Site Description

21. Nutrient Regime

Enter a code (A-F) for nutrient regime, indicating the available nutrient supply relative to other sites within the same biogeoclimatic unit. Base the assessment on a combination of environmental factors, soil properties, and indicator plants. Features that are strongly expressed may compensate for other factors to create richer or poorer conditions. Classes are listed with some criteria in Table 1.2.

If two or more areas of plot have a distinctly different nutrient regime, enter the code for the dominant class, and give the range (e.g., C, B-C).
Where the nutrient regime is distinctly transitional between two classes, enter closest class followed by an asterisk and explain under "Notes" (e.g. C*).

TABLE 1.2. Nutrient regime classes and relationships between nutrient regime and site properties

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22. Successional Status

Enter the two or three-character uppercase code for successional status. Apply these codes where forest succession is expected to occur. Under extreme conditions, stand age may vary from the age ranges suggested here.

NV = Non-Vegetated:
Vegetation is either absent or less than five percent cover because of recent severe disturbances such as fire, mass-wasting, or flooding.

PS=Pioneer Seral:
Stage where vegetation occupies a site following the elimination of the original plant cover by a disturbance such as fire, logging, or scalping of the soil surface.

May also be an early stage of development on talus slopes or erosion scars.

YS=Young Seral:
Young stands of early seral species or communities where self-thinning has not yet occurred.

Generally young even-aged stands (usually < 60 years old) with an even canopy height.
Includes dense stagnated pine stands, which may be up to 100 years old.

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MS=Maturing Seral:
Mid-seral stands of mature age (generally 60-140 years old) that have gone through an initial natural thinning due to species interactions.

One age class in the overstorey and regeneration in a much younger age class, composed of same species, and/or climax species, and/or species with greater shade tolerance.

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OS=Overmature Seral:
Stands dominated by the original overstorey species at a "decadent" age (usually > 140 years old).

Tree species in the main upper canopy are dying.
Typically a secondary tree canopy consisting of same species or a more shade-tolerant species; some individuals belonging to second generation may have entered the main canopy.

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Overmature seral stand

YC=Young Climax:
Stand is composed of species in proportions typical of the climax expected for the site, but the community structure expected at climax has not developed.

Differs from climax stage in being even-aged and young (< 80 years old), and having a uniform canopy height.

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Young climax stand

YCC=Young Climatic Climax:
Young stands (< 80 years old) on zonal sites, composed of the same species expected in climatic climax stands; differ from MCC stands in having a stand structure that is more or less even-aged and of uniform height class.

YEC=Young Edaphic Climax:
Young stands (usually < 80 years old) composed of the same species expected at climax on a site edaphically different from a "zonal" site.

Differs in stand structure from the MEC in being more or less even-aged and of uniform height class.
Examples include a young spruce stand on a wet site, or a young Douglas-fir stand on a dry, south-facing slope.

MC=Maturing Climax:
Stands composed of species expected to be present in the climax stand; stand has undergone natural thinning, gaps have been created, and a structure similar to that expected at climax has developed.

Differs from the YC in having a better-developed understorey and a more or less continuous age and height class distribution, although a gap may exist between the older or upper class and the next class.
Some remnants of the earlier stand may remain, but they should not have any effect on the density or structure of the stand. Removal of a tree would not cause a significant response in the growth or establishment of the climax trees.

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Maturing climax stand

MCC=Maturing Climatic Climax:
Stands on zonal sites composed of the species representative of the climatic climax, and approaching a continuous age and height class distribution.

There may be a gap between the main canopy and the continuous age and height class distribution of the regeneration.
Stands are at least 80-120 years old, but usually much older.

MEC=Maturing Edaphic Climax:
Differs from MCC stands in species composition and site conditions (occurs on azonal sites); soil properties differ primarily in terms of soil moisture and nutrient regime.

Species differences may be in stand or understorey.
Examples include grassland communities on coarse-textured or shallow soils; spruce-horsetail communities on floodplains; bogs and fens in large depressional areas; cedar-devil's club communities on moist, rich sites in a BGC unit where cedar-hemlock-oakfern communities occur on zonal sites.

DC=Disclimax:
A self-perpetuating community that strongly differs in species composition from the edaphic or climatic climax expected for the site; normal succession has been arrested by an external physical or anthropogenic factor.

Results from changes to the physical characteristics of the site, associated with disturbances such as fire, intensive grazing, or avalanche.

