2012 LAND USE/LAND COVER CLASSIFICATION
NJDEP MODIFIED ANDERSON SYSTEM
Derived from: A Land Use and Land Cover Classification System for
Use with Remote Sensor Data, U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 964,
1976; edited by NJDEP, OIRM, BGIA, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2012
(Classes used in current NJDEP mapping program shown in bold)
1000 URBAN OR BUILT-UP LAND
The Level 1 Urban or Built-up Land category is characterized by intensive land use where the landscape has
been altered by human activities. Although structures are usually present, this category is not restricted
to traditional urban areas. Urban or Built-up Land Level II categories include Residential; Commercial and Service;
Industrial; Transportation, Communication and Utilities; Industrial and Commercial Complexes; Mixed Urban or Built-up;
Other Urban or Build-up and Recreational. Included with each of the above land uses are associated lands, buildings,
parking lots, access roads, and other appurtenances, unless these are specifically excluded.
Urban or Built-up Land takes precedence over other categories when the criteria for more than one category
are met. For example, recreational areas that have enough tree cover to meet Forest category criteria are placed in the
Recreational category.
1100
RESIDENTIAL
The residential category includes single-family residences, multiple-unit dwellings
and mobile homes. Also included is the mixed residential group, which is comprised of two or more
of the above groups. Residential areas are easily identified on aerial photographs by the shapes and
patterns of individual houses, housing developments and multiple dwelling (apartment or condominium)
complexes. They can also be identified by their proximity to urban centers or roadways.
Residential areas which are an integral part of other land uses and located on the site of
that land use are included in that land use category. For example, residential units may be found
on military bases or on college campuses in the form of barracks, apartments or
dormitories. These residences would be mapped as their associated land use.
Residential area categories are based on density in terms of dwelling units per acre
(DUPA). In order to determine density at Level III mapping scale, an acre grid is placed over
residential areas on the base imagery and the number of residential structures or portions of a
structure is counted. An average number of dwelling units per acre is determined and the area is mapped
accordingly. Multiple unit structures, such as 2 or 3-family homes, may be included within single-unit
residential areas since they are not extensive enough to be mapped individually. Also, commercial areas
too small to be mapped separately may be found within residential areas.
1110 Residential (High Density or Multiple dwelling)
This category contains either high-density single units or
multiple dwelling units on 1/8 to 1/5-acre lots. These areas are commonly found
in the densely populated urban zones.
1111 Single Unit, High Density
This
category contains single unit residential areas of more than 5 dwellings per
acre. These are generally found in densely populated urban areas.
1112 Multiple
Dwelling, Low Rise (3 stories or less)
This
category contains residential areas of 2 and 3 family homes, row houses and
garden apartments of up to 3 stories.
These are generally found in the urban or urban fringe areas of cities.
1113 Multiple
Dwelling, High Rise (4 stories or more)
This
category includes residential areas comprised of condominiums, apartment
complexes and towers of 4 stories or more, generally found in or near urban
areas. Multiple dwelling residences can
be identified on aerial photography by their size, height, construction pattern
and the location of driveways and parking lots.
1120 Residential (Single Unit, Medium Density)
This category is comprised of residential urban/suburban
neighborhoods greater than 1/8 acre and up to and including ½ acre lots.
1130 Residential
(Single Unit, Low Density)
This category contains single unit residential neighborhoods with
areas greater than ½ acre up to and including 1 acre lots.
1140 Residential
(Single Unit)
This category contains single unit residential neighborhoods with
lots that are at least 1 acre or larger.
This type is typically found in sparsely populated regions surrounded by
or adjacent to forested or agricultural lands. Also included are estates or
modern sub-divisions with large lot sizes providing a density less than or
equal to 1 dwelling unit per acre.
1150
Mixed Residential
The mixed residential category is used for an area where various residential uses occur and the individual uses cannot be separated at mapping scale (1 acre). Where more than 1/3 intermixture of other residential use or uses occurs in a specific area, it is classified as mixed residential. Where the inter-mixtures of other residential land use or uses total less than 1/3 of the specified area, the dominant land use category is applied.
1200 COMMERCIAL & SERVICES
Areas that contain structures predominantly used for the sale of
products and services are classified as Commercial and Services.
The main building, secondary structures and supporting areas such
as parking lots, driveways and landscaped areas are also placed under this
category, (unless the landscaped areas are greater than 1 acre in size in which
case they are put into a separate category).
Sometimes non-commercial uses such as residential or industrial intermix
with commercial uses making it difficult to identify the predominant land
use. These categories are not separated
out; but, if the residential exceeds 1/3 of the total commercial area, the
Mixed Urban category (1600) is used. If
industrial land use and commercial land use occur in close proximity and are
unable to be separated as different categories, then the Industrial and
Commercial Complexes code (1500) is used.
Often, specific uses of some commercial and services buildings cannot be
easily identified from photography alone.
Some supplemental information is required. These areas generally have a
high percentage of impervious surface coverage.
Any of the specific uses listed below may be included in the 1200
category, with the exception of Military Installations which are delineated
separately under the code 1211, and No Longer Military, which are delineated
under the code 1214.
1201 Central Business
District (CBD)
These are
the "downtown" banking and commercial centers of cities or towns
where land use is largely undifferentiated.
Retail stores, banks, office buildings, post offices, libraries,
firehouses and courthouses are examples of structures that may comprise a
CBD. Some public land uses such as
schools and cemeteries are separated out into other categories if they are of a
mappable size.
CBDs can
exist in any size city or town.
Metropolitan CBDs can be easily identified by their large number of
high-rise buildings surrounded by parking lots. They are usually easily
accessed by interstate bypass routes.
Medium-size CBDs contain 3 and 4 story buildings fronted by parking
spaces. They are away from the main
traffic intersections of cities and often expand outward from railroad
lines. Small towns CBDs contain 2 or 3
story buildings that line the streets and are in close proximity to residential
structures. They usually parallel main
traffic arteries.
1202 Commercial Strip
Development
This is the
commercial activity developed along major highway and access roads to cities
and towns in a more or less single strip.
Motel accommodations, car dealers, fast food services, gas stations and
other similar goods and services establishments are examples that may comprise
a Commercial strip. Location of these
building along a main vehicular transportation route is the key criterion. Frequently, especially in suburban areas,
residential and industrial land uses intermix with Commercial Strip
Development. When these uses exceed 1/3
of the total contiguous length of the Commercial Strip, the Mixed Urban
category is used.
1203 Isolated
Commercial Establishments for Goods and/or Services
This
category pertains to commercial establishments providing goods and services for
direct consumer use. Isolated single
commercial buildings or isolated cluster of commercial buildings that are not
part of a Commercial Strip Development or a well-defined CBD are included in
this category.
These
buildings are distinguished from Isolated Commercial Office Buildings (1204)
because they provide goods and services for direct consumer use while 1204 does
not. Some examples are fast food
services, dry cleaners, gas stations and banks.
Professional buildings that house medical offices, real estate brokers,
law firms and travel agents are included in this category as well.
1204 Isolated
Commercial Office Buildings
This
category pertains to scattered commercial development, specifically commercial
office buildings (not providing goods and services for direct consumer
use). Isolated single commercial
buildings or isolated clusters of commercial buildings that are not part of a
Commercial Strip Development or well-defined CBD are included in this
category. These buildings are
distinguished from the Isolated Establishments for Goods and Services because
they do not provide products and services directly to the consumer. Buildings can house administrative and
support staffs for large corporations or staffs for several smaller
businesses. These buildings can range in
size from 2 to 3 stories to high-rise structures.
When several
Commercial Office Buildings exist together and share common driveways, parking
lots and lawns they are placed in the Industrial and Commercial Complexes
category (1500).
1205 Shopping Centers
A Shopping
Center is a group of retail stores and other commercial establishments planned,
developed, owned and managed as a unit, with off-street parking provided on the
property. Shopping centers range in size
from those of just a few thousand square feet to plazas covering acres. Key identification features are large and
often interconnecting buildings surrounded by well-paved parking lots located
near interchanges and highways.
Retention ponds located on the property, if of a mappable size are
included in the Artificial Lake category (5300).
1206 Resorts, Hotels,
Motels & Related facilities
These
facilities usually associated with leisure time activities contain over-night
accommodations, dining facilities, services and recreational activities. They range in size from converted farm houses
to luxury resort hotels. Features that
help define them such as tennis courts, pools, golf courses, ski slopes and
well-kept lawns and gardens are all included in the category. (These features are included with the resort
since they are private and not accessible to non-paying guests). Hotels within urban areas are generally not
mapped separately because they are difficult to distinguish from other
commercial buildings.
1207 Educational
Institutions
This
category includes all levels of public and private schools, colleges,
universities and training centers. All
buildings, campus open space, dormitories and parking areas are included. Not included are recreational facilities such
as ball fields, tennis courts, stadiums and swimming pools. These recreational facilities are included in
Recreation (1800) if they are of a mappable size. Universities can often be identified by a
maze of walkways linking various buildings.
