I
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
Office of Environmental Information
Washington, DC
EPA 843-R-10-004
National Wetland Condition Assessment
Site Evaluation Guidelines
JANUARY 2011
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NOTICE
The goal of the National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA) is to provide a
comprehensive assessment of the condition of the Nation's wetlands. The complete
documentation of overall NWCA project management, design, methods, and standards is
contained in four companion documents:
National Wetland Condition Assessment: Quality Assurance Project Plan (EPA-843-R-10-
003)
National Wetland Condition Assessment: Site Evaluation Guidelines (EPA-843-R-10-004)
National Wetland Condition Assessment: Field Operations Manual (EPA-843-R-10-001)
National Wetland Condition Assessment: Laboratory Operations Manual (EPA-843-R-10-
002)
This document, National Wetland Condition Assessment: Site Evaluation Guidelines
("Guidelines") contains an overview of the process involved in locating a sampling site,
evaluating the site to determine if it should be sampled, and selecting appropriate alternate sites
when necessary. It is based on guidelines developed and followed in the Western Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment Program (Peck et al., 2003) and the other National Aquatic Life
Surveys conducted by EPA and the States and Tribes
(http://water.epa.gov/type/watersheds/monitoring/nationalsurveys.cfm). Methods described in
this document are to be used specifically in work relating to the NWCA. Mention of trade names
or commercial products in this document does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for
use. Further detail on the project overview and specific methods for field sampling, sample
handling, and sample processing can be found in the appropriate companion documents listed
above.
The suggested citation for this document is:
U.S. EPA. 2011. National Wetland Condition Assessment: Site Evaluation Guidelines.
EPA-843-R-10-004. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC.
NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES
JANUARY 201 I
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 IDENTIFICATION OF WETLAND SAMPLING LOCATIONS 7
2.0 DESKTOP EVALUATION 9
3.0 OBTAINING PERMISSION TO ACCESS AND SAMPLE CANDIDATE SITE.... 13
4.0 FIELD EVALUATION 15
4.1 POINT VERIFICATION 15
4.2 POINT RELOCATION 18
5.0 SELECTING ALTERNATE POINTS 20
6.0 REPORTING SITE EVALUATION INFORMATION TO EPA 22
7.0 LITERATURE CITED 23
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 Process of point evaluation
Figure 2 Sampleable / Non-sampleable categories in NWCA
Figure 3 Example of a permission letter
Figure 4 Example excerpt from EPA state spreadsheet of points
LIST OF ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 Table of S&T Classification Codes and Descriptions
Attachment 2 NWCA Project Contact List
Attachment 3 Instructions for Completing the NWCA Site Evaluation Electronic Form
Attachment 4 NWCA Landowner Permission Form
Attachment 5 Example Landowner Letter Used in Gulf Pilot Study
Attachment 6 NWCA Fact Sheet
Attachment 7 POINT Verification Form
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NATIONAL WETLAND CONDITION ASSESSMENT (NWCA)
SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES
This document is provided to clarify the steps involved in the process of locating and
evaluating a sampling site for the National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA). The
primary purpose of site evaluation is to determine whether a random sample point selected by the
NWCA design is a wetland in the target population for the NWCA and is accessible and
sampleable by a field crew. There are four main steps involved in this process (Figure 1):
1. Locate the sampling point on an aerial image, topographic and/or similar map and determine
whether the point is within or very near (within 60 meters of) a wetland that is in the target
population for the NWCA.
2. Determine if the point is accessible.
3. Verify that the point is sampleable or can be relocated to a nearby location that is.
4. Sample the point OR replace with an alternate point.
Permission to access
granted
i
r
POINT Verification
(on-site)
Locate POINT on map
Select alternate POINT
Conduct preliminary
evaluation
(desktop / office)
Is POINT in or
near a target
wetland?
Permission to access
denied
Logistical and safety
constraints prevent
sampling
Can POINT be
relocated to a
sampleable
wetland?