NOTE: The codes EC or CC, for Edaphic Climax or Climatic Climax, may be used where it is difficult to determine whether the successional status is "young" or "maturing."

23. Structural Stage¹

In the assessment of structural stage, structural features and age criteria should be considered. Use numeric and lowercase alphabetic codes unless otherwise directed. Modifiers for structural stage (Figure 1.2) and stand composition are optional. Separate modifier codes from the structural stage code with a slash (e.g., 7/mC; 3b/D). Uppercase codes in parentheses are used in Vegetation Resources Inventory (Resource Inventory Committee, 1997).

¹Structural stage categories and modifiers presented here draw on schemes proposed by Hamilton (1988), Oliver and Larson (1990), Weetman et al. (1990), and Vegetation Inventory Working Group (1995).

Post-disturbance stages, or environmentally limited structural development:

1 (SB)

Sparse/bryoid: Initial stages of primary and secondary succession; bryophytes and lichens often dominant; time since disturbance <20 years for normal forest succession, may be prolonged (50-100+ years) where there is little or no soil development (bedrock, boulder fields); total shrub and herb cover <20%; total tree cover <10%.

1a (SP)	Sparse - less than 10% vegetation cover; or
1b (BR)	Bryoid - bryophite and lichen-dominated community (>50% of total vegetative cover).

Stand initiation stages or environmentally induced structural development:

2 (H)

Herb: Early successional stage or herb communities maintained by environmental conditions or disturbance (e.g., snow fields, avalanche tracks, wetlands, flooding, grasslands, intensive grazing, intense fire damage); dominated by herbs (forbs, graminoids, ferns); some invading or residual shrubs and trees may be present; tree cover < 10%, shrubs < 20% or < 33% of total cover, herb-layer cover > 20%, or > 33% of total cover; time since disturbance < 20 years for normal forest succession; many non-forested communities are perpetually maintained in this stage.

2a (FO)	Forb-dominated - includes non-graminoid herbs and ferns;
2b (GR)	Graminoid-dominated - includes grasses, sedges, reeds, and rushes;
2c (AQ)	Aquatic - floating or submerged; does not include sedges growing in marshes with standing water (classed as 2b); or
2d (DS)	Dwarf shrub-dominated - dominated by dwarf woody species such as Arctostaphylos alpina, Salix reticulata, Rhododendron lapponicum, Cassiope tetragona (see Table 3.1 in Vegetation section).

3 (SH)

Shrub/Herb: Early successional stage or shrub communities maintained by environmental conditions or disturbance; dominated by shrubby vegetation; seedlings and advance regeneration may be abundant; tree cover < 10%, shrub cover > 20% or > 33% of total cover.

3a (LS)	Low shrub - dominated by shrubby vegetation < 2 m tall; seedlings and advance regeneration may be abundant; time since disturbance < 20 years for normal forest succession; may be perpetuated indefinitely by environmental conditions or disturbance; or
3b (TS)	Tall shrub - dominated by shrubby vegetation that is 2-10 m tall; seedlings and advance regeneration may be abundant; time since disturbance < 40 years for normal forest succession; may be perpetuated indefinitely.

Stem exclusion stage:

4 (PS)

Pole/Sapling: Trees > 10 m tall, typically densely stocked, have overtopped shrub and herb layers; younger stands are vigorous (usually > 10-15 years old); older stagnated stands (up to 100 years old) are also included; self-thinning and vertical structure not yet evident in the canopy - this often occurs by age 30 in vigorous broadleaf stands, which are generally younger than coniferous stands at the same structural stage; time since disturbance < 40 years for normal forest succession; up to 100+ years for dense (5000 - 15000+ stems per ha) stagnant stands.

5 (YF)

Young Forest: Self-thinning has become evident and the forest canopy has begun to differentiate into distinct layers (dominant, main canopy, and overtopped); vigorous growth and a more open stand than in the PS stage; begins as early as age 30 and extends to 50-80 years; time since disturbance generally 40-80 years, depending on tree species and ecological conditions.

Understorey reinitiation stages:

6 (MF)

Mature Forest: Trees established after the last disturbance have matured; a second cycle of shade-tolerant trees may have become established; understories become well developed as the canopy opens up; time since disturbance generally 80-140 years for BGC group A² and 80-250 years for group B³.

Old-growth stage:

7 (OF)

Old Forest: Old, structurally complex stands comprised mainly of shade-tolerant and regenerating tree species, although older seral and long-lived trees from a disturbance such as fire may still dominate the upper canopy; snags and coarse woody debris in all stages of decomposition and patchy understories typical; understories may include tree species uncommon in the canopy, because of inherent limitations of these species under the given conditions; time since disturbance generally > 140 years for BGC group A² and > 250 years for group B³.

