a. Determine whether normal environmental conditions are present. 

 Determine whether normal environmental conditions are present 

 by considering the following: 



(1) Is the area presently lacking hydrophytic vegetation 

 and/or hydrologic indicators due to annual or seasonal 

 fluctuations in precipitation or ground-water levels? 



(2) Are hydrophytic vegetation indicators lacking due to 

 seasonal fluctuations in temperature? 



If the answer to either of these questions is thought to be 

 YES, PROCEED TO Section G. If the answer to both questions is 

 NO, PROCEED TO STEP 20b. 



b. Establish an observation point in the first plant community 

 type encountered. Select a representative location along the 

 transect in the first plant community type encountered. When 

 the first plant community type is large and covers a signifi- 

 cant distance along the transect, select an area that is no 

 closer than 300 ft to a perceptible change in plant community 

 type. PROCEED TO STEP 20c. 



c. Characterize parameters. Characterize the parameters at the 

 observation point by completing (1), (2), and (3) below: 



(1) Vegetation. Record on DATA FORM 1 the dominant plant spe- 

 cies in each vegetation layer occurring in the immediate 

 vicinity of the observation point. Use a 5-ft radius for 

 herbs and saplings/shrubs, and a 30-ft radius for trees 

 and woody vines (when present). Subjectively determine 

 the dominant species by estimating those having the 

 largest relative basal area* (woody overstory) , greatest 

 height (woody understory) , greatest percentage of areal 

 cover (herbaceous understory) , and/or greatest number of 

 stems (woody vines). NOTE: Plot size may be estimated, 

 and plot size may also be varied when site conditions war- 

 rant. Record on DATA FORM 1 any dominant species observed 

 to have morphological adaptations (Appendix C, Section 3) 

 for occurrence in wetlands, and determine and record domi- 

 nant species that have known physiological adaptations for 

 occurrence in wetlands (Appendix C, Section 3) . Record on 

 DATA FORM 1 the indicator status (Appendix C, Section 1 or 

 2) of each dominant species. Hydrophytic vegetation is 

 present at the observation point when more than 50 percent 

 of the dominant species have an indicator status of OBL, 

 FACW, and/or FAC**; when two or more dominant species have 

 observed morphological or known physiological adaptations 

 for occurrence in wetlands; or when other indicators of 

 hydrophytic vegetation (PART III, paragraph 35) are 



* This term is used because species having the largest individuals may not 

 be dominant when only a few are present. To use relative basal area, con- 

 sider both the size and number of individuals of a species and subjectively 

 compare with other species present. 

 ** For the FAC-neutral option, see paragraph 35a. 



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