There has been increased emphasis on mechanical treatments in the Wildland Urban Interface at Yosemite National Park, California since 2000. Increased acreage and use of new mechanical treatments have raised new questions. Is thinning and subsequent treatments: modifying potential fire behavior, reducing ground fuels, reducing canopy cover, increasing exotic species, causing unacceptable soil disturbance, meeting target conditions or changing condition class? Current plot protocols were taking 2-4 days for 3 people to install. The plot is quite large and requires 17 pieces of rebar. A set of protocols was needed for a smaller, faster plot, which used less rebar and could be done easily by 2 people. These ‘rapid assessment plots’ were tested in a 40 acre thinning block during the fall of 2002. The protocols and lessons learned along with results will be presented. The protocols are currently being used to monitor thinning and wildland fire use.