The Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program (VegCAMP) develops and maintains California's expression of the National Vegetation Classification System. We implement its use through assessment and mapping projects in high-priority conservation and management areas, through training programs, and through working continuously on best management practices for field assessment, classification of vegetation data, fine-scale vegetation mapping, and archiving of vegetation data. Completing a state-wide vegetation map and classification in collaboration with other agencies and organizations is the current goal of the program.
Contact Information
Current SCV Compliant Vegetation Sampling and Mapping Projects
Map of Vegetation Mapping / Sampling Projects in California that use the National Vegetation Classification System (PDF)(opens in new tab)
All projects listed below are being managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program (VegCAMP) unless otherwise stated. The vegetation sampling projects utilize the CDFW-CNPS Protocol for the Combined Vegetation Rapid Assessment and Relevé Field Protocol (PDF)(opens in new tab) for field data collection. The data that is collected for these projects will be included in statistical analyses to inform the state-wide vegetation classification that is available to the public through the Manual of California Vegetation online(opens in new tab) as well as through region-specific vegetation classification reports that will be available through the VegCAMP website. The vegetation mapping projects will be completed following the Survey of California Vegetation Classification and Mapping Standards (SCV) (PDF)(opens in new tab) set forth by VegCAMP.
Fine-scale Vegetation Sampling, Classification, and Mapping of the Southern Sierra Nevada Foothills: This project started in 2008 following the completion of the northern Sierra Nevada Foothills mapping project and was halted due to lack of funding related to the economic recession. But we are pleased to announce that we have completed this project and now have an ecoregion-wide, fine-scale vegetation classification and map for the Sierra Nevada foothills. Support for this project was provided by the Wildlife Conservation Board. VegCAMP will be offering a presentation and rollout of this project in late 2023.
Fine-scale Vegetation Sampling and Mapping of the Doyle Loyalton Project area: This sampling and mapping project in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, encompasses nearly 1.6 million acres between Susanville at the northern end and Lake Tahoe at the southern. Sampling and mapping for this project is scheduled to be completed Spring 2023.
Fine-scale Vegetation Sampling and Mapping of the Modoc Ecoregion: This project began in the Spring of 2022 and will produce a finalized vegetation classification as well as a vegetation map covering the remainder of the Modoc Plateau Ecoregion, including the Warner Mountains. Several earlier efforts, starting in 2016, initiated the classification and mapping work in the Modoc Plateau and Northwestern Basin and Range ecoregions where approximately 2 million acres of this region was sampled and mapped. This new effort will complete the sampling and mapping of the remaining 2.4 million acres of the region and will be completed by the end of 2025.
Fine-scale Vegetation Sampling and Mapping of the Northern California Coast and Coast Ranges: This project began in the Spring of 2022 and will produce a vegetation classification for the Northern California Coast and Coast Ranges as well as a map covering 4.12 million acres including 2.9 million acres of the Northern California Coast and 1.2 million acres of the Northern California Coast Range. Over six million acres were sampled between spring of 2022 and fall of 2023 to develop the vegetation classification. Mapping for the Northern California Coast is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026 and mapping for the Northern California Coast Range included in this project will be completed by 2027.
Fine-scale Vegetation Sampling and Mapping of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties: The East Bay regional Park District (EBRPD) is coordinating and managing this sampling, classification, and mapping effort for Alameda and Contra Costa Counties (~1 million acres). CDFW is funding the sampling and classification analysis portions of the project which will feed into the fine-scale mapping for the counties.
Klamath Mountains Vegetation Sampling: Nearly 5.5 million acres of the Klamath Mountains ecoregion will be thoroughly sampled using the standard sampling protocol to complete a fine-scale vegetation classification for this ecoregion. Work started in the Spring of 2023 and ends March 2026.
Southern Cascades Vegetation Sampling: Nearly 4 million acres of the Southern Cascades ecoregion will be thoroughly sampled using the standard sampling protocol to complete a fine-scale vegetation classification for this ecoregion. Work started in the Spring of 2023 and ends March 2026.
Sierra Nevada Vegetation Sampling:
Nearly 11.5 million acres of the Sierra Nevada ecoregion will be thoroughly sampled using the standard sampling protocol. These data will be combined with existing data from the ecoregion to complete a fine-scale vegetation classification for this ecoregion. Work started in the Spring of 2023 and ends March 2026.
Central Coast and Coast Ranges Vegetation Sampling: Nearly 7 million acres of the Central Coast and Coast Ranges ecoregions will be thoroughly sampled using the standard sampling protocol. Additionally, fine-scale mapping will be completed for San Benito, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo counties (~5.1 million acres) following the SCV standards. Work started in the Spring of 2023 and ends March 2026.
Napa County: Over 400,000 acres of Napa County will be thoroughly sampled using the standard sampling protocol. Work started in the Spring of 2023 and ends March 2026.
Northern Inner Coast Ranges Vegetation Sampling: Approximately 1.8 million acres of the Northern Inner Coast Range ecoregion will be thoroughly sampled using the standard sampling protocol. Work started in the Spring of 2024 and ends March 2026.
Fine-scale Vegetation Mapping of the California Deserts: Approximately 4.4 million acres of fine-scale vegetation mapping in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts will be completed following the SCV mapping standards. Work is estimated to start in the Spring of 2023 and end March 2026.
Fine-scale Vegetation Mapping of the Colorado Desert: Just over 1 million acres of fine-scale vegetation mapping in the Colorado Desert ecoregion will be completed following the SCV standards. Work started in the Spring of 2023 and ends March 2026.
Fine-scale grasslands sampling and mapping in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties: The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) will add to the existing two-county vegetation classification and mapping effort to collect and map association-level grasslands data to help inform EBRPD grasslands management in the counties. This work will help to refine the state-wide vegetation classification for association-level grasslands types for this region.
Southern California Coast and Southern California Mountains and Valley Vegetation Sampling: Approximately 6.4 million acres of the Southern California ecoregion will be thoroughly sampled using the standard sampling protocol to complete a fine-scale vegetation classification for this ecoregion. Work started in the Spring of 2024 and ends March 2026.