MLCCS - Natural Resource Inventory (NRI)
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Geographic Information System Fact Sheet :
Geographic Information System (GIS) :
GIS Digital Data :
Natural Resource Inventory (NRI) :
MLCCS - Natural Resource Inventory (NRI)
Introduction |
Funding |
MLCCS |
Mapping Process
The Minnesota Land Cover Classification System (MLCCS) is a method of GIS land cover mapping that describes what is
on the ground based on the type of vegetation (or lack of it) and the amount of impervious surface (such as pavement and buildings).
MLCCS1 was developed specifically for Minnesota, and classifies urban, suburban, agricultural areas, and vegetated areas. With the
MLCCS you can:
- identify lands and natural corridors to conserve
- model impacts of impervious areas on water resources
- develop natural resource managment plans
- model ecological quality of natural resources
- track land cover change
The coding system consists of nine major community types (below), which are used to describe land cover.
| MLCCS Code |
Land Cover Community Type |
| 10000 |
Artificial Surfaces and Associated Areas |
| 20000 |
Planted or Cultivated Vegetation |
| 30000 |
Forests |
| 40000 |
Woodlands |
| 50000 |
Shrublands |
| 60000 |
Herbaceous Vegetation |
| 70000 |
Nonvascular Vegetation |
| 80000 |
Sparse Vegetation |
| 90000 |
Open Water |
The classification system is hierarchical.
The five levels of the MLCCS are represented by a five digit number:
| Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Level 4 |
Level 5 |
| First Digit |
Second Digit |
Third Digit |
Fourth Digit |
Fifth Digit |
Artificial Surfaces Hierarchy
Examples:
61520 - Mixed Emergent Marsh - Seasonally Flooded
60000 - Interpreted to the first level, represents Herbaceous Vegetation
61000 - Interpreted to the second level, represents Grasslands and Emergent Vegetation
61500 - Interpreted to the third level, represents Seasonally Flooded
61520 - Interpreted to the forth level, represents Mixed Emergent Marsh
|
32113 - Oak Forest - Dry Subtype
30000 - Interpreted to the first level, represents Forests
32000 - Interpreted to the second level, represents Deciduous forest
32100 - Interpreted to the third level, represents Upland deciduous forest
32110 - Interpreted to the forth level, represents Oak forest
32113 - Interpreted to the fifth level, represents Oak forest dry subtype
|
Natural Resource Inventory displayed with MLCCS Level 5 Codes.
MLCCS Level 5 Codes:
13134: 26%-50% Impervious Cover with Perrenial Short Grasses and Mixed Trees
21110: Upland Soils with Planted, Maintained or Cultivated Coniferous Trees
32110: Oak Forest
41130: Eastern Red Cedar Woodland
52210: Native Dominated Temporarily Flooded Shrubland
61220: Medium Tall Non-Native Dominated Herbaceous Vegetation
61330: Temporarily Flooded Non-Native Dominated Herbaceous Vegetation
|
APPROXIMATE TIME REQUIRED
The following table illustrates approximate estimates for completing each step of the land cover mapping process
necessary to develop a MLCCS Based GIS data layer for an area 1 square mile in size with moderately complex land
cover at level 4-5 of the MLCCS. The estimates assume the work is being done by experienced individuals.
Land Cover Mapping - Estimated Completion Rate Per Square Mile:
| Activity |
Time |
| Plot Maps |
15-30 minutes |
| Interpretation/Delineation |
1-2 Hours |
| Field Check |
3 Hours |
| Digitize |
3 Hours |
| Error Check (Office) |
30-60 minutes |
| Error Check (field) |
1 Hour |
| Make Edits |
2-3 Hours |
Total Time |
10.45-13.5 Hours -->12 Hours Avg. |
MAPPING PROCESS OVERVIEW
The following outline is an overview of the digital mapping process used to develop the Dakota County Natural Resource Inventory.
1. Acquire Data, Photography, & Materials
2. Setup Work Environment
3. Plot Maps
4. Interpretation & Delineation
5. Field Check Work
6. Digitize Work
7. Error Check Work
8. Make Edits
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.
1. MLCCS developed cooperatively by: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District,
Friends of the Mississippi River,
Great River Greening, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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