Land Survey Data Research Articles

Multifunctional evaluation and multiscenario regulation of non-grain farmlands from the grain security perspective: Evidence from the Wuhan Metropolitan Area, China

Non-grain production (NGP) represents a complex social phenomenon driven by a range of interests that involve agricultural development, livelihood security, and ecological preservation. It significantly alters the structure of agricultural production and vegetation cover, influencing regional grain supply and the multifunctional composition of agriculture. To achieve sustainable development goals related to grain supply and ecological stability, this study proposes a research framework for multifunctional evaluation and multiscenario regulation of non-grain farmlands (NGFs). First, NGFs in the Wuhan metropolitan area (WHM) were extracted based on land survey data to carry out multifunctional evaluation of NGFs, including production function, ecological functions and recreational function. Second, the SOM+K-means algorithm is used to identify and explore the multifunctional bundle characteristics of NGFs to determine the regulation priority order of NGFs. Finally, a multiscenario simulation of the rigid control scale and layout arrangement of NGFs from the grain security perspective is carried out. The research results show that (1) there are 1294.34 thousand ha of NGFs in the WHM, mainly of grain and non-grain rotation type (52.36 %). The production function is higher in the central and western Jianghan Plain areas than in the northeastern and southern hilly mountainous areas; the ecological functions are the opposite; the high-value areas of recreational function are mainly located around the built-up areas of the city. (2) Multifunctional bundles divide NGFs into seven categories and determine the order of regulation based on the principle of "production priority, functional diversity". (3) By setting different grain security scenarios, it is predicted that the rigid control scale of NGFs in the WHM in 2030 is 256.08–797.55 thousand ha. Divide and restore grain production in order of the priority zone for grain production, the reserve zone for grain production, the resilience zone for grain production, the ecological improvement zone and the agricultural improvement zone, so as to achieve a regulatory layout of strict control and adaptable regulation of NGFs. The research supports the regulation of NGFs in balancing grain security and ecological stability to promote sustainable agricultural production.

Driving mechanisms and multi-scenario simulation of land use change based on National Land Survey Data: a case in Jianghan Plain, China

The Jianghan Plain is simultaneously responsible for ecological protection, food security and urbanization, and land use conflicts are prominent. Revealing the driving mechanism of land use/cover change (LUCC) and simulating the land use pattern can help to coordinate the land use conflicts in the future. Utilizing the National Land Survey Data (NLSD) of Jiangling County in Jianghan Plain (2011–2020) and the patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model, this paper analyzed the characteristics of land use evolution, applied the random forest classification (RFC) to analyze the driving mechanism, simulated the 2035 land use pattern under three scenarios of natural development, planning guidance and ecological protection through Markov and Cellular Automaton based on multiple random seeds (CARS) models, and proposed several countermeasures. The study found that: 1) From 2011 to 2020, town construction land increased, village construction land, agricultural land and ecological land decreased. 2) The factors driving LUCC were socio-economic factors, spatial factors, and natural factors in descending order. 3) In the three scenarios, the trend of construction land expansion, agricultural land and ecological land encroachment is inevitable by 2035. 4) It is imperative to actively advocate for large-scale mechanization and informatization of agricultural production, encourage the repurposing of idle and inefficiently used construction land, facilitate multi-purpose land utilization, and implement a policy of locally balancing occupation and compensation for cultivated and ecological land. 5) When employing the PLUS model to simulate LUCC, using continuous NLSD yielded more accurate results than remote sensing image interpretation data. This study offers a theoretical basis for the coordinated development of land use in Jianghan Plain, and presents a method to enhance the simulation accuracy of the PLUS model.

