URL: http://www.fs.fed.us/land/pubs/ecoregions/toc.html
(USDA Forest Service ECOMAP Project Documentation)
Hardcopy of the document "Ecomap National Hierarchical Framework
of Ecological Units Summary" (Final Draft 8/30/93) was also
used
in compiling this metadata file. "
Coverage features are generally adequate for smaller-scale analyses. As described in the Ecomap National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units Summary, general uses of a Subsection Ecological Unit (minimum mapping unit for this coverage) include RPA planning, multi-forest and multi-analysis projects, and regional landscape characterizations. Thus, more detailed analyses such as watershed or single-forest planning efforts should include supplementary data at higher resolutions.
Due to some inherent problems in the scanning data creation process,
there are some line quality concerns. Numerous arcs exist in some
localized areas. There are also two incorrect boundary interpretations
along the southern California/Nevada border, near Clark Mountain
("Ivanpah Valley" and "Armagosa Desert - Pahrump Valley"
Subsections). There are several noticeable problems in the Channel
Islands area.
Some of the islands are not represented accurately and/or are not
complete. There are no coverage data for the Farallon Islands."
COL ITEM NAME WIDTH TYPE N.DEC DESCRIPTION
17 DOMAIN 2 C - code associated with DOM_NAME
19 DOM_NAME 15 C - continental climatic zones or groups
34 DIVISION 1 C - code associated with DIV_NAME
35 DIV_NAME 30 C - regional climatic types
65 PROVINCE 1 C - code associated with PRO_NAME
66 PRO_NAME 57 C - dominant potential natural vegetation
123 SECTION 1 C - code associated with SEC_NAME
124 SEC_NAME 41 C - geomorphic characteristics
165 SUBSECTION 1 C - code associated with SUB_NAME
166 SUB_NAME 42 C - geomorphic processes
208 EUCODE 6 C - code concatenation, domain to subsection
214 ACRES 4 F 2 (.0002471054 * AREA[square meters])
218 CLIP 1 N 0 flag for designating polygons clipped
by California state border
DETAILED FIELD DESCRIPTIONS:
DOMAIN: Hierarchical ecological unit code, referencing
broad climatic zones or groups.
Domain code prefixed by "M" if unit includes
mountains with altitudinal zonation.
DOM_NAME: Domains are named according to principal climatic
descriptive features.
DIVISION: Hierarchical ecological unit code, referencing:
Regional climatic types.
Vegetational affinities.
Soil order.
(Subdivision of a Domain)
DIV_NAME: Divisions are named for the main climatic regions
they
delineate.
PROVINCE: Hierarchical ecological unit code, referencing:
Dominant potential natural vegetation.
Highlands or mountains where there is a complex vertical
climate-vegetation-soil zonation.
(Subdivision of a Division)
PRO_NAME: Provinces are typically named using a binomial
system
consisting of a georaphic location and vegetative type or
according to lower-elevation and upper-elevation (subnival)
belts.
SECTION: Hierarchical ecological unit code, referencing:
Geomorphic province, geologic age, stratigraphy, lithology.
Regional climatic data.
Phases of soil orders, suborders, or great groups.
Potential natural vegetation.
Potential natural communities.
(Subdivision of a Province)
SEC_NAME: Section names generally describe the predominate
physiographic feature upon which the ecological unit
delineation is based.
SUBSECTION: Hierarchical ecological unit code, referencing:
Geomorphic process, geologic formation, surficial geology,
and elevation.
Phases of soil orders, suborders or great groups.
Subregional climatic data.
PNC--formation or series.
(Subdivision of a Section)
SUB_NAME: Names of Subsections are usually derived from
geologic
features.
EUCODE: Code concatenation for fields domain through subsection.
ACRES: Conversion from AREA (square meters) to acres.
CLIP: Flag for designating clipped features, i.e. polygons
whose
boundaries extend beyond the California border (including
Lake Tahoe). A "1" indicates a clipped feature.
"
Code hierarchy explanation using EUCODE field as an example.
A typical EUCODE entry: M261Eo
where: M2 is the DOMAIN
M26 or 6 is the DIVISION
M261 or 1 is the PROVINCE
M261E or E is the SECTION
M261Eo or o is the SUBSECTION
The "M" prefix refers to mountains with altitudinal
zonation. Such
groupings are named for a spectrum of zones from lower to
upper
(subnival, or 'below snowline') levels; e.g., semi-desert-confierous
forest-alpine-meadow (Goudey, C.B., USFS, and Smith, D.W.,
NRCS).
The "M" code prefix itself is imbedded in the DOMAIN
code string.
