Westside Elk Modeling Tools and Datasets

Internal Tool Developers: Jennifer Hafer, Bridgett Naylor, Mary M. Rowland

External Tool Developers: Stratton, Andrew; Hobson, Jeremy

The Westside elk modeling toolbox provides a user-friendly modeling framework to support decision making in current or potential elk (Cervus canadensis) habitat throughout western Oregon and Washington at multiple scales. The Starkey Ungulate Ecology Team of the PNW Research Station and multiple partners developed the models, which integrate the latest vegetation datasets from gradient nearest neighbor maps (GNN) and user-input roads layers in a multivariate model to predict summer (June–July) elk nutrition and habitat use for project-based planning or scenario analysis. A single ArcGIS Python toolbox contains the four tools. We also provide regional datasets, an example dataset, a mapping project, and a user guide to aid in model exploration and application. A multiagency team developed the tools as part of the Westside Elk Nutrition and Habitat Use Modeling project. The comprehensive user guide (described below) provides additional details. We encourage users to download and read the guide to ensure consideration of best practices in model application.

See release notes for updates.

Toolbox Components

• The Nutrition Tool predicts elk dietary digestible energy (DDE) for each pixel in the project area.
• The Habitat Use Tool predicts the probability of elk use for each pixel in the project area.
• The Update Vegetation Tool (optional) is used to 1) account for changes in current vegetation structure in relation to the baseline vegetation data source, or 2) update the baseline for scenario planning (e.g., thinning stands to different canopy cover levels).
• The Create 30m LiDAR Rasters Tool (optional) creates 30-m vegetation rasters (stand height and canopy cover) if LiDAR data are available in the study area and preferred over other available vegetation data sources (see User Guide).

Image: An ArcGIS Python toolbox houses the four tools; file size is 132 KB.

Tool Outputs

• Nutrition Tool (partial)
  • DDE assigned to 1 of 6 classes
  • Raw DDE values
  • Mean DDE within a 350-m-radius circle
  • Selected biomass of elk forage plants (kg/ha)
• Habitat Use Tool (partial)
  • Raw predicted use values
  • Predicted use classified into 5 equal-area bins
  • Distance to nearest open road and cover-forage edge
• Update Vegetation Tool
  • Percent canopy cover post-treatment
  • Percent hardwoods post-treatment
  • Stand height (m) post-treatment
• Create 30m LiDAR Rasters Tool
  • Canopy cover from LiDAR, resampled to 30-m resolution
  • Stand height from LiDAR, resampled to 30-m resolution

DOWNLOAD the WestsideToolbox v3 (zip - 344 KB). This zip file also includes two text documents, one offering details about modeling process steps and a second with instructions for changing the default projection if needed.

Datasets and Mapping Project

The WestsideData folder contains the input datasets required for running the modeling tools. These datasets include GNN rasters, regional data layers (including potential vegetation, a digital elevation model, a mask raster to delineate elk habitat), and model region boundaries. All layers have been clipped to the Westside region boundary (except for the example dataset, described below). The folder also includes several example ArcMap documents; they were created in various versions of ArcGIS and with relative paths to GNN and other regional data. The Zip file containing the WestsideData folder is large (1.8 GB) because the data layers encompass the entire 11-million-ha modeling region. Downloading the Zip file could take time, depending on network speeds.

Image: File structure of the Westside Data folder, including GNN and Regional data and 3 map projects.

DOWNLOAD the WestsideData (1.8 GB)

Westside Example Data and Maps

The example data folder contains a geodatabase with all the required data for users to apply the models in an example project area in western Washington, including: a project area and buffered area boundary, roads, LiDAR and GNN vegetation layers, and treatment unit polygons. This folder also includes ArcMap documents populated with example data in various versions of ArcGIS.  

DOWNLOAD the WestsideExampleData v2 (zip - 56 MB). 