Validation and refinement of cropland map in southwestern China by harnessing ten contemporary datasets

Accurate cropland map serves as the cornerstone of effective agricultural monitoring. Despite the continuous enrichment of remotely sensed cropland maps, pervasive inconsistencies have impeded their further application. This issue is particularly evident in areas with limited valid observations, such as southwestern China, which is characterized by its complex topography and fragmented parcels. In this study, we constructed multi-sourced samples independent of the data producers, taking advantage of open-source validation datasets and sampling to rectify the accuracy of ten contemporary cropland maps in southwestern China, decoded their inconsistencies, and generated a refined cropland map (CroplandSyn) by leveraging ten state-of-the-art remotely sensed cropland maps released from 2021 onwards using the self-adaptive threshold method. Validations, conducted at both prefecture and county scales, underscored the superiority of the refined cropland map, aligning more closely with national land survey data. The refined cropland map and samples are publicly available to users. Our study offers valuable insights for improving agricultural practices and land management in under-monitored areas by providing high-quality cropland maps and validation datasets.

Multi-Scenario Land Use Optimization Simulation and Ecosystem Service Value Estimation Based on Fine-Scale Land Survey Data

Land optimization simulation and ecosystem service value (ESV) estimation can better serve land managers in decision-making. However, land survey data are seldom used in existing studies, and land optimization constraints fail to fully consider land planning control, and the optimization at the provincial scale is not fine enough, which leads to a disconnection between academic research and land management. We coupled ESV, gray multi-objective optimization (GMOP), and patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) models based on authoritative data on land management to project land use and ESV change under natural development (ND), rapid economic development (RED), ecological land protection (ELP), and sustainable development (SD) scenarios in 2030. The results show that construction land expanded dramatically (by 97.96% from 2000 to 2020), which encroached on grassland and cropland. This trend will continue in the BAU scenario. Construction land, woodland, and cropland are the main types of land used for expansion, while grassland and unused land, which lack strict use control, are the main land outflow categories. From 2000 to 2030, the total amount of ESV increases steadily and slightly. The spatial distribution of ESV is significantly aggregated and the agglomeration is increasing. The policy direction and land planning are important reasons for land use changes. The land use scenarios we set up can play an important role in preventing the uncontrolled expansion of construction land, mitigating the phenomenon of ecological construction, i.e., “governance while destruction”, and promoting food security. This study provides a new approach for provincial large-scale land optimization and ESV estimation based on land survey data and provides technical support for achieving sustainable land development.

What would it look like? Visualizing a future US Corn Belt landscape with more table food production

Abstract Most farmland in the US Corn Belt is used to grow row crops at large scales (e.g., corn, soybean) that are highly processed before entering the human food stream rather than specialty crops grown in smaller areas and meant for direct human consumption (table food). Bolstering local table food production close to urban populations in this region through peri-urban agriculture (PUA) could enhance sustainability and resilience. Understanding factors influencing PUA producers' preferences and willingness to produce table food would enable supportive planning and policy efforts. This study combined land use visualization and survey data to examine the potential for increased local table food production for the US Corn Belt. We developed a spatial visualization of current agricultural land use and a future scenario with increased table food production designed to meet 50% of dietary requirements for a metropolitan population in 2050. A survey was administered to row crop (1360) and specialty crop (55) producers near Des Moines, Iowa, US to understand current and intended agricultural land use and factors influencing production. Responses from 316 row crop and 25 specialty crop producers were eligible for this analysis. A future scenario with increased table food production would require less than 3% of available agricultural land and some additional producers (approximately 130, primarily for grain production). Survey responses indicated PUA producers planned small increases in table food production in the next three to five years. Producer plans, including land rental for table food production, could provide approximately 25% of residents' fruit, vegetables, and grains, an increase from the baseline of 2%. Row crop producers ranked food safety regulations, and specialty producers ranked labor concerns as strong influences on their decision-making. Both groups indicated that crop insurance and processing facilities were also important. Increasing table food production by clustering mid-scale operations to increase economies of scale and strengthening supply chains and production infrastructure could provide new profitable opportunities for farmers and more resilient food systems for growing urban regions in the US Corn Belt. Continuing to address producer factors and landscape-scale environmental impacts will be critical in considering food system sustainability challenges holistically.

