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Agencies involved in IGBC are U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Department of Wildlife, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, British Columbia Wildlife Branch, and B.C. Parks.
We used Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS) imagery and a ground-based vegetative inventory to develop a map of vegetation for the NCGBE. An accuracy assessment of the interpreted data showed that the general vegetation types were properly mapped at an accuracy level of 94.8%; a detailed, modeled, vegetation map was produced with an accuracy level of 93.2%. We developed additional data layers in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to evaluate the availability and distribution of vegetation types seasonally, assess the impacts of human activities on the habitat, assess ungulate food sources, and estimate the abundance of probable grizzly bear foods in various vegetation types.
1. Collect, confirm, and record data concerning reports of grizzly bear observations and sign in the NCGBE;
2. Evaluate the vegetal components of the NCGBE, documenting the suitability of the area to provide grizzly bear seasonal habitats;
3. Produce a map of general vegetation types with an accuracy level of at least 85%;
4. Provide a baseline list of probable grizzly bear foods identified in the NCGBE; and
5. Collect information concerning the current level of human activities within the NCGBE, including human population centers, livestock allotments, and recreation sites.
The IGBC provided the impetus for more research of the North Cascades grizzly bear population. Sullivan (1983) cataloged historical and recent grizzly bear observations in the NCGBE. In 1985, the IGBC established guidelines for a vigorous program in the North Cascades and outlined plans for a 5-year evaluation to determine the suitability of the NCGBE to support a viable grizzly bear population. Under the leadership of the Northwest Ecosystems Grizzly Bear Management Subcommittee of the IGBC, federal, state, and provincial agencies formed the North Cascades Grizzly Bear Working Group (NCWG) to coordinate the ecosystem evaluation. The NCWG included the FWS, Washington Department of Wildlife (WDW), U.S. Forest Service (FS), U.S. National Park Service (NPS), British Columbia Wildlife Branch (BCWB), and B.C. Parks (BCP). Our evaluation of the North Cascades began in May, 1986, and ended in November, 1991.
Vegetation and Cover Types N Accuracy Level (% mapped correctly)
Level 1
Water 80 100.0
Conifer 70%+ 575 95.0
Conifer 50-70% 211 93.8
Conifer 30-50% 84 90.5
Herbaceous 186 91.9
Shrub 66 98.5
Clearcut 63 100.0
Deciduous forest 37 91.9
Shrub-steppe 98 93.9
Barren 64 92.2
Agricultural 15 100.0
Snow 53 100.0
Overall accuracy of Level 1 1532 94.8%
Level 2
PIPO 18 81.8
PIPO-PSME 79 89.9
PSME-mixed conifer 63 90.6
ABLA2-PIEN-PICO 172 95.9
Young PSME-managed 19 100.0
TSHE 35 88.6
ABAM 147 98.6
TSME 57 91.2
PIAL 3 33.3
LALY 6 100.0
Shrub steppe-herbaceous 64 94.4
Shrub steppe-shrub 34 91.2
Alpine meadow 4 100.0
Subalpine lush meadow 6 83.3
Subalpine meadow (mesic/dry) 11 100.0
Subalpine heather-VADE meadow 29 86.2
Subalpine mosaic 2 0.0
Montane mosaic 20 90.0
Montane herbaceous 50 96.0
Montane shrub 45 91.1
Lush shrub (ALSI, etc) 6 100.0
Lush low elevation herb-shrub 5 100.0
Overall Accuracy of Level 2 875 93.2
We conducted a comprehensive field sampling effort in order to identify the vegetation type correlated with each spectral class.
Same as 2 except ponderosa pine cover is less than or equal to the Douglas fir cover, and the ponderosa pine composes more than or equal to 5% of the total tree cover.
Same as 3 except that the amount of ponderosa pine cover is less than 5% of the total tree cover, and it is located on the east side of the ecosystem.
Same as 4 except that it is located on the west side of the ecosystem.
The total cover of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir are less than or equal to half of the total tree cover. Whitebark pine is not dominant and Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) cover is less than 10%. These areas do not occur within 467 feet of a stream, river, or wetland.