Elementary and secondary schools are usually 1 or 2 story buildings
surrounded by recreational fields and located in residential areas away from
high traffic volumes. Any educational
activity associated with religious institutions involving parish schools,
seminaries, orphanages and novitiates, if of a mappable size, are included in
this category.
1208 Health
Institutions
Any facility
providing direct health care to the public such as hospitals, mental health
institutions, sanitariums, special care centers, major clinics and nursing
homes are included in this category.
Some identifiable features may include circular drives, covered main
entrances, multi-story buildings with wings, large parking lots and spacious
grounds.
1209 Correctional
Institutions
Prisons and
rehabilitation centers make up this category.
They can be identified by high walls and controlled access points. Topographic maps should be consulted to make
sure minimum security prisons are not over-looked. Land uses, such as farmland or quarries associated
with prisons are mapped separately according to their appropriate lane
cover/land use category.
1210 Government
Centers
This
category includes any state, regional, county or municipal office
buildings. They can range in size from 1
or 2 story buildings to high-rise complexes.
Any government office located in the CBD (1201) or along a Commercial
Strip (1202) is included in those categories unless it is of a mappable size.
1211 Military Installations
Military bases and camps, armories, ordnance depots, missile
sites, National Guard and Reserve armories are included in this category. Boundaries of major military installations
are generally identified by fence lines and roads along their perimeter. Military facilities have a wide variety of conditions
including training camps, missile sites, etc.
Auxiliary land uses, particularly residential, commercial and other
supporting uses located on a military base should be included in this category.
1212 Other
Institutional
This
category includes any other institutions not included in the other
categories. Some examples are churches,
synagogues, convents, special research facilities, medical research facilities
not open to the public, and social clubs associated with established
organizations.
1213 Mixed Commercial
& Services
This
category is used when a mix of various commercial uses and services exist and
no one category predominates. When more
than 1/3 of one commercial use is mixed with another use this Mixed category is
used. Where the intermixture total is less
than 1/3 then the dominant use is mapped.
1214 No Longer Military
Included in this category are portions of former military
installations that have been de-commissioned and sold. New development of these areas has not yet
begun, so particular use cannot be determined from the photography. Many of the undeveloped portions of these
former military sites may remain as preserved undeveloped open space. Developed areas may be re-developed for other
uses. However, in all cases, the new
intended use is not discernible from the latest available photography, or other
ancillary data.
1300 INDUSTRIAL
This category encompasses a great variety of structure types and land uses. Light and heavy industry are comprised of land uses where manufacturing, assembly or processing of products takes place. Power generation is included here because of its similarity to heavy industry. These areas generally have a high percentage of impervious surface coverage.
1310 Light Industrial
Light
industry deals with design, assembly, finishing, packaging, and storing of
products or materials that have usually been processed at least once. These activities are characterized as
"clean", since they produce a relatively small amount of smoke and
other effluents, noise, and dust.
Light
industries include facilities for administration, research, assembly, storage,
warehousing, and shipping. Examples are
electronics firms, trucking companies, small textile mills, and auto assembly
plants. Characteristic features may
include the nature of the buildings, parking and shipping arrangements, the
presence of outdoor storage facilities, trailer trucks, loading docks, rail
lines, power sources and smokestacks.
1320 Heavy Industrial
Heavy
industry involves the processing of raw materials such as iron ore, timber,
petroleum or coal, or the fabrication and assemblage of parts that are bulky
and heavy.
Examples of
heavy industry are steel, pulp, and lumber mills, oil refineries and tank
farms, chemical plants, and grain mills.
Recognizable features include blast furnaces, kilns, chemical processing
towers, large chimneys or stacks, fuel tanks, boiler house, transformer yards,
silos, bins and piles and ponds of water.
Also included in this category are surface structures associated with
mining operations: loading devices, trucks, access roads processing facilities,
stock piles, and storage sheds.
1330 Power Generation
There are
three main types of power generators: thermal, nuclear and hydroelectric. Features common to all three types are the
presence of transmission lines and transformer yards, and often, proximity to
water.
Both thermal
and nuclear plants usually have cooling towers for used water. Thermal plants often have associated coal
piles and conveyor belts leading to the main plants. Nuclear plants have a characteristic nuclear
reactor building. Hydroelectric plants
are usually at the dams of large reservoirs or impounded streams, or at an
elevation break on a watercourse.
Typical features include a dam and tailraces.
1400 TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION & UTILITIES
The transportation, communication, and utilities land uses are usually associated with the other Urban or Built-up Land categories since they frequently do not meet the project minimum mapping unit; therefore they are often captured with the land use in which they occur. The presence of major transportation routes, utilities such as sewage treatment plants and power lines, and communications facilities greatly influence both the present and potential uses of an area. Major port facilities, roads and solar panel arrays are also included in this category.
1410 Major Roadway
Major Roadways (or major highways) typically contain at least two
lanes in each direction, separated by a concrete barrier or median strip. There are usually no cross streets or traffic
lights, and access is limited to ramps.
Included in this category are service (rest) areas, right-of-ways,
interchanges, maintained hillsides, and other service and terminal facilities. Examples are interstates, U.S. highways and
freeways.
Major roads or highways are characterized by "diamond"
and "clover-leaf" patterns of ramps, crossroads intersecting via
underpasses or overpasses, and the lack of adjacent residential, commercial, or
industrial development, with direct connections to the highway. Major road or highway right-of-ways are often
bounded by fences or drainage paths.
1411 Mixed
Transportation Corridor Overlap Areas
Mixed transportation overlap areas are places in the data where
railroads (1420) and roads (1400/1410) intersect. The 1411 class captures segments of the
road/railroad that define the major point of intersection and includes at-grade
crossings as well as railroad and road bridges.
This category does not include road (1400) over road (1410) intersections,
auto or rail bridges over water (1419).
This category was created to provide continuity of the railroad and road
transportation networks for analysis purposes.
1419 Bridges
Over Water
Bridges over water are areas in the dataset where polygonal water bodies
intersect major roadways or roads. The
1419 code captures segments of road that are considered bridges, as beneath
them, water flow is continuous and uninterrupted. Only the section of road that is representative
of the criteria should be pulled out as a bridge over water; the rest of the
highway will remain in the 1400/1410 class.
Bridges Over Water are classified as a Water type and therefore carry an
NHD FCode.
1420 Railroads
The railroad category includes railroads and spurs as well as
stations, parking lots, roundhouses, power generators, and repair and switching
yards. Spurs that connect single industrial
or extractive pick-up points with main rail lines are included in the
appropriate industrial or extractive category.
Spurs that connect multiple industrial uses are included in the railroad
class.
1430 Bus and Truck
Terminals
Bus and
truck terminals are characterized by long buildings with truck trailers or
buses adjacent to them. There are large paved
areas surrounding the garages, which are used for maneuvering and parking. Terminals are often located in close
proximity to major transportation routes.
1440 Airport Facilities
Airport facilities are characterized by areas cleared of
vegetation and other obstructions; also, the presence of long, linear runway
surfaces. They vary from rural grass
landing strips to vast urban complexes.
Typical moderate to large-sized airports contain parallel primary
runways, smaller parallel taxi strips, intervening land, aircraft parking
aprons, hangars, terminals, service buildings, navigation aids, fuel storage
areas, parking lots, and limited buffer zones.
This category also includes heliports and land associated with seaplane
bases. It does not include small
airports on rotated farmland.
1450 Port Facilities
Seaports are
isolated areas of high utilization with no well-defined intervening
connections. Included in this category
are docks, piers, shipyards, drydocks, locks, waterway control structures, buildings,
parking lots and adjacent water utilized by ships in the loading or unloading
of cargo or passengers.
1460 Power
Facilities
Power facilities include power substations and transmission line
right-of-ways where the right-of-way is clearly visible on aerial photography
and not used for any other purpose. For
example, transmission line right-of-ways are clearly discernible where they
traverse forest: there are no trees, and vegetation growth is controlled through
mowing or herbicides.
Right-of-ways in agricultural land are difficult or impossible to see
because there is usually no demarcation from the surrounding land. Additionally, the surrounding agricultural
activity also occurs in the right-of-way most of the time. A right-of-way would
be mapped as a power facility when traversing forest, but would be mapped as a
Level III agricultural category when traversing agricultural land.
On aerial photography, power substations appear as geometric
configuration with associated transformers and transmission lines. Those associated with an industrial,
commercial, or extractive land uses are included in that category.
1461 Wetland
Rights-of-Way
Included in this category are
rights-of-way that exist in former wetland areas, and which still exhibit
evidence of soil saturation on the photography.
Because of alterations associated with creating the rights-of-way, these
areas may not support the typical natural wetland vegetation found in adjacent
unaltered natural areas. They do,
however, exist in areas shown on the Natural Resources Conservation Service
soil surveys to have hydric soils, and exhibit the darker tonal signatures
associated with saturated soils on the photography. Photo signature of these areas will vary from
tan or gray to pink on CIR imagery. Textures will generally be smooth to
slightly rough depending on whether the dominant vegetation is low herbaceous
species or taller shrubs.
