National Core Field Guide, Version 5.1 October, 2011 FOREST INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS NATIONAL CORE FIELD GUIDE VOLUME I: FIELD DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES FOR PHASE 2 PLOTS Version 5.1 National Core Field Guide, Version 5.1 October, 2011 Changes from the Phase 2 Field Guide version 5.0 to version 5.1 Changes documented in change proposals are indicated in bold type. The corresponding proposal name can be seen using the comments feature in the electronic file. • Section 8. Phase 2 (P2) Vegetation Profile (Core Optional). Corrected several figure numbers and figure references in the text. • 8.2. General definitions. NRCS PLANTS database. Changed text from: “USDA, NRCS. 2000. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 1 January 2000). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. FIA currently uses a stable codeset downloaded in January of 2000.” To: “USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 1 January 2010). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA. FIA currently uses a stable codeset downloaded in January of 2010”. • 8.6.2. SPECIES CODE. Changed the text in the first paragraph from: “Record a code for each sampled vascular plant species found rooted in or overhanging the sampled condition of the subplot at any height. Species codes must be the standardized codes in the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) PLANTS database (currently January 2000 version). Identification to species only is expected. However, if subspecies information is known, enter the appropriate NRCS code. For graminoids, genus and unknown codes are acceptable, but do not lump species of the same genera or unknown code. For example, if several unknown CAREX species are present, only record the individual species present with cover of at least 3 percent.” To: “Record a code for each sampled vascular plant species found rooted in or overhanging the sampled condition of the subplot at any height. Species codes must be the standardized codes in the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) PLANTS database (currently January 2010 version). Identification to species only is expected. However, if subspecies information is known, enter the appropriate NRCS code. For graminoids, genus and unknown codes are acceptable, but do not lump species of the same genera or unknown code. For example, if several unknown CAREX species are present, only record the individual species present with cover of at least 3 percent.” • 9.9. SPECIES CODE. Changed the text in the first paragraph from: “Record the code for any species listed in appendix 9 that is found rooted in or overhanging (and rooted out of) the measured condition within the subplot. Species codes must be the standardized codes in the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) PLANTS database January 2000 version maintained by the FIA IM group (USDA, NRCS. 2000. The PLANTS database [http://plants.usda.gov/plants]. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874- 4490).” To: “Record the code for any species listed in appendix 9 that is found rooted in or overhanging (and rooted out of) the measured condition within the subplot. Species codes must be the standardized codes in the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) PLANTS database January 2010 version maintained by the FIA IM group (USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS database [http://plants.usda.gov/plants]. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874- 4490).” National Core Field Guide, Version 5.1 October, 2011 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................... 8 Field Guide Layout .................................................................................................................................... 9 Units Of Measure ..................................................................................................................................... 10 0.0 General Description ....................................................................................................................... 11 0.1 Plot Setup ..................................................................................................................................... 12 0.2 Plot Integrity .................................................................................................................................. 13 1.0 Plot Level Data ............................................................................................................................... 14 1.1 STATE ....................................................................................................................................... 14 1.2 COUNTY ................................................................................................................................... 14 1.3 PLOT NUMBER ........................................................................................................................ 14 1.4 PLOT STATUS .......................................................................................................................... 15 1.5 NONFOREST SAMPLING STATUS ......................................................................................... 15 1.6 NONFOREST PLOT STATUS .................................................................................................. 15 1.7 PLOT NONSAMPLED REASON .............................................................................................. 16 1.8 NONFOREST PLOT NONSAMPLED REASON ....................................................................... 17 1.9 SUBPLOTS EXAMINED ........................................................................................................... 17 1.10 SAMPLE KIND ...................................................................................................................... 17 1.11 PREVIOUS PLOT NUMBER ................................................................................................. 18 1.12 FIELD GUIDE VERSION ....................................................................................................... 18 1.13 CURRENT DATE .................................................................................................................. 18 1.13.1 YEAR ................................................................................................................................. 18 1.13.2 MONTH .............................................................................................................................. 19 1.13.3 DAY .................................................................................................................................... 19 1.14 DECLINATION (CORE OPTIONAL) ..................................................................................... 19 1.15 HORIZONTAL DISTANCE TO IMPROVED ROAD .............................................................. 19 1.16 WATER ON PLOT ................................................................................................................. 20 1.17 QA STATUS .......................................................................................................................... 20 1.18 CREW NUMBER ................................................................................................................... 21 1.19 GPS Coordinates ................................................................................................................... 21 1.19.1 GPS Unit Settings, Datum, and COORDINATE SYSTEM ................................................ 21 1.19.2 Collecting Readings ........................................................................................................... 21 1.19.3 GPS UNIT .......................................................................................................................... 22 1.19.4 GPS SERIAL NUMBER ..................................................................................................... 22 1.19.5 GPS ENTRY METHOD ..................................................................................................... 22 1.19.6 GPS DATUM ...................................................................................................................... 22 1.19.7 COORDINATE SYSTEM ................................................................................................... 23 1.19.8 Latitude .............................................................................................................................. 23 1.19.8.1LATITUDE DEGREES ........................................................................................................ 23 1.19.8.2 LATITUDE MINUTES ......................................................................................................... 23 1.19.8.3 LATITUDE SECONDS ....................................................................................................... 23 1.19.9 Longitude ........................................................................................................................... 24 1.19.9.1 LONGITUDE DEGREES .................................................................................................... 24 1.19.9.2 LONGITUDE MINUTES ..................................................................................................... 24 1.19.9.3 LONGITUDE SECONDS ................................................................................................... 24 1.19.10 UTM ZONE ....................................................................................................................