Wildlife Habitats - California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System

About the CWHR Habitat Classification Scheme

The CWHR habitat classification scheme was developed to provide a systematic method for describing how the constituent stage classes and structures support California's regularly-occurring birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. When first published in 1988, the classification scheme had 53 habitats. These habitats, except the non-vegetated Barren habitat, are described in detail in the CWHR publication entitled:

A Guide to Wildlife Habitats of California. 1988.
Edited by Kenneth E. Mayer and William F. Laudenslayer, Jr.
State of California, Resources Agency,
Department of Fish and Game
Sacramento, CA. 166 pp.

The entire original publication is available online with updates (see below).

At present, there are 59 wildlife habitats in the CWHR System: 27 tree, 12 shrub, 6 herbaceous, 4 aquatic, 8 agricultural, 1 developed, and 1 non-vegetated (download Habitat Range shapefiles (.zip)). Please note: the 59 habitats described below were designed for use with a predictive model for terrestrial vertebrate wildlife species. They do not represent a comprehensive classification scheme for the conservation and mapping of California's terrestrial vegetation* or its marine and estuarine habitats**.

• Stages are defined for virtually all habitats. A stage is a combination of size and cover class for tree-dominated habitats, age and cover class for shrub habitats, height and cover class for herb habitats, and depth and substrate for aquatic habitats. A field sampling protocol is well-established for determining stages in all vegetated habitats.
• Special habitat elements are also defined. They include live and decadent vegetation elements such as snags, physical elements such as banks and burrows, aquatic elements, vegetative and animal diet elements and human-made elements.

The predictive model for each species has expert-applied suitability ratings for three life-requisites – breeding, cover and feeding. For each species, each habitat stage is rated as high, medium, low or unsuitable for each of these life requirements. Each special habitat element is also assessed as essential, secondarily essential, preferred or not rated for the species.

* Notes on Classification and Mapping of Terrestrial Vegetation in California

• Information on classification and mapping of terrestrial vegetation is available from the Vegetation Classification and Mapping Program (VegCAMP), CDFW Biogeographic Data Branch.
• Field sampling for CWHR habitat stages has been incorporated into the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Rapid Assessment Protocol, to increase the utility of the resulting vegetation maps for wildlife modeling and conservation. Information and links to field forms are available on the CNPS website(opens in new tab).
• Crosswalks to the CWHR habitat classification scheme are included in all of California's major vegetation and land cover mapping efforts.

** Notes on Classification of Marine and Estuarine Habitats in California

• A classification scheme for the conservation and management of marine and estuarine habitats was developed in cooperation with the CWHR Program in 2002. It includes descriptions for 22 marine and 19 estuarine habitats. At present, it does not include suitability ratings to habitat stages or special habitat elements for the terrestrial amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals currently in the CWHR System.
• The new classification includes crosswalks to other important, recent classifications regarding coastal waters. Included are crosswalks to Wetlands of the Central and Southern California Coast and Coastal Watersheds; a methodology for their classification and description (Ferren et al., 1996), Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals: a report of habitat recommendations (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1999), A classification scheme for deep sea floor habitats (Greene et al., 1999), and Wildlife-habitat relationships in Oregon and Washington (Johnson and O'Neil, 2001). Also included are crosswalks to a national scheme for marine and estuarine ecosystems and habitat classification published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 2002 and a classification for habitats of the Channel Islands drafted in 2000 by the Channel Island National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS).

Revision to Marine and Estuarine Habitats of the California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System (2002) (PDF)(opens in new tab)

A Guide to Wildlife Habitats of California (1988)

Guide Section	Updates
Contributing Authors, Acknowledgements, and Preface (PDF)(opens in new tab)
Introduction and Scope (PDF)(opens in new tab) Includes: How to Use the Guide How to Classify Habitats Special Habitat Elements Available Habitat Stages	Revised Classification Rules (2005) (PDF)(opens in new tab) Wooded Habitat Sampling Datasheet (PDF)(opens in new tab) Analysis of Wooded Habitat Sampling Data (PDF)(opens in new tab) Non-Wooded Habitat Sampling Datasheet (PDF)(opens in new tab) Analysis of Non-Wooded Habitat Sampling Data (PDF)(opens in new tab) Habitat Element Checklist (PDF)(opens in new tab) Available Habitat Stages for Agricultural Habitats (PDF)(opens in new tab) Definition of Added Human Element - Mine (PDF)(opens in new tab) Clarification of the Measurement of California Wildlife Habitat Relationships (CWHR) System Size Class 5 and 6 for Tree Habitats (2007) (PDF)(opens in new tab)
Crosswalk Between WHR and California Vegetation Classifications (PDF)(opens in new tab)	CWHR Crosswalked with CNPS Vegetation Classification (2005) (PDF)(opens in new tab) CWHR Crosswalked with CalVeg Classification (2005) (PDF)(opens in new tab) UNESCO Formations Within CWHR (1998) (PDF)(opens in new tab) CWHR Crosswalked with DWR Land Use Types (2008) (PDF)(opens in new tab)
Literature Cited (PDF)(opens in new tab)
Plants and Animals Referenced in Text (PDF)(opens in new tab)

Habitat Types

Tree Dominated Habitats

HABITAT TYPE	PRIMARY SPECIES REFERENCED IN TEXT	1988 Text Account	Range Map	Photo
Subalpine Conifer (SCN)	Engelmann Spruce, Subalpine Fir, Mountain Hemlock	Subalpine Conifer Description - link opens in new window	Subalpine Conifer Map - link opens in new window	Subalpine Conifer Photo - link opens in new window
Red Fir (RFR)	Red Fir, White Fir, Lodgepole Pine	Red Fir Description - link opens in new window	Red Fir Map - link opens in new window	Red Fir Photo - link opens in new window
Lodgepole Pine (LPN)	Lodgepole Pine, Aspen, Mountain Hemlock	Lodgepole Pine Description - link opens in new window	Lodgepole Pine Map - link opens in new window	Lodgepole Pine Photo - link opens in new window
Sierran Mixed Conifer (SMC)	Douglas Fir, Ponderosa Pine, White Fir New! updated description of range	Sierran Mixed Conifer Description - link opens in new window	Sierran Mixed Conifer Map - link opens in new window	Sierran Mixed Conifer Photo - link opens in new window
White Fir (WFR)	White Fir, Douglas Fir, Sugar Pine   New! corrected range map	White Fir Description - link opens in new window	White Fir Map - link opens in new window	White Fir Photo - link opens in new window
Klamath Mixed Conifer (KMC)	White Fir, Douglas-Fir, Ponderosa Pine   New! updated description	Klamath Mixed Conifer Description - link opens in new window	Klamath Mixed Conifer Map - link opens in new window	Klamath Mixed Conifer Photo - link opens in new window
Douglas Fir (DFR)	Douglas Fir, Tanoak, Ponderosa Pine	Douglas Fir Description - link opens in new window	Douglas Fir Map - link opens in new window	Douglas Fir Photo - link opens in new window
Jeffrey Pine (JPN)	Jeffrey Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Sugar Pine	Jeffrey Pine Description - link opens in new window	Jeffrey Pine Map - link opens in new window	Jeffrey Pine Photo - link opens in new window
Ponderosa Pine (PPN)	Ponderosa Pine, Jeffrey Pine, Douglas Fir	Ponderosa Pine Description - link opens in new window	Ponderosa Pine Map - link opens in new window	Ponderosa Pine Photo - link opens in new window
Eastside Pine (EPN)	Ponderosa Pine, Jeffrey Pine, White Fir	Eastside Pine Description - link opens in new window	Eastside Pine Map - link opens in new window	Eastside Pine Photo - link opens in new window
Redwood (RDW)	Redwood, Grand Fir, Sitka Spruce	Redwood Description - link opens in new window	Redwood Map - link opens in new window	Redwood Photo - link opens in new window
Pinyon-Juniper (PJN)	Pinyon Species, Juniper Species, Mountain Mahogany Species	Pinyon-Juniper Description - link opens in new window	Pinyon-Juniper Map - link opens in new window	Pinyon-Juniper Photo - link opens in new window
Juniper (JUN)	Juniper Species, White Fir, Jeffrey Pine	Juniper Description - link opens in new window	Juniper Map - link opens in new window	Juniper Photo - link opens in new window
Aspen (ASP)	Aspen, Willows, Alders	Aspen Description - link opens in new window	Aspen Map - link opens in new window	Aspen Photo - link opens in new window
Closed-Cone Pine-Cypress (CPC)	Sargent Cypress, Monterey Cypress, Monterey Pine	Closed Cone Pine-Cypress Description - link opens in new window	Closed Cone Pine-Cypress Map - link opens in new window	Closed Cone Pine-Cypress Photo - link opens in new window
Montane Hardwood-Conifer (MHC)	Ponderosa Pine, Incense Cedar, California Black Oak	Montane Hardwood-Conifer Description - link opens in new window	Montane Hardwood-Conifer Map - link opens in new window	Montane Hardwood-Conifer Photo - link opens in new window
Montane Hardwood (MHW)	Canyon Live Oak, California Black Oak, Oregon White Oak	Montane Hardwood Description - link opens in new window	Montane Hardwood Map - link opens in new window	Montane Hardwood Photo - link opens in new window
Blue Oak Woodland (BOW)	Blue Oak, Interior Live Oak, California Buckeye	Blue Oak Woodland Description - link opens in new window	Blue Oak Woodland Map - link opens in new window	Blue Oak Woodland Photo - link opens in new window
Valley Oak Woodland (VOW)	Valley Oak, California Walnut, California Sycamore	Valley Oak Woodland Description - link opens in new window	Valley Oak Woodland Map - link opens in new window	Valley Oak Woodland Photo - link opens in new window
Coastal Oak Woodland (COW)	Coast Live Oak, Engelmann Oak, Island Oak   New! updated description of dominants	Coastal Oak Woodland Description - link opens in new window	Coastal Oak Woodland Map - link opens in new window	Coastal Oak Woodland Photo - link opens in new window
Blue Oak-Foothill Pine (BOP)	Foothill Pine, Blue Oak, Interior Live Oak	Blue Oak-Foothill Pine Description - link opens in new window	Blue Oak-Foothill Pine Map - link opens in new window	Blue Oak-Foothill Pine Photo - link opens in new window
Eucalyptus (EUC)	Blue Gum, Red Gum	Eucalyptus Description - link opens in new window	Eucalyptus Map - link opens in new window	Eucalyptus Photo - link opens in new window
Montane Riparian (MRI)	Black Cottonwood, Bigleaf Maple, White Alder	Montane Riparian Description - link opens in new window	Montane Riparian Map - link opens in new window	Montane Riparian Photo - link opens in new window
Valley Foothill Riparian (VRI)	Cottonwood, Sycamore, Valley Oak	Valley Foothill Riparian Description - link opens in new window	Valley Foothill Riparian Map - link opens in new window	Valley Foothill Riparian Photo - link opens in new window
Desert Riparian (DRI)	Tamarisk, Mesquite, Fremont Cottonwood	Desert Riparian Description - link opens in new window	Desert Riparian Map - link opens in new window	Desert Riparian Photo - link opens in new window
Palm Oasis (POS)	Fan Palm, Velvet Ash, California Sycamore	Palm Oasis Description - link opens in new window	Palm Oasis Map - link opens in new window	Palm Oasis Photo - link opens in new window
Joshua Tree (JST)	Joshua Tree, Juniper Species, Mojave Yucca	Joshua Tree Description - link opens in new window	Joshua Tree Map - link opens in new window	Joshua Tree Photo - link opens in new window

Shrub Dominated Habitats

HABITAT TYPE	PRIMARY SPECIES REFERENCED IN TEXT	1988 Text Account	Range Map	Photo
Alpine Dwarf-Shrub (ADS)	Oceanspray, Greene Goldenweed, Mountain Heather	Alpine Dwarf-Shrub Description - link opens in new window	Alpine Dwarf-Shrub Map - link opens in new window	Alpine Dwarf-Shrub Photo - link opens in new window
Low Sage (LSG)	Low Sagebrush, Black Sagebrush, Rabbitbrush Species	Low Sage Description - link opens in new window	Low Sage Map - link opens in new window	Low Sage Photo - link opens in new window
Bitterbrush (BBR)	Bitterbrush Species, Big Sagebrush, Rubber Rabbitbrush	Bitterbrush Description - link opens in new window	Bitterbrush Map - link opens in new window	Bitterbrush Photo - link opens in new window
Sagebrush (SGB)	Sagebrush Species, Rabbitbrush Species, Horsebrush	Sagebrush Description - link opens in new window	Sagebrush Map - link opens in new window	Sagebrush Photo - link opens in new window
Montane Chaparral (MCP)	Ceanothus Species, Manzanita Species, Bitter Cherry	Montane Chaparral Description - link opens in new window	Montane Chaparral Map - link opens in new window	Montane Chaparral Photo - link opens in new window
Mixed Chaparral (MCH)	Scrub Oak, Ceanothus Species, Manzanita Species	Mixed Chaparral Description - link opens in new window	Mixed Chaparral Map - link opens in new window	Mixed Chaparral Photo - link opens in new window
Chamise-Redshank Chaparral (CRC)	Chamise, Redshank, Ceanothus Species	Chamise-Redshank Chaparral Description - link opens in new window	Chamise-Redshank Chaparral Map - link opens in new window	Chamise-Redshank Chaparral Photo - link opens in new window
Coastal Scrub (CSC)	Coyotebush, California Buckwheat, Sage Species	Coastal Scrub Description - link opens in new window	Coastal Scrub Map - link opens in new window	Coastal Scrub Photo - link opens in new window
Desert Succulent Shrub (DSS)	Octillo, Mojave Yucca, Desert Agave	Desert Succulent Shrub Description - link opens in new window	Desert Succulent Shrub Map - link opens in new window	Desert Succulent Shrub Photo - link opens in new window
Desert Wash (DSW)	Paloverde Species, Desert Ironwood, Mesquite	Desert Wash Description - link opens in new window	Desert Wash Map - link opens in new window	Desert Wash Photo - link opens in new window
Desert Scrub (DSC)	Creosotebush, Catclaw Acacia, Desert Agave	Desert Scrub Description - link opens in new window	Desert Scrub Map - link opens in new window	Desert Scrub Photo - link opens in new window
Alkali Desert Scrub (ASC)	Allscale, Saltbush Species, Shadscale	Alkali Desert Scrub Description - link opens in new window	Alkali Desert Scrub Map - link opens in new window	Alkali Desert Scrub Photo - link opens in new window

Herbaceous Dominated Habitats

HABITAT TYPE	PRIMARY SPECIES REFERENCED IN TEXT	1988 Text Account	Range Map	Photo
Annual Grassland (AGS)	Wild Oats, Soft Chess, Brome Species   New! updated range map and description of range	Annual Grassland Description - link opens in new window	Annual Grassland Map - link opens in new window	Annual Grassland Photo - link opens in new window
Perennial Grassland (PGS)	California Oatgrass, Hairgrass, Sweet Vernalgrass   New! updated range map and description of range	Perennial Grassland Description - link opens in new window	Perennial Grassland Map - link opens in new window	Perennial Grassland Photo - link opens in new window
Wet Meadow (WTM)	Sedge Species, Rush Species, Tufted Hairgrass	Wet Meadow Description - link opens in new window	Wet Meadow Map - link opens in new window	Wet Meadow Photo - link opens in new window
Fresh Emergent Wetland (FEW)	Cattail, Bulrush, Redroot Nutgrass	Fresh Emergent Wetland Description - link opens in new window	Fresh Emergent Wetland Map - link opens in new window	Fresh Emergent Wetland Photo - link opens in new window
Saline Emergent Wetland (SEW)	Cordgrass, Pickleweed, Bulrush	Saline Emergent Wetland Description - link opens in new window	Saline Emergent Wetland Map - link opens in new window	Saline Emergent Wetland Photo - link opens in new window
Pasture (PAS)	Bermuda Grass, Ryegrass, Tall Fescue	Pasture Description - link opens in new window	Pasture Map - link opens in new window	Pasture Photo - link opens in new window

Aquatic Habitats

See also: "Notes on Classification of Marine and Estuarine Habitats"

HABITAT TYPE	PRIMARY SPECIES REFERENCED IN TEXT	1988 Text Account	Range Map	Photo
Riverine (RIV)	Water Moss, Algae, Duckweed	Riverine Description - link opens in new window	Riverine Map - link opens in new window	Riverine Photo - link opens in new window
Lacustrine (LAC)	Plankton, Duckweed, Water Lilies	Lacustrine Description - link opens in new window	Lacustrine Map - link opens in new window	Lacustrine Photo - link opens in new window
Estuarine (EST)	Plankton, Algae, Eel Grass	Estuarine Description - link opens in new window	Estuarine Map - link opens in new window	Estuarine Photo - link opens in new window
Marine (MAR)	Plankton, Algae, Kelp	Marine Description - link opens in new window	Marine Map - link opens in new window	Marine Photo - link opens in new window

Developed Habitats

HABITAT TYPE	PRIMARY SPECIES REFERENCED IN TEXT	1988 Text Account	Range Map	Photo
Cropland (CRP)	Tomatoes, Corn, Wheat   ** Replaced by DGR, IGR, IRH, IRF, RIC **	Cropland Description - link opens in new window	Cropland Map - link opens in new window	Cropland Photo - link opens in new window
Dryland Grain Crops (DGR)	Cereal Rye, Barley, Wheat	Dryland Gran Crops Description - link opens in new window	Dryland Grain Crops Map - link opens in new window	Dryland Grain Crops Photo - link opens in new window
Irrigated Grain Crops (IGR)	Corn, Dry Beans, Safflower	Irrigated Grain Crops Description - link opens in new window	Irrigated Grain Crops Map - link opens in new window	Irrigated Grain Crops Photo - link opens in new window
Irrigated Hayfield (IRH)	Alfalfa, Hay	Irrigated Hayfield Description - link opens in new window	Irrigated Hayfield Map - link opens in new window	Irrigated Hayfield Photo - link opens in new window
Irrigated Row and Field Crops (IRF)	Tomatoes, Cotton, Lettuce	Irrigated Row and Field Crops Description - link opens in new window	Irrigated Row and Field Crops Map - link opens in new window	Irrigated Row and Field Crops Photo - link opens in new window
Rice (RIC)	Rice	Rice Description - link opens in new window	Rice Map - link opens in new window	Rice Photo - link opens in new window
Orchard - Vineyard (OVN)	Apples, Oranges, Grapes   ** Replaced by DOR, EOR, VIN **	Orchard - Vineyard Description - link opens in new window	Orchard - Vineyard Map - link opens in new window	Orchard - Vineyard Photo - link opens in new window
Deciduous Orchard (DOR)	Almonds, Walnuts, Peaches	Deciduous Orchard Description - link opens in new window	Deciduous Orchard Map - link opens in new window	Deciduous Orchard Photo - link opens in new window
Evergreen Orchard (EOR)	Oranges, Avocados, Lemons	Evergreen Orchard Description - link opens in new window	Evergreen Orchard Map - link opens in new window	Evergreen Orchard Photo - link opens in new window
Vineyard (VIN)	Grapes, Kiwi Fruit, Boysenberries	Vineyard Description - link opens in new window	Vineyard Map - link opens in new window	Vineyard Photo - link opens in new window
Urban (URB)	Grass Lawns, Ornamental Trees, Hedges	Urban Description - link opens in new window	Urban Map - link opens in new window	Urban Photo - link opens in new window

Non-vegetated Habitats

HABITAT TYPE	PRIMARY SPECIES REFERENCED IN TEXT	1988 Text Account	Range Map	Photo
Barren (BAR)	Rock, Gravel, Soil	Barren Description - link opens in new window	Barren Map - link opens in new window	Barren Photo 1 Barren Photo 2