been established. The type of data and the time sequence for both of these programs are suggested in the following section of Specific Monitoring and Manipulation Programs. The actual location of instrument placement and biotic sampling will have to be determined by the team that is contracted to study the 10 MWe STPS Barstow site although instrument location should be in a wide variety of habitats. 10 MWe STPS: Manipulations and Site Variables The variables that will occur at any of the planned STPS sites should be used to gather additional data beyond those obtained through the regular monitoring program. In some cases the variables are a regular part of the planned collector system or are a normal aspect of the ecosystem on which the collector array is constructed. In other cases variables may be created by varying some process in the construction or operation phases of the STPS. Examples of the first instance where no manipulation or variation in construction or operation procedures will be necessary include: (a) variation in the packing factor within the heliostat field, (b) variability in ground surface microtopography and (c) variation in soil type over the area of the STPS. Examples of construction or operation activities that might be manipulated or altered in order to create additional test variables in the first large scale STPS constructed on a more or less natural ecosystem (i.e., no total destruction through asphalting) include: (a) variation in the size of vehicle or number of trips required for certain operation or maintenance phases, (b) varying the type of ground surface material from unaltered after construction to surfacing with different size and color sand or gravel particles and (,c) altering maintenance cycles and wash water quality. By manipulating these variables and monitoring the changes in ecosystem response that they create, it will be possible to use the first large scale STPS as an environmental test site beyond the routine monitoring program. Progress. The ecosystem parameters that might respond to the manipulations or alterations suggested above and the time sequence for measuring are presented in the following section on Specific Monitoring and Manipulation Programs. Establishment of this manipulation program should come early in the construction phase at Barstow to enable creating as many variables as possible within the engineering design of the 10 MWe STPS at that site.
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