California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) ecologists conducted field reconnaissance for this project and Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission assisted with field data collection. Under contract to the DFG, GreenInfo Network digitized a fine-scale vegetation map of the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve (BWER). The mapping study area consists of approximately 600 acres within Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve of Los Angeles County, California. CNPS under separate contract and in collaboration with California Department of Fish and Wildlife VegCAMP developed the floristic vegetation classification used for the project. The floristic classification follows protocols compliant with the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and National Vegetation Classification Standards (NVCS).

This map study was initiated to assist in restoration planning for the Ballona Wetland Enhancement Project, which aims to restore and enhance native habitats on BWER and provide public access and recreational opportunities. The primary purpose of CDFW’s goal of developing fine-scale digital vegetation maps is part of the California Biodiversity Initiative Roadmap of 2018. The mapping study area consists of approximately 600 acres within Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve of Los Angeles County, California. Reconnaissance was conducted by CDFW ecologists on May 9-11, 2006 to collect a preliminary list of vegetation types to accurately represent the study area. On June 13, 2006, I.K. Curtis Aerial Photography took a true color orthophoto at 1-foot pixel resolution (±1:16,800) under contract to the Coastal Conservancy and Brad Henderson (CDFW) combined the preliminary vegetation list to manually draw polygons overlaid the air photo. GreenInfo used the drawing and air photo for a digitized map draft of polygons to be verified and assessed by field crews for Vegetation Type, Percent Cover, Exotics, Development Disturbance, and other attributes on June 19-22, 2007. Field crews noted 8 exotic, invasive species in the map polygons worthy of special interest in regards to restoration planning decisions. Field reconnaissance enhanced map quality. There was a total of 61 mapping classes. No accuracy assessment of this map has been performed because ecologists visited every polygon in the field.

For detailed information, please refer to the following report:

Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program, California Department of Fish and Game. Vegetation Map of Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, Los Angeles County, California, 2007. California Department of Fish and Game; 2007. Available from: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=16316