1 SITE DESCRIPTION

Site Description Form
Field Procedure
Completing the Form
1.	Date
2.	Plot Number
3.	Project ID
4.	Field Number
5.	Surveyor(s)
6.	General Location
7.	Forest Region
8.	Map Sheet
9.	UTM Zone
10.	Latitude/Longitude or Northing/Easting
11.	Air Photo Number
12.	X/Y Co-ordinates
13.	Map Unit
14.	Site Diagram
15.	Plot Representing
16.	Biogeoclimatic Unit
17.	Site Series
18.	Transition/Distribution Codes
19.	Ecosection
20.	Moisture Regime
21.	Nutrient Regime
22.	Successional Status
23.	Structural Stage
24.	Realm/Class
25.	Site Disturbance
26.	Photo Roll and Frame Numbers
27.	Elevation
28.	Slope
29.	Aspect
30.	Mesoslope Position
31.	Surface Topography
32.	Exposure Type
33.	Surface Substrate
34.	Notes
Appendices
1.1	Biogeoclimatic Units of British Columbia
1.2	Ecosections of British Columbia
Tables
1.1	Soil moisture regime classes
1.2	Nutrient regime classes and relationships between regime and site properties
Figures
1.1	Examples of site diagrams
1.2	Stand structure modifiers
1.3	Mesoslope position

Site Desciption Form

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1.	Record the date, project ID, field number, surveyor(s) name(s), general location, forest region, and ecosection. Copy the plot number to other forms.
2.	If air photos are available, record flight line and photo numbers at this time. If GPS co-ordinates are available, record latitude and longitude.
3.	Establish the location of plot boundaries.

1.	Determine the elevation, slope, and aspect.
2.	Traverse the entire plot systematically, observing the position of the plot relative to the surrounding landscape, microtopographic features, and the composition of surface substrates. Record meso-slope position, surface topography and percentage of substrate classes.
3.	Note any evidence of site disturbance.
4.	Assess successional status and structural stage based on site factors and vegetation.
5.	Integrate site, soil, and vegetation factors to determine moisture and nutrient regime and biogeoclimatic unit.
6.	Based on the foregoing assessments, determine site series. If the site is complex, estimate and record the proportion of the plot represented by each site series and determine the transition/distribution code.
7.	If applicable, enter exposure type and realm/class.
8.	Sketch a plot diagram.
9.	Enter a brief description of key site features under Item 15, "Plot Representing."
10.	Check that all the required form information has been collected. Strike through any fields that were not assessed.

1.	Locate the plot on a 1:20 000 map (or other scale), and record the map sheet number. If latitude and longitude were not entered in the field, determine the UTM zone and co-ordinates from the map.
2.	Compare elevation recorded in the field with that indicated on a topographic map, and adjust if appropriate.
3.	Locate the plot on an air photo and determine X and Y co-ordinates.
4.	Check again that all the required information has been collected and noted on the form.

Refer to the following guides for more information:

Ministry of Forests (MOF) regional field guides to site identification and interprepation
Describing Ecosystems in the Field (DEIF) manual (Luttmerding et al. 1990)