Roadside Revegetation

MONITORING PROCEDURES
on the variability of the parameter of interest (see Section 12.8, Sample Size Determination).
How the data will be analyzed will be based on the objectives for monitoring (see Section
12.9, Statistical Analysis Using Confidence Intervals). These sections should be reviewed before
this procedure is used.
12.2.1 SAMPLING BY FIXED FRAME
Figure 12-2 | Fixed frame
for transect sampling
A fixed frame can be adapted to allow for the
positioning of a laser pointer at 20 points in
the frame. Soil cover or plant cover attributes
are recorded at each laser point. The frame in
this example is 8 inches by 20 inches, with 2
inch spacing within rows and 4 inch spacing
between rows. The laser is a Class IIIa red laser
diode module that produces a 1mm dot.
Soil cover is quantified at each quadrat based on readings from a 20-point fixed frame. Several
types of frames have been developed. The most appropriate frames are lightweight and
portable, stable, and make it easy to assess data points on the ground surface. One frame that
meets these criteria uses a laser pointer to identify data points. The frame shown in Figure
12-2 has 20 slots to position a laser pointer. During monitoring, the laser pointer is moved to
each of the 20 slots. Soil cover attributes are recorded where the laser hits the ground surface.
Contact the authors of this report for more information on this frame.
The fixed frame must be located along the tape in a consistent manner throughout the sampling
of a unit (Figure 12-3). For instance, the frame might be placed on the right side of the tape
with the lower corner of the frame at the predetermined distance on the tape. This procedure
would be applied across the entire sampling area. The legs of the frame are positioned so that
the surface of the frame is on the same plane as the ground surface.
Each data point is characterized from a set of predetermined label descriptors that include,
but are not limited to, the following:
◾◾
Soil
◾◾
Gravel (2mm to 3 inches)
◾◾
Rock (> 3 inches)
◾◾
Applied mulch
◾◾
Live vegetation (grasses, forbs, lichens, mosses)
◾◾
Dead vegetation
Figure 12-3 | Fixed frame for
measuring soil cover
A fixed frame for measuring soil cover is
placed at predetermined distances on a
transect.
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