United States
Department of
Agriculture
Forest
Service
Green Mountain & Finger Lakes
National Forests
Supervisor’s Office
231 North Main St.
Rutland, Vermont 05701
Tel. (802) 747-6700
FAX (802) 747-6766
www.fs.fed.us/r9/gmfl
File Code:
Route To:
Subject:
To:
1950, 2550
Date:
August 8, 2008
Long-term Ecosystem Monitoring Plots
District Rangers
This letter documents my decision to categorically exclude the establishment of Long-term
Ecosystem Monitoring Plots from further analysis in an environmental assessment (EA) or
environmental impact statement (EIS). The project consists of establishing five permanent plots
for the purpose of monitoring long-term change in the soils, vegetative composition, and forest
health. Plots are located on the Manchester Ranger District, Green Mountain National Forest,
within the Towns of Mount Tabor, Peru, and Woodford. This action will not individually or
cumulatively have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment.
DECISION
I have decided to implement this project. See the attached project proposal for the project
description.
REASONS FOR THE DECISION
The project consists of establishing five permanent plots for the purpose of monitoring long-term
change in the soils, vegetative composition, and forest health. I approve this project because the
monitoring will:
 Help us to understand change in forest ecosystems over time, in response to environmental
factors such as acid deposition, climate change, and non-native invasive species.
 Result in only minor effects to the forest environment, being very limited in extent and
magnitude.
REASONS FOR CATEGORICALLY EXCLUDING THE DECISION
Category of Exclusion: I have determined this project falls under the following category of
action that is normally excluded from documentation in an EA or EIS pursuant to FSH 1909.15:
Section 31.11 category (a) (3) Inventories, research activities, and studies, such as resource
inventories and routine data collection when such actions are clearly limited in context and
intensity.
Finding on Extraordinary Circumstances: I have considered conclusions submitted by
resource specialists regarding conditions at the project analysis area. I find there are no
extraordinary circumstances that may result in any significant individual or cumulative
environmental effects. Specifically, the following resource conditions were evaluated:
It’s Cool to Be Safe
Printed on Recycled Paper
1. Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species
proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive
species. The Forest Ecologist and Botanist have reviewed the project and have no
concerns relating to their areas of expertise. Biological evaluations have been completed.
2. Floodplains, wetlands or municipal watersheds. No water source protection areas,
mapped wetlands or floodplains occur inside the monitoring plots.
3. Congressionally designated areas, such as Wilderness, Wilderness Study Areas, or
National Recreation Areas. All five plots to be established in 2009 are located within
Wilderness Areas. I have determined the monitoring plots are within the Forest Service
Manual direction and federal regulations governing Wilderness, and a Minimum Tool
Analysis has been satisfactorily completed.
4. Inventoried roadless areas. No plots occur within inventoried roadless areas.
5. Research natural areas. No plots occur within Research Natural Areas.
6. American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites; Archeological sites, or
historic properties or areas. The Forest Archeologist has determined that this project will
have no negative effect on any Historic Properties. The mere presence of artifacts will
not necessarily mean abandonment of the plot for monitoring. Rather, it may be an
opportunity to learn more about the cultural resources.
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
Public involvement is not required for this project.
FOREST PLAN CONSISTENCY
The project area is within Management Areas designated as Wilderness as described in the 2006
Green Mountain National Forest Land & Resource Management Plan. I find my decision is
consistent with Forest Plan goals, objectives, and all Plan standards and guidelines.
ADMINSTRATIVE REVIEW OR APPEAL and IMPLEMENTATION DATE
My decision is not subject to a higher level of administrative review or appeal pursuant to 36
CFR 215.12(f). This decision may be implemented immediately.
Original signed by:
MEG MITCHELL
Forest Supervisor
Attachment: Project Proposal
cc: Alex Sienkiewicz, Greg Smith
Date: August 5, 2008
Long-term Ecosystem Monitoring Plots
Project Proposal
July 9, 2009
Introduction
This project consists of establishing five permanent plots for the purpose of monitoring longterm change in the soils, vegetative composition, and forest health of the Green Mountains. Plots
are located on the Green Mountain National Forest in areas with minimal evidence of past
anthropogenic disturbance. Monitoring plots are designed to cover a minimum 50-year period,
with monitoring data collected in August of years zero (2009), 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50. This
monitoring will help us to understand change in forest ecosystems over time, in response to
environmental factors such as acid deposition, climate change, and non-native invasive species.
