Plot Level Data National Manual Version 1.61 Section 1.0

Plot Level Data National Manual Version 1.61 Section 1.0

Plot Level Data National Manual Version 1.61 Section 1.0

State Louisiana 22 Record the appropriate state code.

County Record the appropriate county code.

Plot Number Plot numbers are four digits: Standard field plots Intensification plots Temporary and supplemental plots

P3 Hexagon Number P3 plots only

P3 Plot Number P3 plots only

Sample Kind 1Initial plot establishment (new plots) 3Replacement plot (lost plot) 9 Prism plot remeasurement/Fixed plot establishment LA does not use: 2Subplot design remeasurement

Manual Version Version 1.61 Updated June 3, 2002

Current and Past Date Changed Format: Year month day Example:

New Item QA Status 1Standard production plot 2Cold check 3Reference plot (off grid– not a true plot) 4Training/practice plot (off grid– not a true plot) 5Botched plot file (P3 PDR program only) 6Blind check 7Hot check of production plot Record code 1 on most regular production plots Record code 7 if field crew works with QA to install a regular production plot

New Item Crew Type 1Standard field crew 2QA crew (at least one QA person on plot)

Cruiser Number Record the unique number assigned to identify individual cruisers.

Number of Accessible Forest Land Conditions Record the number of forested conditions on the plot.

Number of Tree Entries Changed Only includes trees and saplings (on both subplots and prism points) Seedlings are tallied in a separate section Include an entry for no tree and sapling tally on a subplot and prism point

Number of Prism Points Remeasured or Subplot Centers Reverted SK = 9 Plots ONLY: Enter the number of Prism Points on remeasured forest plots Enter number of subplot centers that are reverted when plot center has reverted

Trails or Roads New Item Code the nearest trail or road within one mile of plot center: 0None within one mile 1Paved road or highway 2Improved gravel road 3Improved dirt road 4Unimproved dirt road 5Human access trail

Road Access New Item Record the first road access restriction encountered while traveling to the starting point: 0None 1Road blocked by locked gate or cable 2Road blocked by human-made obstruction 3Road blocked by natural occurrences 4Posted no motorized vehicle signs 9Other (specify in plot notes)

Public Use Restrictions New Item Record restrictions posted for the parcel(s) of land that the plot area occupies: 0None 1Keep out/ no trespassing 2No hunting or fishing 3No dumping 9Other (specify in plot notes) Not necessarily the same parcel where SP is located.

Recreation Use 1,2,3 New Item Record up to three signs of the following recreation use on the forested portion of any of the four subplots: 0No evidence of recreation use 1Motor vehicle (4-wheel drive, ATV, motorcycle) 2Horse riding, dog team trails, ski trails 3Camping 4Hiking 5Hunting/ shooting 6Fishing 7Boating– launch site or dock 9Other (specify in plot notes)

Human Debris Record the presence or absence of human debris on the forested portion of any of the four subplots. Record the lowest numbered item if multiple forms of debris occur. 0None 1Noncombustible synthetic (metal, glass, etc.) 2Combustible synthetic (plastic, Styrofoam, tires, etc.) 3Combustible organic material (man-caused: yard waste, compost, slash piles, etc.)

Water on Plot New Item Water sources on the forested portion of the four subplots that are not identified as a separate condition on the plot: 0None 1Permanent streams/ponds 2Permanent swamp, bog, marsh 3Ditch/canal 4Temporary streams 5Flood zones 9Other temporary water (specify in plot notes)

Horizontal Distance to Improved Road Changed Codes are now one-digit categories: 1100 ft or less 2101 to 300 ft 3301 to 500 ft 4501 to 1000 ft to 0.5 mile 6>0.5 to 1 mile 7>1 mile to 3 miles 8>3 miles to 5 miles 9Greater than 5 miles

Horizontal Distance to Urban or Built-Up Land Changed Use the new one-digit distance codes used for distance to improved road.

Horizontal Distance to Agricultural Land Changed Use the new one-digit distance codes used for distance to improved road.

Size of Contiguous Forest Land Record the code that indicates the size of the contiguous forest around plot center using only the photo on which the plot is located.

GPS Coordinates Changed Attempt to average 180 readings Attempt to keep error reading no more than +/- 70 feet Elevation is recorded in feet above mean sea level Option of reporting offset coordinates within 200 feet of plot center

GPS Unit New Item 0GPS coordinates not collected 1Rockwell PLGR 2Other brand capable of field averaging 3Trimble GeoExplorer or Pathfinder Pro 4Recreational GPS (Garmin, Magellan, etc.) Only record code 0 if coordinates cannot be collected at all within 200 feet of PC (unit is damaged, heavy canopy cover, mountain coves, no GPS unit available, etc.) Always record readings collected within 200 feet of PC, even if less than 180 readings are obtained or even if error reading is more than +/- 70 feet.

GPS Serial Number New Item Record the six-digit serial number of the GPS unit

Latitude/Longitude Record the latitude and longitude to the nearest 100 th second Example: 36° 47’ 05.25” 086° 34’ 29.51”

GPS Elevation Changed Now measured in feet above mean sea level

GPS Error New Item Record error reading of the averaged coordinates Make every effort to collect readings with less than or equal to 70 feet of error Record coordinates if cannot obtain an error reading less than +/- 70 feet

Number of Readings New Item Record number readings averaged Make every effort to collect 180 readings Record coordinates if cannot obtain 180 error readings

Azimuth and Distance to PC New Item Leave blank if using a PLGR, even if coordinates are range-calculated. We are not using this in the South as long as we are using PLGRs.

Plot Level Notes New Item Record notes pertaining to the entire plot or to a plot level item

Questions?