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In the first phase of the Project, a regional map of land use and land cover 
was compiled by State universities in the region. The map was produced at 
1:500,000-scale by visual interpretation of Landsat images, and employed the 
Level | categories of the USGS classification system. In latter phases of 
the Project, the USGS has been involved with providing land resource decision 
products and training in the creation and application of such products to 
State and local agency personnel. These products have been based on USGS 
research capabilities related to computer classification of land use and land 
cover from Landsat digital data. 
More regional applications of the data base are certain to ensue as maps and 
data become available for various types of regions such as those created by 
aggregating the basic units shown on the associated maps (i.e. political 
regions, hydrologic regions, etc.). A good example is the application of the 
land use and land cover maps, computer plots, and statistics in the Delaware 
River Basin Comprehensive Study (Level B) being conducted by the Delaware 
River Basin Commission and sponsored by the U.S. Water Resources Council. 
Such studies are conducted to support the water quality management sections 
of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972. To put the 
“Level B' study in its proper context, it should be realized that a "Level A' 
study occurs first. It represents a framework study or assessment of water 
resources of a broad geographical area. The planning time frame is generally 
25 years or more. |t leads to the identification of regions or river basins 
with water and related land resources problems. The "Level B'" study, employs 
a 15-25-year time frame, and deals with more specific issues. "| evel CY 
studies involve site-specific projects. The USGS land use and land cover maps 
and data will be used specifically in the Level B study to assist in the iden- 
tification of significant and sensitive environmental areas, as well as serving 
as the general data base for many of the other topics to be pursued, such as 
economic development, land ownership resource patterns, urban development, 
environmental impact, non-point source water pollution assessment, and recrea- 
tion potential. 
3. Applications at the State Level 
As previously described, there has been an enthusiastic response by many States 
to the USGS land use and land cover map and data program. Many States have 
requested the maps and data in order to implement the requirements of various 
Federal grant programs, and other States desire the data for use in programs of 
their own conception and implementation. Obviously the States are responding 
to such data base characteristics because of: 1) complete Statewide coverage; 
2) a classification capable of being subdivided into Level lll or IV classes 
in response to individual State agency needs; 3) comparability of data at 
regional and National levels; and 4) an exportable geographic information system 
software (as well as the ongoing research on the USGS GIRAS system). 
Requests from States have generally been associated with the need for land use 
and land cover data to develop and implement plans related to the improvement 
of water quality, the development of transportation systems recreational develop- 
ment, urban and regional growth, etc. Federal incentives to develop and carry 
out planning activities are often present. For example, the implementation of 
Section 208 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 re- 
quires an inventory and analysis of land use patterns. For implementing 
Section 701 of the Housing Act of 1954, a land use element is required. 
   
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