U.S. Army Land Condition-Trend Analysis (LCTA) Plot Inventory Field Methods

Abstract

The U.S. Army is faced with a unique challenge in managing the lands on its installations, in meeting its needs for training land, and also in meeting environmental compliance recommendations and requirements. The Land Condition-Trend Analysis (LCTA) program uses standard methods to collect, analyze, and report natural resources data, and is the Army's standard for land inventory and monitoring. This report outlines standard methods for collecting and maintaining a permanent LCTA data base on the condition of Army land resources. Included are lists of equipment needed for data collection, and detailed procedures for establishing permanent field plots, collecting plant specimens, inventorying wildlife populations, and maintaining the data bases by periodic short- and long-term monitoring of the field plots.