²	BGC Group A: includes BWBSdk, BWBSmw, BWBSwk, BWBSvk, ESSFdc, ESSFdk, ESSFdv, ESSFxc, ICHdk, ICHdw, ICHmk1, ICHmk2, ICHmw1, ICHmw3, MS, SBPS, SBSdh, SBSdk, SBSdw, SBSmc, SBSmh, SBSmk, SBSmm, SBSmw, SBSwk1 (on plateau), and SBSwk3.
³	BGC Group B: includes all other biogeoclimatic units.

Stand composition modifiers (stages 3-7 only)

C	=	coniferous(> 75% of total tree cover is coniferous)
B	=	broadleaf(> 75% of total tree cover is broadleaf)
M	=	mixed(neither coniferous or broadleaf account for > 75% of total tree cover)

Structural stage modifiers (stages 4-7 only) (see Figure 1.2):

s = single-storied	Closed forest stand dominated by the overstorey crown class (dominant and co-dominant trees); intermediate and suppressed trees comprise less than 20% of all crown classes combined⁴; advance regeneration in the understorey is generally sparse.
t = two-storied	Closed forest stand co-dominated by distinct overstorey and intermediate crown classes; the suppressed crown class is lacking or comprises less than 20% of all crown classes combined⁴; advance regeneration variable
m = multistoried	Closed forest stand with all crown classes well represented; each of the intermediate and suppressed classes comprise greater than 20% of all crown classes combined⁴; advance regeneration variable.
i = irregular	Forest stand with very open overstorey and intermediate crown classes (totalling less than 30% cover), with well developed suppressed crown class; advance regeneration variable.
h = shelterwood	Forest stand with very open overstorey (less than 20% cover) with well developed suppressed crown class and/or advance regeneration in the understorey. Intermediate crown class generally absent.
⁴ Based on either basal area or percent cover estimates.

FIGURE 1.2 Stand structure modifiers.

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24. Realm/Class

Currently applied to wetland and riparian ecosystems only. Enter the following codes for realm or group, where applicable, and class.

Terrestrial realm, transition group:

Tc	Shrub carr: Low-shrub-dominated ecosystem in frost-prone basins; never inundated and seasonally saturated; usually extremely mounded, shrubs on elevated sites; herb and moss layers diverse, often dominated by forbs and grasses.
Th	High meadow: Mainly in subalpine and alpine regions; lush forb-rich flora; persistent snowpack and prolonged growing season seepage.
Tm	Wet meadow: Develop on mineral materials; periodically saturated, seldom inundated; diverse community of grasses, low sedges, rushes (Juncus spp.), and forbs.
Ts	Saline meadow: Occur in dry interior areas of province around saline lakes and in shallow depressions that dry out early in the growing season; high soil salinities; water table often remains high; salt-tolerant plants.

Terrestrial realm, flood group:

Fl	Low bench: Flooded at least every other year for moderate periods of growing season; plant species adapted to extended flooding and abrasion; low or tall shrub physiognomy most common.
Fm	Middle bench: Flooded every 1-6 years for short periods (10-25 days); deciduous or mixed forest dominated by species tolerant of flooding and periodic sedimentation; trees occur on elevated microsites.
Fh	High bench: Only periodically and briefly inundated by high waters, but lengthy subsurface flow in the rooting zone; typically conifer-dominated floodplains of larger coastal rivers.
Ff	Fringe: Narrow linear communities along open water bodies where there is no floodplain; irregular flooding at depth, moderated microclimate, improved light regime (in forested areas), and/or mechanical disturbance by ice.

Wetland realm:

Wb	Bog: Nutrient-poor peatlands (pH < 4.5) characterized by plant communities with a large component of ericaceous shrubs and Sphagnum mosses.
Wf	Fen: Nutrient-medium peatlands fed by ground or surface water sources; dominated by sedges, grasses, reeds, and brown mosses; non-ericaceous shrubs common.
Wm	Marsh: Mineral wetland that retains shallow surface water for much of growing season; dominated by emergent sedges, grasses, rushes, or reeds.
Ws	Swamp: Treed or shrubby mineral wetland; water table at or near surface for most of year; if peat present, mainly dark and well decomposed; high cover of broadleaf or coniferous trees or tall shrubs, forbs and leafy mosses.
Ww	Shallow water: Distinct wetlands transitional between wetlands and aquatic ecosystems; characterized by rooted aquatics and standing water < 2 m deep in mid-summer.

