1890's Land Cover/Use - Mississippi River Commission Surveys

Citation:

Citation Information:

Originator: Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Publication Date: 8/30/1999
Title: 1890's Land Cover/Use - Mississippi River Commission Surveys
Geospatial Data Presentation Form: digital geospatial database
Publication Information:

Publication Place: La Crosse, Wisconsin
Publisher: Upper Midwest Enviornmental Sciences Center

Online Linkage: www.umesc.usgs.gov

Description:

Abstract:
In the late 1880's and early 1900's the Mississippi River Commission (MRC) conducted an extensive high-resolution survey of the Mississippi River from Cairo, Illinois to Minneapolis, Minnesota. These data were published as a series of 89 survey maps and index. In the 1990's, the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) in conjunction with the Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) for the Upper Mississippi River automated the maps' land cover/use symbology to create a turn of the century/pre-impoundment land cover/use data set. Other data on the maps that were not automated include; elevation contours, water depth soundings, proposed water control structures (e.g., wing dams), levees, benchmarks, railroads, and city streets.
Purpose:
The Mississippi River Commission maps were automated by the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center so a pre-impoundment/turn of the century land cover/use data set would be available for analysis.
Supplemental Information:
Descriptive text printed on the map series reads as follows: The Mississippi River and adjacent topography was reduced from detail maps, projected and drawn from surveys made under the direction of the Mississippi River Commission in the years 1880 to 1882, 1884, 1888, 1889, and 1891 to 1899 - expecting the part below the upper limits of Cairo, Ill., which was reduced from maps projected and drawn from surveys made under the direction of C.B.Comstock, Major, Corps of Engineers, Bvt. Brig. Genl., U.S.A., in the years 1876 and 1877. The remainder of the map was compiled from surveys of the Missouri River Commission; surveys of the Corps of Engineers, U.S.A.; U.S. Land surveys; Railroad surveys; State, County and Township maps and other reliable sources. Compiled and drawn under the direction of J.A.Ockerson, Principal Assistant Engineer, and C.W.Clark, Assistant Engineer, in the office of the Secretary of the Mississippi River Commission, by C.S.Clark, Assistant Engineer, H.A.H.d'Ailly and A.A.Aguirre.
Time Period of Content:

Time Period Information:

Range of Dates/Times:

Beginning Date: 1/1/1880
Ending Date: 12/31/1889

Currentness Reference: Observed

Status:

Progress: Complete
Maintenance and Update Frequency: As needed

Spatial Domain:

Bounding Coordinates:

West Bounding Coordinate: -93.38
East Bounding Coordinate: -89.14
North Bounding Coordinate: 45.11
South Bounding Coordinate: 36.86

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme Keyword Thesaurus: none
Theme Keyword: Floodplain
Theme Keyword: Forest
Theme Keyword: Land cover
Theme Keyword: Land use
Theme Keyword: Marshes
Theme Keyword: River
Theme Keyword: Swamp
Theme Keyword: Vegetation
Theme Keyword: Wetlands

Place:

Place Keyword Thesaurus: Geographic Names Information System
Place Keyword: Illinois
Place Keyword: Iowa
Place Keyword: Minnesota
Place Keyword: Missouri
Place Keyword: Wisconsin
Place Keyword: Mississippi River
Place Keyword: Upper Mississippi River

Access Constraints: These data are distributed as shapefile format geographic information system (GIS) data sets. The ability to read and use this file format is required.
Use Constraints: none
Point of Contact:

Contact Information:

Contact Organization Primary:

Contact Organization: USGS - Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Contact Position: Spatial Analysis and Computer Technology Branch
Contact Address:

Address Type: mailing and physical address
Address: U.S. Geological Survey; Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center; 2630 Fanta Reed Road;
City: La Crosse
State or Province: Wisconsin
Postal Code: 54603-1223
Country: USA

Contact Voice Telephone: 608-783-6451
Contact Facsimile Telephone: 608-783-6066
Contact Electronic Mail Address: metadata_coordinator@umesc.er.usgs.gov
Hours of Service: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday Through Friday

Attribute Accuracy:

