the spruce canponent of the mixture.When white spruce is present in the mixture this type typically occurs on well-drained south facing slopes and along drainages.When black spruce is present in the mixture,the site is usually a poorly drained north facing slope.WUlav and alder are present in the shrub layer.Typical species in the understory are Vaccinium uliginosum, yaccinium vitis-:idaea,calaIragrostis canadensis,COrnus canadensis,Ledurn spp., and PoJ.ytrichium spp. b.Mc:sbp -'lhe closed spruce-paper birch-balsam poplar mixture occurs along floodplatns.Willcw and alder are present in the shrub layer. S,piraea beauverdiana,Cornus canadensis, Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 50 "'"' r..edum decumbens,Erqpetrum n1grum,Vaccinium ul1ginosum and Vaccinium yit1s-idaea are ""s};:ecies canrnon to the understory. c.Mc:sba -'!he closed spruce-t:aper birch-asfen mixture typically occurs on well-drained south facing slo};:es.Willow,(Marf bir ch and occasionally alder are present in the shrub layer.Understory species include Cornus canadensis,Linnaea borealis,yaccini.um yitis-idaea,Ledum decurnbens,rucQPOdium sppo and Yaccinium uliginosum_ d.Mc:as -'!he closed aspen-spruce mixture typically occurs on well-drained south facing slopes. '!he shrub layer is canposed of willav and occasionally alder.The most camnon understory species are Arctostaphylo~ uya-urs1,Epilobium spp.,and Drepa.nocladus spp. e.Mc:sp -The c!osedspruce-balsam ~plar mixture occurs on floodplains.WillCM and alder occur in the shrub layer 0 Eguisetum silivaticum,Epilob1um spo,Cornus canadensis,Spiraea beauverdiaoa and 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 51 ..... '"'""I "... ..... - ___PoJ.ytricbitnIl spp.are canmon to the understory. 2.The op:n mixed conifer-broadleaf tyI:es have can0R{cover values of 25-60%. a.Mo:sb -The op:n mixed spruce-taper birch type occurs on well drained south-facing slop:s and along drainages when white spruce is present in the mixture.'!he op:n black spruce-J;a.per birch mixture occurs on the wetter north-facing slop:s.WillCM and alder have higher p:rcentage cover values then was evident in the shrub layer of the closed mixed spruce-birch.lMarf birch may also occur in the shrub layer.Species camnon to the understory are SPirea Beauyerdiana,&pilobium latifolium, calauagrostis canadensis,G2Jnnocarpium dtYopteris and Hylocqnium s.plendens. 44-1 b.Mo:as -The op:n asp:n-spruce mixture typically occurs on well-drained south facing slopes. Willcw and occasionally alder occur in the shrub layer.Understory species include calarnagrostis canadensis,EPilobium Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 52 latifolium,Arctostaphylos uva-ursi,RQsa acicularis and EQuisetum sp. c.Mo:sbp -The op:n piper birch-poplar-spruce mixture occurs on floodplains and streamtanks. WillCM and alder occur in the shrub layer. 'lhe understory species include Vaccinium uliginosuro,Vaccinium vitis-idaea,Epilobium latifolium,carex sp,I.edum decl1IIlbens and -Hylocomium s,plendens. d.Mo:sp -'lhe open spruce-poplar mixture occurs on floodplains and streambanks.WillCM and alder occur in the shrub layer.'lhe ground layer species include Ledum decumbens, Vaccinium uliginosum,yaccinium yitis-idaea, Cornus canadensis,Eu.i'etx:um niSt:Ym and ptilium spp. - - II"'"' -I 44-1 3.'!he woodland mixed conifer-broadleaf types have canoRi cover values of 10-25%.'lhe woodland mixed conifer-broadleaf types are analagous.in species canposition to the open mixed conifer-broadleaf.'lhe shrubs and understory species have higher percentage cover values than °in the open conifer-broadleaf types. Susitna Hydroelectric Project vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide II.Scrub Page 53 All scrub t~s have less than 10%forest can0B!cover (i.e.trees over five meters in height at maturity)and shrubs canprise 25%or more of the absolute cover. - 44-J. A.Dtlarf tree scrub types have dwarf trees under five meters in height at maturity (Alaska Vegetation Classification Workshop, March 27,1984)and they canprise at least 10%dwarf forest can0B!cover values. 1.FCc -The closed conifer dwarf scrub type (60-100%canopy cover value)has 75%of the total dwarf tree canow cover value canposed of conifer species.'!he closed conifer dvarf trees are most frequently black spruce and inhabit north facing permafrost slopes or wet poorly drained concave sites.Willcw,cWatt birch and alder comprise the shrub layer.Ground cover species include carex spp.,calarragrostis canadensis,vaccinium uliginosum, Ledum groelandicum,Empetrum nigrum,Rubus chamaemoJ;us, Eg,lisetum silyaticwn and SPhagnum spp. 2.FCo -The open conifer dwarf scrub type (25-60%canopy cover value)has 75%of the total dwarf tree can0B!cover value canposed of conifer species.The open conifer dvarf trees are usually black spruce and occur on flat poorly drained permafrost sites or on north facing .... Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 54 ...... permafrost slo:r:es.'lheshrub layer species are willCM, dN'arf birch and occasionally alder.Ground cover species include carex spp.,calarnagrostis canadensis,vacciniurn uliginosurn,Betula nanajglandulosa,V.yitis-ideas,I.edum spp.,Enpetrurn nigrurn,salix fuscesceDs,cncrcoccus microcarpus,Petasites spp.r Rubus chamaemorus, Eriophorurn spp.,Eguisetum spp.and sphagnum spp. 3.Few -The woodland conifer dolarf tree type (10-25%canopy -cover value)has 75%of the total dolarf tree canopy cover value canposed of conifer species.The woodland dolarf trees are usually black spruce occurring on wet poorly drained permafrost sites which grade into sIhagnum bog areas.'lhe shrub layer is canposed of willav and dNarf birch.The understory species inclu&Andromeda polifolia,Ledum palustre,Eriophorum spp.,Egpisetum .sPP-,salix fusee-scene,MenYanthes trifQ1iata,$Parg-aoium r-' I i - 44-1 angustifoliurn,Potentilla palustris and 8,phagnum spp. '!be woodland conifer scrub may also occur as dolarf white spruce and/or black spruce trees at elevational treeline. The broadleaf closed (FOe),o:r;:en (FDo),and woodland (FIM)dNarf scrub types have 75%of the total dolarf tree canow cover value canposed of broadleaf s:r;:ecies.In the study area,these types occur at treeline.Willow,dolarf birch and alder are important in the shrub layer. - Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 55 .... ..... .