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6.3. GPS Collection Checklist, Field Form No 5. (Appendix A)

6.3.a. Card 1: Record wetland identification number (boxes 2-8), date (boxes 9-14), and observer (boxes 15-17) information.

6.3.b. GPS information will be collected using a Geoexplorer II (Trimble ®). GPS information collected in the field (rover data) will have to be differentially corrected. Base station information needed to differentially correct rover files will be purchased from servers near study wetlands. Operation of the GPS unit and subsequent differential corrections are not covered in this SOP; refer to the operator manual for details on use of equipment and differential corrections.

6.3.c. Collect GPS information on the wetland and catchment features listed below (a-i). GPS file names for each feature are listed below and consist of an alphanumeric 5-7 character code. The first characters of the file name will be coded information to describe the feature for which location information is being collected. The last three characters (numeric) are the unique number assigned to the wetland; that is the last three numbers of the wetland ID (Card 1, boxes 6-8). Collect the following GPS information for the following

1. Wetland Area (Card 2, boxes 18-22; file name: WA[enter last three digits of wetland ID]) Collect a continuous GPS recording while walking the perimeter of the wetland. Indicate on Card 2 that GPS information has been collected for this feature by completing the file name.

2. Catchment Area (Card 2, boxes 23-27; file name: CA[ enter last three digits of the wetland ID]) Collect a continuous GPS recording while walking the perimeter of the catchment. Indicate on Card 2 that GPS information has been collected for this feature by completing the file name.

3. Laser Level/Total Station Location (Card 2, boxes 28-32; file name: TS[enter last three digits of the wetland ID]). Collect continuous GPS reading for 10 minutes at total station location. Indicate on Card 2 that GPS information has been collected for this feature by completing the file name.

4. BPJ Boundary (Card 2, boxes 38-42; file name BP[ enter last three digits of the wetland ID]). Along transect 1 the soils crew will mark the location of this point with a pin flag labeled BP. Collect a continuous GPS reading for 3 minutes at the BPJ boundary. Indicate on Card 2 that GPS information has been collected for this feature by completing the file name.

5. Vegetation Boundary (Card 2, boxes 43-47; file name: VE[enter last three digits of the wetland ID]). Along transect 1, the soils crew will mark the location of this point with a pin flag labeled VE. Collect a continuous GPS reading for 3 minutes at the vegetation boundary. Indicate on Card 2 that GPS information has been collected for this feature by completing the file name.

6. Quadrat Locations (Card 3, boxes 18-24, a-u; file name: T[1-4]Q[1-#][enter last 3 digits of wetland ID]). Quadrat locations will be marked by the vegetation crew with PVC-pipe labeled with the transect number (1-4) and quadrat number (1-#). For each quadrat location, collect a continuous GPS reading for 3 minutes. Indicate on Card 3 that GPS information has been collected for each quadrat location by completing the file name.

7. Water Control Structure (Card 4, boxes 18-23, a-c; File name [1-#]WC[enter last 3 digits of wetland ID). For each water control structure, collect a continuous GPS reading for 3 minutes. This includes stand pipes, culverts, and spillways. Indicate on Card 4 that GPS information has been collected for this feature. For multiple water control structures describe in detail each the structure in conjunction with its file name.

8. Dam (Card 4, boxes 24-29, a-b; file name: [1-#]DA[last 3 digits of wetland ID]). For each dam, collect a continuous GPS reading for 3 minutes at the mid-point along the linear length of the dam. Indicate on Card 4 that GPS information has been collected for this feature. For multiple dams describe in detail each dam in conjunction with its file name.

9. Other Features (Card 4, boxes 30-35, a-g; file name: [1-#]OT[enter last 3 digits of wetland ID]). This category is for additional GPS information that may be collected. Indicate on Card 4 that GPS information has been collected for other features. Describe in detail these features in conjunction with file name.

6.4. Morphology Survey, Field Form No. 6 (Appendix A)

6.4.a. Card 1: Record wetland identification number (boxes 2-8), date (boxes 9-14), and observer (boxes 15-17) information.

6.4.b. Inspect the area and select an instrument location (laser level/total station) that will provide an unobstructed view of the entire basin. Proper location, in many cases, can reduce the need for turning points. The instrument location will be considered the benchmark. Drive a wooden stake (flush with the ground) that can be relocated to establish this as a temporary benchmark. Drive the stake flush with the ground and mark with a pin flag. This bench mark will be arbitrarily assigned an elevation datum of 100 ft (See Card 2, boxes 23-28). Collect an altimeter reading at this benchmark location and record on Card 1 (boxes 18-22)

6.4.c. Card 2: Record (boxes 29-34) the height of the instrument above the bench mark and calculate instrument HT (boxes 35-41). This will be instrument height A. If a turning point is needed during the survey, additional space has been provided on Card 2 for the calculation of an instrument height B (i.e., Instrument height B, boxes 61-67).

6.4.d. Card 3: Record instrument height (A or B) and rod readings for the following:

1. Water Level: Record instrument height (box 25) and rod reading (boxes 26-31) at the water surface, if the wetland is ponded.

2. NTCHS Boundary: Record instrument height (box 34) and rod reading (boxes 35-40) at the NTCHS boundary. This boundary will be marked along transect 1 by the soils crew with a flag labeled NT.

3. BPJ Boundary: Record instrument height (box 43) and rod reading (boxes 44-49) at the BPJ boundary. This boundary will be marked along transect 1 by the soils crew with a flag labeled BP.

4. Vegetation Boundary: Record instrument height (box 52) and rod reading (boxes 53-58) at the vegetation boundary. This boundary will be marked along transect 1 by the soils crew with a flag labeled VE.

6.4.e. Card 4: Quadrat locations will be marked by the vegetation crew with PVC-pipe labeled with the transect number (1-4) and quadrat number (1-#). For each transect/quadrat record the transect number (box 24, a-u), quadrat number (box 26, a-u), instrument height (box 27, a-u), and rod reading (boxes 28-33, a-u).

6.4.f. Card 5: Water control structures include stand pipes, culverts, and spillways. For each water control structure, record instrument height (box 26, a-c) and rod reading (boxes 27-32, a-c). Rod readings are to be collected at the lowest overflow elevation. For multiple water control structures, describe in detail the type of water control structure on the line next to the rod reading. Water control structure codes used for the elevation survey (i.e., 1WC, 2WC, 3WC) are the same as that used for the GPS survey to allow location and elevation of each water control structure to be linked. Thus, the GPS file name and elevation file name for each water control structure must be the same.

6.4.g. Card 6: For each dam, record instrument height (box 26, a-c) and rod reading (boxes 27-32, a-c). Collect rod reading at the mid-point along the linear length of the dam. For multiple dams, describe in detail each dam on the line next to the rod reading. Dam codes used for the elevation survey (i.e., 1DA, 2DA, 3DA) are the same as used for the GPS survey; location and elevation of each dam must be linked. Thus, the GPS file name and elevation file name for each dam must be the same.

6.4.h. Card 7: This category is for any additional elevation information that may be collected. For other features for which elevation information is collected, record the instrument height (box 26, a-h) and rod reading (boxes 27-32, a-h). Describe in detail these features on the line next to rod-reading line. If GPS information was collected for this feature, use the same file name.