Spatial Characteristics of the Non-Grain Production Rate of Cropland and Its Driving Factors in Major Grain-Producing Area: Evidence from Shandong Province, China

The non-grain production rate (NGPR) of cropland is a grave threat to global grain and food supply, and has been a hot issue across the world. However, few scholars explored the impacts of the NGPRs of different cropland types, such as those of paddy land and irrigated land in the same region. Thus, according to the third land survey data, this research first estimated the NGPRs of cropland, paddy land, irrigated land, and dry land at different scales in Shandong Province, China in 2019. Then, their spatial characteristics at a county scale were identified by combining the standard deviation ellipse model and spatial autocorrelation analysis. Finally, the potential driving factors of the NGPR of cropland were explored with the geographical weight regression model. Results are as follows: (1) The NGPR of cropland is at relatively lower level in Shandong Province and is dominated by that of irrigated land, and the NGPR of dry land is higher than those of other cropland types; (2) Significant regional differences exist in the NGPR of cropland, with profound severity in the southeast and much lower in the northwest; (3) At the provincial scale, the total power of agricultural machinery per capita and utilization degree of cropland factors can relieve the NGPR of cropland in nearly the entire research area. The proportion of GDP of the primary industry in GDP, urban population rate, and DEM are the main obstacles for NGPR decrease. At the county scale, the influences of driving factors varied across regions. This research can provide targeted and regional differentiated references for policy improvement and NGPR management.

Enhancing Health through Built Environment Improvement: A Southern Nevada Health Impact Assessment Case Study

Background: Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a public health tool to evaluate how choices made outside the health sector can affect health. HIAs are utilized in transportation, housing, planning, and other fields. Since the built environment can impact community health outcomes, including physical activity rates, injuries, and overweight and obesity, an interdisciplinary team composed of public health, planning, transportation, and land use professionals conducted an HIA in Las Vegas, Nevada.
 Methods: The HIA consisted of (1) screening, (2) scoping, (3) assessment, (4) recommendations, (5) reporting, and (6) monitoring and evaluation. It examined proposed physical improvements to a 0.66 mile stretch of a major arterial roadway in the City of Las Vegas where nearby residents experience many health inequities. Collection and analysis of land use and survey data, analysis of secondary data, and literature reviews were completed to predict potential health effects produced by built environment changes. Stakeholder feedback informed each HIA step.
 Results: The HIA generated recommendations to improve physical activity, reduce pedestrian and bicyclist injury rates, and decrease obesity and overweight prevalence, by presenting “good,” “better,” and “best” physical infrastructure improvements. The process and resulting recommendations enhanced collaboration among health and nonhealth sectors.
 Conclusions: Data and analysis revealed that the proposed changes could improve walkability and bikeability and reduce pedestrian and bicyclist injury. By encouraging active transportation through bicycling and walking, the plan could, over time, contribute to reduced overweight and obesity. The HIA facilitated inter-sector cross collaboration and the integration of health into future decision-making.

Integrating remote sensing temporal trajectory and survey statistics to update land use/land cover maps

ABSTRACTRemote sensing and land resource surveys have been used in recent decades for land use/land cover (LULC) mapping; however, keeping the developed LULC up-to-date and consistent with land survey statistics remains challenging. This study developed a practical and effective framework to automatically update existing LULC products and bridge the gap between remote sensing classification results and land survey data. This study employed Landsat imagery time series, change detection algorithms, sample migration, and random forests to develop a framework for updating existing LULC products in China from 1980–2015 to 1980–2022. The updated LULC maps reflect the post-2015 LULC changes well and maintain continuity with the pre-2015 products. Additionally, a statistical space allocation method based on the minimum cross-entropy strategy was proposed to optimize the LULC maps, increasing the correlation coefficient (r) with China’s second and third national land survey statistics from 0.41–0.89 to 0.86–0.99. Thus, the framework and products developed in this study provide valuable tools for sustainable land use and policy planning.

What follows fallow? Assessing revegetation patterns on abandoned sugarcane land in Hawaiʻi

Millions of hectares of agricultural land have been abandoned globally in recent decades, presenting opportunities for secondary vegetation growth and restoration. While abandoned fields have the potential to return to ecological communities with similar species diversity to their pre-agricultural state, they alternatively may transition to novel ecosystems or persist in degraded states that may have alternative functions that impact ecological and human communities. Yet we lack an understanding of how vegetation naturally recovers on disturbed lands. Using remote sensing and land survey data, we characterized the structure, composition, and function of secondary vegetation canopies on former sugarcane fields in Hawaiʻi that were abandoned between 4 and 117 years ago. We used a species distribution model to identify patches of uncultivated land with similar environmental conditions to abandoned sugarcane fields to serve as reference ecosystems. Using these reference ecosystems, we evaluated how secondary ecosystems at different ages since abandonment compare in terms of canopy structure, composition, and function. Grasses were prevalent in the years immediately following abandonment, but shrubs and trees dominated canopy structure on fields that had been abandoned more than 20 years. Non-native species constituted most of the secondary vegetation, but native vegetation cover increased on sugarcane fields that had been abandoned longer than 25 years. Secondary vegetation recovered canopy functional traits in ≤ 53 years since abandonment. Completely recovering the structural properties of reference ecosystems would require over a century. Abandoned sugarcane fields are unlikely to recover the native composition of reference ecosystems through unassisted vegetation recovery. Our findings contribute to a growing body of literature that characterizes whether and when the globally increasing area of abandoned agricultural land may passively recover, which can direct restoration efforts on abandoned lands to enhance ecosystem services or guide alternative management to achieve socio-cultural objectives.

Seasonal Changes in the Prediction Accuracy of Hayfield Productivity Using Sentinel-2 Remote-Sensing Data in Hokkaido, Japan

In large hayfields belonging to intensive dairy systems, satellite remote-sensing data can be useful to determine the hayfield yield and quality efficiently. In this study, we compared the land survey data of hayfield yield, and its quality parameters such as crude protein and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDF), with the Sentinel-2 satellite image data for thirteen hayfield paddocks in Kamishihoro region, Hokkaido, Japan. Commonly used indices derived from the satellite image data, including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), were used to assess the hayfield yield and quality. In this region, hayfields are usually harvested twice yearly, in early summer (first harvest) and late summer (second harvest). As result, the Sentinel-2 data could predict the pasture growth and quality for the first harvest better than those for the second harvest. The EVI and the index based on the bands B8a and B7 were the best predictors for the biomass and NDF for the first harvest, respectively. However, the satellite-image-based predictors were not found for the second harvest. Towards the second harvest season, the color of the hayfield surface became more heterogeneous because of the flowering of weeds and uneven pasture growth, which made it challenging to predict pasture growth based on the remote-sensing data. Our land survey approach (quadrat-based sampling from a small area) should also be improved to compare the remote-sensing data and the pasture with uneven growth.

Formation mechanism and sustainable productivity impacts of non‐grain croplands: Evidence from Sichuan Province, China

AbstractNon‐grain cropland is a typical phenomenon with some common characteristics globally. As the most populous country, China's non‐grain cropland threatens global food supply stability and affects food production sustainability under the current complex situation of international food security. This paper used Sichuan Province, China, to explore the formation mechanism of non‐grain cropland and its potential impact on sustainable productivity, given the regional environment complexity and socioeconomic representativeness. High‐precision land survey data were used to detect multiscale non‐grain influencing factors and discuss non‐grain impacts on soil state to fill the knowledge gap on microlevel development of non‐grain issues. Results show that rotation type is the region's most abundant and widely distributed cropland type, accounting for about 59.38% of the total cropland area; the second is abandonment type. Urbanization indicators are the common factors affecting the non‐grain spatial distribution on the global scale; environmental variables' impact on non‐grain shows significant differences in geographical locations on the local scale. Overall, cash type and intercrop type aim at improving production conditions. Rotation type and fallow type mostly occur in areas with low production capacity and are prominently driven by policies. Abandonment type is subject to terrain constraints, production conditions, and social economy. Additionally, non‐grain trends have not caused significant damage to soil sustainable productivity except for the positive promotion of field biodiversity. Non‐grain cropland can be divided into three clusters according to the corresponding average soil fertility state, rotation, intercrop, cash, abandonment, and fallow. Policymakers must implement specific policies for different cropland types and formulate more refined farming management plans.

Toward sustainable land use in China: A perspective on China’s national land surveys

China has long suffered from failures in urban governance, arable land conservation, and environmental conservation because of the lack of accurate and reliable land use data. To fill these gaps, China has been conducting a once-a-decade census of national land use status. On August 26, 2021, China released the third national land survey data, which revealed several challenges that require further attention. In this paper, we first review the land resource surveys that have been and are being conducted in the world’s major economically developed countries, and then we compare China’s three national land surveys in terms of the data used, core survey technologies, the land use classification system, and main outcomes. Second, according to the major data results of the second national land survey and the third national land survey and other auxiliary data, using such methods as the data envelopment analysis and the land cover conversion matrix to highlight the existing land use issues such as shrinking arable land, inefficient construction land use, and low targeting efficiency of ecological restoration programs, as well as the drivers of these issues. Finally, we conclude the paper by discussing the next steps necessary to achieve the goal of sustainable land use in China, and the potential of satellite remote sensing technology and its derived land cover products to better support future national land surveys.

The Response of Ecologically Functional Land to Changes in Urban Economic Growth and Transportation Construction in China.

Understanding the impact of urban economic growth on ecologically functional land (EFL) change and the relevant mechanisms is necessary for adaptive ecological management and regional policy. The present study aims to explore the relationship between EFL change, urban economic growth and transportation construction based on reliable land survey data from 2000 and 2015, as well as natural and socio-economic data for over 2600 counties in China. We use the Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) technique to empirically analyze the temporal changes in their relationships and alleviate endogenous bias and use the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model to explore the spatial heterogeneity across the country. The results indicate that the secondary and tertiary industries' development had a significantly negative effect on EFL changes, and transportation construction is a major driver of urban economic growth in China, especially in the central region. From 2000 to 2015, the negative impact of urban economic growth on EFL changes decreased, and the contribution of transportation construction to urban economic growth increased. The regions (such as the central region) where transportation construction contributes more to the secondary and tertiary industries had a proportionally greater reduction in EFL. It appears that excessive dependence on transportation to drive the development of secondary and tertiary industries is the underlying reason for EFL reduction. The findings of this study can assist in formulating regional policies and advancing the coordination of urban economic development and ecosystem protection.

Exploration of the construction of a municipal natural resources survey and monitoring system—Take Xuzhou City as an example

Natural resources survey is an important premise and basic work for the realization of unified management of natural resources. Through the study of the classification system, survey scheme and database organization of natural resources, this paper constructs a natural resources survey and monitoring system based on the third national land survey and various special survey data, proposes a new database organization and update method, and conducts experiments to verify that in Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, forming prefectural and municipal survey results. It aims to provide reference for the natural resources survey work of prefecture-level cities nationwide and build a replicable and generalizable survey system.