1462 Upland Rights-of-Way,
Developed
Included in this category are
upland rights-of-way that exist in Developed non-Urban areas. These rights-of-way are defined for the
purposes of this project as utilities, meaning they are not necessarily electrical
rights-of-way. This category includes
lands adjacent to agricultural areas but not visibly used in connection with
any agricultural land use. Because of alterations associated with creating the
rights-of-way, these areas may not support the typical natural vegetation found
in adjacent unaltered natural areas. Photo signature of these areas will vary
from tan or gray to pink on CIR imagery. Textures will generally be smooth to
slightly rough depending on whether the dominant vegetation is low herbaceous
species or taller shrubs.
1463 Upland Rights-of-Way,
Undeveloped
Included in this category are
upland rights-of-way that exist in undeveloped non-Urban areas. As in the 1462 category, these rights-of-way
are also defined as utilities, meaning they do not only include electrical
rights-of-way. Lands adjacent to agricultural
areas but not visibly used in connection with any agricultural land use are
included in this category. Because of alterations associated with creating the
rights-of-way, these areas may not support the typical natural vegetation found
in adjacent unaltered natural areas. Photo
signature of these areas will vary from tan or gray to pink on CIR imagery. Textures
will generally be smooth to slightly rough depending on whether the dominant
vegetation is low herbaceous species or taller shrubs.
1470 Water Treatment
Facilities
Water
treatment facilities consist of buildings with adjacent circular or rectangular
tanks. They are usually restricted to
moderately sized towns and cities, rather than rural areas. Water treatment facilities and sewage
treatment facilities are often similar in appearance on aerial photography. However, many water treatment facilities are
upstream from the community served, whereas the sewage treatment facilities are
often downstream.
1480 Sewage Treatment
Facilities
Sewage
treatment plants are often adjacent to streams or rivers. Identifiable features include an array of
rectangular or circular tanks for initial processing, settling and aeration,
and associated low buildings. Like water
treatment facilities, they are usually restricted to moderately sized towns and
cities rather than rural areas, where individual septic systems are
prevalent. Also included in this
category are pumping stations, sewage mains, and tertiary treatment fields.
1490 Other
Transportation, Communication and Utilities
This category consists of related facilities not included in any of the
previous Level III categories. Included
are radio, radar, and television antennas, microwave stations, water towers,
and lighthouses. Towers include the land
enclosed by guide wires. Fence-lines,
trimmed or mowed grounds, and access roads are associated with many of these
facilities.
1499 Stormwater Basins
Stormwater
Basins are a common feature in newer developments. They are typically located in office parks,
commercial and industrial parks, and newer residential developments. They are often identifiable by the curved
boundaries, interior drainage lines, and characteristic depressional
shape. Water may or may not be present
at the time the photography is taken; since it is considered to be dynamic, the
drainage basin code should take precedence unless there are indications that
the water is a more permanent feature, i.e. aeration fountains, etc. In those situations, the water within the
basin should be placed in the 5300 Artificial Lakes class.
This
category also includes drainage basins, which are not as well-maintained, and
therefore more difficult to map. In this
classification, land cover takes precedence over the drainage basin structure.
1500 INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL COMPLEXES
The Industrial and Commercial Complexes category includes those industrial and commercial land
uses that typically occur together or in close proximity. These areas are commonly referred to as
"Industrial or Commercial Parks." The major types of business establishments located in these planned
industrial and commercial parks are light manufacturing, administration
offices, research and development facilities, and computer systems
companies. Also found here are facilities for warehousing, wholesaling, retailing and distributing.
Industrial
and Commercial Complexes are usually located in suburban or rural areas. The key identifying feature is the planned
layout of buildings exhibiting the same or very similar construction. Other identifying features include well-kept
lawns and landscaped areas, ample parking areas and common roadways connecting
buildings that also provide access to major highways. The lack of smokestacks, storage tanks, raw
materials or finished products, and waste signifies that no heavy industries
are present. These areas generally have a high percentage of impervious surface
coverage (~85%) and some may be up to 100%.
1510 Industrial and
Commercial Parks
See category
15 for description. Clusters of
commercial office buildings that happen to exist side by side but do not share
common roadways and landscaped areas are included in the Isolated Commercial
Office building category (1204).
1600 MIXED URBAN OR BUILT-UP LAND
This category includes those urban or built-up areas for which uses cannot be
separated into individual categories at the mapping scale employed. Areas are identified under the mixed urban
category when more than one-third intermixture of another use or uses is
evident.
Uses considered in mixed urban include primarily residential,
commercial/service, industrial and transportation/communication/utility. Not included in the category are areas
considered part of a definable commercial strip as described under class 1202. In addition, open land that could be
classified for any agricultural use would not be included in the mixed urban category.
Level 3 divisions of the Mixed Urban category involve separating the mixed areas based
on the predominant use in the intermixture, if one is evident.
1610 - Predominantly Residential - (>50%, but <66% of
the use can be identified as Residential).
1620 - Predominantly
Commercial/Service - (>50%, but <66% of the use can be identified as
Commercial/Service).
1630 - Predominantly
Industrial - (>50%, but <66% of the use can be identified as
Industrial).
1640 - Predominantly
Transportation/Communication/Utilities - (>50%, but <66% of the use
can be identified as Transportation/Communication/Utilities).
1650 - Heterogeneous
Mixture - (No single use in the intermixture comprises more than 50%).
1700 OTHER URBAN OR BUILT-UP LAND
Included are undeveloped, open lands within urban areas. Some structures may be visible, as in the
case of abandoned residential or commercial sites that have not yet been
redeveloped. Other areas may be
brush-covered or grassy. Large, managed,
maintained lawns common to some residential areas, and those open areas of
commercial/service complexes, educational installations, etc., are also
included. Undeveloped, but maintained
lawns in urban parks are also part of this category, if a specific recreational
use is not evident. In addition, areas
that have been partially developed or redeveloped but remain unfinished are
included. Also included in this category
are cemeteries.
1710 Cemetery
These areas represent large tracts of primarily open land within
urban areas. Large cemeteries can be
identified by layout of driveways, lots, mausoleums and marking stones. Cemeteries associated with small towns,
individual churches or family estates may not be easily identifiable. Supplemental information is often needed to
identify these smaller cemeteries.
1711 Cemetery
On Wetland
This
category represents those areas that lie within cemetery boundaries and can be
classified as wetlands. Maintained lawn
areas that are not part of the cemetery but instead lie adjacent to the
property will be mapped in the 1750 category.
As with the 1710 category, collateral information or field verification
is usually needed to delineate these boundaries.
1720 Undeveloped Land
Within Urban Areas
Within this
category are those areas generally considered vacant lots. These areas may never have been developed, or
may represent formerly built-up that have been entirely or partially cleared,
but not redeveloped. Included would be
abandoned manufacturing or commercial sites that could be redeveloped. Areas within this category are generally
brush or grass-covered and may or may not be maintained. Buildings may be present, interspersed with
brush areas and concrete or black top.
1730 Inactive Land
With Street Patterns
This
category represents areas for which development or redevelopment was started,
but which has been abandoned after some street construction has been
completed. No active development is
visible. These areas typically would
support residential developments if completed, but some industrial or
commercial development may be found here.
These areas generally have low vegetative cover, possibly with sporadic
trees and may or may not be maintained.
1740 Open Areas
Included in
this category are miscellaneous open areas within urban settings that do not
fall into any of the other categories.
Many areas identified as 1740 have planned and maintained feature, such
as a central lawn area within a suburban development or a commercial and/or
corporate complex that provides “open space”.
Some areas that are not maintained may be included here.
1741 Phragmites Dominate Urban Area
This category contains herbaceous vegetation in urban settings
dominated by Phragmites australis. Phragmites is an invasive grass
species that is very tall, six feet or more in height, and grows rather
rapidly, choking out native species in the process. Phragmites typically grows in large,
homogenous stands and has a feathery seedhead; in combination, these factors
produce a fluffy, circular signature. Depending on soil conditions, the
photographic signature for these areas are rough and puffy and range in color
from tan to pale white on the CIR imagery.
1750 Managed Wetland in Maintained Lawn Greenspace
Included in
this category are former natural wetland areas that now are part of an altered
managed landscape, but which still exhibit signs of soil saturation on the
imagery. These areas do not support
typical wetland vegetation, but are vegetated primarily by grasses and other
planted vegetation that may be routinely mowed. Examples of this category would
be maintained open lawns and storm water swales in residential, commercial or
industrial areas. None of the wetlands
included in this category are routinely inundated, although the swales may be
on occasion. These altered wetlands exist on areas shown on the US Soil
Conservation Service soil surveys to have hydric soils.
1800 RECREATIONAL LAND
Included in this category are those areas that have been specifically developed for recreational activities, provided they are open to the general public. Any facilities that are part of a resort complex and open only to patrons of the hotel or motel are not mapped under category 1800, but under the Commercial and Services category. Facilities mapped as recreational land may charge user fees to the public, such as public golf courses; or, they may be free to the public, such as ball fields on public school grounds. Level III divisions of this category involve identifying the predominant recreational uses of the areas.
