Riparian vegetation and wetlands

The riparian vegetation and wetland spatial dataset was developed to provide an up to date (2018) and fine scale extent of surface water dependent vegetation communities and other wetlands in the South Creek Catchment. An earlier vegetation mapping program provided detailed information on the native vegetation communities present in the South Creek catchment, but did not identify areas open water (non vegetated wetlands). Earlier mapping was also out of date due to significant clearing for urban development since the time of the last vegetation map update (2013) (see https://datasets.seed.nsw.gov.au/dataset/remnant-vegetation-of-the-western-cumberland-subregion-2013-update-vis_id-4207fd1f4 ).

The objective was to develop a map that delineated water dependent vegetation communities (riparian and wetland communities) consistent with previously identified wetland and vegetation communities as well as areas of open water. The first step was therefore to review previous mapping and vegetation classification to identify existing map units and vegetation communities with surface water dependencies. The riparian and wetland dataset was then developed by combining existing vegetation and waterbody mapping, and then updating boundaries and attribution with satellite imagery and high resolution aerial imagery to update the map to 2018. Source datasets and the map compilation and editing method are described in the attached pdf document.