Is POINT
sampleable?
Figure 1 Process of point evaluation
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In the process of completing each step in site evaluation, the Evaluation Team will also
assemble a site packet that contains important location and access information for each site they
are scheduled to visit. The site packet should contain appropriate maps, aerial images, contact
information, photographs of the site, copies of landowner permission forms, all required permits
to access and sample the site, and any other specific requirements or instructions for accessing
the site. If the Evaluation Team does not include employees from a state or tribal agency, they
should contact appropriate state and tribal personnel to determine if they are able to provide
technical assistance in verifying sites within the state or tribal boundary. Before a site visit, the
Evaluation Team should contact the landowner(s) listed in the site packet to ensure they have
permission to access the site and to obtain relevant site access information. This information may
include:
Presence of locked gates, pets, livestock, or other things that could impede access
Active hunting, farming, mining, or other activities on or near the site
Whether the landowner wants to be informed when the crew is on site
Other current conditions that could prevent access (i.e., high water, forest fires, etc)
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1.0 IDENTIFICATION OF WETLAND SAMPLING LOCATIONS
Wetland sampling locations were chosen from a sample frame composed of wetland
areas identified in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wetlands Inventory Status and
Trend (S&T) program. As part of this program, there are 5,048 S&T four square mile plots
distributed across the conterminous United States and within each plot the landcover is classified
as one of several wetland or upland habitat types (see Attachment 1 for a description of each
type). S&T uses an adaptation of the Cowardin wetlands classification system (Cowardin et al.,
1979), hereafter referred to as "S&T classification" (Dahl and Bergeson, 2009). Sample sites in
the NWCA, hereafter referred to as "POINTS," were selected from wetland designated polygons
within the S&T plots using a General Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) survey design
(Stevens and Olsen, 2004). The design was developed by EPA's Office of Research and
Development, Western Ecology Division, and customized for this survey.
The design ensures that POINTS have a known probability of inclusion and that their
distribution is spatially balanced. The power of this survey design is that it ensures an unbiased
estimate of the condition (with known probability and error rates) of the targeted wetland
resources over a large geographic area despite the relatively small number of samples collected.
More detailed information on the design of the NWCA and other National Aquatic Resource
Surveys (NARS) is available at the NARS website
(http://water.epa.gov/tvpe/watersheds/monitoring/nationalsurveys.cfm).
POINTS were selected from wetland-designated polygons in the S&T plots that are
consistent with the target population for this survey. The target population for the NWCA is
tidal and nontidal wetlands of the conterminous U.S., including certain farmed wetlands
not currently in crop production. The wetlands have rooted vegetation and, when present,
open water less than 1 meter deep. A wetland'sjurisdictional status under state or federal
regulatory programs is not considered in this definition. The following table displays the S&T
wetland categories that are included in or excluded from the sample draw.1
Included S&T Categories Excluded S&T Categories
Estuarine Intertidal Emergent Estuarine and Marine Intertidal Aquatic Bed
Estuarine Shrub / Forested Estuarine Intertidal Unconsolidated Shore
Palustrine Emergent Palustrine Unconsolidated Shore
Palustrine Scrub Shrub
Palustrine Forested
Palustrine Unconsolidated Bottom / Aquatic Bed (with
conditions)
Palustrine Farmed (with conditions)
1 Definitions of habitat categories used by the S&T report are provided in Appendix A of Status and Trends of
Wetlands in the Conterminous United States 1998 to 2004 (Dahl 2006).
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The latitude and longitude of each candidate POINT is listed on a spreadsheet distributed
electronically to EPA's Regional NWCA Coordinators (see Attachment 2 for complete NWCA
contact information). The S&T classification of each POINT will also be specified. The Regional
NWCA Coordinator will distribute spreadsheets containing candidate POINTS to each State or
Tribe within his/her region. Each spreadsheet contains a list of "revisit," "base" and
"oversample" POINTS in the state. The POINTS are listed on the spreadsheet in the order in
which they were randomly selected. The first two POINTs are designated as revisit sites and
each POINT is sampled on 2 separate occasions during the NWCA sampling period. POINTS
designated as base sites are sampled once. All revisit and base POINTS must be evaluated and
should be sampled unless they are determined to be non-sampleable for reasons identified later in
this document. Oversample POINTS are replacement sites for revisit and base POINTS that
cannot be sampled.