1801 Golf Courses
All par 3
courses and above are included, both public and private, unless associated with
a resort hotel/motel. Courses can be
identified by greens, fairways, sand traps, water hazards, club houses, and
parking areas. Additional facilities
often associated with golf courses, such as tennis courts, pools, parking, etc.
are not identified separately but included in the 1801 category. Ponds, wetlands and other water bodies are,
however, identified separately under the appropriate category if they meet
minimum polygon size.
1802 Picnic and
Camping Parks
This
category includes areas that are set aside for picnicking and camping
specifically and associated activities (hiking, etc.). Commercial and private tent and trailer
campgrounds are included, unless they are part of a resort complex. Any open areas associated with either
picnicking or camping areas that exceed one acre are mapped out under category
1809. Supplemental information may be
needed to identify picnic or camping areas in forested regions.
1803 Marina and Boat
Launches
Public and
private facilities consisting of docks, storage, storage buildings, boat ramps,
jetties, piers, and parking areas are included in this category. Boats may or may not be visible because of
photo scale. Small, primarily state-owned launching sites will generally not be
visible on the small scale air photos.
1804 Athletic Fields
(Schools)
This
category encompasses athletic and recreational facilities that are only
associated with schools, such as football stadiums, soccer and baseball fields,
pools, and other miscellaneous recreational areas. Not included in this category are maintained
lawns that occur within the boundaries of the school; these will instead be
left in the 1200 category or mapped as 1700 if above MMU. Also not included in this category are
athletic and recreational fields that are associated with adjacent parks or
residential areas.
1805 Parks
City, town,
county and state parks that are maintained by a government agency are included
in this category. What is actually
mapped in this category is park headquarters, parking lots and accessory
buildings. Open areas, swimming pools
and beaches, golf courses, picnic and camping facilities, etc. are mapped
separately under their appropriate category.
1806 Swimming Pools
Included are
public and commercial facilities such as swim clubs and city-operated
pools. Pools associated with country
clubs, motels, resorts and private residences are not mapped. Support buildings and parking areas are
mapped in this category, as are any tennis courts, etc. which may be associated
with the pool.
1807 Swimming Beaches
These areas
are specifically man-made beaches adjacent to lakes or ponds, which have been
developed for recreational activities.
Parking areas are included, but the water is identified under the
appropriate water category.
1808 Formal Lawns,
Arboretums and Landscaped Areas
Included are
landscaped areas that are associated with facilities open to the public such as
gardens. Similar areas associated with
private estates are not included within this category. Public facilities are identifiable by general
layout, associated roadways, parking areas, and support buildings, all of which
are mapped as part of 1808.
1809 Open Areas in
Parks
This
category includes any open area within a city, town, county, or state park that
meets minimum mapping polygon size and which is not developed for any specific
recreation activity.
1810 Stadium, Theaters, Cultural Centers, and Zoos
Included in this category is any entertainment facility that is
developed for public use. Stadiums,
outdoor concert halls, racetracks (horse and car), drive-in theaters, amusement
parks, and zoos are the primary facilities involved. Such facilities are primarily commercial,
although some public recreation areas may be found. Not included are similar facilities on
private property, such as horse tracks within private farms that are open to
the public. Parking areas, driveways,
and support buildings are mapped in this category.
1811 Other
Recreational
Included are
rifle, skeet, and archery ranges, ski and winter sport areas, fairgrounds,
etc., that do not fall into any of the above categories. These areas often have conspicuous
signatures, such as ski runs, but form a small part of the land area of New
Jersey.
1850 Managed Wetland
in Built-up Maintained Recreation Area
Included in this category are former natural wetland areas that
now are part of an altered managed recreational area, but which still exhibit
signs of soil saturation on the imagery.
These areas do not support typical wetland vegetation, but are vegetated
primarily by grasses and other planted vegetation that may be routinely
mowed. Examples of this category would
be saturated portions of golf courses, and fields used for baseball and other
sports in designated recreation areas.
None of the wetlands included in this category are routinely inundated,
although portions may be on occasion. These altered wetlands exist on areas
shown on the US Soil Conservation Service soil surveys to have hydric soils.
2000 AGRICULTURAL LAND
This Level I category includes all lands used primarily for the production of food and fiber and some of the structures associated with this production. These areas are easily distinguished from the other categories and represent a significant land use in New Jersey. The Level II categories of Agricultural Land are; Cropland and Pastureland; Orchards; Vineyards; Nurseries and Horticultural Areas; Confined Feeding Operations; and Other environmental concern because of the non-point source pollution associated with confined feeding operations.
2100 CROPLAND AND PASTURELAND
This Level II category contains agricultural lands managed for the production of both row and field crops and for the grazing of cattle, sheep and horses. Also included in this category are croplands left fallow or planted with soil improvement grasses and legumes. Cropland and pastureland can easily be distinguished from other land uses with large-scale imagery.
2110 Harvested
Cropland
This
category contains agricultural areas that are managed for the production of
harvested row or field crops. These
include row crops, such as corn, soybeans, cabbage, and potatoes; or field
crops predominately used as forage, such as hay or alfalfa. Row crops are easily identified on imagery
because of the striations and the regular patterns. However, there are problems distinguishing
between field crops, such as hay or winter wheat, from pastureland.
Pastureland
can be distinguished because of its close association with farm structures such
as barns or feeding stations. Also,
pastureland usually has a slightly more mottled or uneven tone than the
photographic signature of field crops.
2120 Pastureland
This
category contains agricultural areas that are managed as pasture areas for
livestock grazing. These areas may be
either permanent pastures or tillable cropland that is used as pasture at the
time of photography. The identification
problems using imagery alone are discussed in Section 2110. Identification of pastureland, field
cropland, and inactive cropland may require field verification or other
supplemental information. Pasture may be
covered by some brush but are included in 2120 if the predominant use is for
pasture.
2130 Inactive
Cropland
This
category contains agricultural areas that have no physical indication of
present agricultural use. These areas
include both abandoned cropland and fields left fallow or planted in
soil-improving grasses and legumes. An
indication of inactive cropland is the presence of any woody stems in the
field. The area is placed in the
Brushland category if the woody stems cover is abundant and the field appears
to be abandoned rather then left fallow for soil improvement. An area is placed in Brushland as either Old
Field (4410) or Brush/Shrubland (4420, 4430, or 4440) depending on the
percentage of brush cover.
2140 Agricultural
Wetlands (Modified)
in this category are
lands under cultivation that are modified former wetland areas, and which still
exhibit evidence of soil saturation on the photography. Included in the 2140 category are cranberry
bogs and blueberry farms, as well as other types of wetland agriculture. These lands will exhibit the textural
signature characteristics described for the other agricultural categories, but
will have darker color and tonal signatures.
Photo signature color will range from gray to pink on CIR imagery; it
can also look very wet, especially if it is a cranberry bog. In addition, these agricultural wetlands also
exist in areas shown on soil surveys of the Natural Resources Conservation
Service to have hydric soils.
2150 Former Agricultural Wetland (Becoming
Shrubby, not Built-up)
This category was added to
identify areas coded as 2140 in the baseline dataset, but which do not appear
to be under active cultivation in subsequent years. These areas have not undergone any other
alterations, such as filling, grading or development, and may again be returned
to the 2140 category if the farmland is again placed under cultivation. However, these wetlands may continue to
develop into a scrub/shrub wetland area if active cultivation is not resumed. As
areas in a state of flux, they have been given a separate code.
2200 ORCHARDS, VINEYARDS, NURSERIES AND HORTICULTURAL AREAS
This Level II category contains agricultural areas, which are
intensively managed for production of fruits, trees, ornamental plants, and
vegetable seedlings. Wholesale
greenhouses where plants are grown are also included in this category as are
orchards, nurseries, blueberry farms, vineyards, sod and seed farms, and
commercial greenhouses. Areas delineated include actively cultivated lands as
well as land associated with the operations as, uncultivated lands, dirt roads,
dikes, etc.
2210 Orchards
This
category contains agricultural areas that are intensively managed as commercial
orchards. Established orchards are
easily recognized on the imagery by the regular grid patterns of the planted
trees. Newly planted orchards are more
difficult to identify, but the signature can be distinguished from adjacent
cropland.
2220 Vineyards
This
category contains agricultural areas of intensively managed vineyards. These areas can be recognized by a
"cross-hatched" pattern cause by the Vines trained on wires and the
poles used for support in the form perpendicular lines.
2230 Nurseries
This
category is comprised of areas that are intensively managed for commercial or
private nurseries. Nurseries can be
recognized as narrow fields with very regular and definite rows. The colors are usually darker in tones than
other cropland. Different shades and
tones are present in adjacent fields due to the different stages of seedlings
or saplings planted. These shades and
tones in the narrow fields present a different signature from other
agricultural areas. Christmas tree farms
are included in this category.
2240 Floriculture
This category
contains areas occupied by wholesale producers of flowers, nursery stock,
produce, and vegetable seedlings. These
areas consist of large greenhouse operations and the associated land and
buildings. Retail greenhouse should be
included in a Commercial and Services category.
