J.5_Ex5_Polygon_Field_Verification_Form.docx

Exhibit 5 -- FSVEG Polygon Field Verification (FV) Form

A. Completing the R2 FSVeg Spatial Polygon Vegetation Attributes Form

After all of the CSE Tree Point Data has been collected, the R2 FSVeg Spatial Polygon Vegetation Attributes Form will be completed to record all vegetation compositions for the polygon (trees, shrubs, forbs, grasses, and non-veg surface cover.) This form will be completed based on the vegetation recorded at the points, and by the ocular observations of vegetation occurring in the polygons between the points, as you traveled through the polygon.

Record the following information for each polygon: (*required)

Data located in NRIS_VegPoly table

CROWN = Non overlapping crowns – total adds to 100% CANOPY = Overlapping crowns from different layers (see detailed descriptions and rules above)

GL On ground sampling with low or uncalculated statistical reliability GS On ground sampling with statistical reliability showing a standard error of 20% or less LI Lidar MS Most Similar Neighbor OG Old Growth Survey PE Plantation Exam PH Post harvest update PI Plantation inventory PR Photo inventory (remote sensing) QP Quick Plot Plantation Exam QS Quick plot stand exam RE Regeneration/Stocking RL Range Inventory: Qualitative RN Range Inventory: Quantitative RQ Stand Exam with required number of plots SE Stand Exam SI Satellite Imagery TH Thinning Exam WA Walk-through WT Walk-through with update WV Walk-through survey or visual observation

NOTE: This is NOT the same as the Purpose Code for point data collected using the Common Stand Exam (CSE) data collection protocols – this code is for describing HOW the attributes in the table were derived.

Data located in NRIS_VegCharacterizations table

If the polygon does not currently have a total of 25% crown cover of trees, but was previously tree cover and is currently not stocked due to a recent harvest or burns, enter the expected regenerating cover type or the previous cover type:

TAA – Aspen TBS – Blue Spruce TBS – Bristlecone Pine TBO – Bur Oak TCW -- Cottonwood TDF – Douglas-fir TER – Eastern Red Cedar TAE – Green Ash TJP – Jack Pine TLP – Lodgepole Pine TLI – Limber Pine TPB – Paper Birch TPJ – Pinyon/Juniper TPP – Ponderosa Pine TRJ – Rocky Mountain Juniper TSC – Salt Cedar TSP – Scotch Pine TSF – Spruce and Fir TWP – Southwestern White Pine TWF – White Fir TWB – Whitebark Pine TWS – White spruce

Vegetation information is attributed to a site based on a delineated polygon which is homogeneous as possible given the size constraints of 1:24000 remotely sensed imagery. Some polygons represent natural mosiacs consisting of patchy polygons. If the patches make up at least 20 percent of the polygon, then the polygon is considered to be patchy and not continuous.

Continuous The continuous polygon has vegetation or other cover that is uniformly or consistently distributed throughout. An example of a continuous (C) polygon composed of two tree species, such as spruce and fir as shown in the figure on the left below. Both species are evenly distributed throughout the stand.

Patchy A patchy polygon has vegetation that is discontinuous throughout the stand, occurring in clumps that may or may not vary in size. The figure on the right below shows a polygon with lodgepole pine continuously distributed throughout the stand and containing patches of aspen. For the polygon to be coded as patchy, at least 20 percent of the area must be in patches. Patchiness may sometimes be linear such as a power line too small to delineate that goes across the polygon.

