make polygons

To make some @#$*%$@#% polygons in arcgis (e.g. trace fluvial terrace deposits):

1. Open Arc Catalog
2. In the Location bar, navigate to the folder where you want to put the polygons (shapefile)
3. File -> New -> Shapefile
4. Name it and choose Feature Type -> Polygon
5. If you want, edit the Coordinate System
Select -> Projected Coordinate Systems ->
(UTM NAD 1983 10 N for local stuff)

In ArcCatalog you can right-click a shapefile and edit Properties - e.g add Fields and specify the DataType (text, long integer, double, etc.). But I think the shapefile can't be open in ArcMap if you want to edit it.

6. Add the (empty) layer to the ArcMap window by dragging or using the AddData button
7. Start an edit session (Edit Toolbar)
8. Task dropdown menu: Create New Feature
9. Target dropdown menu: choose your shapefile - if the target drop down is empty, it might be a bug, restart ArcMap and ArcCatalog

10. Use the Sketch button (pencil icon), click and double-click to make vertices and close polygon
11. Stop edit session, Save

12. *Get mean elevation of each polygon from an elevation raster (TBD)