Retail greenhouses can be distinguished from wholesale greenhouse
operations by their size, amount of associated land, available customer parking
and general location. Hobby greenhouse
associated with private homes will not by mapped.
2250 Sod and Seed
Farms
This
category contains commercial sod and seed farms. These areas can be identified on the color
infrared imagery by an even-tone deep red signature. This signature is similar to a
well-maintained golf course, but is a deeper shade of red. These operations are usually substantial in
size, occupying more than 50 acres. When
harvesting procedures are in progress, the signature may exhibit some strips of
bare ground. These sod farms are often
located near potential markets.
2260 Cranberry Farms
This
category is comprised of intensively managed cranberry farms primarily located
in southern New Jersey. These areas
appear as very dense rows of brush occurring in rectangular or circular fields. These areas have irrigation systems present
and are traversed by an extensive network of roads or lanes.
2270 Inactive
This one
category is used to represent lands occupied by abandoned or inactive orchards,
vineyards, nurseries, and cranberry and blueberry farms. For orchards, vineyards, and nurseries, the
inactive signature appears similar to the active signature, except the patterns
will be less regular. Natural vegetation
growing in the abandoned areas will cause irregular patterns and differing
textures in the signature. In some
cases, the trees may be removed and earlier photography or supplemental
information may be necessary to place the area in this category. Inactive
cranberry and blueberry farms may be difficult to distinguish from the Wetlands
Brushland/Bog areas.
2280 Blueberry Farms
This
category is comprised of intensively managed blueberry farms primarily located
in southern New Jersey. These areas
appear as very dense rows of brush generally occurring in rectangular fields. Between the rows a bright sand signature is
characteristic.
2300 CONFINED FEEDING OPERATIONS
This Level II category contains specialized livestock and poultry
production enterprises and other specialty farms. These operations have high populations in
relatively small areas, resulting in a concentration of waste material. Since this concentrated animal waste is a
critical environmental concern, these areas warranted a specific Level II
category. Normal structures (barns)
associated with a farmstead are not mapped in this category.
2310 Cattle and Swine
Feedlots
This
category contains mainly beef cattle feedlots and hog farms. Structures and attached corrals will be
mapped in this category, but any substantial acreage of associated pasture will
be mapped as Pastureland.
2320 Poultry Farms
This
category is comprised of chicken, turkey, and duck production enterprises. These farms may be for either egg or meat
production.
2330 Specialty Farms
This
category contains specialized farms, such as game farms (pheasant or quail),
fish hatcheries, goat farms, pigeon-raising areas, and rabbit production farms.
2400 OTHER AGRICULTURE
This category contains other miscellaneous agricultural areas,
including experimental fields, horse farms and isolated dikes and access roads.
2410 Experimental
Agriculture Fields
This
category contains experimental crop areas associated with agriculture research
stations, universities, or industries.
These areas are for research purposes and contain many different crops
in one field.
2420 Isolated
Structures for Crop or Equipment Storage
This
category contains storage buildings which are not adjacent to the
farmsteads. These areas include isolated
grain silos, crop storage sheds, and sheds for storage of farm machinery.
2430 Horse Farm
This
category contains specialized farms for raising and training horses. This includes horse barns, corrals, and
training racetracks. The oval training
racetracks are easily recognized on aerial photography. Extensive acreage of pasture associated with
a horse farm is mapped as Pastureland (2120).
2440
Agricultural Dikes/Roadways
Included are
non-cultivated portions of special agricultural areas such as dikes or roadways
found in blueberry or cranberry farms.
These features may be the only portions of these farm categories that
are not inundated during certain portions of the growing season, and provide
access to the wetter cultivated portions of these farms.
3000
RANGELAND
Rangeland is not found in New Jersey, Consequently, it is omitted from the classification system. However, in order to remain numerically consistent with the USGS Classification Codes, Rangeland's numerical designation (#3) has also been omitted.
4000 FORESTLAND
This Level I category contains
any lands covered by woody vegetation other than wetlands. These areas are capable of producing timber
and other wood products, and of supporting many kinds of outdoor recreation. Forestland is an important category environmentally,
because it affects air quality, water quality, wildlife habitat, climate, and
many other aspects of the ecology of an area.
The Level II categories under Forestland are Deciduous; Coniferous;
Mixed Deciduous-Coniferous; and Brushland.
4100 DECIDUOUS
This Level II category includes forested lands that contain deciduous tree
species. The average height of the stand is at least 20 feet. Areas with woody
vegetation less than 20 feet high should be placed in the Brushland
category. A forest stand must have at least 75% canopy coverage from deciduous tree
species to be placed in this category.
Deciduous trees are those species which lose their leaves at the end of the growing season. These
trees remain leafless throughout the winter and sprout new leaves the following spring.
4110 Deciduous
Forest, 10-50% Crown Closure
This category contains deciduous forest stands that have crown
closure greater than 10%, but less than 50%.
Crown closure is the percentage of a forest area occupied by the
vertical projections of tree crowns.
Crown closure percentages provide a reasonable estimate of stand
density.
An ocular estimate of percent crown closure is made while viewing
the area from a bird’s eye perspective on the imagery. The ocular judgment is a reliable estimate
since the category levels for closure are relatively broad: 10-50% and > 50%. This procedure will also be followed to
determine percent crown closure in the other categories.
4120 Deciduous Forest, > 50% Crown Closure
This category contains deciduous stands with crown closures
greater than 50%. The majority of the
deciduous forests in New Jersey will be in this category.
4200
CONIFEROUS
This Level
II category includes forested lands which contain coniferous tree species. The stand must be 20 feet high and must be
stocked by at least 75% conifers to be labeled as a coniferous stand.
Coniferous species are those trees commonly known as evergreens. They do not lose their leaves (needles) at
the end of the growing season but retain them through the year. Conifers can easily be distinguished from
deciduous trees on CIR imagery (leaf-off conditions) because of their high infrared reflectance due to their leaf
retention.
4210 Coniferous Forest, 10-50% Crown Closure
This category contains natural coniferous stands with crown
closure > 10%, but less than 50%. Stands of pygmy pines (a stunted variety
of the pitch pine) are mapped in this category.
4220 Coniferous Forest, > 50% Crown Closure
This category contains natural coniferous stands with crown
closure > 50%.
4230 Plantation
This category contains conifer stands that have been artificially
planted. These include stands planted
for timber harvesting or aesthetics.
Crown closure estimates will not be determined for plantations. Plantations appear as uniform blocks (usually
rectangular) of conifers.
Other planted stands of conifers, such as Christmas tree farms,
will not be included in this category but in the nursery category under Agriculture.
4300
MIXED DECIDUOUS/CONIFEROUS
This Level II category consists of forested areas where there is a mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees. If less than 75% of the forest is dominated by either type then the stand is placed in the mixed category. Only forest stands greater than 20 feet in height will be placed in this category.
4310 Mixed
with Coniferous Prevalent (> 50% Coniferous)
This category contains stands of mixed coniferous and deciduous trees.
The percentage of coniferous trees is higher than the deciduous (>50% of the
stand) but the coniferous species do not dominate the stand (<75%).
4311 Mixed Forest (>50%
Coniferous with 10-50% Crown Closure))
This category contains stands of mixed coniferous and deciduous
trees with the coniferous species > 50% and with crown closures between 10%
and 50%.
4312 Mixed Forest
(> 50% Coniferous with > 50% Crown Closure)
This category contains stands of mixed coniferous and deciduous
trees with the coniferous species > 50% and with crown closures >
50%.
4320 Mixed
with Deciduous Prevalent (> 50% Deciduous)
This category contains stands of mixed deciduous and coniferous
trees. The percentage of deciduous trees
is higher than the coniferous (> 50%), but the deciduous species do not
dominate the stand (< 75%).
4321 Mixed Forest (>50% Deciduous with 10%-50%
Crown Closure)
This category contains stands of mixed deciduous and coniferous
trees with the deciduous species > 50% and crown closures between 10% and
50%.
4322 Mixed Forest
(>50% Deciduous with > 50% Crown Closure)
This category contains stands of mixed deciduous and coniferous
trees with the deciduous species > 50% and crown closures > 50%.
4400
BRUSHLAND/SHRUBLAND (Height<20 feet)
This
Level II category contains forestlands, which are predominately between 0 and
20 feet in height. Vegetative
communities in these areas may range from early successional species which are
only a few years old, to climax or sub-climax communities which are many years
old. Also included in this category are
old fields that are covered primarily by grasses and some shrubs. Brushland areas represent critical habitat
for many species of wildlife in New Jersey.
4410 Old Field (<25% Brush Covered)
This category includes open areas that have less than 25% brush
cover. The predominant cover types are
grasses, herbaceous species, tree seedlings and/or saplings. Old fields are distinguished from fallow farmland
by the amount of brush cover. If a field
contains few woody stems (<5%), it is considered fallow and mapped as the
Cropland and Pastureland class. An area
should be placed in the Old Field category if the amount of brush cover
requires extensive brush removal before plowing. In some cases, it may not be
established that the previous use was agricultural.
