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Part 8:
Getting Started: Designating Study Locations, Photography,
and Precipitation
Reference Points
Reference points are fixed locations, or sites, at each monitoring
area that mark locations of photography and other monitoring activities.
Depending on level of monitoring you are conducting (minimal, recommended,
or comprehensive), reference points are established for each key
area, critical area, and comparison area.
 To establish and mark your reference point, you will need:
- Steel T-post for each site (3/4-1 inch angle iron not less
than 16 inches long)
- Erasable marker board
- Erasable marker
- Compass
- Study
Location and Documentation Data form. (pdf,
16KB)
- 3 X 3 square made of PVC or 2-6 ft.
folding rulers
- Hammer
- 3-ring binder for photo storage
- Photo storage sheets (to protect and house photos in binder)
Reference points are established and permanently marked with T-posts
so photos of the same site, from the same view, can be taken year
after year. Reference points also designate study sites where data
collection takes place year after year. Each key area, critical
area, and comparison area should have at least one established
reference point. It is essential that these fixed points are well
marked and clearly documented on the Study
Location and Documentation Data form (pdf,
16KB). It
is also a good idea to mark your study sites on an aerial map,
if you have one available.
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