The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) initiated this project to map the topography, physical and biotic features, and diverse plant communities of the east bay region. This project was funded by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the California State Coastal Conservancy (SCC), and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) grants. The mapping study area, consists of approximately 987,000 acres of Alameda and Contra Costa counties. This 115-class fine scale vegetation map was completed in May 2025 and contains 140,442 polygons. The map is based on summer 2020 National Aerial Imagery Program (NAIP) imagery. The map additionally contains lidar-derived information about stand height, canopy cover, and percentage of impervious cover as well as canopy mortality data for each polygon. The minimum mapping unit (MMU) for this project ranges from 1/5 to 1 acre depending on feature type, and is described in detail in the mapping report (Tukman Geospatial, 2025). Development of the Alameda and Contra Costa fine scale vegetation map was managed by EBRPD and staffed by personnel from Tukman Geospatial. Field surveys were completed by trained botanists from the California Native Plant Society (CNPS), who were assisted by botanists from Nomad Ecology Consulting. Data from these surveys, combined with older surveys from previous efforts, were analyzed by the CNPS Vegetation Program, with support from the CDFW Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program (VegCAMP) to develop a county-specific vegetation classification. The floristic classification follows protocols compliant with the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and National Vegetation Classification Standards (NVCS). For more information on the field sampling and vegetation classification work, refer to the final report issued by CNPS and corresponding floristic descriptions (Sikes et al., 2025), which are bundled with the vegetation map published for BIOS here: https://filelib.wildlife.ca.gov/Public/BDB/GIS/BIOS/Public_Datasets/3200_3299/ds3206.zipThe foundation for this vegetation map is an enhanced lifeform map produced in 2023 with funding from CAL FIRE. This lifeform map was developed using fine scale segmentation in Trimble® Ecognition® with machine learning and further manual image interpretation. In 2023-2025, Tukman Geospatial and Nomad Ecology staff conducted countywide reconnaissance field work. Field-collected data was used to train automated machine learning algorithms, which produced a semi-automated countywide fine scale vegetation and habitat map. Throughout 2024 and 2025, Tukman Geospatial manually edited the fine scale maps, and Tukman Geospatial and Nomad Ecology went to the field for validation trips to inform and improve the manual editing process. In 2025, input from Alameda and Contra Costa counties’ community of land managers and by the funders of the project was used to further refine the map.Accuracy assessment plot data were collected in 2025. Accuracy assessment results were compiled and analyzed May of 2025. The overall accuracy of the vegetation map by lifeform is 97%. The overall accuracy of the vegetation map by fine scale vegetation map class is 80.8%, with an overall ‘fuzzy’ accuracy of 93.1%.For a complete datasheet of the product, click here. Map class definitions, as well as a dichotomous key for the map classes, can be found in the Alameda and Contra Costa Fine Scale Vegetation Map Key (https://vegmap.press/alcc_mapping_key). A key to map class abbreviations is also available (https://vegmap.press/alcc_vegmap_abbrevs).

Tukman Geospatial LLC made this map under a subcontract from Space Imaging. Gary Walter was the contracting officer for the project at the Department of Parks and Recreation. The vegetation map was created using a combination of automated and manual techniques. Automated techniques included image segmentation, image classification, and GIS modeling. Manual techniques included manual editing and field work. Image segments were derived from 1 meter spatial resolution pansharpened IKONOS imagery, collected in the spring of 2004. The classification is based on the Manual of California 1995, which used series translated to NVC Alliance concepts by Tukman Geospatial.