4411 Phragmites
Dominate Old Field
This category contains herbaceous vegetation in upland vegetation
settings dominated by Phragmites australis. Phragmites is an invasive
grass species that is very tall, six feet or more in height, and grows rather
rapidly, choking out native species in the process. Phragmites typically grows in large,
homogenous stands and has a feathery seedhead; in combination, these factors
produce a fluffy, circular signature. Depending on soil conditions, the
photographic signature for these areas are rough and puffy and range in color
from tan to pale white on winter CIR imagery.
4420 Deciduous Brush/Shrubland (>25% Brush Covered with
Deciduous Species Predominant > 75%)
This category contains natural forested areas with deciduous
species less than 20 feet in height. An
area must have greater than 25% brush cover to be placed in this category. This category also contains inactive
agricultural areas that have been grown over with brush.
There are photographic signature differences between brushland and
the pole or saw-timber stage trees (Categories 4100, 4200, 4300). Besides the obvious height difference visible
on stereo viewing, larger trees display much larger crown diameters than
brushland areas.
4430 Coniferous Brush/Shrubland (>25% Brush Covered with
Coniferous Species Predominant > 75%)
This category contains natural forested areas with coniferous species
less than 20 feet high. This category is
for natural areas; therefore, Christmas tree farms should be placed in the
Nursery category (2200).
4440 Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous Brush/Shrubland (>25% Brush
Covered with a Mixture of Deciduous and Coniferous Species; <75% of One
Type)
This category contains natural forested areas less than 20 feet in
height with a mixture of coniferous and deciduous trees.
4500 SEVERE BURNED UPLAND VEGETATION
Included in this category are naturally vegetated upland areas that have been altered by intense burning. These burned areas have not re-vegetated sufficiently on the photography, or at the time of any field inspection undertaken to support a mapping effort, to make a determination of the type of vegetation that will re-appear in the burned area. The pre-burn cover type may be any of those listed above in the 4000 series. Where sufficient re-vegetation has occurred to determine a post-burn cover type, the burned area is given the appropriate land cover code. However, where the re-vegetation has been insufficient, the 4500 code has been applied. Note that many different upland forest types may be included in this category.
5000 WATER
All areas within the landmass of New Jersey periodically water covered are included in this category. All water bodies should be delineated as they exist at the time of data acquisition, except areas in an obvious state of flood. Level I includes four (4) Level II categories; Streams and Canals; Natural Lakes; Artificial Lakes; and Bays and Estuaries and Other Tidal Waters. Not included in this category are water treatment and sewage treatment facilities.
5100 STREAMS & CANALS
This category includes river, creeks, canals and other linear water bodies that have a minimum width of 30 feet. For watercourses interrupted by control structures, the impoundments are placed in other appropriate water categories (see below), and the impoundment structures are included in the Urban or Built-up category. Remote sensing of these features is not difficult. Colors on infrared photography range from light blue to black.The signature can be smooth or rippled depending on the conditions at the time of the photography.The greatest difficulty occurs when overhanging vegetation or shadows obscure the extent of the watercourse.
5110 Streams
This
category includes streams that are no less than 80 feet wide. These features are easily recognized on
aerial photography because of their meandering pattern and variable width due
to natural fluvial processes. Short
distances of WC constriction which fall under the minimum width standard may be
included for the sake of continuity. The
photographic characteristics of streams are much too numerous and obvious to
list. Specific comments on signature and
problems are discussed under category 5100.
5120 Canals
This feature
may be no less than 80 feet wide and like streams is easily recognized on
aerial photography. Canals are
consistent in width, do not meander, are sometimes bordered by a towpath and
often utilize a lock system. Along the
length of the canal are found clusters of buildings that formerly serviced the
canal track when it was a transportation entity. In New Jersey these clusters along with the
canal and the towpath often comprise either historic sites or parkland and
should be included under those categories when such information is available.
5190 Exposed Flats
Exposed flats are unvegetated
areas in riverine systems that were formerly classed as water, but because of
meandering of the stream course, are now exposed. They are felt to be semi-permanent changes in
the stream configuration and not the result of temporary water level
reductions. Because these areas may
again be under water at some time in the feature, they remain in the WATER
category.
5200 NATURAL LAKES
Water bodies that are non-flowing and naturally enclosed, including regulated natural lakes but excluding reservoirs, are placed in this category. Islands that are below MMU are included in the water area. To identify this feature accurately, it is important to remember natural lakes are the results of ground water seepage and surface run-off of precipitation, whereas reservoirs are the result of man-made impoundments and are maintained primarily by linear watercourses. Remote sensing of this feature, once again is simple. The signatures and associated problems are discussed under category 5100.
5210 Small Lakes
These
features have an areal range of one (1) to two (2) acres. Confer with category 5200.
5220 Medium Lakes
These
features have an areal range of two (2) to ten (10) acres. Confer with category 5200.
5230 Large Lakes
These
features will be greater than ten (10) acres in area. Confer with category 5200.
5300 ARTIFICIAL LAKES
The 5300 category consists of all artificial impoundments of water. Water in this category typically includes water impounded for irrigation, flood control, municipal water supplies, recreation, landscaping and hydro-electric power or the result of an active extractive operation. Dams, bulkheads, spillways and other water control structures (WCS) should be evident and are critical for accurately identifying these features. Also important to remember is that artificial lakes and reservoirs are charged primarily through linear WCS. Photo identification should key on the non-linear shapes of these features, the water control structures, and the signatures discussed in category 5100.
5310 Artificial Lakes
Since the
primary use for these artificial lakes is recreation, some recreational
characteristics such as beaches, refreshment stands, parking lots, boat slips,
etc. should be present. Frequently,
residential development approaches the lake shoreline. Aerial interpretation is discussed under
category 5300.
5320 Multiple Use
Reservoirs
The two most
common combinations are flood control/recreation and
hydro-electric/recreation. As in
category 5310, the recreational and water control characteristics should be
present and obvious. In addition, if the
water body is used for flood control, the water level should be well below the
maximum capacity, and, if the water body is used for hydroelectric purposes,
the generating station should be present.
Confer with category 5300 for more specific identification information.
5330 Restrictive Use
Reservoirs
Most
restricted use reservoirs are municipal water supplies. Thus, they are located in more remote, less
trafficked areas of the state. They are
characterized by limited road access and dense surrounding vegetation. No recreational characteristics should be
present. Confer with category 5300 for
more specific identification information.
5400
BAYS, ESTUARIES & OTHER TIDAL WATERS
This category is comprised of salt-water inlets and arms of the sea that extend inland and fall within the landmass of New Jersey. All U.S.G.S. conventions delineating the open sea and bay/estuary interface shall be followed.
5410 Tidal Rivers, Inland Bays and Other Tidal waters
Included in this category are the tidal portions of watercourses, mud
flats, enclosed tidal bays, and other tidal water bodies such as tidal pools,
ponds and natural lagoons. The tidal
watercourses may include everything from smaller entirely tidal features
commonly draining tidal marsh systems, to the tidal portions of intermediate
and large features such as the Mullica River, the Raritan River, and even the
Delaware River. Enclosed tidal bays are
those open water tidal features existing commonly behind barrier island
systems. These bays generally have a
restricted opening to larger tidal features such as Delaware Bay or the
Atlantic Ocean. While these features are
regularly flushed, portions of these enclosed bays may have complex flushing
patterns due to the relatively small outlets.
These small bays provide important finfish, shellfish and waterfowl
habitat, as well as important recreational potential. Tidal pools and ponds generally will be found
in the interior portions of regularly flowed tidal marshes, but these water
bodies themselves may not be flooded on every tidal cycle.
5411 Open Tidal Bays
Included in this category are large tidal water bodies such as
Delaware and Raritan Bays, which have large unrestricted openings directly to
the Atlantic Ocean.
5412 Tidal Mud Flat
(2012)
This category is reserved for unvegetated areas along tidal
rivers, bays, and estuaries that are periodically exposed to tidal
fluctuations. The photographic signature on the CIR imagery (leaf-off
conditions) yields a smooth texture, with a gray or brown color.
5420 Dredged Lagoon
Artificial dredged lagoons are networks of rectangular dredged
areas, containing water, usually associated with residential development or
mobile home development. Dredged lagoons
are generally in sites of former wetlands and have characteristically
bulkheaded shorelines. They usually feed
into a central dredged waterway that gives access to open tidal water.
5430 Atlantic Ocean
This category includes only open water of the Atlantic Ocean. This
category identifies open offshore waters from those of tidal bays and rivers.
6000
WETLANDS
The wetlands are those areas that
are inundated or saturated by surface or ground waters at a frequency and
duration sufficient to support vegetation adapted for life in saturated soil
conditions. Included in this category
are naturally vegetated swamps, marshes, bogs and savannas which are normally
associated with topographically low elevations but may be located at any
elevation where water perches over an aquiclude. Wetlands that have been modified for
recreation, agriculture, or industry will not be included here but described
under the specific use category.