- i The mixed broodleaf-conifer closed (FMc),open {FMo)and woodland (FMw)dNarf scrub types have neither broadleaf nor conifer trees daninating at least 75%of the total dilarf tree canopy cover value.We do not have data on these types for the study area. B.'lhe tall shrub scrub are shrublands in which at least 25%of the overstory is of a height greater than 1.5 meters.The tall shrub communities are divided into closed and open categories on the basis of the cover percentage of the tall shrub overstory. 1.The closed tall shrub types have canOJ?{cover values of 75-100%. a.STc:w -Closed tall shrub wi1lav canmunities typiCCllly.occur·as riparian camnunities along drainages and as pioneer canmunities on river floodplains.salix alaxeosis and/or salix planifolia ssp.pulchra canprise the shrub layer.Species in the understory include Carex spp.,Arctagrostis latifolia,Rumex arcticus,and Eguisetum s ilyaticum. b.STc:1 -Closed tall alder shrub camnunities are usually found on steep slopes above 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation l'apping Final Report and User Guide Page 56 - ..... r treeline,along drainages and as pioneer ccmnunities on river floodplains.Alder has almost complete canoW cover in the"shrub over story•WillCM occasionally occurs in the shrub understory.Other understory s};:ecies include Lalamasrostis canadensis, Eg;uise1:t.ml siliyaticuro,Linnaea borealis and Dicranuro sp. c.STc:b -The closed tall shrub birch canmunities occur occasionally on moist convex sites. S};:ecies in the understory are Vaccinium vitis-idaea,vaccinium uliginosum,Rubus charnaemorus and S};hagnun spp. d.STc:lw -In the closed tall alder-willCM shrub cCltllllUnity neither alder nor wilICM daninate the shrub canopy with at least 75%of the total shrub overstory cover value.This type is usually found on steep slo};:es above treeline,as a rip:l.rian canmunity along drainages and on floodplains.Understory species include ArctagrQstis latifolia and carex bigelOWii. e.STc:1:M -In the closed tall shrub birch-willCM mixture avarf birch and willQ\7 both occur 44-1 -Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 57 .... I i""'" I .... .... I 44-1 2. with greater than 25%values.This type is found rarely on moist convex sites. Understory species include Vaccinium yitis-idaea,Rubgs cbanaemorus and Carex bigelCMii. f.STc:ltw-In the closed tall alder-shrub birch-willav carmunity alder,shrub birch and willCM occur with greater than 25%cover values. This carmuni ty is found on steep slopes or along drainages above treeline.Understory species include Arctagrostis latifolia and Carex bigelCMii 'Ihe open tall shrub ~s have shrub canol?{cover values of 25-75%• a.STo:w -Op:n tall shrub willav typically occurs along rivers or on drainages and slopes above treeline.salix alaxensis,S.glauca or S.planifolia ssp.pulchra OCCUI?{at least 75%of the total shrub cover value. Epilobium latifolium,Calarnagrostis canadensis and EguisetLnn sp.occur in the understory. ,.... Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 58 - .... .... - I,I I'"'" k I i 44-1 c. b.STo:l -_Open tall alder scrub occurs along rivers or on steep slo~s above treeline.Alder occupies at least 75%of the total shrub cover value.WillCM usually occurs in the lCM shrub understory.calamagrostis canadensis,Aconitum delphinifolium and Eguisetum silvaticum occur as ground cover • c.STo:b -Open tall shrub birch is of rare occurrence on moist convex sites.DNarf birch occupies at least 75%of the total shrub cover value. Understory s~cies include Ledum sp., vaccinium spp.,Arctosta,pbylos alpina and Festuca altaiga. lJhe ofen tall shrub mixtures of alder-willow (STo:lwY,shrub birCh-willGi (STo:l:M},-and alder-shrub birch (STo:lb)typically occur along rivers or on drainages and slo~s above treeline. lJhe ccmnunity structure of these o~n tall shrub mixtures are similar to their closed tall shrub counterparts. The lCM shrub scrub are shrublands with 25%or more overstory cover which is between 20 an and 1.5 meters in height.If tall shrubs are present,they have less than 25%cover. ..- ! r Sus:Ltna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 59 -I -l - 1.The closed shrub ty~s have canol?{cover values of 75-100%. a.SLc:b -Closed lCM dwarf birch scrub typically occur on convex moderately well-drained sites. DNarf birch dominates at least 75%of the total shrub canol?{cover value.WillCM occasionally occurs in the shrub overstory but with less than 25%cover.other associated s};ecies are Vaccinium uliginosum, SJ2irea beguverdiana,Festuca altaica, Empetrum nigrum,vaccinium vitis-idaea, Stereocaulon spp.and Hylocomium s.p].endens. b.SLc:w -Closed lav'willav'scrub camnunities occur on wet concavities,on wet flat benches,and on slo~s and along streams at hiqher elevations.Understory species include carex spp.,Rumex arcticus,Arctagrostis latifolia,Potentilla fruticosa,Eguisetum spp.,Pinguicula VUlgaris,Saussurea angystifolia and Polygonum bistorta. c.SLc:bN -'!he closed lav'(Marf birch-willCM scrub occurs on moist,anbotrophic,convex areas. Both dwarf birch and willav'have greater than 25%cover value in the lav'shrub 44-1 ..... Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 60 - -i d. overstory.Species in the·tmderstory are bliseturn silvaticurn,VaccinilUl\uliginosurn, Vacciniurn vitis-idaea,redtmi groelandicum, Effipetnnn nigrurn,Arctosta,pbJilos ru,bra,and ijylocomiurn s.plendens. SLc:e -'!he closed lON ericaceous shrub camnunities occur on steep dry slo~s above treeline. The ericaceous shrubs redum ;palustre and Vaccinium uliginoSUID compose at least 75%of the shrub overstory•Species in the understory include yaccinium vitis=idaea, Arctostophylos spp.cassiqpe tetragona, EmPetrum nigr:um,Balixreticulatg, Lycqpodium sp. and Diapensia la~ncia. - - 2.The open ION shrub types have canol?