2012 User s Group Meeting Data Collection Group Topic

2012 User’s Group Meeting Data Collection Group Topic: Incorporating Flexibilities in FIA Data Collection Effort Bob Ilgenfritz – Data Collection Group lead

Need for Greater Flexibility: • Responsive to Budget fluctuations: ▫ Increasing/decreasing or flat • Responsive to new natural resource priorities or issues: ▫ Carbon/Biomass/Urban/Others

Five FIA Flexibility Tools: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Subpaneling Interpenetrating subsampling of subpanels Subsampling within plots Level of attribution sampling Temporal cycle lengths

Definitions • Panel – A complete set of FIA plots completed in a state in a year. • Subpanel – A equally proportional subset of a cycle with spatial distribution of plots across a state • Cycle –The total of all plots in a state • Sub-cycle – Number of subpanels (plots) done per year

1. Subpaneling • Each state’s panel is subdivided into 70 subpanels with roughly equal numbers of plots in each subpanel. • Why 70 subpanels? • 10 year cycle in west and 7 year cycle in east with option to buy down to 5 year cycle = 14 subpanels/yr. 7 year cycle = 10 subpanels/yr. 10 year cycle = 7 subpanels/yr. • Decreased budgets - Completing fewer subpanels per year increases cycle length and decreases the number of plots done per year • Increased budgets - Completing more subpanels per year decreases cycle length and increases the number of plots done per year

2. Interpenetrating subsample of subpanels – P 3 and P 2+ plots • Panel 70 subpanels subsample of each subpanel ▫ Predetermined sample % ▫ Assure that subsample of subpanel is spatial too ▫ Subsample % of total plots is constant regardless of the cycle length • Past P 3 – 1 of every 16 FIA plots is a P 3 plot • Current P 2+ - 1 of every 8 FIA plots is a P 2+ plot

2. Interpenetrating subsample of subpanels • Future? ▫ Increase P 2+ subsample size from 1 in 8 to: 3 in 16 – 3 X P 3 sample 1 in 4 – 4 X P 3 sample ▫ Subsample size based on protocol type and respective window: Soils – Frost free soils window DWM - Snow free window Vegetation/Invasives/Regeneration – Leaf on window

3. Subsampling within plots • Not currently in use but: ▫ We could sample protocols or individual data items on a subsample of the subplots, microplots or macroplots. • Examples: ▫ Protocols: Veg/DWM/Invasives/Crowns on fewer than all 4 subplots Advanced Seedling Tree Regeneration on fewer than all 4 microplots

4. Level of attribution sampling • Down Woody Materials: ▫ Base – captures volume, biomass, carbon, and fuel loads ▫ Wildlife/ecological data Base plus additional CWD structural variables for wildlife habitat (P 3 protocols) ▫ Rapid assessment – customized protocol designed for disturbances Hurricanes, volcanoes, etc. • P 2 Vegetation Profile: ▫ Level of Detail 1– Vegetation structure ▫ Level of Detail 2 – Veg structure plus understory species composition ▫ Level of Detail 3 – Level of detail 2 plus overstory species composition ▫ P 3 Veg – Botanist identifies all veg species on sample plot

5. Temporal Cycle Length • Remeasurement cycle relative to protocol’s potential for change. ▫ Less potential for change - longer remeasurement cycle ▫ More potential for change – shorter remeasurement cycle • Example: ▫ Soils and current 10 years remeasurement. Results of first remeasurement may indicate need for longer cycle length.

2012 User’s Group Meeting Data Collection Group Topic: P 2+ November 27, 2012

P 3 Redesign in Summer 2012– What is “P 2 +” • Leaf on “Window” Plots and an expansion of the P 3 Sample: ▫ Carbon, Biomass, Vegetation Structure, Invasives, Wildlife, Fuel Loads, and Tree Regeneration • Interpenetrating Sample of FIA Sub Panels ▫ Flexible and Consistent Sampling Percentages Regardless of Cycle Length • Designed to Meet Data Collection Business Models ▫ Including Contractors and One Person Crews • Less Detailed Data / Greater Sample Size ▫ Better suited for FIA’s strategic sample-based inventory

P 2+ Protocols 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Crown Dieback and Uncompacted Crown Ratio Base Down Woody Material (DWM) Vegetation Structure by Growth Habitat Invasive Plants ASTR - Advanced Seeding Tree Regeneration Soils on P 3 sample

Pros to P 2+ • More plots for less or similar costs • More plots mean greater sample size, finer resolution data, and greater utility to more users. Better meets the needs of a strategic inventory. • Cost savings helped re-initiate FIA ecosystem indicators -DWM lite, Veg lite, Invasives, Crowns lite, regional protocol ASTR, and Soils.

P 2 +Sample Size Implementation Schedule • Summer 2012 – Double P 3 Sample ▫ 1 of every 8 plots or 12. 5% • Summer 2013 – Same sample size as 2012 ▫ Evaluate time study from last summer. Identify P 2+ protocols that are outliers Redesign protocols if necessary

Questions? ? ?

P 2+ Data • P 2 Vegetation ▫ Vegetation by growth habitat Tally trees Non tally trees Shrubs/Vines Graminoids ▫ Species composition ? ? ?

P 2+ Data • P 2 DWM protocols – Down Woody Material ▫ Captures volume, carbon, biomass, and fuel loading • Crowns ▫ Uncompacted crown ratio ▫ Die back