Summary Comparison of National Core Hex Plot and Region 5 FIA  Designs
		17-Sep-04
	National Core Hex Plot	5-point Region 5 FIA
Canopy Closure/Crown Density
	No estimate, but can be derived from correlation	Occular estimate in CALVEG at each point
	with diameter, species and position.	or derived from diameter, species and position.
Down Logs
	Browns transects at each point	Photo Series Comparison at each point
		Duff depth measurements
Fixed Tree Plot
	185.1' radius (1 Ha.)  about point 1 for trees > 32.0" DBH	40 BAF prism used in variable plot
	58.9' radius (0.25 ac.) plot for trees > 24 Inches Dbh	58.9' radius (0.25 ac.) for trees > 42.8" in dense forests
	24.0' radius (0.042 acre) for trees 5.0-23.9" DBH	or
		20 BAF prism used in variable plot
		58.9' radius for trees > 30.3" in sparse to normal density forests
Forest Type
	Extensive condition and history data collected for plot	CALVEG classification at each point
Geometry
	Plot center co-located at Region 5 FIA plot center with 3	Plot center located using GPS with 4 associated
	associated cluster points at 0 , 120  and 240 degrees	cluster points in cardinal directions
	at 120' from plot center	Co-located plot center with associated cluster points
		at 127' from plot center
Growth
	1 conifer cored (age, 5yr, 10yr growth increment) for	1-3 conifer cored on each point
	each species by crown position (e.g 1st codominant cedar)
Mapping
	All trees located on plot	Trees not mapped
Monitoring
	All live trees >5" dbh tagged	All trees > 1" tagged
	azimuth and distance to origin known	Trees measured clockwise from north
	Trees measured clockwise from north
	A sample of trees measuring in prior inventory
Photography
	2 digital photos on subplot 1 as regional add-on	2 photos taken at every plot center
Remeasurement
	10% of plots measured on each forest each year	100% of plots measured on each forest
		at one time every decade
Seedlings
	Count on 1/300 acre plot at each point	Count on 1/100 acre plot at each point
Saplings
	Measure on 1/300 acre plot at each point	Measure on 1/100 acre plot at each point
Snags and dead trees
	185.1' radius (1 Ha.)  about point 1 for snags > 32.0" DBH	58.9'  (0.25 ac)radius for snags > 20" dbh
	58.9' radius (0.25 ac.) for snags >24.0" DBH	41.6' radius  (0.125 ac) for snags 5.0-19.9" dbh
	24.0' radius (0.042 acre) for snags 5.0-23.9" DBH
Variable Plot
	NONE	20 BAF or 40 BAF used depending on forest density
Vegetation Plot (Shrubs, Forbs, Grasses)
	24.0' radius  (0.042 acre) sample area	58.9' radius (0.2 acre) sample area