The following narrative is an overview of the digital mapping process used to develop the Dakota County Natural Resource Inventory.

Overview
Large format maps are printed with current aerial photography as a background and rare community and wetland hydrology data in the foreground (Figure 1). Vegetation communities and cultural features are delineated (outlined) in colored pencil on the map (Figure 2). The communities and features are interpreted using aerial photo-interpretation techniques to identify dominant species within vegetation communities and levels of impervious (to water) surfaces within cultural features (Figure 3). Correlating MLCCS classification codes and modifiers are recorded within the outlined features (Figure 4). The delineated maps are taken out in the field to visually verify the accuracy of the interpretation and boundaries of the outlined communities and features (Figure 5). The maps are then converted into a digital format for use in a Geographic Information System (GIS) (Figure 6).

The final output of the mapping process is a digital Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) composed of polygons containing MLCCS classification information. A subset of the NRI near the Mississippi River in Inver Grove Heights is pictured below.