Under contract to the Santa Cruz Mountains Stewardship Network with support from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and staffed by personnel from Tukman Geospatial, Aerial Information Systems (AIS), and Kass Green and Associates, Tukman Geospatial and Aerial Information Systems created a fine-scale vegetation map of portions of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties. CDFW’s Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program (VegCAMP) provided in-kind service to allocate and score the AA. The mapping study area, consists of approximately 1,133,106.8 acres, of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Work was performed on the project between 2020 and 2023. The Santa Cruz and Santa Clara fine-scale vegetation map was designed for a broad audience for use at many floristic and spatial scales and is useful to managers interested in specific information about vegetation composition and forest health. CNPS under separate contract and in collaboration with CDFW VegCAMP developed the floristic vegetation classification used for the project. The floristic classification follows protocols compliant with the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and National Vegetation Classification Standards (NVCS). The vegetation map was produced with countywide vegetation survey data and combined with surveys from CNPS. Trimble® Ecognition® followed by manual image interpretation that was used to map lifeforms. Fine-scale segmentation was conducted using Trimble Ecognition® and relies on summer 2020 4-band NAIP, the 2020 lidar-derived canopy height model, and a suite of spectral indices derived from the NAIP. They utilized a type of algorithmic data modeling known as machine learning to automate the classification of fine-scale segments into one of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara Counties 121 fine-scale map classes. The minimum mapping unit (MMU) is set by feature type. For agricultural classes, the MMU is 1/4 acre, for woody upland classes is 1/2 acre, woody riparian is 1/4 acre, upland herbaceous is 1/2 acre, wetland herbaceous is 1/4 acre. Bare land is 1/2 acre, impervious features is 1000 square feet, while developed is 1/5 acre and water is 400 square feet. Field reconnaissance and accuracy assessment enhanced map quality. There was a total of 121 mapping classes. The overall Fuzzy Accuracy Assessment rating for the final vegetation map, map at the Alliance and Group levels, is 92 percent. More information can be found in the project report, which is bundled with the vegetation map published for BIOS here: https://filelib.wildlife.ca.gov/Public/BDB/GIS/BIOS/Public_Datasets/3100_3199/ds3116.zip.

The Wildfire Risk to Structures polygon map for the three-county area provides a spatially explicit ranking for 10-acre hexagons, assigning each hexagon with a ranking for wildfire hazard and a ranking for housing density. Hexagons with high housing density and high wildfire hazard are of greatest concern. The Wildfire Risk to Structures and Classified Wildfire Hazard data products presented here are designed for land managers and fire responders who are interested in relative rankings of wildfire risk and wildfire hazard. The risk and hazard map products are modeled outputs based on the best available data. As such, they provide one interpretation of risk and hazard that is based on a set of input variables and decision rules (see the methods section below). Though we are using the best available input data, modeling wildfire risk and hazard is not an exact science, and these data should be used with this in mind. These data are meant to be used as reference datasets for planning purposes. Appropriate uses for Wildfire Risk to Structures dataset is to help to identify areas that have structures at risk from wildfire. This information can be used for prioritizing fuel reduction projects, for planning suppression activities, and for targeting areas for activities to increase ignition resistance of structures. In addition, the Classified Wildfire Hazard raster can be used to assess the risk to other values (such as evacuation routes, sensitive natural or cultural resources, and water storage/delivery infrastructure). These are screening level data products created from remotely sensed data and modeling. On the ground knowledge and local expertise (where available) should take precedence over these data products for the detailed work of site-specific planning and implementation of fuel reduction projects in the three-county area.Table 1 shows the locations for downloading the three-county wildfire hazard raster and the wildfire risk to structures polygon dataset.Table 1. Data availability for three-county wildfire hazard and wildfire risk to structuresDescriptionRelative Wildfire Hazard (raster)Wildfire Risk to Structures (polygon)ArcGIS Pro Map Packagehttps://fuelsmapping.com/3country_risk_mpkhttps://fuelsmapping.com/3country_risk_mpkFeature Servicehttps://fuelsmapping.com/3county_risk_fsArcGIS Online Web Maphttps://fuelsmapping.com/3county_risk_webmaphttps://fuelsmapping.com/3county_risk_webmap11x17 PDF Maps for Each Countyhttps://fuelsmapping.com/3county_risk_pdfsDisclaimerTukman Geospatial makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of these data. Tukman Geospatial makes no warranty of merchantability or warranty for fitness of use for a particular purpose, expressed or implied, with respect to these products or the underlying data. Any user of this data, accepts same as is, with all faults, and assumes all responsibility for the use thereof, and further covenants and agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold Tukman Geospatial harmless from and against all damage, loss or liability arising from any use of these data products, in consideration of Tukman Geospatial and its partners having made this information available. Independent verification of all data contained herein should be obtained by any user of these products, or the underlying data. Tukman Geospatial disclaims, and shall not be held liable for, any and all damage, loss, or liability, whether direct, indirect, or consequential, which arises or may arise from these products or the use thereof by any person or entity.