Other Data Requirements

File structure of the Westside Example Data folder, including map projects.
In addition to the datasets provided through this website, users applying the modeling tools in their own project area will need the following files:

• A project area shapefile
• A project area buffer shapefile (extending 4 km beyond the project boundary)
• A digital elevation model (DEM) at 10- or 30-m resolution.
• Treatment unit boundaries (optional, for stands harvested since the date of the baseline vegetation data being used, or for planned forest management).
• Roads layer with segments attributed as open or closed to motorized use by the public, June-August.

Image: File structure of the Westside Example Data folder, including map projects.

User Guide

The comprehensive user guide describes the model’s background, how to select analysis areas, appropriate spatial and temporal extents for model application, data requirements and preparation, and example summaries and interpretation of model outputs. Instructions are provided for desktop application of the models in ArcGIS and for U.S. Forest Service users working in the agency’s internal Citrix environment.

DOWNLOAD the user guide v3.2 ( PDF - 1.6 MB). 

Release Notes

March 8, 2022

The modeling team has made minor modifications to the previous Python modeling toolbox, data packages, and user guide, primarily to reflect recent updates in the Potential Natural Vegetation layer used in the nutrition tool. We strongly recommend that model users archive any existing copies of the Westside Elk Habitat Model toolbox and data packages and download the latest versions. Key updates are as follows:

• The potential natural vegetation (PNV) layer created by USFS Region 6 ecologists has been updated with the addition of 20 vegetation subzones. We have assigned an elk habitat class to each of these new subzones. This layer represents the best available data for PNV and should be used to run the elk habitat model.
  • The PNV layer has been renamed to reflect its status as the final revision by the ecologists and having been clipped to the Westside elk modeling extent: R06 PNV_2021_WEHM_extent
  • The field in the PNV attribute table that delineates PNV types classified for the nutrition modeling tool was renamed as ELK_HAB_CLS.
• The previous modeling toolbox, v02.pyt, has been replaced with v03.pyt.
  • The new Citrix version of the toolbox contains updated paths to reflect changes in data locations for the PNV and GNN layers.
  • A desired projection parameter has been added to the tools that defaults to R6 Albers. Tips on how to change the projection parameter, if the default is not appropriate, are included in a Word document in the toolbox zipfile.
• The Westside Data package, Westside Example Data package, and User Guide zipfiles also have been replaced to reflect the updates described above.
• For users mid-stream in a project using v02 of the toolbox and the prior PNV layer, we recommend completing analyses with those versions. We anticipate very minor differences in outputs from any of the tools with the updates.

Tool Restrictions and Limitations

• The models generate 30-m-resolution raster (i.e., grid) files. Input rasters should also be 30 m (other than the DEM, used to calculate slope, which is sometimes available at finer resolutions and can be successfully entered in the habitat use model at these resolutions).
• The modeling toolbox (*.pyt file) should run in ArcGIS version 10.0 and forward, with an ArcInfo License and the Spatial Analyst Extension. The current version of the toolbox was revised using ArcGIS 10.7 in Citrix. Users working with earlier versions of ArcGIS should be aware of potential conflicts.
• All input raster and feature layers should have the same projection and match the ArcMap project data frame coordinate system to prevent any shifts or erroneous calculations.
• Some model outputs are summarized within a 350-m-radius circle surrounding the center pixel. This is the scale at which the models were developed and validated and should not be changed.
• Outputs rasters will have the same projection and resolution as the input existing vegetation raster (e.g., 30-m GNN) and will be clipped to the buffered study area.
• Using the tools requires knowledge of creating and editing features and attribute tables in ArcGIS.

Training Requirements

Technical support and training in tool application are offered through Region 6 Data Resource Management (DRM Support); model users can also contact Starkey Ungulate Ecology Team staff for details (Jen Hafer: jennifer.hafer@usda.gov).

Citation

Rowland, Mary M.; Hafer, Jennifer; Naylor, Bridgett; Stratton, Andrew. 2021. Westside elk modeling tools and datasets. https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/pnw/products/dataandtools/tools/westside-elk-modeling-tools-and-datasets 

Partners: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; National Council for Air and Stream Improvement; Pacific Northwest Region Wildlife Program; Eagle Environmental, Inc.; Muckleshoot Indian Tribe; Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation