Field Sampling Protocols for Woody Materials Training

1. FIA’s Down Woody Materials Field Sampling Protocols2nd of 3 Part Training Series Christopher Woodall DWM National Indicator Advisor

2. Outline • Transect Segmenting • Coarse Woody Debris • Fine Woody Debris • Duff, Litter and Fuelbed • Shrubs and Herbs • Slash Piles

3. 2 1 3 4 Subplot CWD 30 Annular plot 270 24 feet (h.d.) Three / subplot 150 10 ft (s.d.) FWD (large) 6 ft (s.d.) FWD (small & medium) 6.8 ft. radius microplot 14 ft (s.d.) 20 ft (s.d.) 24ft (s.d.) One per subplot Duff, Litter, Fuelbed depths 24 ft. location, every transect

4. Transect Segmenting 1) Only sample DWM components on accessible forest land  2) Must map changes in forest condition classes along transects

5. Transect Segmenting Non-Forest CC #2 Forest CC #1 10 ft Transect length must equal 24 ft, Horizontal Dist.

6. Coarse Woody Debris Moderate Decay Mostly Decayed Freshly Fallen Sampling Procedures Depend on Decay of Individual Pieces

7. CWD Decay Classes

8. CWD Tally Rules Point of Intersection Transect Transect Diameter CWD Piece Axis • Decay Classes 1 - 4 • Piece >= 3” Transect Diameter • Piece >= 3’ Long • Decay Class 5 • Piece >= 5” Transect Diameter • Piece >= 3’ Long • Piece >= 5” Above ground-level

9. CWD Tally Rules Cont’d Only tally portion of log above ground and or above water Standing dead trees are CWD if they lean >= 45  from vertical Must have a diameter >= 3 inches along entire length Tally a piece each time it intersects any transect, regardless of the number of times If log split down center, treat as two separate pieces

10. CWD Forks and Branches Forked Pieces Each fork must meet minimum specs Fork with largest diameter at the crotch is the ‘main bole’ 2nd fork ends at the crotch Large branch Branch must meet minimum specs Length measured from small end to the point where it connects to main bole

11. CWD Measurements Transect Diameter Large End Diameter Small End Diameter Decay Class Species Hollow? CWD History Length CWD distance Decay Class 1-4 5

12. CWD Lengths and Diameters Measure here Measure here Length is measured between diameter measurements When the ends of the log are splintered or crumbling from decay…measure the diameter at the point where it best represents the overall volume of the log.

13. CWD Lengths Separates if Pulled CWD Length CWD Length CWD Diameter CWD Diameter If CWD piece is fractured, either across diameter or length, and crew determines it would separate if pulled by either end… Then… Tally as two separate CWD pieces

14. Fine Woody Debris Count FWD pieces, by size class, intersecting subplot transects

15. FWD Sample Design 30 Tallied on 150 degree transect on each subplot 270 150 Size-Class Tally Counts 10 ft (s.d.) Large FWD: Tally pieces 1” – 2.9” 6 ft (s.d.) Medium FWD: Tally pieces >= ¼ ” – .9” Small FWD: Tally pieces < ¼ ” 14 ft (s.d.) 20 ft (s.d.) 24ft (s.d.)

16. FWD Tally Rules • Estimate FWD tally after count > 50 for diameter < 1 inch • Estimate FWD tally after count > 20 for diameter >= 1 inch • Make attempt to tally FWD first due to trampling • If count exceeds 100 in any size class indicate reason why (i.e. rat’s nest or fallen tree) • If a pile intersects the FWD transect (14 – 24’) do not measure FWD (code ‘Yes’ for ‘RP_on_transect’)

17. Duff, Litter, and Fuelbed Depth of 3 fuel layers above mineral soil

18. Duff, Litter, and Fuelbed CWD & FWD Subplot Fuelbed Depth Litter Duff Mineral Soil Obstructions: If a rock or other significant obstruction is found at sample point, do not measure any depths. If a log is found at sample point, measure fuelbed depth but NOT duff and litter. Measure depths at 24 ft (slope distance) on every transect.

19. Duff, Litter, Fuelbed Duff and litter depth not sample, fuelbed sampled 0 1 2 All sampled Nothing sampled Use coding options to take quality measurements, since we measure these variables at twelve points on each plot, don’t collect data if measurement obstructed or compromised

20. Microplot Fuels 10% Cover Classes

21. Microplot Sampling Estimate coverage (%) and tallest height (ft) of live/deadshrubs/herbs on microplot Estimate coverage (%) of litter on microplot

22. Microplot Sampling Herbs and Shrubs Live and Dead Shrubs Herbs Live: Still attached Shrubs: plants (non-trees), woody stems Dead: Still attached or dislodged, but not down and decaying Herbs: non-woody herbaceous plants including ferns, moss, lichens, sedges, and grasses (< 6 ft in height)

23. Slash/Residue Piles Every slash pile, whose center coincides with a subplot, is assigned to a shape category, dimensions measured, and density estimated

24. Slash/Residue Tally Rules • Tally CWD piles where efficiency of sampling is improved using pile protocol instead of transects • Pile’s center must be in accessible forest land • Pile’s center must be < 24 ft h.d. from subplot center • Pile must contain pieces of CWD >= 3” diameter • Estimate % of pile that contains CWD >= 3” (packing ratio)

25. Pile Shape Codes

26. Pile Density Estimation Stacked cord approaches 80% density = = = 20% 01%

27. End of Part 2 of 3 http://www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/4801/national-programs/indicators/dwm/