Methods: The 2-foot resolution raster was produced from a ground classified 2020 Quality Level 1 lidar point cloud. This DSM was derived by Sanborn and Tukman Geospatial using the following process:QL1 airborne lidar point cloud collected countywide (Sanborn)Point cloud classification to assign ground points (Sanborn)First return points were used to create over 8,000 1-foot resolution hydro-flattened Raster DSM tiles. Using automated scripting routines within LP360, a GeoTIFF file was created for each tile. Each 2,500 x 2,500 foot tile was reviewed using Global Mapper to check for any surface anomalies or incorrect elevations found within the surface. (Sanborn)1-foot hydroflattened DSM tiles mosaicked together into a 1-foot resolution mosaiced hydroflattened DSM geotiff (Tukman Geospatial)1-foot hydroflattened DSM (geotiff) resampled to 2-foot hydro-flattened DSM using Bilinear interpolation and clipped to county boundary with 250-meter buffer (Tukman Geospatial)2-foot hydroflattened raster DEM (geotiff) posted on ArcGIS Online (Tukman Geospatial) The data was developed based on a horizontal projection/datum of NAD83 (2011), State Plane, Feet and vertical datum of NAVD88 (GEOID18), Feet. Lidar was collected in early 2020, while no snow was on the ground and rivers were at or below normal levels. To postprocess the lidar data to meet task order specifications and meet ASPRS vertical accuracy guidelines, Sanborn Map Company, Inc., utilized a total of 25 ground control points that were used to calibrate the lidar to known ground locations established throughout the project area.An additional 125 independent accuracy checkpoints, 70 in Bare Earth and Urban landcovers (70 NVA points), 55 in Tall Grass and Brushland/Low Trees categories (55 VVA points), were used to assess the vertical accuracy of the data. These check points were not used to calibrate or post process the data.Uses and Limitations:The DSM provides a raster depiction of the first (surface) returns for each 2x2 foot raster cell across Santa Clara County. The DSM will be most accurate in open terrain and less accurate in areas of very dense vegetation.Related Datasets:This dataset is part of a suite of lidar of derivatives for Santa Clara County. See table 1 for a list of all the derivatives. Table 1. lidar derivatives for Santa Clara CountyDatasetDescriptionLink to DataLink to DatasheetCanopy Height ModelPixel values represent the aboveground height of vegetation and trees.https://vegmap.press/clara_chmhttps://vegmap.press/clara_chm_datasheetCanopy Height Model – Veg Returns OnlySame as canopy height model, but does not include lidar returns labelled as ‘unclassified’ (uses only returns classified as vegetation)https://vegmap.press/clara_chm_veg_returnshttps://vegmap.press/clara_chm_veg_returns_datasheetCanopy CoverPixel values represent the presence or absence of tree canopy or vegetation greater than or equal to 15 feet tall.https://vegmap.press/clara_coverhttps://vegmap.press/clara_cover_datasheetCanopy Cover – Veg Returns OnlySame as canopy height model, but does not include lidar returns labelled as ‘unclassified’ (uses only returns classified as vegetation)https://vegmap.press/clara_cover_veg_returnshttps://vegmap.press/clara_cover_veg_returns_datasheet HillshadeThis depicts shaded relief based on the Hillshade. Hillshades are useful for visual reference when mapping features such as roads and drainages and for visualizing physical geography. https://vegmap.press/clara_hillshadehttps://vegmap.press/clara_hillshade_datasheetDigital Terrain ModelPixel values represent the elevation above sea level of the bare earth, with all above-ground features, such as trees and buildings, removed. The vertical datum is NAVD88 (GEOID18).https://vegmap.press/clara_dtmhttps://vegmap.press/clara_dtm_datasheetDigital Surface ModelPixel values represent the elevation above sea level of the highest surface, whether that surface for a given pixel is the bare earth, the top of vegetation, or the top of a building.https://vegmap.press/clara_dsmhttps://vegmap.press/clara_dsm_datasheet

Methods: This lidar derivative provides information about the bare surface of the earth. The 2-foot resolution raster was produced from a ground classified 2020 Quality Level 1 lidar point cloud. This DTM is hyroflattened, meaning that water bodies are represented as flat surfaces. Hydroflattening improves the aesthetics of the DEM and is consistent with USGS’s 3-DEP specifications.

