Southeast Utah Group Long-term Vegetation Monitoring Data, Utah, USA: 1998 - 2022

The Southeast Utah Group of National Parks (Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges National Monuments) established a long-term upland vegetation monitoring program in 1983. The data in this data package are from 1998 through 2022. Data collected prior to 1998 are not available at this time. From 1983 through 2010 all plots were sampled annually. Starting in 2011, a seven-year rotating panel was initiated as natural resource objectives changed. Currently, sampling is conducted two years in a row and then a plot is rested for five years. A priori site selection based on professional opinion was used to select sampling plots. A stratified sampling frame was not used to select plot locations. Most sampling plots consist of two transects of 50 0.5mx0.5m Daubenmire quadrats (100 quadrats per plot), although the layout of transects can vary. Each quadrat is approximately 2-3 meters apart. The data provided here are plant and ground frequency and cover class estimates from visual observations.