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Title 190-Forestry Inventory Methods Technical Note <br />Figure 5: Trees indicated by blue circles are within the variable -radius plot; trees in red are <br />outside the plot. Images used by permission of Pacific Northwest extension. <br />• Collecting Plot Data <br />o Utilize a "tally sheet" (also known as a "cruise sheet"), similar to the one shown in <br />figure 6, for recording plot data. Field data recorders with programmed tally sheets <br />may be used. <br />o For each tree in the plot — <br />Determine and record tree species using standard codes. Codes used by the Forest <br />Inventory and Assessment (FIA) program are recommended for consistency; see <br />appendix F in O'Connell et al. (2016). <br />Measure the diameter at DBH (4.5 feet) using a diameter tape, and record the <br />measurement to the nearest inch. <br />Rate the tree's condition as vigorous, fair, or declining. A vigorous tree does not <br />show signs of stress; it has a full healthy crown, no evidence of scars, wounds, or <br />disease, and little or no epicormic branching. A declining tree may have a broken <br />top, multiple forks, canker, wounds, scars, and disease; however, such trees may <br />have high value for wildlife. Assign "fair" as an intermediate rating. Do not <br />include species desirability in the condition rating; rate each tree on its merits, <br />without regard to species. Record the condition rating in the field notes. <br />In the "notes" section, describe the reason for the tree's rating. Note features of <br />the tree that are important as wildlife habitat, aesthetics, economic value, etc. <br />(Technical Note No. 190-FOR-01, Jul 2018) <br />8 <br />