{cover values of 25-75%. a.SLo:b -Of:en lew dtlarf birch scrub occurs on well~drained convex minerotroPhic areas. !:Warf birch occupies at least 75%of the total shrub overstory CQver.other important associated species are Salix sp., Ledum groelaru:licuro,vaccinium uliginosum, yaccinium vitis=idaea,CCtrex sp., 44-1 ..... Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 61 ..... .... ~ I r -I Arctostaphylos rubra,Rubus chama.emorus, Rubus arcticus,Festuca altaica, Stereocaulqn spp.,Cladonia spp.,Nephroma spp.and Hylocomium Wendens. b.SLo:w -'Ihe op:n low willow shrub ccmnunities occur on wet flat or concave benches,along drainages and on sloping cornices.Willow occupies at least 75%of the total shrub OIlerstory cover.Associated species are Hierochloe odorata,Festuca altaica,salix reticulata,8an.guisorba officinali$,Anenane paryiflQra,SeoeciQ lugens,S)vertia perennis,Rumex arcticus,Rubus chamaemQru$, PotentilIa fruticosa,yacciniurn uliginQsum and Stereocaulon spp. c.SLo:1:w -Open I'M dwarf birch-willow shrub occurs on moist slop:s.Both dwarf birch and willow have cover values of at least 25%of the total shrub cover.Species occurring in the understory are yaccinium uligiDQsum, Equisetum silvaticum,Carex sp,Ledum grQelandicum,Petasites bYperboreus,Festuca altaica,ArctagrQstis latifQlia,EPi10bium latifolium,salix reticulata,Artemesia arctica and B;?g sp. 44-1 .... .... Sus:itna Hydroelectric Project Veg(:tation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 62 .... r r ~ I .- d.SLo:I -'Ihe op:n lav-alder scrub contains alder which has a cover value of at least 75%of the total shrub cover.This type occurs along streams and on slo~s at higher elevations.Understory s~cies include Salix spp.,calamagrostis canadensis,carex spp.,spiraea beauyerdiana,Vaccinium ulignosum,VaciniLml yitis-idQea,Lionaea borealis and cassiqpe tetragons. e.SLo:eu -Lo,y ericaceous shrub-sIhagnarn bog occurs in depressions and on poorly drained flats. Ericaceous shrul:s have a cover value of at least 75%of the total shrub cover value. SI:hagnum typically has cover values of at least 25%.Species cammon to this type are Ledurn p:ilustre,Vaccinium uliginoS\ml, VaccinjLml yjtis-jdaea,EnpetrLml ni,grLml, EriqphorLml spp.,carex spp.and SphagnLml spp• f.SLo:wg -Open lav-willcw-grass tundra occurs on wet flat l:enches along drainages and on slight slop:s at higher elevations.Willcw has a cover value of at least 75%of the total shrub cover value.Graminoid sp:cies have a 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation M3pping Final Report and USE?r Guide ./ Page 63 - ..... - - - cover value of at least 25%.When this type occurson poorly drained flat areas the---- /associated species are salix planifolia ss.p. pulchra,Salix fuscescePs,Sj?hagnum spp., Cal anagrostis canadensis,carex sp.and Eg].lisetum spp.When this type occurs on slight slopes above treeline,the associated species are Salix planifolia ssp.pulchra, salix rotundifolia,carex bigelOWii,salix reticulata,Eguisetum sw.Luzula confusa, Festuca ru1:>ra,Petasites frigidus, ca!arnagrostis purpurascens and Polytridbium spp. g.SLo:be -Of:en ION dNarf birch and ericaceous scrub occurs on well-drained convex slo}?es. Neither d'tlarf birch nor ericaceousshrubs have cover values of at least 75%of the total shrub cOller value.!]he species of this type are Betula nana,Ledrnn palustre, vaccinium uliginosum,Vaccinium.vitis-idaea, Empetrum nignnn,Arctagrostislatifolia,~ arctica,Festuca altaica,Arctostaphylos spp.,Arternesia arctica,Carex spp.salix reticulata,Salix arctica and Hylocomium splendens• 44-JL ....Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 64 ..... If'I'IIJlI, - h..SLo:e -Open lCM ericaceous shrub canmunities occur on steep dry sl0f:es above treeline.'!he ericaceous shrubs Leu palustre and Vaccinium uliginosum have cover values of at least 75%of the total shrub cover value. Associated species are salix arctica,salix planifolia ssp.pulchra,Betula nana, ~t .Vi"'t''da.rum n1grum,acc1n1um y1 1S-1 ea, carex spp.,Fe2tuca altaica,Dryas octopetgla,Arteme2ia arctica, ArctostaphylQS spp.,Arctagrosti2 latifolia, ijylocOO1ium §Plenden2 and Polytricbium spp. - - i.SLo:eg -The Of:en lCM ericaceous-shrub-grass tundra occurs on steep dry slof:es above treeline. The er icaceous shrubs Ledum palu2tre and VScc:inium yIiginospm have COVer values at at least 75%Qf the tQtal shrub cover value. '!he ground layer species are sJ.mi.lar tQ the Qpen lCM ericaceQus shrub canmunity,but the graminoid species have a cover value of at least 25%. j.SLo:beg-Ofen lCM shrub birch-ericaceous-grass tundra occurs on well-drained convex slof:es above treeline.Both dwarf birch and ericaoeous shrubs have cover values of at least 25%Qf 44-1 ....,Sus:Ltna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 65 .... i - the total shrub cover value.The ground layer sfecies are similar to the ofen lCM (Warf birch and ericaceous scrub,but the graminoid species have a cover value of at least 25%• k.SLo:l:Mg-The open ION shrub birch-willow-grass tundra occurs on moist slopes above treeline.Both (Warf birch and willaY have cover values of at least 25%of the total shrub cover value. 'lhe ground layer species are similar to the open ICM (Marf birch-willCM shrub,but the graminoid species have a cOtler value of at least 25%. D.The dNarf shrub scrub are carmunities with 25%or more cOtler in (j..tarf shrubs less them 20an tall..If tall ana laY shrubs are present,their canbined cOtler should be less than 25%. 