from the baseline, begin the first plot in the non- 

 wetland at approximately 300 feet from the point 

 where the nonwetland begins to intergrade into a 

 potential wetland community type. Keep in mind 

 that additional plots will be required to determine 

 the wedand-nonwetland boundary between fixed 

 points. In large areas having a mosaic of plant 

 communities, one transect may contain several wet- 

 land boundaries. 



If obstacles such as a body of water or impenetra- 

 ble thicket prevent access tlirough the length of the 

 transect, access from the opposite side of the pro- 

 ject area may be necessary to complete the transect; 

 take appropriate compass reading and location data. 

 At each sample plot (i.e., plant community or fixed 

 interval area), proceed to Step 6. 



Step 6. Determine whether normal environ- 

 mental conditions are present. Determine whether 

 normal environmental conditions are present by 

 considering the following: 



1) Is the area presentiy lacking hydrophyric 

 vegetation or hydrologic indicators due to annual, 

 seasonal or long-term fluctuations in precipitation, 

 surface water, or ground-water levels? 



2) Are hydrophytic vegetation indicators 

 lacking due to seasonal fluctuations in temperature 

 (e.g., seasonality of plant growth)? 



If the answer to either of these questions is YES or 

 uncertain, proceed to the section on problem area 

 wedand determinations (p. 55). If the answer to 

 both questions is NO, normal conditions are 

 assumed to be present Proceed to Step 7 when fol- 

 lowing the plant community transect approach. If 

 following the fixed interval approach, go to the 

 appropriate fixed point along the transect and pro- 

 ceed to Step 8. 



Step 7. Locate a sample plot in the plant 

 community type encountered. Choose a representa- 

 tive location along the transect in this plant commu- 

 nity. Select an area that is no closer than 50 feet 

 from the baseline or from any perceptible change in 

 the plant community type. Mark the center of the 

 sample plot on the base map or photo and flag the 

 point in the field. Additional sample plots should 

 be established within the plant community at 3(X)- 

 foot intervals along the transect or sooner if a dif- 

 ferent plant community is encountered. (Note: In 

 large-sized plant communities, a sampling interval 



larger than 300 feet may be appropriate, but try to 

 use 300-foot intervals first.) Proceed to Step 8. 



Step 8. iMy out the boundary of the sample 

 plot. A circular sample plot with a 30-foot radius 

 should be established. (Note The size and shape of 

 the plot may be changed to match local conditions.) 

 At the flagged center of the plot, use a compass to 

 divide the circular plot into four equal sampling 

 units at 90°, 180°, 270°, and 360°. Mark the outer 

 points of the plot with flagging. Proceed to Step 9. 



Step 9. Characterize the vegetation and 

 determine dominant species within the sample plot. 

 Sample the vegetation in each layer or stratum (i.e., 

 tree, sapling, shrub, herb, woody vine, and bryo- 

 phyte) within the plot using the following proce- 

 dures for each vegetative stratum and enter data on 

 appropriate data sheet (see Appendix B for exam- 

 ples of data sheet): 



\) Herb stratum 



A) Sample this stratum using corresponding 

 approach: 



(1) Plant community transect sampling 

 approach: 



(a) Select one of the following designs: 



(i) Eight (8) - 8" x 20" sample 

 quadrats (two for each sampling 

 unit within the circular plot); or 



(ii) Four (4) - 20" x 20" sample 

 quadrats ( one for each sample 

 unit within the plot); or 



(iii) Four (4) - 40" x 40" sample 

 quadrats (one for each sample 

 unit). 



{Note: Alternate shapes of sample quad- 

 rats are acceptable provided they are 

 similar in area to those listed above.) 



(b) Randomly toss the quadrat frame 

 into the understory of the appropri- 

 ate sample unit of the plot. 



(c) Record percent areal cover of each 

 plant species. 



f 



42 



