near Phoenix, Arizona, and the 10 MWe STPS to be constructed near Barstow, California in the next few years. The specific data collection research needs at the Willard irrigation facility should be limited to only plant density and diversity and a few abiotic variables such as solar radiation, heat flux, temperatures, wind, precipitation and soil water. These factors should be measured only periodically over the next three years to compare with data taken from other solar collector facilities. The selection of these parameters and those described for the simulation site and 10 MWe STPS facility are based on the background theoretical impact data and are only a few of the large number of biotic and abiotic variables that could be measured. Research at the solar collector simulation site is more intensive because the data are to be used as guides for future monitoring programs and possible modifications in construction or maintenance procedures. The period of study should last at least three years, if not longer, because of the response time lag of the biotic components of the ecosystem. Plant and animal density and diversity as well as plant productivity and animal behavioral pattersn should be closely monitored within the collector simulation array and in an adjacent control site. Soil organisms should also closely be measured for possible changes resulting from abiotic parameter modification. The abiotic factors that should be measured include those that are involved in energy flux, the water cycle and soil characteristics. After getting baseline data on changes resulting from collector influences in all of these factors for two years, site manipulation should be done to determine the impacts of altering construction or maintenance activities on ecosystem parameter responses. These manipulations should include altering vehicular traffic density and patterns, modifying the ground surface through use of different surface materials and use of alternative heliostat washing techniques. Study of the impacts of these alterations in procedures should continue for at least two years. The monitoring program at the 10 MWe STPS at Barstow should be established in two steps. The first step is to determine the baseline characteristics of the ecosystem parameters to be monitored. This baseline study should occur prior to site preparation and should last for at least
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