The base is 16 yards (rotate the triangle so that the "16 yd" side is horizontal and flat, or parallel to the ground)
The height is 6 yards. The height is always perpendicular to the base.
This means
b = 16
h = 6
Using the formula for the area of a triangle, we get
A = (b*h)/2
A = (16*6)/2
A = 96/2
A = 48
The area of the triangle is 48 square yards