The dataset provides the known and estimated locations of active and inactive federal and provincial research plots in Alberta. The research plots includes: the Alberta Permanent Sampling Program (PSP) which incorporates Alberta Forest Service (AFS) plots, Stand Dynamic Stands (SDS) and Forest Management Plots (FMB). Alberta Monitoring Plots (MP). Western Boreal Growth and Yield (WESBOGY) Plots, TAKI Pine Trial Plots, Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) Monitoring Plots. Duffy (DUF) Lake Plots. and miscellaneous research plots (RES) including range and genetic trial plots. All attempts to position the plot points as accurately as possible have been made however as many research programs are decades old the precision for points taken depends on the accuracy of the GPS unit (if any) used at the time, and if any differential correction was used.

This data was produced under contract for Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Forest Management Branch in 2015-2016. Variables used were elevation, aspect, slope, landscape mesotopography (e.g. ridge, upper slope, etc). DEM was used where there was no LiDAR coverage, with a resolution of 25 m2 pixels. Canopy height was not included in this model because it was a product generated by LiDAR. In these files there is a report assessing accuracy of the models compared with field observation data. detailed accuracy data by township is available upon request.

Aerial overview surveys are carried out by observers in fixed-wing aircraft flying at appropriate safe heights above ground level over the forest canopy. Surveys cover extensive areas to detect as many new FHDA-caused disturbances as possible. Surveyors record locations, extent, severity, possible causative agent and host tree species involved in the disturbances. Aerial surveys are cost-effective means of obtaining forest health damaging agent (FHDA) caused disturbance data at the landscape level. These surveys help to manage forests by providing early detection of FHDAs and once detected, by monitoring their trends. Aerial surveys are carried out to record locations, extent and severity of new, FHDA-caused disturbances. changes to known FHDA disturbances for historical and evaluation purposes. background information needed for planning management actions. and, forest health data at the forest area, regional and provincial levels for reporting and inventory update. This dataset contains data from 1975 to 2010. Data from 2011 onward is available as a separate dataset.

This map displays an assessment of soil erosion risk for the agricultural area of Alberta. Loss of protective residue cover through cultivation will increase the potential risk of soil erosion. The vulnerability of the soil to erosion combined with the intensity of cultivation determines the degree to which the soil may be at risk. The classes shown on the map were ranked from 0 (lowest risk) to 1 (highest risk). This resource was created in 2002 using ArcGIS.

This map displays an assessment of surface water quality risk for the agricultural area of Alberta. Agricultural activities that may have an impact on surface water quality, including livestock, crop production and agrochemical use, were identified and used to produce this map. The classes shown on the map were ranked from 0 (lowest risk) to 1 (highest risk).This resource was created in 2002 using ArcGIS.

The mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, MPB) is native to western Canada. It attacks all pine including lodgepole, limber, whitebark and jack pine. Over the past 40 years the range of mountain pine beetle has expanded, possibly due to changes in the area of climatically suitable habitat. Known Limitations: The areas surveyed each year can be different and therefore year over year comparisons may be difficult. the surveyors do not do ground truthing for all disturbances identified, therefore it is not guaranteed that all of the disturbances are caused by MPB. the surveyors do not necessarily map tree patches less than three red trees and therefore the dataset may not include all MPB killed trees. 'grey' attacked trees are not captured. the surveyors attempt to distinguish between 'new' faders and 'old' faders but the accuracy of this distinction is not guaranteed and therefore the data may reflect several years and several generations of MPB attack. Beetle year is August 15 of current year - August 14 of following year. This dataset contains data from 2011 to the most current data received. Data from 2010 and earlier is available as a separate dataset.

This map illustrates the distribution of soil parent material textures in the agricultural region of Alberta. Soil texture is defined by the relative proportions of the sand, silt and clay particles present. Soil textures are identified by classes using the Soil Texture Triangle illustrated below. The Soil Texture Triangle identifies the textural class of a soil at the intersection of the percent sand (x-axis) and the percent clay (y-axis). The percent silt of the soil is the remainder to add up to 100 percent. This resource was created in 2002 using ArcGIS.

The data represents the annual total precipitation in Alberta over the 30-year period from 1971 to 2000. A 30-year period is used to describe the present climate since it is enough time to filter our short-term fluctuations but is not dominated by any long-term trend in the climate. Annual total precipitation refers to rain, snow and other forms of moisture such as hail. Annual precipitation is greatest in the mountains and decreases at lower elevations. In the agricultural areas of the province, 50 to60 percent of annual precipitation generally occurs during the growing season, mostly as rain.Precipitation in any month can be extremely variable with the variability of precipitation being greater in southern Alberta than in the Peace River Region and central Alberta. However, long-term (30-year) data provides a reliable indication of what to expect in any given location. Climate information is used as a long-term planning tool, in selecting a location for a farm or planning a cropping program. Crop producers generally look at the most likely weather conditions rather than the extremes because the key inputs and decisions are made well in advance of achieving results. By combining knowledge of the agricultural operation with knowledge of what is likely to happen (climate), the producer can then decide on the acceptable level of risk due to adverse conditions. This resource was created using ArcGIS

This map, created in 2002 using ArcGIS, describes the number of animal and plant species that are at risk in Alberta. 'Species at risk' is a term used by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) that includes the following categories of plants and animals:Extirpated species - no longer in the wild in Canada.Endangered species - species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.Threatened species - likely to become an endangered species if nothing is done to reverse factors leading to its extirpation or extinction.Species of special concern - species that may become threatened or endangered due to biological characteristics or identified threats.

This map displays the distribution of Solonetzic soils in the agricultural region of Alberta. Solonetzic soils have developed on saline parent material that is high in sodium and have a characteristic hardpan layer that has formed in the subsoil. This hardpan is very hard when dry and has low permeability when wet. This results in restricted root and water penetration that may limit the productivity of these soils. Solonetzic soils occur in association with Chernozemic soils and, to a lesser extent, with Luvisolic soils.The Agricultural Region of Alberta Soil Inventory Database (AGRASID) soil landscape polygons that contained soils belonging to the Solonetzic Order were identified, and the areal extent of these soils was represented as a percentage of the total area using the following classes: greater than 30, 10 to 30 and less than 10. This resource was created in 2002 using ArcGIS.