Long-term Ecosystem Monitoring
Project
Green Mountain National Forest

Project Cooperators
Vermont Monitoring
Cooperative
USFS Northern
Research Station
Vermont Dept. Forest,
Parks & Recreation
Natural Resource
Conservation Service
Green Mountain
National Forest
Sean Lawson
Paul Schaberg, Scott Bailey
Chris Eagar
Sandy Wilmot
Thom Villars
Nancy Burt, Dayle Ann
Stratton, Diane Burbank,
Brian Keel

Project Purpose
Characterize and quantify changes to ecosystems on the Green Mountain National
Forest over time
Global climate change
Atmospheric deposition
Ozone depletion
Invasive species
Other environmental problems

Anticipated Benefits
Quantify environmental trends over time
Improve understanding of relationships among parameters
Anticipate change and adapt management to trends
Contribute data to improve models
Make raw data available for other research
Archive samples for future analysis and reference

Project Sampling Design
Establish 40 representative plots within GMNF
Gather baseline data as plots are established
Resample every 5 years
50+ year project runtime

Project Sampling Design
Represent major natural communities in GMNF
Sites with minimal disturbance
Represent biophysical regions within the
GMNF
Northern Green
Mountains
Southern Green
Mountains
Vermont Valley
Taconic Mountains
Champlain
Valley
Taconic
Mountains
Vermont
Valley
Northeastern
Highlands
Northern
Green
Mountains
Northern Vermont
Piedmont
Southern Vermont
Piedmont
Southern
Green
Mountains

Site Selection Criteria
- Disturbance -
Use Reference Area Network where possible
80-year old stands if possible
(60 if necessary)
No disturbance within past 30 years
No future disturbance anticipated
Buffer: ½ mile from road, ¼ mile from trail

Site Selection Criteria
Representative Natural Communities -
Montane spruce-fir forest
Red spruce-northern hardwood forest
Northern hardwood forest
Mesic red oak-northern hardwood forest
Hemlock-northern hardwood forest

Site Selection Criteria
- Desired Soil/Site Characteristics -
Range of soil types
Range of aspects and elevations
Represent benchmark soil types
Avoid areas with poor drainage

Plot Sampling
Fixed-size permanent plots with nested subplots
Core data sets:
Site characteristics (slope, aspect, etc.)
Land use history
Climate
Vegetation – all layers
Soil analysis
Foliar analysis

Sampling Parameters
- Vegetation -
Species
Abundance
Diameter for woody species ≥ 2cm
Woody species ≥ 10cm
Crown class
Condition class
Dieback
Incremental growth
Height

Sampling Parameters
- Vegetation -
Foliar nutrient analysis
8-10 trees/plot
Only species with clear thresholds
Biomass data on living and standing dead trees
Coarse woody debris
Tree crown fitness
% of live crown with dead limbs
Twig dieback

Sampling Parameters
- Soils -
Standard soil pit dug to 100 cm
(40”)
Samples from all horizons
Analysis of critical properties pH
Physical properties
Base cations
Nutrient status
Mineralogy of subsoil
Samples will be archived

Cooperative or Ancillary
Studies
Plots can host monitoring of other parameters
Example: invertebrates – species and abundance of ground dwelling and low-flying invertebrates
You are invited to add yours!

Project Status & Timeline
2005-2006 Develop project design and parameters
CURRENT
Fall 2006
Winter 2006-
2007
Create GIS maps to assist locating general plot areas
Validate plot selection process
Delineate plot areas
Develop partnerships and funding sources
Spring 2007 Establish 1 st set of plots
Sampling begins

For further information, contact:
Brian Keel, GMNF
802-362-2307 x214
Thank You!