Five similar plots were established during the summer of 2008, and approximately 10 additional
plots will be established after 2009. This project proposal covers only the five plots to be
established in 2009.
Plot Locations
The following table displays the location of the five plots, which are all located in federally
designated Wilderness Areas on the Manchester District of the Green Mountain National Forest.
To protect plot integrity, the exact location of the plots will only be shared with selected
individuals. Plots are located in management areas where anthropogenic vegetative
manipulation (of any kind) is not expected. In this way, we will be monitoring forest conditions
that reflect, as close as possible, “reference” (undisturbed) conditions.
Plot Name
Town
Wilderness Area
1) Lake Brook
Mount Tabor
Peru Peak
2) Three Shanties Knoll
Mount Tabor
Peru Peak
3) Mad Tom
Peru
Peru Peak
4) Maple Hill
Woodford
Glastenbury
5) Camp Meadows
Woodford
George D. Aiken
All plots are located where it is unlikely visitors will traverse. There is nothing to attract visitors
to the vicinity of the plots. Any visual impacts will be short term.
Plot Design
The five plots have soils, vegetation, and topography common to many areas of the Green
Mountain National Forest. Plots are circular and approximately 400 feet in diameter. The plot
design and most of the data collection will follow protocols developed for USDA-Forest Service
Forest Inventory and Analysis Phase 2 and 3 programs. The only significant departures from this
will be the soil sampling protocols, where the 2007 Vermont Monitoring Cooperative Long-term
Soil Monitoring Project protocols will be followed, and the lichen sampling protocols, which
will be modified to accommodate the soil sampling.
Plot Marking and Visibility
A single plastic flag will temporarily mark the center of each plot from July through August
2009.
By September of 2009 one-inch-diameter permanent steel survey markers, with brass caps, will
be placed at the center of each subplot. Plastic flagging will be removed. The brass caps will be
placed 1-2 inches below the leaf litter. Therefore, the monuments will not be visible. In the
future, these monuments will be located using GPS device and a metal detector.
On each plot, three trees will be scribed near the monument for subplot #1. Each scribed tree
will have two scribes at DBH, and one near the base of the tree. Scribes will only cut through
the outer layer of bark and will be inconspicuous.
Plot Visibility and Disturbances During Data Collection
As previously stated, soil, vegetation composition, and forest health data will be collected in
years zero (2009), 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50.
Vegetation and forest health data will be collected within a period of 1-2 days per plot. During
this time temporary plot disturbances will be limited to:
 Hanging flags, and using wooden or plastic stakes to mark the boundaries of subplots.
 Some trampling of vegetation. This will be kept to a minimum to protect the plot integrity.
 Small samples will be collected of each lichen species, and some plant species, for
identification and archiving.
Soil monitoring will also take 1-2 days per plot for a crew of approximately 8 people. Soil
monitoring will include digging three to six pits per sampling entry. During the 1-2 day period,
some flagging and stakes will be used to identify the pit locations. Pits will be approximately 2
feet long by 3 feet wide by 3 feet deep. Several soil samples will be gathered from each pit.
Samples will vary in size from a pint to a gallon. In all pits, dug out soil material will be placed
on a plastic tarp to minimize disturbance of the adjacent area. When pits are filled in, the topsoil
will be placed at the ground surface. Care will be taken to “hide” the pit areas by randomly
spreading leaves and dead wood over each pit after it is filled in.
Soil sampling inevitably results in some observable ground disturbance and trampling of
vegetation. This is a special concern in this study because the plots are located in Wilderness
areas. In 2007, soil sampling was completed at the two Vermont Monitoring Cooperative
(VMC) Long-term Soil Monitoring Plots inside Lye Brook Wilderness using identical soil
monitoring procedures as proposed herein. The GMNF Wilderness Program Leader in 2007,
Scott Haas, approved these procedures after completing a Wilderness Minimum Tool analysis.
When the VMC plots were revisited in 2008, the soil pits were no longer evident. By taking the
measures to “hide” completed pits as previously described and ensuring all materials and
equipment are picked up and removed from the site, observable disturbance was minimized.
Cooperative Activities
Partners in this project are the USDA Forest Service - Northern Research Station (co-leader), the
USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, and the State of Vermont - Agency of Natural
Resources. A crew from the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps will be assisting with pit
digging during the 2009 sampling session.
Nancy Burt
Soil Scientist
Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forest
Mary Beth Dewey
Biological Technician
Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forest