Estuarine Realm:

Em	Salt marsh: Tidally influenced wetland dominated by graminoid emergents; alternately flooded and exposed with daily tides; both marine and fresh water sources.
Ed	Salt meadow: Tidally influenced herbaceous wetlands in upper intertidal and supratidal zones of estuaries; tidal flooding less frequent than daily.
Es	Salt swamp: Treed or shrubby mineral wetlands in brackish lagoons; occasional tidal flooding and subsequent evaporation; waterlogged, highly saline soil.

25. Site Disturbance

Note any events that have caused vegetation and soil characteristics to differ from those expected at climax for the site. Be as specific as possible, including codes for the category and specific types of disturbance separated by periods. Record up to three different types of disturbance, separated by slashes. For example, enter L.c./F.l.bb for a clearcut that has been broadcast burned. If existing codes are inadequate, enter an "X" here and explain under "Notes".

A. Atmosphere-related effects

Use these codes if causative factors are no longer in effect or are isolated incidents. If effects are ongoing, code as an "Exposure Type" (Item 32).

climatic extremes

co	extreme cold
ht	extreme heat
gl	glaze ice
ha	severe hail
sn	heavy snow

atmospheric pollution

ac	acid rain
to	toxic gases

windthrow

B. Biotic effects

beaver tree cutting

domestic grazing/browsing

wildlife grazing/browsing (5.1)⁵

excrement accumulation (other than that normally associated with grazing/browsing) (5.1)⁵

insects (4.2)⁵

ki	insect kill
in	infestation

disease (4.2)⁵

aggressive vegetation

⁵

Record type or species under "Notes" using codes given in Appendix 4.2 of the Mensuration section or Appendix 5.1 of the Wildlife Habitat Assessment section of this manual.

D. Disposals

c.	chemical spill or disposal
e	effluent disposal
g.	domestic garbage disposal
o.	oil spill or disposal
r.	radioactive waste disposal or exposure

F. Fires

overstorey crown fire

light surface (ground) fire

repeated light surface fires

severe surface fire

repeated severe surface fires

burning of logging slash

bb	broadcast burn
pb	piled and burned
wb	burned windrows

L. Forest harvesting

land clearing (includes abandoned agriculture)

patch cut system

wr	with reserves

clearcut system (if slashburned, see also "Fires")

wr	with reserves (patch retention)

seed tree system

un	uniform
gr	grouped

selection system

gr	group selection
si	single tree
st	strip

shelterwood system

un	uniform
gr	group
st	strip
ir	irregular
na	natural
nu	nurse tree

coppice

M. Plant or site modification effects

c.	herbicide use (chemical)
f.	fertilization (specify type under "Notes")
i.	irrigation
g.	seeded or planted to grasses
h.	seeded or planted to herbs
s.	planted or seeded to shrubs
t.	planted or seeded to trees

P. Gathering or removal of plant products

f.	firewood gathering
m.	mushrooms
o.	moss
s.	shrubs (e.g., salal, falsebox)
x.	other (specify under "Notes")

S. Soil disturbance

cultivation (agricultural)

compaction

gouging (> 5 cm into mineral soil)

scalping (forest floor removed)

sidecast/fill

road bed, abandoned

railway, abandoned

excavation

mining effects

pt	placer tailings
rq	rock quarrying (including open pit mines)
ta	tailings

mechanical site preparation

bb	brush blading
ds	drag scarification (anchor chain or shark fin)
dt	disc trenching
md	mounding
ps	patch scarification
vp	V-plowing
xx	other (specify under "Notes")

T. Terrain-related effects

a.	avalanche
d.	recent deglaciation
e.	eolian (active deflation or deposition)
s.	terrain failures (active/recent slumps, slides, solifluction, etc.)
v.	volcanic activity

W. Water-related effects

i.	inundation (including temporary inundation resulting from beaver activity)
s.	temporary seepage (usually artificially induced; excludes intermittent seepage resulting from climatic conditions)
d.	water table control (diking, damming)
e.	water table depression (associated with extensive water extraction from wells)

X. Miscellaneous

(For other disturbance types, enter "X" and describe under "Notes")

26. Photo Roll and Frame Numbers

If photographs are taken, note the roll and frame numbers.

27. Elevation

Determine in the field using an altimeter. Accuracy of the measurement can be confirmed by consulting a topographic map. Record in metres with an estimate of accuracy.

