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<br />Land Cover Classification <br />MLCCS Background <br />MLCCS, Version 5.4 was used to classify land cover within the city. A brief <br />explanation of the method and its application to this project is provided below. The <br />complete 273 page MLCCS Manual can be viewed/downloaded on the MN ONR web <br />site at the following address: htlP//wwwdnr.state.mn.us/mlccs/index.html . <br /> <br />MLCCS has a five-level hierarchical system of land cover codes to describe natural <br />semi-natural, and cultural land cover types. Natural land cover types i'nclude areas <br />such as forests, prairies, wetlands, shrublands, and other similar areas. Semi-natural <br />areas are those dominated by nonnative plant species, but are not actively <br />planted/maintained by humans through activities such as mowing/cutting. Cultural <br />land cover types are areas that can be thought of as developed or substantially <br />impacted by humans. These typically include paved (impervious) areas, agricultural <br />fields, pastures and frequently manipulated grasslands, quarries, and others. The Elk <br />River inventory focused on natural and sem-natural areas for land cover mapping. <br /> <br />Progression through each of the five levels of the system represents an increased <br />level of detail in land cover classification. In this framework, Level 1 is the least <br />detailed and Level 5 is the most detailed. For the purposes of this project, all natural <br />and semi-natural areas within the city were classified to the greatest level of detail <br />practical (typically, Level 4 or Level 5). <br /> <br />MLCCS Modifier Codes <br />Several 'classes' of MLCCS modifiers were assessed in the field while conducting the <br />land cover classification of Elk River. These modifiers were assessed based on the <br />methodology and definitions provided in the MLCCS training manual. Once assessed, <br />the modifier values were entered into the GIS database for each land cover polygon. <br />Below is a brief summary of the most commonly used MLCCS modifiers for this <br />project. <br /> <br />Natural Community Quality Modifier (M_34x) <br />The M_34x modifier was developed as part of MLCCS methodology as a cursory <br />method to assess the general natural quality of natural community and semi-natural <br />land cover types. This modifier has four general categories. The assessment method <br />is based on general ecological variables, and is applied in the scJme manner for all <br /> <br />City of Elk River, MN - Natural Resouce Inventory <br />Bones/roo Natural Resources. September 2004 <br /> <br />10 <br />