For complete details on how the mapping was performed from a technical perspective refer to our Standard Operating Procedures.
Source Data: Vermont Mapping Program (VMP) 1/2m panchromatic digital orthophotographs and National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) 1m true color digital orthophotographs supplemented by numerous ancillary GIS data layers.
Classification Scheme: 14 classes based on Anderson et al. (1976). Click to download a zip file containing ArcGIS layer files with symbology created specifically for the Riparian LULC layers.
Riparian Buffer: 800 meters on each side of the stream (1600m total). Measured from edge of stream banks where visible on aerial imagery, and from stream center lines when the banks are not discernable.
Minimum Mapping Unit (MMU): 0.1 hectares (~0.25 acres).
Horizontal Accuracy: 1:5,000
Currentness: August, 2003

Downloadable Data
Click on the stream name to download the data in shapefile format. Metadata, ArcGIS XML format, is distributed with the shapefile. Metadata is also available in HTML format by clicking on the "?" icon. The Winooski River and Otter Creek are being finalized. If you would like pre-release versions of these datasets or any of the datasets in an alternate format (geodatabase, coverage), please visit the help section for contact information.
Download Metadata
Lamoille River (North Branch, Seymour River)
LaPlatte River
Lewis Creek
Little Otter Creek
Missisquoi River (North Branch, Trout River)
Otter Creek (Lemon Fair River, New Haven River)
Poultney River (Castleton River, Hubbardton River)
Winooski
Click to view full-size version
Download index layer
shapefile format