44-1 1.SMc (75%-100%avarf shrub cover)-'nle closed dwarf shrub camnunities are found on dry slopes and ridges at higher elevations. a.SMc:s -'lhe major species of this mat and cushion - sedge tundra are carexbigelQdii,carex sp., salix reticulata,Salix arctica,D~s octqpetala,Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Susitna Hydroelectric Project Ve~~tation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 66 - -- r IglllIli!ll r Eriophorum spp.,Luzula spp."Hylocomium splendens,Polytricbium spp.,Peltigera apatbosa and Cladonia sp. b.SMc:g -'1he major species of this mat and cUshion-grass tundra are Festuca rubra, calarnagrostis pUr};:ascens,Festuca altaica, Errpetrum nigrum,pryas octopetala,Balix arctica,Vaccinium yitis-idaea,I:eschampsia caespitosa,Petasistes bYJ;?erboreus,Balix rQtundifolia,AlectQria sp.,OXytropis nigresqens,and Cladpnia sp. c.SMc:j -cassio};e tundra occurs on more mesic slop:s at higher elevations.'!he associated s};ecies are cassiope.tetragona,Vaccinium rotundifolia,Salix reticulata,Iqcop:X1ium spp.,carex spp.,calamagrostis pur;purascens and Festuca r;ubr;a. d.SMc:e -'!he major s};ecies of closed clrlarf ericaceous shrub tundra are Vaccinium uliginosum, vaccinium yitis-idaea,Empetrum nigr;uro, Diapensia la,;ggonica,Balix arctica,cassiQPe tetr;agona,Ledum palustre,salix r;eticulata, 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegt:tation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 67 '""" - .Pea alpina,Arctostaphylos alpina,Fe~tuca rubra and Loiseleuria procumbens. e.SMo (25-75%dwarf shrub cover)-The open (Warf shrub carmunities are found on dry windy ridges and rocky areas usually above treeline. - a.SMo:w -'ilie major species of dNarf open willaN tundra are salix rotundifolia,salix reticulata,Salix polaris,Salix arctica, carex spp.,Empetrum nigrum,Festuca rubra, DtYas octqpetala,Silene acua1is,:fQa. arctiga,and Cassiqpe tetragona. - ..- -, b.SMo:e -'ilie ccmnon species of open dwarf ericaceous shrub·tundra·are Eru:tnnn·nigrum,cassiop; tetragona,Arctostapbylos aJ,pina,Dryas octO,petpJ a,piapensia la,wonicg,Lycopodium spp.,carex spp.,salix polaris,salix rotundifolia,Silene acualis,Saxifraga tricusPidata,Vaccinium yitis-idaea,r..edtml decumbens,PoJ.ytrichium spp.,and Cladonia sp•• 44-JL -!sus:Ltna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide III,.Herbaceous. Page 68 The herbaceous canmuni ties have less than 25%cover of woody plants,but 2%or more cover values for vascular and nonvascular flora. A.Graminoid herbaceous communities are herbaceous communities with the greatest percentage of cover in grasses or sedges. 1.rod -Dry graminoid herbaceous carmunities are grasslands on well-drained dry rocky slopes and steep south facing slopes.rrypical species of this type are Festuca altaica,Festuca rubra,ca.larnagrostis purpurascens,ca.rex podocarpa,Descharrg;?sia caeS1?itosa,Phleuro commutatum, Artemesia arctica,Salix reticulata,ptyaS octopetala and Vaccinium yitis-idaea. 2.fGm -Mesic graminoid herbaceous canmunities QCcur on moist flat areas typically without standing water. Associated species are calamagrostis canadensis,carex bigelqdi,Eriophorum yaginatum,salix planifolia SsP. pulchra,Betula nana,redwn palustre,Vaccinium uliginosum,Vaccinium yitis-idaea and Pea arctica. 44-1 3.IGw -Wet graminoid herbaceous canmunities occur on wet concave sites typically with standing water. Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vege~tation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 69 r I a. b. c. HGN:s -'Ihe:wet sedge meadaq tundra is generally in very wet ~rmafrost areas and predaninately canposed of Erioghorurn angustifolium,carex ag.uatilis,carex rostrata and Trichophorum caes.pi.tosum. H;w:sh -'!he wet sedge-herb meadaq tundra is found on very wet,poorly drained sites with standing water.'!he predaninate sFecies of this type are carex aguatilis,Menyaotbes trifoliata, pqtentilla palustris and EriQPhorum ~·angustifolium. ffiW:sm -'!he wet sedge-moss bog occurs on permafrost peat-filled depressions and the predaninate sFecies are Sghagnum spp.,carex agpatilis, fluviatile. r - B.Forb herbaceous cannunities have the greatest perCEntage of cover canposed of broadleafed herbs or forbs. 1.EFd -Dry forb herbaCEous carmunities occur on dry rocky well-drained tundra sloFes and as sp3.rse vegetation on rocky sloFes.The typical species of this type are saxifraga tricuspidata,Artemesia arctica,Diapensia lapponica,SHene acualis,PoJ,ygonum yiyiparum,<;ampanula 44-1 Sus:Ltna Hydroelectric Project VegE:tation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 70 - lasiocarpa,_Potentilla hyparcticaand Epilobium latifolium. 2.HFm -Mesic forb herbaceous carmunities occur on moist well-drained slop:s and stream banks.rrypical sp:!cies of this type are Epilobium angustifolium,Heracleum lanatum, SanguisQrba stipulata,Aconitum delphinifolium and Polygonum viyi,parum. .... .- I 3.HFw -Wet forb herbaceQus canmuni ties QCcur Qn wet concavities typically with standing water.'!be predaninate sp:cies are Egyisetum fluviatile,Menyanthes trifoliata and BiPPUris VUlgaris • .... ..... c.Bryoid Herbaceous communities have the greatest p:rcentage of cover canposed Qf mQsses Qr lidlens • ....1•HBm -Moss canmunities in the study area are typically dry moss Qn rocky slop:s.rrypical species are Rhacomitrium spp.and Dicranuro spp. ..... '""" 2.HBI -Lichen ccmnunities QCcur Qn rocky slop:s.rrypical sp:cies are Cladwa spp.,cetraria spp.and Stereocaulon spp. D.HAt -Freshwater aquatic herbaceous communities occur where the vegetatiQn is subnerged Qr floating Qn fresh water.'!be 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 71 ..... r""" I ..... i carmon species of this type are Nyphar polysepalum,Hip,puris vulgaris and S,parangium angustifolium. Dl.Sparse vegeta1:ion Sparse vegetation camnunities are typed when only 5-10%of a barren area is vegetated with Forest (Pf),Scrub (Ps)or herbaceous canmunities(Ph)• - v.Barren An area is classified barren (0)or barren bedrock (Ob)if less than 5%of the area is vegetated. r -I VI.Cultural or Urban ..... VII..AgriCUltural Agricultural areas are typed nC n•. VIII.Water Water is typed OW". 