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This feature class contains attribute information from four mid-level existing vegetation maps (1:100,000) prepared for the Chugach National Forest to provide up-to-date and more complete information about vegetative communities, structure, and patterns across the Forest. Over 5.7 million acres (including other federal, state, native, and private land inholdings) were mapped through a partnership between the Geospatial Technology and Applications Center (GTAC), Chugach National Forest, Alaska Regional Office, State of Alaska, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Kenai Burough, and National Park Service. The Chugach National Forest prepared the regional classification system, identified the desired map units (map classes) and provided general project management. GTAC provided expert vegetation mapping and project support. A compbination of ground and helicopter reference data was used to inform the classification models that output the final maps. Federal and State field personnel collected plot data on the ground, while Ducks Unlimited and GTAC personnel collected the helicopter data. Computational models characterized modeling units (mapping polygons) of a minimum size of 0.25 acres with dominance type, tree and tall shrub canopy cover, and tree size class attribute information. All map products were designed according to the Forest Service mid-level vegetation mapping standards in order to be stored in the Forest GIS and National databases. This map product was generated using imagery primarily acquired in 2016 and 2017. The field data used as reference information for this mapping project was collected in the summer of 2017. Therefore, the final map can be considered indicative of the existing vegetation conditions found on the Kenai Peninsula in 2017. |