This DTM was derived by Sanborn and Tukman Geospatial using the following process:

QL1 airborne lidar point cloud collected countywide (Sanborn)Point cloud classification to assign ground points (Sanborn)Ground points were used to create over 8,000 1-foot resolution hydro-flattened Raster DSM tiles. Using automated scripting routines within LP360, a GeoTIFF file was created for each tile. Each 2,500 x 2,500 foot tile was reviewed using Global Mapper to check for any surface anomalies or incorrect elevations found within the surface. (Sanborn)1-foot hydroflattened DTM tiles mosaicked together into a 1-foot resolution mosaiced hydroflattened DTM geotiff (Tukman Geospatial)1-foot hydroflattened DTM (geotiff) resampled to 2-foot hydro-flattened DTM using Bilinear interpolation and clipped to county boundary with 250-meter buffer (Tukman Geospatial)2-foot hydroflattened raster DEM (geotiff) posted on ArcGIS Online (Tukman Geospatial)

The data was developed based on a horizontal projection/datum of NAD83 (2011), State Plane, Feet and vertical datum of NAVD88 (GEOID18), Feet.

Lidar was collected in early 2020, while no snow was on the ground and rivers were at or below normal levels. To postprocess the lidar data to meet task order specifications and meet ASPRS vertical accuracy guidelines, Sanborn Map Company, Inc., utilized a total of 25 ground control points that were used to calibrate the lidar to known ground locations established throughout the project area.

An additional 125 independent accuracy checkpoints, 70 in Bare Earth and Urban landcovers (70 NVA points), 55 in Tall Grass and Brushland/Low Trees categories (55 VVA points), were used to assess the vertical accuracy of the data. These check points were not used to calibrate or post process the data.

Uses and Limitations: The DTM provides a raster depiction of the ground returns for each 2x2 foot raster cell across Santa Clara County. The layer is useful for hydrologic and terrain-focused analysis. The DTM will be most accurate in open terrain and less accurate in areas of very dense vegetation.

Related Datasets: This dataset is part of a suite of lidar of derivatives for Santa Clara County. See table 1 for a list of all the derivatives. Table 1. lidar derivatives for Santa Clara CountyDatasetDescriptionLink to DataLink to DatasheetCanopy Height ModelPixel values represent the aboveground height of vegetation and trees.https://vegmap.press/clara_chmhttps://vegmap.press/clara_chm_datasheetCanopy Height Model – Veg Returns OnlySame as canopy height model, but does not include lidar returns labelled as ‘unclassified’ (uses only returns classified as vegetation)https://vegmap.press/clara_chm_veg_returnshttps://vegmap.press/clara_chm_veg_returns_datasheetCanopy CoverPixel values represent the presence or absence of tree canopy or vegetation greater than or equal to 15 feet tall.https://vegmap.press/clara_coverhttps://vegmap.press/clara_cover_datasheetCanopy Cover – Veg Returns OnlySame as canopy height model, but does not include lidar returns labelled as ‘unclassified’ (uses only returns classified as vegetation)https://vegmap.press/clara_cover_veg_returnshttps://vegmap.press/clara_cover_veg_returns_datasheet HillshadeThis depicts shaded relief based on the Hillshade. Hillshades are useful for visual reference when mapping features such as roads and drainages and for visualizing physical geography. https://vegmap.press/clara_hillshadehttps://vegmap.press/clara_hillshade_datasheetDigital Terrain ModelPixel values represent the elevation above sea level of the bare earth, with all above-ground features, such as trees and buildings, removed. The vertical datum is NAVD88 (GEOID18).https://vegmap.press/clara_dtmhttps://vegmap.press/clara_dtm_datasheetDigital Surface ModelPixel values represent the elevation above sea level of the highest surface, whether that surface for a given pixel is the bare earth, the top of vegetation, or the top of a building.https://vegmap.press/clara_dsmhttps://vegmap.press/clara_dsm_datasheet