ATTRIBUTE FREQUENCIES:
Domain Name Count
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 HUMID TEMPERATE 121
3 DRY 53
M2 HUMID TEMPERATE MOUNTAINS 114
Division Name Count
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
26 MEDITERRANEAN 121
32 TROPICAL/SUBTROPICAL DESERT 29
34 TEMPERATE DESERT 24
M26 MEDITERRANEAN REGIME MOUNTAINS 114
Province Name Count
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
261 CALIFORNIA COASTAL CHAPARRAL FOREST AND SHRUB 48
262 CALIFORNIA DRY STEPPE 55
263 CALIFORNIA COASTAL STEPPE - MIXED FOREST - REDWOOD FOREST
18
322 AMERICAN SEMI-DESERT AND DESERT 29
341 INTERMOUNTAIN SEMI-DESERT AND DESERT 19
342 INTERMOUNTAIN SEMI-DESERT 5
M261 SIERRAN FOREST - ALPINE MEADOWS 87
M262 CALIFORNIA COASTAL RANGE SHRUB - FOREST - MEADOW 27
Section Name Count
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
261A CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST 19
261B SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST 29
262A GREAT VALLEY 55
263A NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST 18
322A MOJAVE DESERT 20
322B SONORAN DESERT 5
322C COLORADO DESERT 4
341D MONO 13
341F SOUTHEASTERN GREAT BASIN 6
342B NORTHWESTERN BASIN AND RANGE 5
M261A KLAMATH MOUNTAINS 21
M261B NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST RANGES 6
M261C NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INTERIOR COAST RANGES 3
M261D SOUTHERN CASCADES 13
M261E SIERRA NEVADA 23
M261F SIERRA NEVADA FOOTHILLS 5
M261G MODOC PLATEAU 16
M262A CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST RANGES 11
M262B SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS 16
Subsection Name Count
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
261Aa SUISUN HILLS AND VALLEYS 3
261Ab BAY FLATS 1
261Ac EAST BAY HILLS - MT. DIABLO 1
261Ad EAST BAY TERRACES AND ALLUVIUM 5
261Ae SANTA CLARA VALLEY 1
261Af SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS 1
261Ag LEEWARD HILLS 1
261Ah WATSONVILLE PLAIN - SALINAS VALLEY 1
261Ai SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA 2
261Aj NORTH COASTAL SANTA LUCIA RANGE 1
261Ak SOUTH COASTAL SANTA LUCIA RANGE 1
261Al SANTA MARIA VALLEY 1
261Ba SANTA YNEZ VALLEYS AND HILLS 1
261Bb SANTA YNEZ - SULPHUR MOUNTAINS 2
261Bc NORTHERN CHANNEL ISLANDS 7
261Bd OXNARD PLAIN - SANTA PAULA VALLEY 5
261Be SIMI VALLEY - SANTA SUSANA MOUNTAINS 1
261Bf SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS 1
261Bg LOS ANGELES PLAIN 3
261Bh SOUTHERN CHANNEL ISLANDS 4
261Bi COASTAL HILLS 1
261Bj COASTAL TERRACES 4
262Aa NORTH VALLEY ALLUVIUM 1
262Ab NORTHERN EASTSIDE TERRACES 1
262Ac BUTTE SINK-SUTTER BASIN 1
262Ad COLUSA BASIN 1
262Ae SUTTER BUTTES 2
262Af RIVER ALLUVIUM 1
262Ag HARDPAN TERRACES 7
262Ah YOLO ALLUVIAL FANS 1
262Ai YOLO-AMERICAN BASINS 1
262Aj SODIC CLAYPAN TERRACES 1
262Ak MONTEZUMA HILLS 1
262Al DELTA 22
262Am DELTA BASINS 1
262An WINTERS TERRACES 1
262Ao CAMANCHE TERRACES 1
262Ap LODI ALLUVIUM 1
262Aq WESTSIDE ALLUVIAL FANS AND TERRACES 2
