2011_R2CoverBoardProtocolUpdate.docx

Use of cover boards for R2: DRAFT 5/17/11

This is designed to complement the SRLA implementation guide and Squires’ approach to further standardize field methods for the 2011 field season.

All cover boards should be 2 m. For units that have already purchased 6 ft cover boards, continue to use these until they are replaced.

At each plot where horizontal cover will be measured:

1. establish (1 ) 22.4 m transect centered at plot center and oriented north / south

2. stand at plot center on the substrate (snow, litter, rock, etc) to record cover measurements

3. record cover board measurements at the transect termini (11.2 m from plot center; the north and south readings) and 2 points perpendicular to the transect and 11.2 m from plot center (the east and west readings); 4 cover board readings per plot

4. for winter sampling, estimate visual obstruction of the cover board at 0.5 m increments (0 – 0.5, 0.5 – 1.0, 1.0 – 1.5, 1.5 – 2.0) from the substrate (snow surface, ground, etc) to the top of the cover board [4 readings total].

5. Record snow depth in either cm or inches at plot center

6. for summer sampling, use 2 cover boards sewn together and estimate visual obstruction in 0.5 m increments from the ground to the top of the 2nd cover board [8 readings total]

7. record cover board measurements in increments of 5% (i.e., 0, 5, 10, 15, 20,…)

8. regardless of season, the following procedures will be followed:

a. do not attempt to adjust angle of view from observer to the cover board when measuring the higher sections of the cover board. This will result in higher recorded measurements than would be observed when viewing each cover board section directly, but will control for potential variation and should decrease sampling time.

b. On slopes >10%, record percent slope from the observer to the cover board. This information may be used to develop and apply a correction factor to adjust the measurements.

c. record all visual obstructions from plot center; do not exclude tree boles or dead material and do not move from plot center if tree boles or other obstructions occur near plot center

d. do not attempt to raise cover boards above the ground; cover board measurements will begin at the substrate surface regardless of substrate (snow, litter, bare rock, etc)

9. record photographs to document general stand conditions. Photographs should include an 8.5*11” paper with site ID (e.g., unit #, plot #) in the photo foreground for reference and general scale. Stand photographs do not need to be taken from plot center; rather they should capture the ‘essence’ of the stand. When practical, at least one stand photo should include a cover board for general reference.

10. record one photograph from plot center to the cover board for each cover board measurement (N, E, S, W)

Refer to the SRLA implementation guide overview of the Squires’ technique (Tab 7b) for schematics of plot layout, cover board diagram, etc. NOTE: although the plot layout schematic includes ’10 m’ along the between the observer and cover boards, the correct distance from plot center to cover boards is 11.2 m.