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 72 ..... ..... ..... I }.o .mNVERSIQN BE'iWEEN R.A.KREIG &ASSOCIATES,IOC.AND UNIVERSITY·OF ALASKA Ym.EI'ATIQN MAP?IOO LEGENDS As discussed before,previous project area vegetation mapping by University of Alaska,Agricultural Experiment Stations at Palmer (AES)was based on Level II and III of the 1980 Preliminary Classification for Vegetation of Alaska (Viereck et ale 1980).The R.A.Kreig &Associates vegetation mapping is based primarily on Level N of the 1982 Revision of Preliminary Classification for Vegetation of Alaska (Viereck et al,1982)with modifications made as a result of the Alaska Vegetation Classification Workshop (1984) and fiel&ork done by R.A.Kreig &Associates,Inc. Several significant differences in the legend of the AES Palner group and the present legend are due to the major changes made in the Preliminary Classification for Vegetation of Alaska (Viereck et a1.1980): 1.Dtlarf tree scrub has b=en seJ;arated fran the forest types. 'Jhese are c1varf or stunted trees found camnonly at treeline and on very poor sites such as treed bogs.This unit includes all typ;!s in whim tree species will attain less than 5 meters in height. 2.'Jhe AES Palmer Legend types,sedge grass tundra,sedge shrub tundra,birch shrub and willaol shrub are all Level III tundra categories of the Viereck 1980 version.'lhese 44-JL Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mappipg Final Report and User Guide / /// Page 73 .... .- ! .... r- I r tllndracategories have been eliminated in the 1982 Viereck Revision and they are new sep;l.rated out at Level N of the---- scrub and herbaceous categories.Tundra is new considered to be a landsca.~term.Users of the Viereck (1980) classification had difficulty separating tlUldra types fran both shrub and herbaceous types. The otner major differences in the AES Palmer mapping is its use of more general types in Level II and Level III of the Viereck 1980 version.'!he AES Palmer legend for the 1:63,360 mapping was based on 25 types.The present mapping is all based on Level IV of the 1982 Revision of Viereck (98 typ:s)and further refined l:¥the three put forage shrub cover value code.']he three part forage cover value code has 60 possible understory code cCmbinations which may be associated with anyone of 69 overstory types. '!be legend used in the present study achieves a large increase in the number of different types and a higher level of resolution.A table listing the R.A.Kreig legend (after Viereck,1982)and the corresponding types used in the AES Palmer Mapping (after Viereck,1980)is included as Table 8. .. 44-1 ....Susitna Hydroelectric Project VegE~tation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 74 r l ~['able 8 -Cross Reference Between Alaska Vegetation Classification and University of Alaska.(AES)Legend. Alaska Yegeti~tiQn Classification Unit Name (viereck et a1.19821 ~ Vegetation M:l.pPing Unit ~ University of Alaska A.E.S.vegetation Key OpenSprure a)white 0Sil (25-50%)b)black 0S3 WS Woodland Sprure a)white Ws-l (10-25%)b)black WSB CD Closed Deciduous (50-100%)a)'Balsam poplar CP b)Paper Birch ffiF CS Closed Sprure (50-100%) OM Open Mixed Forest (25-50%) 1-Forest A.Conifer 1.Closed K)White Sprure Cc:w (60-100%)L)Black Sprure Cc:m M)Black &White Spruce Cc:nw 2.O{:en P)White Sprure Co:w (25-60%)G)Black Spruce Co:m H)Black &White Spruce Co:nw 3.Wocxlland C)White Spruce O<l:w (10-25%)D)Black Spruce O<l:m E)Black &White Spruce 0<l:1lW ..-B•Brcadleaf 1.Closed B)Black Cottorwood De:o (60-100%)C)Balsam Poplar De:p D)PaFer Birch De:b E)AsFen De:a P)Birch -Aspen De:ba r"'"2.O{:en A)PaFer Birch Do:bI (25-60%)B)AsFen Do:a C)Balsam Poplar Do:p D)PaFer Birch -Poplar Do:bp 3.WOOdland A}~<q:er Birch l',l,ii:b (1~25%}~)Poplar tl;i:P C)PaFer Birch -Poplar Dw:bp C.Mixed l-Closed A)Spruce -Birch Mc:sb (60-100%)B)Spruce -Birch -Poplar Mclsj)p C)Spruce -Birch -Aspen Mc:sba D)AsFen -Spruce Mc:as E)Spruce -Poplar Mc:sp I""'"2.O{:en Al Spruce -Birch Mo:abI l (25-60%)B)AsFen -Sprure Mo:as C)Spruce -Birdl -Poplar Mo:abp D)Spruce -Poplar Mo:ap.- 3.Woodland Al Sprure -Birch Mr.>:sb (10-25%)B)Spruce -Poplar Mr.>:sp C)Spruce -Birch -Poplar Mr.>:sbp D)Sprure -Birch -Aspen Mr.>:sba r- 68-2 OD Open Deciduous a)birch (25-50%)b)poplar Closed Mixed Forest (SO-lOO%) Woodland Mixed Forest (10-25%) CBP OP r ..... Susitna H;ydroelectric Project VegE:tation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 75 ~rable 8 -Cross Reference Between Alaska Vegetation Classification and University of Alaska (AES)Legend.(conti d) 2.SCrub A.DNarf Tree «5m)Conifer l-Closed FCc CS CloseO Spruce (60-100%)(50-100%) 2.Open FCo OS Open Spruce (25-60%)(25-50%) 3.WOOdland Few WS Woodland.Spruce (10-25%)(10-25%) Broadleaf l-Closed FIle CD Closed Deciduous (60-100%)(50-100%) 2.Open FDo 00 ~n Deciduous (25-60%)(25-50%) 3.Woodland m" (10-25%) Mixed .~l-Closed FMc Ql.Closed Mixed Forest (60-100%)(50-100%) 2.Open EMo OM Open Mixed Forest (25-60%)(25-50%) 3.WoOdland m.WM Woodland Mixed Forest (10-25%)(10-25%) B.Tall Shrub 1.Closed A)Willai STe:w a)Willai W (75-100%)B)Alder STe:l ers Closed TaJ.]...Shrub (>l.Sm)C}$))i:ub Sirc:b ~b (l:i0-1,O~)Cll!1!tCh E D)Alder -Willw STC:1w Cl'S Closed'1'aJ.:l Shrub E)Shroo Birc:b -Willcw S'l'c:b.r *)Alder -Shrub Birdl - ~wUlcw STe:1l:w crs Closed Tall ShrooI!2.A)WillcwOpen STo:w a}Willcw W (25-75%)B)Alder SToll O'IS Open Tall Shrub (>1.5rn)C)Shroo Birdl STo:b (10-50%)b)Birc:b B D)Alder -Willai STo:lw 0'l'S Open Tall Shrub E)Shroo Birdl·-willai STo:tw *)Alder -Shrub Birdl STo:1b O'IS ~n '1'aJ.:1 Shrub C.Low Shrub l-Closed A)IMarf Birdl steIb LS Low Shrub a)Birch B (75-100%)B)Lew Wil1cw SLCIW b)Wil1ai W C)lMarf Birch -Lcw Willcw SLc:t:w D)Ericaceous Shroo Tundra ste:e *)Birc:b-Ericac:eous-Grass SLc:beg *)Ericaceous -Grass SLc:eg *)Lew Alder SLc:l *)Lew Alder -Wil1ai SLc:1w *)Lew Willai -Grass ste:wg 68-2 r i ,.