The wetlands of New Jersey are located around the numerous interior stream systems, and along the coastal
rivers and bays. New Jersey, by its numerous different physiographic regions, supports various wetland habitats
dependent upon physiographic and geological variables. The Level II classification separates
wetlands into two categories based on the location relative to a tidal water
system: Coastal Wetlands and Interior Wetlands.
6100
COASTAL WETLANDS
These areas are associated with
the tidal portions of the Delaware River system and the tidal portions of the
watercourses draining into the Atlantic Ocean.
This cover type is predominantly vegetated by herbaceous plants adapted
to the varied environmental conditions imposed by the tidal environment: water level fluctuations, salinity and
sediment deposition. Also included are
those non-tidal areas closely associated with adjacent coastal wetlands such as
salt marsh transition zones and coastal vegetated dunes.
6110 Saline Marshes
These are
open graminoid dominated regions associated with waters with salinities >1
part per thousand (0/00). Saline marshes
are generally dominated by two growth forms of Spartina alterniflora
in regions with the highest salinities.
Marshes flowed by water less than 10 0/00 are generally brackish and
co-dominated by Spartina cynosuroides, S. alterniflora,
Phragmites australis, Typha angustifolia, and Scirpus
pungens.
Marshes
exhibiting these characteristics are restricted to the Delaware Bay and
associated tributaries downstream of Salem and all estuarine tributaries that
empty into the Atlantic Ocean. The
photographic signatures for these areas are smooth and low, and range in color
from red to pinks on CIR imagery.
6111 Saline Marsh (Low marsh)
This category contains herbaceous vegetation dominated by Spartina
alternifloria where the height is <1 foot and is primarily flooded
throughout. The photographic signature
for these areas ranges in color from tan or gray to pink or red on CIR imagery;
the texture is generally smooth.
6112 Saline Marsh (High marsh)
This category contains herbaceous vegetation dominated by Spartina
patens (salt hay) where the height is 1 foot to 3 feet. The CIR photographic
signature for these areas ranges in color from red to pink or pale white with variable
texture.
6120 Freshwater Tidal
Marshes
These marshes are co-dominated by annual and perennial herbaceous
vegetation on substrates associated with tidal waters with salinities less than
1 0/00. Freshwater marsh species are
characterized by Nuphar lutea, Peltandra virginica,
Pontederia cordata, Zizania aquatica, Polygonum
punctatum, Bidens laevis, and Typha latifolia. Marshes exhibiting this cover are found on
the tidal Delaware River and tributaries downstream of Trenton to Salem and
upstream of the saline marshes on the Atlantic drainage watercourses. Non-tidal marshes are coded as interior
wetlands (category 6240 Herbaceous Wetlands).
The photographic signatures for these areas are both smooth-and
rough-textured with little elevation.
The colors range from dark grey to pink on CIR imagery.
6130 Vegetated Dune Communities
These are areas near the coast that are between saline marsh and
open beach. The dominant vegetation can
be Ammophila breviligulata, Prunus maritimus, Rhus
radicans, Juniperus virginicus, and Acer rubrum. The areas have open to partly closed canopied
signatures that are rough in texture and exhibit a red to red brown color on CIR
imagery (leaf-off conditions). In addition to variable height, the dune stands
range from sparse to dense cover. Unvegetated Dune Communities are included in
the Beaches category.
6141 Phragmites Dominate Coastal Wetlands
This category contains herbaceous vegetation in coastal wetland
settings dominated by Phragmites australis. Phragmites is an invasive
grass species that is very tall, six feet or more in height, and grows rather
rapidly, choking out native species in the process. Phragmites typically grows in large,
homogenous stands and has a feathery seedhead; in combination, these factors
produce a fluffy, circular signature. Depending on soil conditions, the
photographic signature for these areas are rough and puffy and range in color
from tan to pale white on CIR imagery.
6200
INTERIOR WETLANDS
These are generally found in
non-tidal lowlands associated with primary, secondary and tertiary
watercourses, and isolated wetlands.
Included under this heading are all forested wetland (regardless of
tidal influences) dominated by deciduous and coniferous trees, and non-tidal
herbaceous marshes and savannas.
6210 Deciduous Wooded Wetlands
These wetlands are closed canopy swamps dominated by deciduous
trees normally associated with watercourses, edges of marshes, and isolated
wetlands. The important canopy species
includes Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica, Fraxinus
pennsylvanica, Salix nigra, Quercus bicolor,
Q. phellos, Q. falcata, Liquidambar styraciflua,
and Platanus occidentalis.
These species combine to form a series of mixed hardwood lowland
habitats throughout the entire state.
These species have photographic signatures that exhibit height, rough texture,
and are dark blue-gray to dark gray or black on CIR imagery (leaf-off conditions).
6220 Coniferous Wooded Wetlands
These wetlands are closed canopy, dominated by coniferous tree
species associated with watercourses, seeps, and low topographic land. The northern areas will support Tsuga canadensis,
Larix laricina, and Picea mariana as monotypic
stands or mixed communities. The
southern portion of the State has Pinus rigida and P. taeda
in monotypic communities or co-dominate with Acer rubrum. Other species such as Nyssa sylvatica
and Chamaecyparis thyoides may also be present. These species have photographic signatures
that are varied in texture and are red to dark red on CIR imagery.
6221 Atlantic White
Cedar Wetlands
These wetlands are predominantly
closed canopy, seasonally flooded wetlands of southern New Jersey dominated by
Atlantic White Cedar, Chamaecyparis thyoides. Some other trees such as Acer rubrum
and Nyssa sylvatica, and shrubs such as Vaccinium corymbosum
may also be present. The dense cedar
cover, however, generally precludes a heavy herbaceous layer. This type has a
unique photo signature on the CIR imagery that yields a uniform dark red, dense
tree cover.
6230 Brush-Dominate and Bog Wetlands
These wetlands are dominated by woody species that are less than 20 feet tall. These areas may be an early successionary stage to wetland dominated by canopy species or a shrub dominate community associated with marshes, isolated wetlands or bogs. The brush category will include communities composed of young saplings such as Acer rubrum, Acer negundo, Liquidambar styraciflua, and areas dominated by shrub species such as Cornus amomum, C. stolonifera, C. racemosa, Spirea alba, S. tomentosa, Viburnum dentatum, and Alnus serrulata. Bogs are Ericaceae dominated and highly acidic, normally associated with glacial areas in the north and pingoes or river ox bows in the south. Some bogs may also contain herbaceous vegetation that is unique to these habitats yet classified by this system as 6240, herbaceous wetlands. The photographic signature for those cover types vary. The brush-dominated areas will have a similar signature as 6210 with more space and smaller stature. The bog areas will be round to oval, low topographically and normally separated from major watercourses. The color seen on winter infrared photographs will be dark blue-gray to black.
6231 Deciduous Scrub/Shrub
Wetlands
This brush category will include
communities composed primarily of young samplings of deciduous tree species
such as Acer rubrum, A. negundo, Liquidamber
stryaciflua, Alnus serrulata, Cornus stolonifer,
and C. amomum; and woody shrubs such as Vaccinium corymbosum,
V. macrocarpon, Spirea alba, Viburnum dentatum,
Rosa palustris, Myrica pennsylvania, M. gale,
Clethra alnifolia, Cephalanthus occidentalis and Rhododendron
viscosum, among others.
6232 Coniferous Scrub/Shrub
Wetlands
This brush category will include
communities composed primarily of young samplings of coniferous tree species
such as Pinus rigida, Larix larcinia, Tusga canadensis,
and Picea mariana, and shrubs such as Chamaedaphne calyculata,
and Kalmia angustifolia.
6233 Mixed Scrub/Shrub
Wetlands with Deciduous Dominant
Included
in this category are brush and bog wetlands with a mixture of deciduous and
coniferous species, with the deciduous species > 50% but < 75%. Species will be similar to those described
under 6231 and 6232.
6234 Mixed Scrub/Shrub
Wetlands with Coniferous Dominant
Included in this category are
brush and bog wetlands with a mixture of deciduous and coniferous species, with
the coniferous species > 50% but < 75%.
Species will be similar to those described under 6231 and 6232.
6240 Herbaceous Wetlands
These are wetlands dominated by various herbaceous species that
are not connected or associated with tidal waters. Lake edges, open flood plains and abandoned
wetland agricultural fields are locations for this cover type. Leersia oryzoides, Phalaris
arundinacea, Nuphar lutea, Polygonum arifolium,
P. sagittatum, Typha latifolia and Phragmites
are species that may dominate this cover type.
Bog herbaceous vegetation will be covered by this section includes
numerous Cyperaceae genera, Juncus sp. and the carnivorous genera of
Drosera and Sarracenia. This cover type
will have a similar photographic signature as 6120, varied texture, and light
blue-gray or tan color on CIR imagery.
6241 Phragmites Dominate Interior Wetlands
This category contains herbaceous vegetation in interior wetland
settings dominated by Phragmites australis. Phragmites is an invasive
grass species that is very tall, six feet or more in height, and grows rather
rapidly, choking out native species in the process. Phragmites typically grows in large,
homogenous stands and has a feathery seedhead; in combination, these factors
produce a fluffy, circular signature. Depending on soil conditions, the
photographic signature for these areas are rough and puffy and range in color
from tan to pale white.
