The following methods were used to determine the distribution of 

 vegetation in the meadows: 



1) Approximate measurements of the length and 

 width of each meadow were made. 



2) Major community types in each meadow were determined by 

 subjectively identifying relatively homogeneous stands 

 of associated plant species within a contiguous area. 



3) Three ten-meter transects were laid out within selected major 

 community types in each meadow. The transects were placed in 

 what appeared to be the most representative part of each 

 community, and were generally oriented parallel to the 

 Kootenai River. 



4) A measuring tape was stretched the length of the transect, and 

 Daubenmire coverage frames (Daubenmire 1959) were placed on 

 alternating sides of the tape at one-meter intervals. 



The percent of canopy-coverage for each plant species within 

 each frame was noted and recorded on data sheets. 



5) Color photographs of the major community types were taken. 

 These are on file with DNRC in Helena. 



6) Canopy-coverage data, originally assigned a cover class number 

 (Daubenmire 1959), were converted to percent coverage for 

 each plant species, using the midpoint for each class. 



7) Maps of each meadow were drawn on topographic 

 maps at a scale of 1:1,200. 