- SusitnaHydroelectric Project VegE~tation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 76 r ~rable 8 -Cross Reference Between Alaska Vegetation Classification and University of Alaska (AE'S)Legend.(contrd) 2.Open A)lMarf Birch SLo:b LS Low Shrub-I (25-75%)B)Lew Wil10.1 SLo:w (10-100%) (<1.5m)C)lMarf Birch -WillOol SLo:bw D)LOoI Alder SLo:1 J)Ericaceous Shrub --stiJagnum Bog SLo:eu SST sedge Shrub Tundra S)Wil1001 Grass Tundra SLo:wg «10%LOoI Shrub) T)Birch &Ericaceous Shrub SLo:be *)Ericaceous Shrub SLo:e *)Ericaceous Shrub -Grass SLo:eg....*)BirCh-Ericaceous-Grass SLo:beg LS Lew Shrub *)Birch -Wi11001 -Grass SLo:bwg (10-100%) *)Birch -Grass SLo:bg *)LOoI Alder -Wil1001 SLo:1w D.lMarf Shrub 1.Closed SMc «20an)(75-100%) A)Mat &Cushion -sedge SMc:s Mer Mat and Cushion Tundra B)Mat &Cusion -Grass SMc:g f'D)cassio~SMc:j ssr Sedge Shrub Tundra G)LOoI Ericaceous Shrub SMc:e «10%10.1 shrub) I;«30an tall) 2.Open SMo (25-75%)E)LOoI Wil1Gi SMo:w *)Ericaceous Shrub SMo:e 3.HerbaceoUll A.Graminoid 1.Dry ffid G Grassland 2.Mesic HGm S:;T sedge Grass Tundra 3.wet HGw WOO wet seclge GrassrA)Wet sedge Meadow B3w:s C)wet sedge -Hew IQ:Sb I'll sedge -I\l()SS 80g JDW<:SIIl B.Forb LOry HFd B Herbaceous C)Alpine Herl:s EFd:h 2.Mesic Hfln 3.Wet HFW C.Bryoid 1.Mosses HEm 2.Lichens RBI D.lquatic 1.Frem water BAf LE Lacustrine Emergent 4.~rse A.Forest pf PF Palustrine Forested r Vegetation B.SCrub Ps PSS Palustrine Scrub-Shrub r (5-10%)C.Herbaceous !'h E£Palustrine Emergent 5.Barren 0 S Sno.l and Ice «5%)A.Bedrock Ob R Rock.... l'6.Cultural-Urban Deve1o~d Disturbed,U D Develo~d '7.Agricultural A C Crop-8.water W L Lakes and Streams Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide 8.0 DIGITIZIN;;&DATA S'IDMGE FORMATS Page 77 - f L r - .... I Rectification of the mapping to a controlled topograIhic base and the preparation of an autanated data file was done by Resource Data Consultants of Bountiful,Utah uncer subcontract. After the delineation of vegetation units on overlays to the cm aerial ];hotograIhY,50-200 control points were identified per Ihoto.'Ihe unit ooundaries were digitized and unit narres were entered into the database.'!he autanated map data was then canputer rectified to fit US3S topograIhic quads of the study area.Nine track <Eta tapes were prepired in M)SS format.Symtem Integrators,Inc.performed several data conversion operations on the data prior to suhnittal to ADF&G for their use. A set of IBM-PC disks was also prepired that contains a seperate file for each quadrangle in the study.area.E'a:c:h file contains a seperate record for each polygon.Each record contains the polygon (vegetation map unit)number,polygon name,UTM X coordinate,UTM Y coordinate.'!be polygon names have been broken dONn into four seperate fields which canpose the fractional pirts of canplex vegetation unit names.'!be fields are named:Nl (numerator of the first fraction),Dl (denaninator of the first fraction),N2 (numerator of the second fraction),and D2 (denaninator of the second fraction)• These disks contain the database with the most canplete error 44-1 SUsitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 78 r 2) I""" I -3) r - r"""i I - correction and editing1 they are in quoted,basic catlp3.table, format. 9.0 BASE MAP A controlled orthoI;hoto base would normally have been the ideal way to present the final vegetation maps.OrthoI;hotos allQ/ direct plotting fran a digitizied database,without additional scale transformation or rectification.'!hey also can be more easily used in the field for point and site location. Unfortunately,none existed for the map area and time and budget limitations precluded their preparation. Other base mapping alternatives considered includ=d: 1)Closely controlled airfhoto mosaic which is then reI;hoto- 9J;a];iled·to prO\Ti&the base.map ny:l.ar.Thi,sa;pptQadl·il> expensive and it approaches or exceedes the cost of controlled orthoI;hotography. A less expensive uncontrolled airfhoto mosaic. Canpile the canpleted map on us Geological Survey quad sheet reverse Ir!Ylars (a canmonly used approach).Like orthoIhotograIhY,a prime advantage is that this map base is true to scale and can be plotted directly fran a digitized database.'!he major disadvantage is that there 44-1 Susitna aydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 79 r 4) is a lack of an aerial ~otografhic base that prOV"ides the user with a better natural prospective of the map area which allavs a reference to features for identification of unit 1:x:>undaries in the field. Individual,unrectified small scale ~otographic enlargements.This alternative can be used when ~otography of sufficiently small.scale is available so that individual prints cover a sizeable portion of the project area so that each print can t::e enlarged to the desired scale and serve as a map sheet.For the Susitna project there are two suitable coverages of ~otography,a) 1:120,000 scale em (referred to above)flavn in 1976,b) 1 :120,000 black and white coverage available flavn 1979-1981 with east-west trending flight lines.With either of these coverages enlarged two times to 1:63,360, 1:63,360 prints.This redu~s the number of map sheets for the project area to a manageable size (in this case,ab:>ut 20)• -i Shortly after award of the contract,we investigated these different l::ase mapping alternatives.After consideration of the cost (including the need to ultimately have a l::ase suitable for digitizing),it was decided that 1)it was not appropriate to proceed with the preIaration of an ortho~otogra~y l::ase and 2)that the most suitable and cost effective approach was the 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 80 r l. fourth alternative above (individual,.unrectifiedsnall scale photographic enlargements)• 'Ihe color infrared Ihotography was used rather than black and white because better definition in the preparation of Irlflars is p:>ssible fran color infrared because of its superior haze };enetrating cap3bility.A slight disadvantage of the em flights is tnat the flight lines were not laid out in cardinal directions;they are skewed approximately 55 0 east of north. 