Terrain Correction in Gravity Data Processing using Hybrid Land Survey and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model: A Case Study in Mount Pandan, Indonesia

A clean corrected complete Bouger anomaly would perform reasonable geological subsurface interpretation. As a part of the processing phase, the terrain correction has a significant influence. Since the terrain correction entangles a vast area, it is not easy to fulfill with land survey. Our study aimed to apply an SRTM DEM in addition to land survey data to overcome a satisfactory terrain correction. We have applied the SRTM data to calculate the terrain correction for the outer zone (i.e., D to M) using the Hammer method. In Mount Pandan, Indonesia, we have set this method to generate a complete Bouguer anomaly as a case study. The terrain correction in the outer zone has corrected the gravity anomaly up to 14.74 mGal. The result shows that the hybrid elevation data may provide sufficient terrain correction in gravity data processing for practical geological subsurface interpretation.

Decoupling Analysis between Rural Population Change and Rural Construction Land Changes in China

Developing countries account for about 86.5% of the world’s population and are experiencing rapid urbanization. Globally, the increase in the urban population is generally accompanied by the expansion of the latter and construction lands, as well as the reduction in the rural population and rural construction lands. However, with the rapid development of urbanization in China, the rural population has decreased, while the proportion of rural construction lands has increased, resulting in a significant waste of land resources. In order to quantitatively characterize the degree of deviation between the permanent rural population and rural construction lands based on the 2009–2016 demographic data and land survey data in China, we comprehensively used the decoupling model and the coordination degree model to analyze the temporal change characteristics, spatial distribution law, and the degree of deviation of rural construction land areas and the number of rural permanent residents. Firstly, according to the decoupling model, the type of decoupling between the area of rural construction lands and the number of rural permanent residents at the national scale was strongly negative. Secondly, according to the coordination degree model, the coordination type between rural construction land areas and the rural resident population was uncoordinated; at the provincial scale, the coordination system involved one city and one district (Beijing and the Tibet Autonomous Region) and the basic coordination of two cities (Tianjin and Shanghai). Xinjiang and Qinghai belonged to the reconcilable type, and the other 25 provinces belonged to the uncoordinated type. Finally, according to the comprehensive measurement model, the number of rural permanent residents and rural construction lands showed two types of decoupling: highly strong negative decoupling incoordination and moderately and weakly strong negative decoupling incoordination.

Occupation of Cultivated Land for Urban–Rural Expansion in China: Evidence from National Land Survey 1996–2006

Construction land expansion often occurs on cultivated land in developing countries during rapid urbanization and industrialization. Understanding its characteristics and driving mechanisms is of great significance for land-use policy and sustainable development. This paper depicted the spatio-temporal patterns of China’s urban–rural expansion and its occupation of cultivated land based on national land survey data from 1996 to 2006. It further explored the influencing mechanism of cultivated land occupation for urban–rural construction land. The results showed that the establishment and expansion of various economic development zones contribute to more than half of the occupation of cultivated land while the expansion of cities and towns is relatively slower, and their sources of construction land are more diverse. The empirical results showed that (1) economic growth and investment play key roles in shaping the spatio-temporal patterns of the occupation of cultivated land for urban–rural construction land, and (2) the mechanisms of cultivated land occupation in different stages of regional development are different. In particular, the establishment of national economic development zones is conducive to the intensive use of construction land and the protection of cultivated land in inland regions, whereas provincial economic development zones have led to a waste of land resources in coastal regions. Based on the results, this study suggested that the policies to the intensive use of land resources and cultivated land protection required regional disparities.

Spatial Accessibility in Urban Regeneration Areas: A Population-Weighted Method Assessing the Social Amenity Provision

