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These recommendations are based on the methods of data collection used in 2001 in <br />Phase 1 of Cottonwood Ranch. Use of step -point sampling in another cover type (non <br />forest) may require more sample points. This increase in sample points would be needed <br />if the herbaceous cover was more variable. <br />Recommendations for Modifications to the Program -Level Vegetation <br />Monitoring Protocol <br />1. Recommend reducing the amount of data collected with the point - centered- <br />quarter sampling. <br />The analyses presented in this report indicate an increase in the spacing of point- centered <br />quarter points along the transect would not drastically increase the bias or decrease the <br />precision of the tree and shrub /sapling density estimates. <br />2. Recommend eliminating the step -point sampling along the land cover transect in <br />the forested cover type and implementing step -point sampling of 25 hits along each of 2 <br />transects centered on the point- centered quarter sample points. <br />The methods implemented in 2001 for the step -point sampling involved recording a point <br />every 2 meters through all habitat types. This method was quick and easy in the <br />grassland habitat types, but step -point sampling through the dense forest was very <br />difficult and time consuming. In order to collect information about the herbaceous <br />community in the forest, we recommend collecting 50 step -point samples at each point - <br />centered quarter location. <br />3. Recommend point- centered - quarter and step -point sampling on 20 transects per <br />property. <br />The vegetation sampling locations for the 2001 survey were linked to anchor points <br />spaced every 1/4 mile along the centerline of the river. Since Jeffrey Island contains <br />approximately 8.75 miles of river and Cottonwood Ranch contains approximately 3.25 <br />mile of river, there were north to south vegetation transects established at 35 and 13 <br />anchor points of the two properties, respectively. While Jeffrey Island is approximately <br />1600 hectares and Cottonwood Ranch is approximately 1072 hectares, the two properties <br />had very nearly the same amount of forested land, 587 and 591 hectares respectively. <br />The analyses presented in this report indicate at least 20 transects were needed in the <br />sample to have adequate precision for the estimates of the density of trees and <br />shrub /saplings. This recommendation results in a decrease in the number of transects at <br />Jeffrey Island and an increase in the number of transects at Cottonwood Ranch. The <br />vegetation sampling is designed to provide data for inferences to each property and to <br />have equal representation of the river corridor in the sample. This is accomplished <br />through the use of anchor points along the centerline of the river for locating sampling <br />