  CANADA LAND INVENTORY LEVEL I LAT/LON DIGITAL DATA

               REVISED EDITION

      LAND CAPABILITY FOR WILDLIFE-WATERFOWL

1. Coverage Specifications

   Original Map Scale: 1:250,000

   Resolution        : .00024412 of a degree which
                       corresponds to approximately 25 meters

   Map Projection    : None, i.e. latitude/longtitude coordinates

   Datum             : NAD27

   Spheroid          : Clarke 1866

   Units of Measure  : decimal degrees

2. CLI Level I Latitude/Longitude Digital Data

   Unlike other CLI land capability theme which do not apply
   to water areas, this capability rating for Wildlife
   Waterfowl applies in many nearshore areas.

   In this revision of the original digital data in latitude
   longitude coordinates, the definition of coastline
   segments which represent a change in capability originate
   from the CLI shoreline.

   CLI Level I latitude/longitude digital data are intended
   for GIS users who wish to integrate in CLI thematic data
   with their own topological base maps, i.e. for GIS users
   who wish to "cookie-cut" the CLI thematic layers with
   their own topological shoreline layer.

   CLI Level I thematic data is intentionally extended past
   the shoreline and as such does not contain the proper
   definition of shoreline. The data are not projected and
   coordinates, areas and perimeters are in decimal degrees.

   DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DERIVE AREA STATISTICS FROM THESE DATA
   UNTIL THEY ARE INTEGRATED WITH A PROPER SHORELINE AND THE
   RESULTS PROJECTED TO A SUITABLE MAP PROJECTION.

   If the above restrictions do not meet your GIS objectives,
   obtain the equivalent Level II UTM data with integrated
   base map from the same distribution source.

3. Attribute Schema (Polygon Attribute Table - PAT.DBF)

 a) Standard ArcInfo Polygon Attribute Table (PAT) variables:

    AREA        Num 13,6    Area, in square degrees
    PERIMETER   Num 13,6    Perimeter, in decimal degrees
    COVER_#     Num 11,0    Standard ArcInfo Polygon Number
    COVER_ID    Num 11,0    Standard ArcInfo User ID

 b) Original Digital Data Classification:

    CLASS_A     Char 2      The primary and/or dominant CLI
                            class

    PERCENT_A   Char 1      The proportion (% base 10) of the
                            polygon in Class_A (blank = 100%)

    SUBCLASS_A  Char 3      The primary limitation subclasses
                            for the proportion of the polygon
                            in Class_A

    CLASS_B     Char 2      The secondary CLI class

    PERCENT_B   Char 1      The proportion (% base 10) of the
                            polygon in Class_B (blank = 100%)

    SUBCLASS_B  Char 2      The primary limitation subclasses
                            for the proportion of the polygon
                            in Class_B

    CLASS_C     Char 2      The tertiary CLI class

    PERCENT_C   Char 1      The proportion (% base 10) of the
                            polygon in Class_C (blank = 100%)

    SUBCLASS_C  Char 2      The primary limitation subclasses
                            for the proportion of the polygon
                            in Class_C

    Note(s):

   i) To classify the data in a manner similar to the way the
      CLI paper maps were printed, use field Class_A.

  ii) For a better understanding of what factor(s) limit the
      land for wildlife-waterfowl, use field Subclass_A.

 iii) For a better understanding of specific land unit types,
      use a combination of classes and limitation
      subclasses.

4. Valid CLI Classes

    1  Lands having no significant limitations to the
       production of waterfowl.

    1S Lands in this special class are Class 1 areas that
       also serve as important migration stops for
       waterfowl.

    2  Lands having very slight limitations to the
       production of waterfowl.

    2S Lands in this special class are Class 2 areas that
       also serve as important migration stops for
       waterfowl.

    3  Lands having slight limitations to the production of
       waterfowl.

    3S Lands in this special class are class 3 areas that
       also serve as important migration stops for
       waterfowl.

    3M Lands in this special class may not be useful for
       waterfowl production but are important as migration
       or wintering areas. This class has no subclasses.

