Science: Vegetation
In conjunction with aerial photography, remote sensing, and bathymetry surveys of the bottom substrates, on-the-ground plant surveys will provide information on species composition and condition. Vegetation sampling was conducted during summer when vegetative cover is at its maximum. Permanent, 50-m point-intercept transects (0.5 m intervals) were established to determine the composition, height, and percent cover of plant species and to detect changes in vegetation through time. A 0.25 m2 quadrat was examined at the beginning, middle, and end of each transect (3 quadrats per transect) to estimate mean stem density, height, and ocular estimates of percent cover of each species. The location of target plants or invasive species (such as reed canary grass Phalaris arundinaceae) was tracked with Real-time Kinematic GPS ground surveys or high precision color infrared aerial photographs. Data will be used to track vegetation colonization and establishment (species composition, % cover, height, and density) compared to reference and older restorations in the Nisqually Delta.