Same as 6 except it is located on the wet side of the ecosystem.
Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir cover is less than half or equal to half of the total tree cover. Whitebark pine is not dominant and Engelmann spruce (Pinus engelmannii) cover is greater than or equal to 10% of the total cover. These areas are located within 467 feet of a stream, river, or wetland.
Hemlock composes greater than 10% of the total tree cover. Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir make up less than or equal to half of the total tree cover. These areas are located on the east side of the ecosystem.
Same as 12 except located on the west side of the ecosystem.
The amount of hemlock tree cover is greater than or equal to 10% of the total tree cover. Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir compose less than or equal to half of the total tree cover. Whitebark pine or western larch are not dominant. These areas are located on the east side of the ecosystem.
Same as 14 except that it is located on the west side of the ecosystem.
Whitebark pine is the dominant tree cover.
Alpine larch (Larix lyalli) is the dominant tree cover.
These areas are composed of bitterbrush, sagebrush, balsam root, bunchgrasses, phlox, etc. In this class the herbaceous plants are dominant.
Same as 18 except that bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) is dominant.
Same as 19 except that sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is dominant.
Composed of bitterbrush, sagebrush, balsam root, bunchgrasses, phlox, etc. Shrubs are dominant and these areas are located in the lower Wenatchee Valley.
Herbaceous vegetation is dominant. Composed of alpine meadows usually above 7000 feet. Located on the east side of the ecosystem.
Same as 22 except located on the west side of the ecosystem.
These are located in the subalpine zone and are composed of lush subalpine meadow vegetation on the east side of the ecosystem.
Same as 25 except located on the west side of the ecosystem.
These areas are located in the subalpine zone. They are composed of mesic to dry meadows on the east side of the ecosystem.
Same as 27 except located on the west side of the ecosystem.
Subalpine shrubs and meadow with huckleberry (Vaccinium deliciosum).
A mixture of shrubs, trees, herbs, and bare ground with no clear dominant. Located in the subalpine zone on the east side of the ecosystem.
Same as 30 except located on the west side of the ecosystem.
A mixture of shrubs, trees, herbs, and bare ground with no clear dominant. Composed of montane vegetation in the montane zone on the east side of the ecosystem.
Same as 32 except located on the west side of the ecosystem.
Dominated by herbaceous vegetation. Located in the montane zone on the east side of the ecosystem.
same as 34 except located on the west side of the ecosystem.
A variety of montane and subalpine shrubfields that differ from vegetation types 29,38,39,41,42 and 54. Located on the east side of the ecosystem.
Same as 36 except located on the west side of the ecosystem.
Shrub cover is greater than 74%. Composed of lush alder and vine maple fields on the east side of the ecosystem.
Same as 38 except located on the west side of the ecosystem.
Composed of lush low elevation herbaceous plants that are below the subalpine zone on the east side of the ecosystem.
Same as 40 except it is located on the west side of the ecosystem.
Composed of lush low elevation shrubs below the montane zone on the east side of the ecosystem only.
The deciduous forest cover is greater than or equal to 50% cover, or is greater than other forest types. These areas are located within 467 feet of a stream, river, or wetland, and are on the east side of the ecosystem.
Same as 44 except located on the west side of the ecosystem.
Same as 44 except these areas are greater than 467 feet from a stream, river or wetland. Located on the east side of the ecosystem.
Same as 46 except it is located on the west side of the ecosystem.
These are composed of dry pasture, fallow fields, and dryland crops.
Subalpine shrubs and meadows with huckleberry (Vaccinium caespitosum, Vaccinium scoparium) present.
The information contained in these data is dynamic and may change over time. The data are not better than the original sources from which they were derived. It is the responsibility of the data user to use the data appropriately and consistent within the limitations of geospatial data in general and these data in particular. The related graphics are intended to aid the data user in acquiring relevant data; it is not appropriate to use the related graphics as data.
The National Park Service gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data. It is strongly recommended that these data be directly acquired from an NPS server and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. Although these data have been processed successfully on computer systems at the National Park Service , no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the utility of the data on other systems for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data.