262Ar CASWELL BASIN 1
262As MANTECA - MERCED ALLUVIUM 1
262At SAN JOAQUIN BASIN 1
262Au GRANITIC ALLUVIAL FANS AND TERRACES 1
262Av TULARE BASIN 1
262Aw PANOCHE AND CANTUA FANS AND BASINS 1
262Ax ANTELOPE PLAIN 1
262Ay SOUTH VALLEY ALLUVIUM AND BASINS 1
262Az ELK HILLS AND SOUTH VALLEY TERRACES 1
263Aa CRESCENT CITY PLAIN 1
263Ab NORTHERN FRANCISCAN 1
263Ac SAN PABLO BAY FLATS 1
263Ad WIREGRASS RIDGE 1
263Ae HUMBOLDT BAY FLATS AND TERRACES 1
263Af CENTRAL FRANCISCAN 1
263Ag COASTAL FRANCISCAN 1
263Ah FORT BRAGG TERRACES 1
263Ai POINT ARENA 1
263Aj COASTAL HILLS - SANTA ROSA PLAIN 1
263Ak POINT REYES 2
263Al MARIN HILLS AND VALLEYS 5
263Am MOUNT ST. HELENA FLOWS AND VALLEYS 1
322Aa OWENS VALLEY 1
322Ab DEATH VALLEY 1
322Ac AMARGOSA DESERT - PAHRUMP VALLEY 4
322Ad FUNERAL MOUNTAINS - GREENWATER VALLEY 1
322Ae PANAMINT VALLEY 1
322Af SEARLES VALLEY - OWLSHEAD MOUNTAINS 1
322Ag HIGH DESERT PLAINS AND HILLS 1
322Ah MOJAVE VALLEY - GRANITE MOUNTAINS 1
322Ai SILURIAN VALLEY - DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND 1
322Aj KINGSTON RANGE - VALLEY WELLS 2
322Ak IVANPAH VALLEY 1
322Al PROVIDENCE MOUNTAINS - LANFAIR VALLEY 1
322Am PIUTE VALLEY - SACRAMENTO MOUNTAINS 1
322An LUCERNE - JOHNSON VALLEYS AND HILLS 1
322Ao BULLION MOUNTAINS - BRISTOL LAKE 1
322Ap PINTO BASIN AND MOUNTAINS 1
322Ba CADIZ-VIDAL VALLEYS 1
322Bb PALEN - RIVERSIDE MOUNTAINS 1
322Bc CHUCKWALLA VALLEY 1
322Bd PALO VERDE VALLEY AND MESA 1
322Be CHOCOLATE MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS 1
322Ca COACHELLA VALLEY 1
322Cb BORREGO VALLEY - WEST MESA 1
322Cc IMPERIAL VALLEY 1
322Cd EAST MESA - SAND HILLS 1
341Da CARSON VALLEY - TRUCKEE MEADOWS 1
341Db PINE NUT MOUNTAINS 1
341Dc ANTELOPE - MASON VALLEYS AND HILLS 1
341Dd SWEETWATER MOUNTAINS - PINE GROVE HILLS 1
341De BODIE HILLS - EXCELSIOR MOUNTAINS 1
341De MONO VALLEY 1
341Df WASSUK RANGE 1
341Dh CROWLEY FLOWANDS 1
341Di BENTON - UPPER OWENS VALLEYS 1
341Dj WHITE MOUNTAINS 1
341Dk FORT SAGE MOUNTAINS 1
341Dk GLASS MOUNTAIN 1
341Dl VIRGINIA - PAH RAH RANGES 1
341Fa SILVER PEAK MOUNTAINS - FISH LAKE VALLEY 1
341Fb INYO MOUNTAINS 1
341Fc SALINE VALLEY - COTTONWOOD MOUNTAINS 1
341Fd GRAPEVINE MOUNTAINS 1
341Fe COSA - ARGUS RANGES 1
341Ff PANAMINT RANGE 1
342Ba SURPRISE VALLEY 1
342Bb SHELDON RANGE 1
342Bc HONEY LAKE BASIN 1
342Bd COTTONWOOD - SKEDADDLE MOUNTAINS 1
342Be MADELINE PLAIN 1
M261Aa WESTERN JURASSIC 1
M261Ab GASQUET MOUNTAIN ULTRAMAFICS 1
M261Ac OREGON MOUNTAIN 1
M261Ad SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS 1
M261Ae SCOTT BAR MOUNTAIN 1
M261Af LOWER SALMON MOUNTAINS 1
M261Ag UPPER SALMON MOUNTAINS 1
M261Ah SCOTT VALLEY 1
M261Ai EASTERN KLAMATH MOUNTAINS 1
M261Aj UPPER SCOTT MOUNTAINS 1
M261Ak LOWER SCOTT MOUNTAINS 1
M261Al DUZEL ROCK 1
M261Am SHOEMAKER BALLY 1
M261An RED BUTTE 1
M261Ao WINDY PEAK 1
M261Ap FORKS OF SALMON 1
M261Aq NORTH TRINITY MOUNTAIN 1
M261Ar TRINITY MOUNTAIN - HAYFORK 1
M261As PELLETREAU RIDGE 1
M261At TRINITY ALPS 1