'lhe resulting layout of map sheets is sham in Figure 2.'!his alternative is the only one that does not require second generation COWing of the Ihotography.'Ihe nylars are first generation prints fran aerial negatives therefore it does not suffer the image degradation inherent in the process by which each of the above alternatives is constructed. 10.JL Mapping Methodology Discussion As stated previously,our legend is based on the Alaska Vegetation Classification (Viereck et ale 1982)and its updates.The Viereck classification was developed as an "on the ground"vegetation classification system.A prime advantage of our map legend is that it is applicable over extensive areas and it has a proven track record of its adaptability for ground surveys.The percentages for canoR{ 44-JL Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 81 r I: I r """I i - - -i r- I cover and the height categories adopted have proven to be realistic for field inventory and mapping in the Susitna area. Since the legend has categories that can be directly obtained fran the ground,the map has proven to correlate effectively with the Browse Inventory Study.Although the primary emfhasis of the map was on moose forage vegetation,the categorical community classification is adopted fran the multipurpose statewide Vegetation Classification System used on the De];artment of Natural Resources,Alaska Resource Mapping Project.'Ihe symbology used was developed by R.A.Kreig & Associates,Inc.for mapping done on that project.The fractional legend symbology allowed the superposition of the moose forage cover values on the multipurpose categorical classification.'Iherefore,these maps should be canr:atible for multiPUrpose statewide comr:arison studies and future habitat-based imr:act studies. Another advantage of the legend is the hierardlica.l nature of the Alask.a Vegetation Classification System whidl allows a multilevel approach to the mapping,verification and subsequent use of.the map.Its car:acity for aggregation or further break.dCM'n of categories allows variable scale ground.data collection,fhoto interpretation,map prOdUction and analysis to be accanplished efficiently.The classification system may be entered at the J:'Erticular level appropriate to the individual user and the information generated l:¥others to form an aggregate category at the next higher level.If it is 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 82 r0o- f .- .... necessary to produce ;the map at a larger orsnaller scale,the polygon typing may be aggregated or broken dcMn without losing categorical information. Due to the hierarchical nature of the legend,there is no vegetation type-forage cover class ambiguity or overlap• Repetitive,consistent results can be obtained between interpreters with proper quality control and supervision.'lhe Alaska Vegetation Classification,upon which the legend is based,has widespread use and the BrCMse Inventory crew successfully utilized the legend classification and the advance map products in their 1984 field data collection effort.'lhe ps,rticular forage cover class percentage breakdCMn was chosen after examination of three existing field data sets for the study area,field experience and user consultation.The cover class breakdCMn ranges used are broad enough to maintain a users,but is narrcw enough to preserve necessary detail. Users of the legend and map should be aware that classifiers of vegetation working on the ground are more sensitive to plant density,in contrast to,fhotointerpreters who tend to place more emfhasis on canoRY cover as determined fran site signature.Ground classifiers also have a tendenc¥to classify much smaller,pure vegetation types •.When mapping,the interpreter must have a way to represent,not only the pure vegetation types,but also the occurrence of mosaics of these 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 83 pure typ:s.Our legend.systemaccamnodates these mosaics of vegetation typ:s I:!t using canplexes.'!hese canplexes are also used in the legend to accanodate ecotones.'lhe Alaska Vegetation Classification System (Viereck et ala 1982)contains mixture typ:s and as a result of field experience,we have also added additional mixture types to accanodate these ecotones which appear where any of the vegetation types merge along an environmental gradient.Often there w~ll be s};:ecies in ecotones that are not normally present in carmunities on either side.In sane cases,such as a laY'shrub willCM canrrn.mity and an herbaceous grarninoid carmunity,the types will m~saic and will be mapped as a canplex (SLo:w/200 +rom).Where different life form carmunities merge as tall shrub alder and 100 shrub willoo,both communities may be canplete,one above the other and will be mapped as a mixture type (STc:lw/103). Internal qUality assurance proceedures were follC1fled to maintain accuracy in vegetation type-forage cover class calls boundary placement,and minimum map unit size consistancy.All the };l1oto maps were cross-checked between the two interpreters to maintain consistency and accuracy in the vegetation type-forage cover class mapping.'!he senior consultant,Ken Winterberger,has many years of field experience in South Central Alaska as well as knONledge of the terrain and vegetation of the Susitna Mapping area.He reviewed the 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 84 -I I ..... ""'0 ~ ! I vegetation maps before their finalization.'fue Alaska Dep3.rtment of Fish and Game evaluated the accuracy of the Ploto maps at several stages of refinement as they worked with the bravse inventory field data. 