A – Signs of declining crowns are absent P – Signs of declining crowns or scattered dead trees present in 5-15% of trees D – Dead or declining crowns present in 16-50% of trees S – Significant amount of dead or declining crowns present (over 50%)

Canopy Closure TREES (*required when Species Survey Method is CANOPY) Used for the CANOPY survey method only. Record the total crown cover of LIVE trees within the polygon on one plane as viewed from above, with no overlap. Codes 1-100

Habitat Structural Stage (field interpreted/observed)

(NOT recommended for field interpretation in R2, as this item will be populated with the R2Calcs using the field collected vegetation composition data in the table) Record the habitat structural stage as observed in the Field:

1M Grass-Forb, natural meadow 1T Grass-Forb, previously trees 2S Shrub-Seedling, natural shrubland 2T Shrub-Seedling, previously trees 3A Sapling-Pole, Crown cover percent < 40% crown cover 3B Sapling-Pole, Crown cover percent >= 40 and < 70% corwn cover 3C Sapling-Pole, Crown cover percent >= 70% crown cover 4A Mature and Over Mature, Crown cover percent < 40% cover 4B Mature and Over Mature, Crown cover percent >= 40 and < 70% cover 4C Mature and Over Mature, Crown cover percent >= 70% cover 5 Old Growth, Forest Criteria and Documentation usually determined by a scoring system (Note that Region 2 decided to separate old growth from HSS in 1994 but some forests still use the “5” code)

Data located in NRIS_VegPolyLocal table

N – No Major Disturbance H – Harvest H11 – Clearcut H12 – Prep. Cut H13 – Seed Cut H14 – Removal Cut H15 – Selection Cut H22 – Commercial Thinning H23 – Sanitation T – Thinning F – Fire W – Wind I – Insect and Disease O – Other

Data located in NRIS_VegSubpopulations table

the dominant lifeform or ground surface cover, using one of the codes listed. Use those lifeform codes for vegetation life-forms and non-vegetated ground surface cover types. For non-vegetated ground surface types, record the ground surface cover to the level that can be accurately interpreted.

T Trees are woody plants possessing at maturity a well-developed stem, are generally at least 3 inches in diameter at DBH or DRC, have a definite formed crown of foliage, and are generally a height of at least 16 feet.

S Shrubs are plants with persistent woody stems, a relatively low growth habit, and generally produce several basal shoots instead of a single well developed stem. Shrubs also differ from trees by their low stature and non-arborescent form, and are usually less than 16 feet tall at maturity.

G Grasses. Members of the family Poaceae (Gramineae), or other grass-like plants such as Cyperaceae (sedge) or Juncaceae (rush).

F Forbs. Herbaceous plants other than those in the Poaceae (grass), Cyperaceae (sedge), or Juncaceae (rush) families.

W Water B Barren areas with unknown composition, lacks vegetation BS Bare soil RS Rock and soil, soil with significant surface rock (not distinguishable from one another on photo) RO Rock, all sizes LD Litter/duff WO Wood IC Permanent ice/snow LI Lichen AL Algae CA Cactus FG Fungus VI Vine MO Moss (The individual Lifeform/GSC and Layer codes are combined as Group codes for FSVeg Spatial. See list of Group Codes below.)

0 Unknown (SHRUBS ONLY) 1 Top layer 2 Middle layer 3 Bottom layer

located at National Plants Database (Natural Resources Conservation Service official National Plants codes).

For trees and shrubs, all species must be accurately identified on the data sheet. If species is unknown, identify to genus, using the proper NRCS genus codes. Grass and forb species are not required to be identified separately, but may be grouped collectively or classified to the genus. If grouping, the field observer should include all grasses which occur into one data entry coded by lifeform (G) and all forbs into a separate line entry coded by lifeform (F).

E - Established seedlings. Mostly comprised of trees 0.0 - 0.9 “ dbh S - Small. Trees 1.0 - 4.9” dbh M - Medium. Trees are 5.0 - 8.9” dbh L – Large. Trees are 9.0-15.9” dbh V - Very Large. Trees are 16.0”+ dbh

Woodland species are measured at the root collar (DRC).

S = Small shrubs less than 2.5 feet tall M = Medium shrubs 2.5 – 6.4 feet tall L = Large shrubs greater than 6.4 feet tall U = Unknown

FIELD VERIFICATION POLYGON DATA (FV) INSPECTION FORM

Total Deductions (sum of column 'C')

D

Number of Stands Inspected

E

Field Verification Form Score (D / E)

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