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Vegetation Monitoring at Channel Islands National Park (CHIS) by the Mediterranean Coast Inventory and Monitoring Network (MEDN) 1984-2026 : Data Package

Published by National Park Service | Department of the Interior | Catalog Last Checked: August 01, 2026 at 03:58 AM | Dataset Last Updated: May 19, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Channel Islands National Park, and later in collaboration with the Mediterranean Coast Network (MEDN) have been monitoring vegetation at Channel Islands National Park (CHIS) as a “vital sign” of ecosystem health since 1984. The goal of the program is to provide timely information on the status and trends in key communities and taxa for resource managers at National Park units. The CHIS Vegetation Monitoring data package comprises 8 CSV files that contain information on: (1) the location and characteristics of transects surveyed as part of the monitoring program, (2) taxa encountered during survey efforts, and (3) results of surveys documenting vegetation height, soil cover, tree density, shrub density, and species richness along 263 transects. Most transects are 30 meters in length; some are shorter or longer. Thus, the data package contains files and EML metadata that provide comprehensive information on the terrestrial vegetation at CHIS from 1984-2025. This publicly available information is crucial for tracking changes in plant communities and informing management decisions in a highly biodiverse ecoregion.

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Complete Metadata
@type dcat:Dataset
accessLevel public
bureauCode 
[
  "010:24"
]
contactPoint 
{
  "fn": "NPS IRMA Help",
  "@type": "vcard:Contact",
  "hasEmail": "mailto:NRSS_DataStore@nps.gov"
}
description Channel Islands National Park, and later in collaboration with the Mediterranean Coast Network (MEDN) have been monitoring vegetation at Channel Islands National Park (CHIS) as a “vital sign” of ecosystem health since 1984. The goal of the program is to provide timely information on the status and trends in key communities and taxa for resource managers at National Park units. The CHIS Vegetation Monitoring data package comprises 8 CSV files that contain information on: (1) the location and characteristics of transects surveyed as part of the monitoring program, (2) taxa encountered during survey efforts, and (3) results of surveys documenting vegetation height, soil cover, tree density, shrub density, and species richness along 263 transects. Most transects are 30 meters in length; some are shorter or longer. Thus, the data package contains files and EML metadata that provide comprehensive information on the terrestrial vegetation at CHIS from 1984-2025. This publicly available information is crucial for tracking changes in plant communities and informing management decisions in a highly biodiverse ecoregion.
distribution 
[
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "chis_vegetation_metadata.xml",
    "format": "xml",
    "mediaType": "application/xml",
    "description": "EML Metadata",
    "downloadURL": "https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/758867?Reference=2318467"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "chis_vegetation_fire_event.csv",
    "format": "csv",
    "mediaType": "text/csv",
    "description": "Fire Event Data for Vegetation Monitoring at Channel Islands National Park",
    "downloadURL": "https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/758865?Reference=2318467"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "chis_vegetation_point_intercept_heights_soil.csv",
    "format": "csv",
    "mediaType": "text/csv",
    "description": "Point Intercept Soil Type and Vegetation Height Data for Vegetation Monitoring at Channel Islands National Park",
    "downloadURL": "https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/758868?Reference=2318467"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "chis_vegetation_point_intercept_species.csv",
    "format": "csv",
    "mediaType": "text/csv",
    "description": "Point Intercept Species Data for Vegetation Monitoring at Channel Islands National Park",
    "downloadURL": "https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/758869?Reference=2318467"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "chis_vegetation_shrub_density.csv",
    "format": "csv",
    "mediaType": "text/csv",
    "description": "Shrub Density Data for Vegetation Monitoring at Channel Islands National Park",
    "downloadURL": "https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/758871?Reference=2318467"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "chis_vegetation_site_info.csv",
    "format": "csv",
    "mediaType": "text/csv",
    "description": "Site Data for Vegetation Monitoring at Channel Islands National Park",
    "downloadURL": "https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/758872?Reference=2318467"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "chis_vegetation_richness.csv",
    "format": "csv",
    "mediaType": "text/csv",
    "description": "Species Richness Data for Vegetation Monitoring at Channel Islands National Park",
    "downloadURL": "https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/758870?Reference=2318467"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "chis_vegetation_taxa.csv",
    "format": "csv",
    "mediaType": "text/csv",
    "description": "Taxonomic Data for Vegetation Monitoring at Channel Islands National Park",
    "downloadURL": "https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/758873?Reference=2318467"
  },
  {
    "@type": "dcat:Distribution",
    "title": "chis_vegetation_tree_density.csv",
    "format": "csv",
    "mediaType": "text/csv",
    "description": "Tree Density Data for Vegetation Monitoring at Channel Islands National Park",
    "downloadURL": "https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/758874?Reference=2318467"
  }
]
identifier http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/NPS_DataStore_2318467
issued 2026-05-19T00:00:00Z
keyword 
[
  "CHIS",
  "Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Shrubland Communities",
  "Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Vegetation Complex",
  "MEDN",
  "biomass",
  "disturbances",
  "ecology",
  "fires",
  "plant cover",
  "plant ecology",
  "shrubs",
  "terrestrial ecosystems",
  "transects",
  "trees",
  "vascular plants",
  "vegetation dynamics"
]
landingPage https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2318467
license https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en
modified 2026-05-19T00:00:00Z
programCode 
[
  "010:118",
  "010:119"
]
publisher 
{
  "name": "National Park Service",
  "@type": "org:Organization"
}
spatial -120.8993,32.5341,-116.5599,36.8689
temporal 1984-04-06/2026-03-05
theme 
[
  "Data Package"
]
title Vegetation Monitoring at Channel Islands National Park (CHIS) by the Mediterranean Coast Inventory and Monitoring Network (MEDN) 1984-2026 : Data Package

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