Willamette Valley Pre Settlement Vegetation 1850

This map is a reinterpretation of a more extensive set of polygons demonstrating estimated  original (pre 1850) vegetation types for the Willamette Valley. Vegetation type classifications were simplified and recombined for ease of comparison with currently used classifications: i.e. Shrubland, willow swamp was joined with other wetland types, though areas with that original designation can still be found using the "Information" function in ArcMap.  
The vegetation  polygons can be laid  over a basemap of current road system for use in comparing original vegetation with current vegetation status, and for locating extant remnants of original plant communities.
I believe that the information contained within these polygons, generated through years of mapping reasearch, beginning in the late 1840's, can be of great value in understanding the botanical and ecological heritage of the Willamette Valley. 
I stumbled upon this data while researching the ecological history of my property. It appeared to me to be informative for not only understanding our ecological heritage (as each vegetation layer also represents a zone within the larger ecosystem), but also for planning future actions, particularly in regard to habitat restoration efforts, park planning, the planning of development and infratstructure as well.  The more we respect the natural potential of any given microenvrionment, the more able we are to maintain its inherent ecological values, including it's value to be a place of inspiration and rejuvenation for our own species. 
Source data (see credits below) were reorganized to utilize current and generally familiar and useful vegetation classification designations, including  Forest types, Woodland types, Prairie types, Savanna types, Wetland types. 
It is based on land survey data recorded by General Land Office (GLO) surveyors between 1851 and 1910, including township and section line data."