Attribute Accuracy Report:
The attribute accuracy for this data set was tested by manually comparing hard copy plots to the original base map to the mylar overlay. Some comparison may be done on-screen if areas on the test plot were unclear. The attributes are also checked against an all inclusive list of possible attributes for the data set.
Logical Consistency Report:
All polygon features are checked for topology using the ARC/INFO software. Each polygon begins and ends at the same point with the node feature. All nodes are checked for error so that there are no dangling features. There are no duplicate lines or polygons. All nodes will snap together and close polygons based on a specified tolerance. If the node is not with the tolerance it is adjusted manually. The tests for logical consistency are performed in ARC/INFO using certain commands.
Completeness Report:
All land cover data symbolized on the Commission surveys and open water habitat classes (main channel, secondary channel, tributary, and non-channel) were interpreted and automated. Features that were not automated are, water depth transects and soundings, proposed water control structures (e.g., wing dams), city streets, railroad lines, and elevation contours.
Positional Accuracy:

Horizontal Positional Accuracy:

Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report:
The horizontal positional accuracy is tested by visual comparison of the digital data to the 1:20,000-scale Commission surveys, and on-screen comparisons to existing data sets that cover the same area.
Lineage:

Source Information:

Source Citation:

Citation Information:

Originator: Mississippi River Commission
Publication Date: 1/1/1890
Title: 1890's Mississippi River Commission Maps
Geospatial Data Presentation Form: Paper Map
Publication Information:

Publication Place: unknown
Publisher: Mississippi River Commission

Source Scale Denominator: 20000
Source Time Period of Content:

Time Period Information:

Range of Dates/Times:

Beginning Date: 1/1/1880
Beginning Time: Unknown
Ending Date: 12/31/1889
Ending Time: Unknown

Source Currentness Reference: Dates of surveys

Source Citation Abbreviation: 1890s MRC Maps
Source Contribution: Provided land cover/use information.

Source Information:

Source Citation:

Citation Information:

Originator: Unknown
Publication Date: Unknown
Title: 1890s Historical Map Legend
Publication Information:

Publication Place: unknown
Publisher: unknown

Other Citation Details:
At the time the MRC maps were published, a standard set of map symbols were used to shade areas that had been interpreted to identify land cover/use information. A map legend for these symbols was not included in the MRC map series, as the symbols were considered already known by the maps' target audience. A historian at the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consulted and a legend was located during the early 1990s. Unfortunately descriptions for the legend entries were not included. It took almost four years and discussions with several other historians to piece together definitions for most of the land cover/use classifications.
Type of Source Media: paper
Source Time Period of Content:

Time Period Information:

Single Date/Time:

Time of Day: Unknown

Source Citation Abbreviation: 1890s Historical Map Legend
Source Contribution: Provided classification information for the MRC maps.

Process Step:

Process Description:
Mylar overlays were laid on top of the commission maps and the boundaries between map land cover symbols were located and delineated. The information were automated using were the software program ArcInfo and an Altek digitizing tables (absolute accuracy 0.001 inch up to +/- 0.003 inch).

Direct Spatial Reference Method: Vector

Horizontal Coordinate System Definition:

Planar:

Grid Coordinate System:

Grid Coordinate System Name: Universal Transverse Mercator 1927
Universal Transverse Mercator:

UTM Zone Number: 15
Transverse Mercator:

Scale Factor at Central Meridian: 0.9996
Longitude of Central Meridian: -93
Latitude of Projection Origin: 0
False Easting: 500000
False Northing: 0

Planar Coordinate Information:

Planar Coordinate Encoding Method: Coordinate Pair

Geodetic Model:

Horizontal Datum Name: North American Datum of 1927
Ellipsoid Name: Clarke 1866
Semi-major Axis: 6378206
Denominator of Flattening Ratio: 294.9786982

Detailed Description:

Entity Type:

Entity Type Label: Code; Old_code; Code_desc; UMESC's explinations
Entity Type Definition:
Three attribute fields and their descriptions are documented in this section. First, the numeric map code assigned to each polygon is listed. Then, in the definition section is the corresponding character codes used to identify this areas, the description as it appears in the database, followed by the historical description pieced together for the various map codes. Note: a definitive map legend was not located. At the time the maps were created all the map symbols were considered common knowledge symbols that didn’t require explanations. Several historians were contacted to put together this document, however not all descriptions had been located the last time this metadata file had been updated.
Entity Type Definition Source: UMESC numeric codes, and a historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.

