Vegetation Sample Plots. Vegetation sample plots will be placed throughout the site in order to best cover the expected range of variation of the environmental factors found throughout the site, and vegetation that will colonize the site (Xxxxxxx-Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxx 1974, Xxxxxx 1987). Each plot will be at least 100 m2 in size in order to sample the upper limit of the empirical area given by Xxxxxxx-Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxx (1974) to sample the total species composition of grassland and agricultural weed communities. The plot size chosen is also significantly larger than required for sampling everglades prairie communities (Xxxxxx 1967). The corners of all plots and subplots will be permanently marked with 1/2 inch rebar stakes driven into the substrate, and each plot will be permanently tagged and numbered for future reference. All plot corners will have GPS locations that will be labeled as part of the aerial photography and site survey work. Smaller subplots may be located in each plot in order to evaluate and monitor smaller scale phenomena. Separate plots may be established for other individual monitoring or biological or environmental evaluations that may be deemed important to further the understanding of wetland restoration. Each plot will be sampled at the time of completion and at specified intervals (to be determined by sampling design and protocol for each element of the monitoring program) for the term on the project. All plots, subplots, sampling locations and xxxxx are to field numbered using tags of a permanent type material such as aluminum, and identification information (including GPS UTM location) is to be located on one blackline copy of the Topography and control sheet. Periphyton shall be considered as a species for sampling protocols involving macrophytes where appropriate.
