Vegetation community type polygons come from the New Mexico Riparian Habitat Map (NMRipMap). If you are interested in learning more about NMRipMap vegetation community types, check out the Annotated Legend

Percent cover values represent the relative distribution of vegetation structure (tree, shrub, herbaceous) within each polygon, derived from Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data collected in 2018. Vegetation with a canopy height of >= 5 m are classified as trees, >= 0.5 m and < 5 m are classified as shrubs, and < 0.5 m are classified as herbaceous.

Selecting a polygon updates the information panel to reflect the vegetation type, percent tree, shrub, and herbaceous cover, and area (acres) for the selected polygon.

Note: Vegetation community type polygons are based on 2022 satellite imagery, and vegetation may have changed in some areas since classification. Additionally, percent cover by stratum is based on dominant vegetation height and does not capture understory vegetation beneath taller canopies. These data may not reflect current conditions and should be used for general context.

Evapotranspiration (ET) represents the amount of water transferred from the land surface to the atmosphere through evaporation and plant transpiration. In this tool, ET is shown in mm and reflects the mean ET per unit area (30 × 30 m pixels) within each polygon. 

ET values are derived from modeled datasets developed by project collaborators at NMSU’s Department of Civil Engineering, using satellite-based remote sensing and energy balance modeling approaches. 

Selecting a polygon updates the chart to reflect mean ET (blue points) for each year, the modeled datasets are available (2013-2024). Additionally, the light blue bands surrounding the trend lines represent the 25th and 75h percentiles for each of the data points.

Note: These values are estimates based on modeled ET data and should be interpreted as approximate. Results may include uncertainty due to model assumptions, input data limitations, and spatial variability.