Spatial Vegetation Map of Congaree Swamp National Monument

Over 22,200 acres of Congaree Swamp National Monument were mapped for vegetation type using aerial photography and field sampling in April 1996. The National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey created this dataset as a baseline study of vegetation conditions during the 1990s. It documents one of the last significant old-growth bottomland hardwood forests, containing over 90 tree species.

Use Cases

• Analyze the spatial distribution of vegetation associations classified under the National Vegetation Classification System across the 34 square mile park.
• Assess the extent of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest, reported as over 11,000 acres, relative to other vegetation types.
• Use the photointerpreted vegetation boundaries, informed by slope and hydrology data, for historical habitat modeling and change detection studies.
• Study species composition and record-sized trees within mapped vegetation units, referencing the noted 90 tree species and 16 state record holders.

Strengths

• Covers a specific, significant area of approximately 22,200 acres (34 square miles).
• Provides a documented historical baseline from April 1996 for long-term ecological studies.
• Vegetation classification follows the standardized National Vegetation Classification System (1995).

Limitations

• Data reflects a single snapshot from April 1996 and may not represent current conditions.
• The description notes an inherent margin of error in vegetation delineation from aerial photography.
• Specific column names, row counts, and data formats are unknown, complicating immediate analysis.

Provenance

Source

National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Biological Resources Division.

Collection Method

Stereoscopic interpretation of aerial photographs supported by field sampling and ecological analysis.

Time Range

1996-04 (aerial photography date).

Freshness

1996-04-27

Geography

Congaree Swamp National Monument, South Carolina, USA.