M261Au RATTLESNAKE CREEK 1
M261Ba EASTERN FRANCISCAN 1
M261Bb CENTRAL FRANCISCAN 1
M261Bc STONY CREEK SERPENTINE 1
M261Bd CLEAR LAKE HILLS AND VALLEYS 1
M261Be KONOCTI FLOWS 1
M261Bf ULTRABASIC COMPLEX 1
M261Ca WESTERN FOOTHILLS 1
M261Cb TEHAMA TERRACES 1
M261Cc DUNNIGAN HILLS 1
M261Da OLD CASCADES 1
M261Db SHASTA VALLEY 1
M261Dc UPPER SHASTA VALLEY 1
M261Dd BLACKS MOUNTAIN-SUSANVILLE PEAK 1
M261De BUTTE VALLEY 1
M261Df HIGH CASCADE 1
M261Dg MCCLOUD FLAT 1
M261Dh MEDICINE LAKE LAVA FLOWS 1
M261Di MEDICINE LAKE HIGHLANDS 1
M261Dj HAT CREEK RIM 1
M261Dk PARKER MOUNTAIN FLATS 1
M261Dl SHINGLETOWN-PARADISE 1
M261Dm LASSEN-ALMANOR 1
M261Ea DIAMOND MOUNTAINS-CRYSTAL PEAK 1
M261Eb FREDONYER BUTTE-GRIZZLY PEAK 1
M261Ec FRENCHMAN 1
M261Ed GREENVILLE-GRAEAGLE 1
M261Ee BUCKS LAKE 1
M261Ef GRANITIC AND METAMORPHIC FOOTHILLS 1
M261Eg UPPER FOOTHILLS METAMORPHIC BELT 1
M261Eh UPPER BATHOLITH AND VOLCANIC FLOWS 2
M261Ei SIERRA VALLEY 1
M261Ej TAHOE-TRUCKEE 1
M261Ek GLACIATED BATHOLITH AND VOLCANIC FLOWS 1
M261El TAHOE VALLEY 1
M261Em BATHOLITH AND VOLCANIC FLOWS 1
M261En MARKLEEVILLE 1
M261Eo GLACIATED BATHOLITH 1
M261Ep LOWER BATHOLITH 1
M261Eq UPPER BATHOLITH 1
M261Er EASTERN SLOPES 1
M261Es TEHACHAPI 1
M261Et CARSON RANGE 2
M261Eu KERN PLATEAU 1
M261Fa TUSCAN FLOWS 1
M261Fb LOWER FOOTHILLS METAMORPHIC BELT 1
M261Fc LOWER GRANITIC FOOTHILLS 1
M261Fd SOUTHERN GRANITIC FOOTHILLS 1
M261Fe SAN EMIGDIO MOUNTAINS 1
M261Ga LOWER KLAMATH-TULE LAKE BASINS 1
M261Gb DEVIL'S GARDEN 1
M261Gc CROWDER FLAT 1
M261Gd MOWITZ BUTTES 1
M261Ge GOOSE LAKE BASIN 1
M261Gf WARNER MOUNTAINS 1
M261Gg PIT RIVER VALLEY 1
M261Gh LIKELY TABLELAND 1
M261Gi LIKELY MOUNTAIN 1
M261Gj BALD MOUNTAIN-DIXIE VALLEY 1
M261Gk HORSEHEAD MOUNTAIN 1
M261Gl ADIN MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS 1
M261Gm EAGLE LAKE-OBSERVATION PEAK 1
M261Gn BIG VALLEY MOUNTAINS 1
M261Go BIG VALLEY 1
M261Gp FALL RIVER VALLEY 1
M262Aa FREMONT - LIVERMORE HILLS AND VALLEYS 1
M262Ab WESTERN DIABLO RANGE 1
M262Ac DIABLO RANGE 1
M262Ad EASTERN HILLS 1
M262Ae INTERIOR SANTA LUCIA RANGE 1
M262Af GABILAN RANGE 1
M262Ag KETTLEMAN HILLS AND VALLEYS 1
M262Ah PASO ROBLES HILLS AND VALLEYS 1
M262Ai CARRIZO PLAIN 1
M262Aj CALIENTE RANGE - CUYAMA VALLEY 1
M262Ak TEMBLOR RANGE 1
M262Ba SAN RAFAEL - TOPATOPA MOUNTAINS 1
M262Bb NORTHERN TRANSVERSE RANGES 1
M262Bc SIERRA PELONA - MINT CANYON 1
M262Bd SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS 1
M262Be UPPER SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS 1
M262Bf SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS 1
M262Bg SAN GORGONIO MOUNTAINS 1
M262Bh UPPER SAN GORGONIO MOUNTAINS 1
M262Bi LITTLE SAN BERNARDINO - BIGHORN MOUNTAINS 1
M262Bj FONTANA PLAIN - CALIMESA TERRACES 1
M262Bk PERRIS VALLEY AND HILLS 1
M262Bl SAN JACINTO FOOTHILLS - CAHUILLA MOUNTAINS 1
M262Bm SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS 1
M262Bn WESTERN GRANITIC FOOTHILLS 1
M262Bo PALOMAR - CUYAMACA PEAK 1
M262Bp DESERT SLOPES "