Attribute:

Attribute Label: Code; Old_code; Code_desc; UMESC's explinations
Attribute Domain Values:

Enumerated Domain:

Enumerated Domain Value: 10
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: MA -- Marsh -- This class is believed to include all Emergent vegetation, but it is unknown whether it is also designed to include Rooted Floating Aquatics and Submergents.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 11
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
OS -- Open Swamp -- This class is believed to include all Emergent vegetation, but it is unknown whether it is also designed to include Rooted Floating Aquatics and Submergents. It is unknown how this class differs from Marsh.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 20
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: AG -- Agriculture -- Areas farmed for crops.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 30
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: GR -- Grass -- Used to delineate areas of mixed grasses.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 33
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: FB -- Forbs/Brush -- Mixtures of shrubs, grasses, and forbs.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 40
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: FOR -- Forest -- Used to identify areas covered with trees.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 41
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
CFOR -- Clearing Forest -- If the patches of Clearing Forest are located next to the river, these are areas where trees have been cut down to fuel riverboats. If the Clearing Forest is located away from the banks of the river, then they're areas where trees have been fallen to expand agriculture.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 42
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
DFOR -- Deadening Forest -- Areas where trees have been girdled to prepare the area for tree removal. If the site is located near the river, then the girdling was probably done to generate fuel for riverboats. If the area of Deadening Forest is located away from the river bank, then the girdling was probably for agriculture expansion.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 44
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: ORCH -- Orchard -- Believed to describe fruit- or nut- bearing trees planted and cultivated. Actual definition unknown.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 45
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
WS -- Wooded Swamp -- The definition for Wooded Swamp is unknown. It is believed to describe Mesic Forests regularly inundated with water, though the class was rarely used. Very few areas were labeled Wooded Swamp, and ground truthing the areas has proving unsuccessful due to human manipulation.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 48
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: CYPR -- Cypress Swamp -- Groves of Bald Cypress.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 50
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: BL -- Bluff -- Used to delineate river bluffs.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 60
Enumerated Domain Value Definition:
DIKE -- Dike -- Wing dams constructed to control the direction of water flow within the river. Note: At the time the MRC maps were produced, many of the wing dams were either under construction or proposed. While the locations of unconstructed wing dams did appear on the maps, they were not automated.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 70
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: SAND -- Sand
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 71
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: MUD -- Mud
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 72
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: CLAY -- Clay -- Believed to delineate clay river banks. Actual definition is unknown.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 80
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: URB -- Urban
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC numerical and character codes, historical map legend, and information provided by several historians.
Enumerated Domain Value: 90
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: UNK -- Unknown -- Areas where the map symbols were unreadable.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC
Enumerated Domain Value: 91
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: NCOV -- No Coverage -- Areas within the Mississippi River floodplain that were not interpreted for land cover/use by the MRC surveyors.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC
Enumerated Domain Value: 100
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: MC -- Main Channel -- Main Navigation Channel, or the channel that contained the majority of river flow.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC
Enumerated Domain Value: 102
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: SC -- Secondary Channel -- Secondary flow channel.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC
Enumerated Domain Value: 103
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: TRIB -- Tributary
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC
Enumerated Domain Value: 104
Enumerated Domain Value Definition: NC -- Non-channel -- Any open water area that is not classified as a river channel.
Enumerated Domain Value Definition Source: UMESC

Distributor:

Contact Information:

Contact Organization Primary:

Contact Organization: USGS - Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Contact Position: Spatial Analysis and Computer Technology Branch
Contact Address:

Address Type: mailing and physical address
Address: U.S. Geological Survey; Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center; 2630 Fanta Reed Road;
City: La Crosse
State or Province: Wisconsin
Postal Code: 54603-1223
Country: USA

Contact Voice Telephone: 608-783-6451
Contact Facsimile Telephone: 608-783-6066
Contact Electronic Mail Address: metadata_coordinator@umesc.er.usgs.gov
Hours of Service: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday Through Friday

Distribution Liability:
Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. It is strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired from a U.S. Geological Survey server, and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. It is also strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. The U.S. Geological Survey shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.

Metadata Date: 7/23/2001
Metadata Review Date: 4/10/2005
Metadata Future Review Date:
Metadata Contact:

Contact Information:

Contact Organization Primary:

Contact Organization: USGS - Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Contact Position: Spatial Analysis and Computer Technology Branch
Contact Address:

Address Type: mailing and physical address
Address: U.S. Geological Survey; Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center; 2630 Fanta Reed Road;
City: La Crosse
State or Province: Wisconsin
Postal Code: 54603-1223
Country: USA

Contact Voice Telephone: 608-783-6451
Contact Facsimile Telephone: 608-783-6066
Contact Electronic Mail Address: metadata_coordinator@umesc.er.usgs.gov
Hours of Service: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday Through Friday

Metadata Standard Name: NBII Content Standard for National Biological Information Infrastructure Metadata
Metadata Standard Version: December 1995
Metadata Access Constraints: none
Metadata Use Constraints: none
Metadata Security Information:

Metadata Security Classification System: none