    4  Lands having moderate limitations to the production of
       waterfowl.

    5  Lands having moderately severe limitations to the
       production of waterfowl.

    6  Lands having severe limitations to the production of
       waterfowl.

    7  Lands having such severe limitations that almost no
       waterfowl are produced.

    8  Special cases - see note.

5. Valid Limitation Subclasses

    A - Aridity
    B - Free-flowing water
    C - Adverse climate
    F - Low fertility
    G - Poor landform
    I - Inundation, excessive water level fluctuation
    J - Reduced mash edge
    M - Excessive or deficient soil moisture
    N - Adverse soil and water characteristics
    R - Restrictive soil depth
    T - Adverse topography, excessive steepness, flatness
    Z - Water depth restriction

    Note: In the special case where class_A is coded as '8',
          the first character of subclass_A may be coded as
          follows:

    Blank  Unmapped area
    Z      Water areas
    T      Forest reserves
    O      National parks
    B      Urban areas
    W      Provincial parks


6. Narrative Description of CLI Waterfowl Classification

   In general, the needs of all waterfowl are much alike;
   each individual and species must be provided with a
   sufficient quality and quantity of food, protective cover,
   and space to meet its needs for survival, growth, and
   reproduction. The ability of the land to meet these needs
   is determined by the individual requirements of the
   species or group under consideration, the physical
   characteristics of the land, and those factors that
   influence the plant and animal communities.

   The land is divided into areas on the basis of
   physiographic characteristics important to waterfowl
   populations. The degree of limitation associated with
   each area determines its capability class. The subclass
   denotes the primary factor that causes the limitation.

   The classification system is based on two important
   considerations:

    Capability ratings are established on the bases of the
    optimum vegetation stage (successional stage) that can
    be maintained when good wildlife management is practiced.

    Capability ratings assigned do not reflect present land
    use (except in extreme cases such as heavily populated
    urban areas), ownership, lack of access, distance from
    cities, or amount of hunting pressure.

7. CLI Waterfowl Class Descriptions

   CLASS 1  Lands in this class have no significant
            limitations to the production of waterfowl.
            Capability on these lands is very high. They
            provide a wide variety and abundance of important
            habitat elements; rolling topography is well
            suited to the formation of wetlands.  Predominant
            water areas on these lands are both shallow and
            deep permanent marshes, and deep, open water
            areas with well-developed marsh edges.

   CLASS 1S Water areas in this special class are class 1
            areas that also serve as important migration
            stops.

   CLASS 2  Lands in this class have very slight limitations
            to the production of waterfowl. Capability on
            these lands is high but less than class 1. Slight
            limitations are due to climatic, fertility, or
            permeability of the soils.  Topography tends to
            be more undulating than rolling; a higher
            proportion of the water areas than in class 1 are
            small temporary ponds or deep, open water areas
            with poorly developed marsh edges.

   CLASS 2S Water areas in this special class are class 2
            areas that also serve as important migration
            stops.

   CLASS 3  Lands in this class have slight limitations to
            the production of waterfowl.  Capability on these
            lands is moderately high, but productivity may be
            reduced in some years because of occasional
            droughts.  Slight limitations are due to climate
            or to characteristics of the land that affect the
            quality and quantity of habitat.  These lands
            have a high proportion of both temporary and
            semi-permanent shallow marshes poorly
            interspersed with deep marshes and bodies of open
            water.

   CLASS 3S Water areas in this special class are class 3
            areas that also serve as important migration
            stops.

   CLASS 3M Lands in this special class may not be useful for
            waterfowl production, but are important as
            migration or wintering areas.  This class has no
            subclasses.

   CLASS 4  Lands in this class have moderate limitations to
            the production of waterfowl.  Capability on these
            lands is moderate.  Limitations are similar to
            those in class 3, but the degree is greater.
            Water areas are predominantly temporary ponds, or
            deep, open waters with poorly developed marsh
            edges, or both.