Methods:This lidar derivative provides information about the bare surface of the earth. The 2-foot resolution hillshade raster was produced from the 2020 Digital Terrain Model using the hillshade geoprocessing tool in ArcGIS Pro.QL1 airborne lidar point cloud collected countywide (Sanborn)Point cloud classification to assign ground points (Sanborn)Ground points were used to create over 8,000 1-foot resolution hydro-flattened Raster DSM tiles. Using automated scripting routines within LP360, a GeoTIFF file was created for each tile. Each 2,500 x 2,500 foot tile was reviewed using Global Mapper to check for any surface anomalies or incorrect elevations found within the surface. (Sanborn)1-foot hydroflattened DTM tiles mosaicked together into a 1-foot resolution mosaiced hydroflattened DTM geotiff (Tukman Geospatial)1-foot hydroflattened DTM (geotiff) resampled to 2-foot hydro-flattened DTM using Bilinear interpolation and clipped to county boundary with 250-meter buffer (Tukman Geospatial)2-foot hillshade derived from DTM using the ESRI Spatial Analyst ‘hillshade’ function The data was developed based on a horizontal projection/datum of NAD83 (2011), State Plane, Feet and vertical datum of NAVD88 (GEOID18), Feet. Lidar was collected in early 2020, while no snow was on the ground and rivers were at or below normal levels. To postprocess the lidar data to meet task order specifications and meet ASPRS vertical accuracy guidelines, Sanborn Map Company, Inc., utilized a total of 25 ground control points that were used to calibrate the lidar to known ground locations established throughout the project area. An additional 125 independent accuracy checkpoints, 70 in Bare Earth and Urban landcovers (70 NVA points), 55 in Tall Grass and Brushland/Low Trees categories (55 VVA points), were used to assess the vertical accuracy of the data. These check points were not used to calibrate or post process the data.Uses and Limitations: The hillshade provides a raster depiction of the ground returns for each 2x2 foot raster cell across Santa Clara County. The layer is useful for hydrologic and terrain-focused analysis and is a helpful basemap when analyzing spatial data in relief.Related Datasets: This dataset is part of a suite of lidar of derivatives for Santa Clara County. See table 1 for a list of all the derivatives. Table 1. lidar derivatives for Santa Clara CountyDatasetDescriptionLink to DataLink to DatasheetCanopy Height ModelPixel values represent the aboveground height of vegetation and trees.https://vegmap.press/clara_chmhttps://vegmap.press/clara_chm_datasheetCanopy Height Model – Veg Returns OnlySame as canopy height model, but does not include lidar returns labelled as ‘unclassified’ (uses only returns classified as vegetation)https://vegmap.press/clara_chm_veg_returnshttps://vegmap.press/clara_chm_veg_returns_datasheetCanopy CoverPixel values represent the presence or absence of tree canopy or vegetation greater than or equal to 15 feet tall.https://vegmap.press/clara_coverhttps://vegmap.press/clara_cover_datasheetCanopy Cover – Veg Returns OnlySame as canopy height model, but does not include lidar returns labelled as ‘unclassified’ (uses only returns classified as vegetation)https://vegmap.press/clara_cover_veg_returnshttps://vegmap.press/clara_cover_veg_returns_datasheet HillshadeThis depicts shaded relief based on the Hillshade. Hillshades are useful for visual reference when mapping features such as roads and drainages and for visualizing physical geography. https://vegmap.press/clara_hillshadehttps://vegmap.press/clara_hillshade_datasheetDigital Terrain ModelPixel values represent the elevation above sea level of the bare earth, with all above-ground features, such as trees and buildings, removed. The vertical datum is NAVD88 (GEOID18).https://vegmap.press/clara_dtmhttps://vegmap.press/clara_dtm_datasheetDigital Surface ModelPixel values represent the elevation above sea level of the highest surface, whether that surface for a given pixel is the bare earth, the top of vegetation, or the top of a building.https://vegmap.press/clara_dsmhttps://vegmap.press/clara_dsm_datasheet