NW ReGAP Ecological Systems Map of Oregon

In the 2000s ORNHIC received funding from OWEB to integrate all available 1:24,000 vegetation maps and coverages. Previously, the only statewide vegetation or land coverages available for Oregon had been the two OR-GAP coverages described below. ORNHIC and OR-GAP has worked hard to link all existing vegetation coverages to the National Vegetation Classification System. The newest version of the map, a grid of ecological systems throughout Oregon, was created in 2008 and is available from the Oregon DAS GEO Spatial Data Library. It is posted under E for Ecological Systems 2008, Institute for Natural Resources, 100,000 Ecological System Life Form (ESLF) Data.

Two statewide vegetation and land cover GIS maps were created as part of OR-GAP in Oregon. The first was produced in 1992 by Jimmy Kagan and Steve Caicco. This map was done using available data, with polygons hand drawn and digitized on 1:250,000 satellite images. This cover and the associated vegetation manual are available on-line.

The second OR-GAP coverage is the 1998 Statewide Existing Vegetation and Landcover map. For this, OR-GAP contracted Chris Kiilsgaard of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. This map was completed using 30 meter TM imagery and was used in the analysis for the final OR-GAP report. This coverage is also available on-line. The vegetation types have also been crosswalked to wildlife habitats. An image of the wildlife habitats from this cover is included below.