6250 Mixed Wooded Wetlands
Included in this category
are wetlands inhabited by mixtures of deciduous and coniferous species. Species of each type will be similar to those
identified under 6210 and 6220. The
dominant type of vegetation will generally be greater than 50% but less than
75%.
6251 Mixed Wooded
Wetlands (Deciduous Dominant)
This category contains mixed wooded wetlands with the deciduous
tree species > 50 % but < 75%.
6252
Mixed Wooded Wetlands (Coniferous
Dominant)
This category contains mixed wooded wetlands with the coniferous tree species > 50% but < 75%.
6290 Unvegetated Flats
Unvegetated flats are former vegetated area located adjacent to a
stream or river, in which the vegetation has been scoured away, so that at the
time of the photography, there is no vegetation visible. These areas may have been previously classed
as wetlands or as upland areas. However,
since all the vegetation in these areas was removed primarily because of
scouring by ice in the adjacent stream or river, all of these areas are now
included in the WETLAND category since any re-vegetation will most probably now
be by wetland species.
6500 SEVERE BURNED WETLAND VEGETATION
Included in this category are naturally vegetated wetland areas which have been altered by intense burning at the time of the land cover analysis. These burned areas have not re-vegetated sufficiently on the photography, or at the time of any field inspection undertaken to support a mapping effort, to make a determination of the type of vegetation that will re-appear in the burned area. The pre-burn cover type may be any of those listed above in the 6200 series. Where sufficient re-vegetation has occurred to determine a post-burn cover type, the burned area is given the appropriate land cover code. However, where the re-vegetation has been insufficient, the 6500 code has been applied. Note that many different wetland types may be included in this category.
7000 BARREN LAND
Barren lands are characterized by thin soil, sand or rocks and a lack of vegetative cover in a non-urban setting. Vegetation, if present, is widely spaced. Barren land such as beaches and rock faces are found in nature but also result as a product of man's activities. Extraction mining operations, landfills and other disposal sites compose the majority of man-altered barren lands.
7100 BEACHES
Beaches are predominantly composed of sand and may occur at the land-water interface of oceans, bays and estuaries. Beaches are generally elongated non-vegetated buffering systems subject to the action of waves and tides.
7110 Open Beach
The open
beach potentially includes the sandy area from mean low water (MLW) of the
foreshore to the berm crest and the backshore.
The open beach is characterized by sparse vegetative cover. Other substrate types may be intermixed with
sand, including pebbles, stones, silts and shells.
7120 Unvegetated Dune
Communities
Unvegetated
dune communities are comprised of areas with sparse vegetative cover, with sand
substrate and with notable changes in elevations. These areas have a wind-driven origin and
vary in size and shape. Dunes are found
in coastal areas near large sources of sand.
Vegetated dune areas are included in the Wetland categories.
7130 Other Sandy
Areas
This
category includes natural areas that have been sandy for long periods of time
and perturbed areas which have been sandy and for which no known land use is
evident.
7200 BARE EXPOSED ROCK, ROCK SLIDES, ETC.
Areas lacking vegetation and composed of rock or rock faces are included in this category.Exposed rock from highway construction is not included in this category.
7210 Rock Faces, Rock
Slides, Cliffs
This
category includes rock faces on mountains, rock slides and cliffs which are
sparsely vegetated. These exposed types
have a large vertical component.
7220 Exposed Rock
Areas
consisting of exposed bedrock or other accumulation of rocks lacking vegetative
cover are included. These areas have a
small vertical component compared to rock faces, etc.
7300 EXTRACTIVE MINING
Extractive operations include a wide variety of mining activities, both surface and subsurface. Included are stone quarries, gravel, sand and clay pits, and limestone quarries, to mention a few. Extractive industries are characterized by disturbed ground usually with depth, extractive machinery, buildings and roads for and with heavy equipment. Open mining areas frequently contain water. Extractive mining areas may be as large as stone quarries or as small as borrow pits.
7310 Stone Quarries
Stone
quarries are characterized by right-angled rock cleavage, flat terraces, and
straight vertical walls. Drill stands,
air compressors and similar extractive machinery and buildings may be visible.
7320 Sand and Gravel
Pits (Borrow Pits)
Sand and
gravel pits have curved borders and sloping walls. They often lack the vertical relief of quarries
and do not generally have exposed rock associated with them. Steam shovels, bulldozers, and mechanical
loaders are associated with these tow types of extraction. Sand pits may have water and consequently,
dredging equipment associated with them.
Sand and gravel pits show wide variability in size.
7330 Other Mining
Other types
of mining are characterized by disturbed ground with depth, slag heaps, shafts,
buildings, and active transportation (trucks, roads for heavy machinery,
railways).
7340 Abandoned Mining
Sites
Abandoned
operations are often partially vegetated and may be accompanied by machinery,
roads and buildings in disrepair. When
vegetation dominates the site, the parcel is characterized by cover type. In contrast, active operations show evidence
of operational equipment and buildings, roads for heavy machinery, etc. Current mining activity is not always
distinguishable, and inactive, unclaimed and active strip, mines, quarries
barrens pits and gravel pits are included in this category, until other cover
or use is established.
7400 ALTERED LANDS
Altered lands are areas outside of an urban setting that have been changed due to man's activities other than for mining.
7410 Solid Waste
Disposal Areas
Junkyards,
open dumps, landfills and incinerators compose the majority of solid waste
disposal sites. Junkyards are collection
of old automobiles, machinery or other vehicles. Larger junkyards are fenced and have regular
stacking and placing of debris, with well-defined access roads. Older abandoned yards may be vegetated and
difficult to detect.
Open dumps
and sanitary landfills are usually located in abandoned pits, low-lying areas
or other areas of low economic importance.
They are characterized by steep banks, white fringes of expose debris,
rough texture and lack of vegetation.
Larger dumps/landfills are fenced and generally have one heavily used
access road.
7420 Dredge Material
Disposal Sites
Dredge
material disposal sites are barren areas separated from other land forms by
dikes. Inside the rectangular dike
systems are fine grained sands and silts either deposited in piles but more
likely forming a slurry with varying amounts of water within the dike system. Old dredge material site may appear as
landfills with steep sides and rough texture but without exposed debris or
signs of active management.
7430 Disturbed
Wetlands (Modified)
Included in this category are
former natural wetlands that have been altered by some form of clearing,
leveling, grading, filling and/or excavating, but which still exhibit obvious
signs of soil saturation on the imagery.
Because of the alterations, these areas do not generally support typical
wetland vegetation, and may in fact be unvegetated. They do, however, exist in
areas shown on the US Soil Conservation Service soil surveys to have hydric
soils, and exhibit the darker tonal signatures associated with saturated soils
on the photography. Colors of these areas will vary from gray to blue-gray to
black on winter CIR film and gray to black on panchromatic film. These areas
may be in transition to a use or associated with a transitional development.
7440 Disturbed Tidal
Wetlands (2012)
This category is comprised of
areas of disturbance in tidal wetlands that have been altered by some form of
clearing, leveling, grading, filling and/or excavating, but which still exhibit
obvious signs of tidal conditions on the imagery. Because of the alterations,
these areas do not generally support typical tidal wetland vegetation, and may
in fact be unvegetated.
7500 TRANSITIONAL AREAS
This category encompasses lands on which site preparation for a variety of development types has begun. However, the future land use has not been realized. Included are residential, commercial and industrial areas under construction. Also, areas that are under construction for unknown use and abandoned structures are included. Active construction as well as stalled construction with a high level of ground disturbance, scraped land associated with construction and destruction, and areas where buildings have been removed that have a high level of ground disturbance are included in this category. These areas are usually sparsely vegetated.
Transitional Areas
7510 Single Unit
Residential Under Construction
7520 Multiple Unit
Residential Under Construction
7530 Commercial/Service
Under Construction
7540 Industrial Under
Construction
7550 Transportation/Communication/Utilities
Under Construction
7560 Industrial/Commercial
Parks Under Construction
7570 Unknown Use Under
Construction
7580 Abandoned
Structures (Non-Urban)
7600 UNDIFFERENTIATED BARREN LANDS
Undifferentiated barren lands encompass cleared lands that have no apparent site preparation or any indication of past activities. Such areas vary in shape and size but generally possess little vegetation, exposing the soil or surface material only. Ancillary information also gives no indication of former uses.
8000 MANAGED WETLANDS
This category was added to provide an Anderson classification code for several types of disturbed wetland areas that did not easily fit into the existing classification categories. Included would be various landscaped or maintained areas that exhibit signs of soil saturation on the imagery, and which are in zones of hydric soils, but which do not support typical wetlands vegetation because of various alterations. Examples of managed wetlands would be storm water swales, saturated portions of golf fairways and other recreational fields, and open lawn areas in business parks, etc. These areas have often been graded, are vegetated typically by various cultivated grasses and often undergo periodic mowing and other maintenance typical of managed lawn areas. (This code is a legacy code that appears only in the 1986 dataset. It was replaced by codes 1750 and 1850 in the 1995/97 dataset.)