28. Slope

Record percent slope gradient, measured with a clinometer or similar instrument.

29. Aspect

Record the orientation of the slope, measured by compass, in degrees.

Enter due north as 0∞.
For level ground, enter "999."

30. Mesoslope Position

Indicate the position of plot relative to the localized catchment area (see Figure 1.3).

CR	Crest	The generally convex uppermost portion of a hill; usually convex in all directions with no distinct aspect.
UP	Upper Slope	The generally convex upper portion of the slope immediately below the crest of a hill; has a specific aspect.
MD	Middle Slope	Area between the upper and lower slope; the surface profile is generally neither distinctly concave nor convex; has a straight or somewhat sigmoid surface profile with a specific aspect.
LW	Lower Slope	The area toward the base of a slope; generally has a concave surface profile with a specific aspect.
TO	Toe	The area demarcated from the lower slope by an abrupt decrease in slope gradient; seepage is typically present.
DP	Depression	Any area concave in all directions; may be at the base of a meso-scale slope or in a generally level area.
LV	Level	Any level meso-scale area not immediately adjacent to a meso-scale slope; the surface profile is generally horizontal and straight with no significant aspect.

FIGURE 1.3. Mesoslope position.

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31. Surface Topography

Note the general surface shape and the size, frequency, and type of microtopographic features. Describe to the level that best represents what you see, separating coding with periods (e.g., code a generally straight surface that is slightly mounded as ST.sl.mnd and a generally concave surface that is relatively flat as CC.smo).

General surface shape:

CC.	Concave	- surface profile is mainly "hollow" in one or several directions
CV.	Convex	- surface profile is mainly "rounded" like the exterior of a sphere
ST.	Straight	- surface profile is linear, either flat or sloping in one direction

Size and frequency of microtopographic features:

mc.	micro	- low relief features (< 0.3 m high) with minimal effect on vegetation
sl.	slightly	- prominent features (0.3-1m high) spaced > 7 m apart
md.	moderately	- prominent features (0.3-1m high) spaced 3-7 m apart
st.	strongly	- prominent features (0.3-1m high) spaced 1-3 m apart
sv.	severely	- prominent features (0.3-1m high) spaced < 1 m apart
ex.	extremely	- very prominent features (> 1 m high) spaced > 3 m apart
ul.	ultra	- very prominent features (> 1 m high) spaced < 3 m apart

Types of microtopographic features:

cha	channelled	- incised water tracks or channels
dom	domed	- raised bogs
gul	gullied	- geomorphic ridge and ravine patterns
hmk	hummocked	- mounds composed of organic materials
lob	lobed	- solifluction lobes
mnd	mounded	- mounds composed of mineral materials
net	netted	- net vegetation patterns from freeze-thaw action in alpine or subarctic terrain
pol	polygonal	- polygonal patterns associated with permafrost
rib	ribbed	- wetland pattern with raised ridges perpendicular to direction of water flow
smo	smooth	- surface relatively flat
tus	tussocked	- associated with tussock-forming graminoids

32. Exposure Type

Note significant localized atmospheric and climate-related factors reflected in atypical soil and/or vegetation features. If existing codes are inadequate, enter an "X" and explain under "Notes". If there is no evidence of exposure to anomalous conditions, enter "NA."

Atmospheric toxicity - For example, where highly acid or alkaline precipitation, or chemically toxic fumes from industrial plants affect soil chemistry and morphology, and the type and growth form of vegetation

	Soil indicators - unusually high or low pH values; accumulations of chemicals normally either absent or present in small quantities.
	Vegetation indicators - defoliated areas; diseased or dead standing species; presence of several species tolerant to abnormal chemical accumulations.

Cold air drainage - Downslope areas through which cold air passes; often grade into frost pockets, but differ in that cold air does not accumulate in them. Soil and vegetation indicators are similar to those for "FR," but the influence of cold temperatures is usually not as pronounced.

Frost - Cold air accumulation in depressions and valley bottoms associated with high night-time surface cooling and/or cold air drainage. Frost pockets are often surrounded by slopes leading to the higher elevations from which the cold air originates.

	Soil indicators - wet conditions and/or deep organic accumulations.
	Vegetation indicators - species normally found in colder conditions than those of the general area, such as Abies lasiocarpa in the IDF zone; the presence of frost-hardy shrubs and herbs, such as scrub birch, marsh cinquefoil, and/or shrubby cinquefoil; abundant frost cracks on the trunks of trees.