   CLASS 5  Lands in this class have moderately severe
            limitations to the production of waterfowl.
            Capability on these lands is moderately low.
            Limitations are usually a combination of tow or
            more of the following factors: climate, soil
            moisture, permeability, fertility, topography,
            salinity, flooding, and poor interspersion of
            water areas.

   CLASS 6  Lands in this class have severe limitations to the
            production of waterfowl.  Capability on these
            lands is very low.  Limitations are easily
            identified.  They may include aridity, salinity,
            very flat topography, steep-sided lakes, extremely
            porous soils, and soils containing few available
            minerals.

   CLASS 7  Lands in this class have limitations so severe
            that almost no waterfowl are produced.  Capability
            on these lands in negligible or non-existent.
            Limitations are so severe that waterfowl production
            is precluded or nearly precluded.

8.CLI Waterfowl Subclass Descriptions

  With the exception of class 1, and special class 3M, the
  classes are divided into subclasses according to the nature
  of the limitations that determine the class. The following
  subclasses are used to denote significant limiting factors
  that may affect either the waterfowl or the ability of the
  land to produce suitable habitat conditions.

   'A'  Aridity - the limitation is an arid condition of the
        land or the susceptibility of the land to periodic
        droughts, which result in low pond water levels or
        premature drying of marshes in the breeding season.

   'B'  Free-flowing water - The limitation is usually due
        to fast or excess water flow, which inhibits
        development of marsh habitat along the stream edge.
        It may also be due to a lack of flow through
        low-lying land, which results in habitat of poor
        quality.

   'C'  Climate - A combination of adverse climatic factors
        may act to reduce favourable habitat and the
        production and survival of waterfowl.

   'F'  Fertility - the limitation is insufficient nutrients
        in the soil and alter for optimum plant growth.

   'G'  Landform - poor distribution or interspersion of
        marshes or basins may be a limiting factor of the
        land and may prevent the development of optimum
        waterfowl habitat.

   'I'  Inundation - the limiting factor is excessive water
        level fluctuation or tidal action, which adversely
        affects the habitat or the nesting success of
        waterfowl.

   'J'  Reduced marsh edge - the limitations are topographic
        features that adversely affect development of optimum
        marsh conditions along the edge of water areas.

   'M'  Soil moisture - poor water-holding capacity of soils,
        which adversely affects the formation and permanency
        of water areas.

   'N'  Adverse soil and water characteristics - excessive
        salinity, alkalinity, acidity, lack of essential
        trace elements, or abundance of toxic elements may
        limit the development of plant and animal communities
        essential for waterfowl production.

   'R'  Soil depth - restriction of the rooting zone by
        bedrock or other impervious layers may limit
        development of suitable plant communities.

   'T'  Adverse topography - either steepness or flatness of
        the land may limit the development or permanency of
        wetlands.

   'Z'  Water depth - excessively deep or shallow waters
        limit the development of optimum waterfowl habitat.

9. Classification Examples

   Note - asterisk (*) represents a blank

   An area of class 5 land with topography and water depth
   limitations to waterfowl production:  5**TZ

   A waterfowl production area of which 70% is class 4 with
   limitations due to poor water holding capacity of the
   soils and interspersion of marshes:  4*7MF*3*3FG

   An important waterfowl production area of which 60% is
   class 1 and 40% is class 2 with a slight limitation due
   to interspersion of wetland types:   1*6***2*4G

   An important migration stop with little or no waterfowl
   production:  3M

   For further information see "The Canada Land Inventory
   Land Capability Classification for Wildlife", Report
   No. 7, 1970.

10.Accreditation

The Canada Land Inventory extraction and distribution is
managed by:

The Canada Centre for Remote Sensing
Natural Resources Canada
Government of Canada
Room 650 - 615 Booth Street
Ottawa, ON, Canada
K1A 0E9

Based on significant research and development by:

The National Archives of Canada
Statistics Canada
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Data processing completed by:

Spatialanalysis
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1Y 0N3

The National Archives of Canada retains intellectual property.

(Copyright) Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 1999.
