WETMAAP Skill 1
Texas City/Virginia Point: Element 3

Skill 1: Map Use
Element 3: Classification of Wetland and Upland Habitats

Materials:

Color classification chart colored permanent marking pens

Colored pencils ultra-fine black marking pen

Drafting tape colored pencils

1950's 11x17 section of the NWI map

1979 11x17section of the NWI map

1989 11__x17 section of the NWI map

1992 11x17section of the NWI map

Exercise:

Note: This exercise can be worked in groups of two or three with each person preparing an overlay or coloring a NWI map section.

1. Use the Color Classification Sheet.

2. Use the colored pencils.

3. Examine the following table.

4. Complete the table by coloring the box with the correct color:

¨ Salt Open Water

¨ Fresh Open Water

¨ Flats and Beaches

¨ Salt Marsh

¨ Fresh Marsh

¨ Forested Wetlands

¨ Wetland Scrub-shrub

¨ Upland Forested

¨ Upland Scrub-shrub

¨ Urban

¨ Agriculture-Range

5. Use the 1950's NWI map.

6. Examine the wetland habitats labeled on the map and cross reference with the classification guide.

7. Using the color pencils, the classification guide, and the color Table prepared above, color (fill-in) the polygons on the 1950's map.

8. Use the 1979 NWI map.

9 Tape an 11x17 clear film overlay along the top edge of the 1979 NWI map.

10. Use the Black pen to make four "corner marks" (_) on the overlay, one at each corner of the study site.

11. Use the color marker pens, the classification guide, and the color Table prepared above, color (fill-in) the polygons on the 1979 NWI map

12. Re-examine the wetland habitats labeled on the map and cross reference with the classification guide.

13. Compare the 1950's and the 1979 NWI maps.

Are the 1979 habitat classifications the same or different than the 1950's habitat classifications?

14. Use the 1989 NWI map

15. Tape an 11x17 clear film overlay along the top edge of the 1989 NWI map.

16. Use the Black pen to make four "corner marks" ( _) on the overlay, one at each corner of the study site.

17. Use the color marker pens, the classification guide, and the color table prepared above, color (fill-in) the polygons on the 1989 NWI map.

18. Compare the 1950's, the 1979, and the 1989 NWI maps.

Are the 1989 habitat classifications the same or different than the 1979 habitat classifications?

Are the 1989 habitat classifications the same or different than the 1950's habitat classifications?

19. Use the 1992 NWI map.

20. Tape an 11"x17" clear film overlay along the top edge of the 1992 NWI map.

21. Use the Black pen to make four "corner ticks" (_) on the overlay, one at each of the study site corners.

22. Use the color marker pens, the classification guide, and the color table prepared above to color (fill-in) the polygons on the 1992 NWI map.

23. Compare the 1950's, 1979, 1989, and 1992 NWI maps.

Are the 1992 habitat classifications the same or different than the 1999 habitat classifications?