Insolation - Sites subjected to radiant solar heating to a significantly greater degree than on associated flat or gently sloping ground. Generally on SE, S, and SW aspects with slopes > 20-50%, depending on climate.

	Soil indicators - weaker than average soil profile development, reflecting a drier environment, or occasionally soil profiles with darker-coloured surface horizons.
	Vegetation indicators - heat-tolerant species; reduced tree growth; slow or sparse tree regeneration; open crown cover, and tree regeneration in distinct age groups, reflecting a history of wetter and drier years.

Localized rainshadow - Valleys that are protected from the prevailing winds so that they are significantly drier than surrounding areas.

	Soil indicators - weaker soil development resulting from less precipitation, or different soil development because of significantly different vegetation.
	Vegetation indicators - plant communities or species indicative of a drier local climate.

Saltspray - Areas that receive saltspray from a marine environment, affecting the type and growth form of the vegetation, and the chemical and morphological characteristics of the soil.

	Soil indicators - high pH and conductivity, presence of white salt accumulations as distinct crystals, and weak profile development.
	Vegetation indicators - an abundance of salt-tolerant species, and slow growth of many species.

Fresh water spray - Areas adjacent to waterfalls and large rapids that receive spray from the rushing water; the resulting vegetation is noticably different from other areas adjacent to the river or stream.

	Soil indicators - moister soils.
	Vegetation indicators - species characteristic of moister sites are present or more abundant.

Snow accumulation - Areas that receive significantly more snow than surrounding areas, which results in different vegetation.

	Soil indicators - poorer soil development resulting from the shorter snow-free period, or moister soils because of the longer snow melt period.
	Vegetation indicators - species adapted to greater snow accumulations (i.e., resistant to breakage), or a shorter growing season; or vegetation displaying the effects of a shorter growing season more than in adjacent areas; or species or communities indicative of moister conditions because of greater snow melt.

Wind - Site is directly influenced by strong winds; for example, on exposed mountain tops, along seashores or large lakes, or where "wind funnelling" occurs because of the convergence of valleys in the direction of wind flow.

	Soil indicators - weak soil development because of scalped (eroded) profiles; evidence of soil erosion on windward side and deposition on leeside; duning.
	Vegetation indicators - strongly reduced height growth and gnarled growth form with tree tops and branches oriented downwind; wind-shorn thickets of trees or shrubs (wind-shorn surface of vegetation follows the outline of any object providing wind protection).

Miscellaneous - Describe under "Notes".

33. Surface Substrate

Enter the proportion of the ground surface covered by each class of substrate. The total for all six classes should sum to 100%. Enter "0" if a substrate class is not present. Classes are defined as follows:

Organic matter

Surficial accumulations of organic materials, including the following:

organic layers > 1 cm thick overlying mineral soil, cobbles, stones, or bedrock;
layers of decaying wood < 10 cm thick;
large animal droppings;
areas covered by mats of bunchgrasses (mats include L horizons); and
areas of living grass or forb cover where mineral soil is visible between stems are classed as mineral soil, as are exposed Ah or Ap horizons.

Decaying wood

Fallen trees, large branches on the ground surface, and partially buried stumps with an exposed edge.

Does not include freshly fallen material that has not yet begun to decompose.
May be covered with mosses, lichens, liverworts, or other plants.
If an organic layer has developed over the wood, decaying wood must be > 10 cm thick, otherwise it is classed as "organic matter."

Bedrock

Exposed consolidated mineral material.

May have a partial covering of mosses, lichens, liverworts, or other epilithic plants.
Does not qualify as bedrock if covered by unconsolidated mineral or organic material > 1 cm in thickness.

Rock (cobbles and stones)

Exposed unconsolidated rock fragments > 7.5 cm in diameter.

May be covered by mosses, lichens, liverworts; or an organic layer < 1 cm in thickness.
Does not include gravels < 7.5 cm in diameter.

Mineral Soil

Unconsolidated mineral material of variable texture not covered by organic materials.

May have a partial cover of mosses, lichens, and liverworts.
Often associated with cultivation, tree tip-ups, active erosion or deposition, severe fires, trails, or late snow retention areas.
Includes small cobbles and gravel < 7.5 cm in diameter.

Water

Streams, puddles, or areas of open water in bogs or fens.

34. Notes

Record additional information that:

further characterizes the site;
assists in finding the plot again;
explains unusual entries elsewhere on the form; or
relates to a particular project which is not accommodated elsewhere on the forms.

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