Principles of social sustainability serve to guide urban regeneration programmes around the world. Increasingly, the upholding of these principles is subject to qualified evaluation and monitoring. One of the cornerstones of social sustainability is access to basic services. This is also a strategic and operational objective in urban regeneration measures. While indicator-based evaluations of accessibility do exist, hitherto they have tended to apply descriptive statistics or density parameters only. Therefore, there is a need for small-scale, regularly updated information on accessibility, such as the nearest facility based on street networks and population density. This deficit can often be attributed to the complex methodological requirements. To meet this need, our article presents a method for determining the spatial accessibility of basic services with low data requirements. Accessibility is measured in walking time and linked to the local population distribution. More specifically, GIS tools in connection with land survey data are used to estimate the number of inhabitants per building; the walking time needed to reach four types of social amenity along the street network is then determined for each building; finally, a population-weighted accessibility index is derived and mapped in a 50-m grid. To test this method, we investigated four urban regeneration areas in Dresden, Germany. The results show that with freely available geodata, it is possible to identify neighbourhoods and buildings with both high population densities and poor accessibility to basic services. Corresponding maps can be used to monitor urban regeneration measures or form a basis for further action.

Study on Landscape Pattern Characteristics and Conservation Strategies of Giant Panda Habitat in the Minshan Mountains of Sichuan Province

Based on forest land survey data in recent years, the landscape pattern characteristics of the giant panda habitat and potential habitat range were studied, in the Minshan Mountains of Sichuan province. The results showed that: (1) As the landscape type with the largest distribution of giant panda activity trace points, coniferous forest and broad-leaved forest showed the characteristics of the lowest fragmentation, the most complex patch shape, highest patch aggregation and connectivity, and strong stability, indicating that the quality of giant panda habitat of the study area was good and with high naturalness. (2) The distribution area of artificial economic forest, cultivated land and construction land accounted for 5%. These landscape types had high intensity of human activities and were scattered throughout the whole research area, bringing continuous disturbance to the giant panda habitat. (3) With the decrease of the average altitude and the increase of the disturbance intensity, the landscape pattern in the study area showed a trend of increasing fragmentation, mixing degree, diversity and evenness, and decreasing landscape quality and function from north to south. Some protection and management measures were put forward, such as implementing the policy of returning farmland to forest, transforming artificial forest, controlling the scale of construction land in the giant panda habitat and changing the production and life style of the indigenous people, so as to gradually recover and improve the quality of the giant panda habitat,.

Modeling riparian species occurrence from historical surveys to guide restoration planning in northwestern USA

AbstractSuccessful restoration of riparian habitats and functions depends in part on selection of plant species that are suited to local geomorphic and climatic conditions, which often relies on contemporary reference sites to characterize target riparian vegetation communities. In heavily modified landscapes, a lack of undisturbed sites hinders the description of reference conditions to help guide planning efforts. In lieu of contemporary reference sites, we used historical Public Land Survey data from the late 1800s and early 1900s to document historical streamside vegetation at 1685 sites distributed throughout the Columbia River basin. We used those data to construct a random forest classification model using climatic and geomorphic variables to predict the probability of occurrence of riparian vegetation groups (conifer, deciduous, shrub, and willow) and individual taxa (fir, pine, cedar, cottonwood, alder, sagebrush) for all stream reaches with bankfull width >6 m in the interior Columbia River basin. The most common predictor variables included in the best models for vegetation groups or individual taxa were mean annual precipitation, minimum temperature, elevation, and bankfull width. For some taxa, temperature range and floodplain width were also important predictors. The probability maps indicate that riparian zones were likely dominated by willow species in semi‐desert regions and by conifer species in the humid mountain regions. Deciduous species dominated riparian areas in transition zones between conifer forests and semi‐deserts. Species distributions suggest that streams in the semi‐deserts were likely characterized by little shade and low wood abundance, whereas streams in the humid mountains would have been more heavily shaded with high wood abundance. The transitional deciduous areas were likely shaded with moderate wood abundance. Historical trends in air temperature and precipitation suggest relatively small changes in climate since the time of the surveys, indicating that current species ranges are likely similar to historical species ranges. Hence, these maps can be used to help identify suitable taxonomic groups and expected riparian functions for riparian restoration in the Columbia River basin, with appropriate adjustments made to site‐specific restoration designs to account for model uncertainty, future climate change, or land use constraints.