Field Health and Safety Procedures. The NHNM/SWQB data collection team will conduct field trips to complete assessment work. These will be scheduled during late summer during the index period for most plants that might be encountered in the field. Field data collection will be scheduled to avoid thunderstorm activity and flooding in headwater slope wetlands, and in warmer weather while plants are more likely to be in bloom for purposes of identification. Safety is of primary importance to field studies. Only sites that are safely accessible will be sampled. Unsafe sites include, but are not limited to, private lands not granting permission access, areas with evidence of illegal activities, exceptionally remote canyon settings. In remote areas, the data collection team will always carry sufficient supplies of water, food, flashlights, shovels, extra spare tires, and first aid and emergency supplies to deal with accidents and unexpected circumstances, such as rapid changes in weather. Hard hats and closed-toe boots are required in burned or construction areas. Teams will have adequate communication devices for their location (cell phones, gps, etc.). A field team will consist of at minimum a botanist, a hydrogeologist, and technical assistants. A designated crew leader will be determined by NHNM Project Coordinator and WPC during the Field Team training before data collection field trips, and will be responsible for field trip decisions, crew performance, and data compilation. At least one team member will have swift water training. All team members will be up to date on Covid-19 related safety practices and adhere to any requirements that prevents the spread of Covid- 19 virus. Any invasive species will be identified during data collection at the 40 wetland sites. Measures will be taken to prevent the carrying of seeds and propagules from site to site including the visual inspection and sterilization of shoes, clothes and equipment. Measures and procedures for invasive species control will also be included in the NMRAM Field Guide for Headwater Slope Wetlands.