'Ihe seasonal variations in the appearance of vegetation on the Plotos are substantial.The date of the fhotograPlY and the ftlenological developrent of the overstory and understory species tends to affect the estimation of the proportion and the identification of the vegetation canponents.'fue wide variation in the IllysiograthY and climate of the study area also creates a great variation in the phylogeny of the vegetation and resultant Plotosignature.Much of the 1:60,000 em Illotography used as a map base is of variable quality and . flight date,therefore,site/signature relationships were frequently radically different fran one flight line to another. '!be field data and fall color aerial oblique stereo Illoto (35 rmn)documentation was very important in understanding the differences in Illoto signature due to Illylogeny and were extranely useful for maintaining consistent area-wide uniformity and accuracy in mapping throughout the diverse study area. '!be multilevel approach to Illoto interpretation,that this study was based on,utilized aerial Illotography of several different scales,stereo oblique lav level aerial IllotograIllY and ground Illotography.'Ihe Illoto interpreters had the renefit 44-1 r Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 85 r .- of a large aroount of ground data fran US Forest service,AES Falrrer Study,BlM Denali study,ADF&G BrOtlse Inventory,and R. A.Kreig &Associates,data collected for this study ('rable I). Therefore it is felt that this substantial semiquantitative datal:ase has resulted in a high level of accuracy and consistency for the fhoto interpretation p:rformed for this study. 11.0 SUMMARy This forage vegetation mapping product has created a detailed map data base which will support habitat-based iInfBct assesenent and mitigation planning for the Susitna Hydroelectric Project Area.'!be vegetation mapping was used as the l:asis for stratification and statistical analysis for the ADF&G BrOtlse Inventory Study. Maximum vegetation infonnation was mapp:d at 1:63 ,360 scale using stereoscopic fhoto interpretation and multiscale mapping techniques.The highest level of resolution categorically achieved was the assessnent of the important moose forage shrub sFecies (willav,dNarf birch and alder).A mnemonic altha code labeling system for the vegetation classification at Level IV (Viereck et al.,1982)was used in canbination with a numeric code to represent the percentage cover for the understory content of the shrub species willOtl,clYarf birch and alder.In vegetation mosaics,where cartograthic separation of the 44-1 Susitna EYdroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 86 r ! i - ...., i r ..... ~ i ..... vegetation typ=swas not possible,canplexes were used.'Ihe mosaic canplexes provide meaningful information on vegetation ~ttern and species distribution to increase the accuracy of the sampling and variation assesenent for the Brcwse Inventory. An interactive approach to the developnent of the mapping methodology and legend involved several iterative stages of refinement.As {art of this developnent process,legend map test areas were pre~red for the user at two scales (1:24,000 and 1:60,000).A pre-field advance mapping of tive test areas allcwed an early review of the adequacy of the potential mapping accuracy and its scale. 'Ihorough review,collection and analysis of all available reference and ground plot da.ta provided a very substantial amount of large scale Iiloto coverage useful for the demonstration of site/signature relationships which aided in prefield mapping and legend developnent.An efficient field sampling program,whidl did not duplicate existing information, allowed concentration on the most canplex areas.This made it possible to obtain greater accuracy and categorical detail (in sane cases beyond the limitations of the Iilotogra};i1y).By interacting closely with the BrONse Inventory study,map product typ=s were develoJ;ed which accurately assisted the sampling stratification and da.ta analysis.'IheBrcwse Inventory study in turn provided the mapping project with a large aroount of ground da.ta that was used to improve the 44-1 Susitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page ffl r ..... ..... r 12.0 44-1 accuracy and quality of the map product.35rnm oblique stereo lCM level aerial natural color Fhotos were taken during the optimum fall color separation of the forage shrub elements prOlliding additional detail on the effect of Fhylogeny on Fhoto signature and increasing the accuracy and resolution of the map product. 'Ihe mapping of variation in percentage cover of the three understory forage species superimposed with overstory cover mapping resulted in a uniquely high level of canplexity and resolution. BEFEREOCES Harza-Ebasco Susitna Joint Venture (1984)Susitna Hydroelectric Project.Vegetation Mapping Request for Proposals. Dingman,S.Lawrence"and Koutz,Fleetwood R.(1974),Relations among vegetation,permafrost,and potential insolation in Central Alaska.Arctic and Alpine Research,Vol.6,No.1,pp 37-42. Viereck,L.A.and C.T.Dyrness (1980),A preliminary classification for vegetation of Alaska,Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station,General Technical Report, PNW-I06,38 p. Viereck,L.A.,C.T.Dyrness,and A.R.Batten (1982),1982 Revision of Prell.Ini.nary Classification for Vegetation of Alaska. Lee,R.(1962),'Iheory of the "equiValent slope."Monthly Weather Rev.90:165-166. Lee,R.(1964),Potential insolation as a topoclimatic characteristic of drainage msins.Int.Assoc.SCi.Hydrol. Bull.,9(1):27-41. McKendrick,J.et ale (1982),Plant ecology studies.Susitna SUsitna Hydroelectric Project Vegetation Mapping Final Report and User Guide Page 88 Hydroelectric Project.·Phase 1 Final Rep.,University of Alaska. Steigers,W.et ale (1983)Plant ecology studies.Susitna Hydroelectric Project.Final Rep.,University of Alaska. ~: i ~ i I r r i' - r - ~ I i.44-1