Since this data set is basically repackaged NLCD data it is appropriate to refer to the metadata created by the USGS. We have included the file NLCDmeta.txt which contains this metadata as created by the USGS for Michigan based NLCD data.
Water
11. Open Water
12. Perennial Ice/Snow
Developed
21. Low Intensity Residential
22. High Intensity Residential
23. Commercial/Industrial/Transportation
Barren
31. Bare Rock/Sand/Clay
32. Quarries/Strip Mines/Gravel Pits
33. Transitional
Vegetated; Natural Forested Upland
41. Deciduous Forest
42. Evergreen Forest
43. Mixed Forest
Shrubland
51. Shrubland
Non-natural Woody
61. Orchards/Vineyards/Other
Herbaceous Upland
71. Grasslands/Herbaceous
Herbaceous Planted/Cultivated
81. Pasture/Hay
82. Row Crops
83. Small Grains
84. Fallow
85. Urban/Recreational Grasses
Wetlands
91. Woody Wetlands
92. Emergent Herbaceous Wetlands
NLCD Land Cover Classification System Land Cover Class Definitions:
Water All areas of open water or permanent ice/snow cover.
11. Open Water - areas of open water, generally with less than 25 percent or greater cover of water (per pixel).
12. Perennial Ice/Snow - All areas characterized by year-long cover of ice and/or snow.
Developed - areas characterized by high percentage (approximately 30% or greater) of constructed materials (e.g. asphalt, concrete, buildings, etc).
21. Low Intensity Residential - Includes areas with a mixture of constructed materials and vegetation. Constructed materials account for 30-80 percent of the cover. Vegetation may account for 20 to 70 percent of the cover. These areas most commonly include single-family housing units. Population densities will be lower than in high intensity residential areas.
22. High Intensity Residential - Includes heavily built up urban centers where people reside in high numbers. Examples include apartment complexes and row houses. Vegetation accounts for less than 20 percent of the cover. Constructed materials account for 80-100 percent of the cover.
23. Commercial/Industrial/Transportation - Includes infrastructure (e.g. roads, railroads, etc.) and all highways and all developed areas not classified as High Intensity Residential.
Barren - Areas characterized by bare rock, gravel, sad, silt, clay, or other earthen material, with little or no green vegetation present regardless of its inherent ability to support life. Vegetation, if present, is more widely spaced and scrubby than that in the greenvegetated categories; lichen cover may be extensive.
31. Bare Rock/Sand/Clay - Perennially barren areas of bedrock, desert, pavement, scarps, talus, slides, volcanic material, glacial debris, and other accumulations of earthen material.
32. Quarries/Strip Mines/Gravel Pits - Areas of extractive mining activities with significant surface expression.
33. Transitional - Areas of sparse vegetative cover (less than 25 percent that are dynamically changing from one land cover to another, often because of land use activities. Examples include forest clearcuts, a transition phase between forest and agricultural land, the temporary clearing of vegetation, and changes due to natural causes (e.g. fire, flood, etc.)
Forested Upland - Areas characterized by tree cover (natural or Semi-natural woody vegetation, generally greater than 6 meters tall); Tree canopy accounts for 25-100 percent of the cover.
41. Deciduous Forest - Areas dominated by trees where 75 percent or more of the tree species shed foliage simultaneously in response to seasonal change.
42. Evergreen Forest - Areas characterized by trees where 75 percent or more of the tree species maintain their leaves all year. Canopy is never without green foliage.
43. Mixed Forest - Areas dominated by trees where neither deciduous nor evergreen species represent more than 75 percent of the cover present.
Shrubland - Areas characterized by natural or semi-natural woody vegetation with aerial stems, generally less than 6 meters tall with individuals or clumps not touching to interlocking. Both evergreen and deciduous species of true shrubs, young
trees, and trees or shrubs that are small or stunted because of environmental conditions are included.
51. Shrubland - Areas dominated by shrubs; shrub canopy accounts for 25-100 percent of the cover. Shrub cover is generally greater than 25 percent when tree cover is less than 25 percent. Shrub cover may be less than 25 percent in cases when the cover of other life forms (e.g. herbaceous or tree) is less than 25 percent and shrubs cover exceeds the cover of the other life forms.
Non-natural Woody - Areas dominated by non-natural woody vegetation; non-natural woody vegetative canopy accounts for 25-100 percent of the cover. The non-natural woody classification is subject to the availability of sufficient ancillary data to differentiate non-natural woody vegetation from natural woody vegetation.
61. Orchards/Vineyards/Other - Orchards, vineyards, and other areas planted or maintained for the production of fruits, nuts, berries, or ornamentals.
Herbaceous Upland - Upland areas characterized by natural or semi- natural herbaceous vegetation; herbaceous vegetation accounts for 75-100 percent of the cover.
71. Grasslands/Herbaceous - Areas dominated by upland grasses and forbs. In rare cases, herbaceous cover is less than 25 percent, but exceeds the combined cover of the woody species present. These areas are not subject to intensive management, but they are often utilized for grazing.
Planted/Cultivated - Areas characterized by herbaceous vegetation That has been planted or is intensively managed for the production of food, feed, or fiber; or is maintained in developed settings for specific purposes. Herbaceous vegetation accounts for 75-100 percent of the cover.
81. Pasture/Hay - Areas of grasses, legumes, or grass-legume mixtures planted for livestock grazing or the production of seed or hay crops.
82. Row Crops - Areas used for the production of crops, such as corn, soybeans, vegetables, tobacco, and cotton.
83. Small Grains - Areas used for the production of graminoid crops such as wheat, barley, oats, and rice
84. Fallow - Areas used for the production of crops that are temporarily barren or with sparse vegetative cover as a result of being tilled in a management practice that incorporates prescribed alternation between cropping and tillage.
85. Urban/Recreational Grasses - Vegetation (primarily grasses) planted in developed settings for recreation, erosion control, or aesthetic purposes. Examples include parks, lawns, golf courses, airport grasses, and industrial site grasses.
Wetlands - Areas where the soil or substrate is periodically saturated with or covered with water as defined by Cowardin et al.
91. Woody Wetlands - Areas where forest or shrubland vegetation accounts for 25-100 percent of the cover and the soil or substrate is periodically saturated with or covered with water.
92. Emergent Herbaceous Wetlands - Areas where perennial herbaceous vegetation accounts for 75-100 percent of the cover and the soil or substrate is periodically saturated with or covered with water.