In addition to the spreadsheet, EPA will distribute site maps at different scales on which
the POINT locations are marked. The maps include the POINT location at scales appropriate for
1) generally locating the POINT and determining how to access it, and 2) beginning the initial
evaluation on whether the POINT is sampleable (i.e., is it a wetland in the target population for
the NWCA, is it accessible, and is the wetland encompassing the POINT large enough to
sample).
If you have any questions about the site maps or how to use the information provided in
them please contact Gregg Serenbetz (202-566-1253, serenbetz.gregg@epa.gov). More detailed
information about the survey design and the selection of candidate POINTS in the NWCA will
be available on the NARS website
(http://water.epa.gov/tvpe/watersheds/monitoring/nationalsurveys.cfm).
NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES
JANUARY 201 I
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2.0 DESKTOP EVALUATION
The primary purpose of desktop evaluation is to determine if the selected POINT is, or
likely will be, in the target population during the 2011 sample period using data that is easily
obtainable and verifiable without the expense of a more intensive field visit. The focus of the
desktop evaluation should be on ruling out sites that are clearly not part of the target population
for reasons described below. If information obtained during the desktop evaluation is not
conclusive then a field visit will be necessary.
It is possible that some wetlands selected for sampling based on their classification in the
S&T plots will not be consistent with the NWCA target population. These wetlands will most
likely be in Palustrine Unconsolidated Bottom / Aquatic Bed or Palustrine Farmed categories and
would possess few, if any, characteristics of naturally-occurring wetlands. An important
component of the evaluation is to determine if POINTS in these categories contain features
indicating that the POINT is not in the target population.
A number of sources of information will be useful for the desktop evaluation. These
include aerial images, topographic maps, National Wetlands Inventory datasets, state, county, or
tribal wetland resource data, the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), soil maps, crop maps,
road maps, personal and local knowledge, literature and scientific reports, land ownership
records, and the internet. The use of these sources is at the discretion of the Evaluation Team but
all information gathered will enhance POINT evaluation and help to ensure that proper POINTS
are sampled.
The procedures for conducting the desktop evaluation are detailed in the steps below.
Information found during the evaluation should be recorded on the NWCA Site Evaluation
Electronic Form (Electronic Evaluation Form). EPA will provide each state or entity conducting
sampling as part of the NWCA an Excel spreadsheet specific to that state that can be filled out
electronically. Instructions for completing this electronic form are provided in Attachment 3. Site
evaluation information must be completed for all revisit and base POINTS in the
spreadsheet, as well as any oversample POINTS that are evaluated, regardless of whether
the POINT is selected for sampling or not. The information provided on the form will
contribute to the statistical analyses of data from the survey.2
Step 1. Locate the POINT on the most recent aerial imagery that can be obtained. Using this
imagery and any supplemental sources of information, determine if the POINT is in or
near (within 60 meters of) a wetland in the target population. If the image or other
sources of information provide conclusive evidence that the POINT is not in or near a
target wetland, select the appropriate non-target category (see Figure 2 for a list) on the
Electronic Evaluation Form, detail any explanatory information under additional
comments, and follow the procedures for selecting an alternate POINT in Section 5.0.
2 The use of the CRTS design allows for the correction of results to account for sampling errors (e.g., non-target
POINTS) and for the dropping of POINTS in the target population because they are unsampleable (e.g., access is
denied).
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Sampleable/Non-Sampleable Categories
Use these categories as a guide to help determine the sampling status of the POINT.
Sampleable Categories
E2EM - Estuarine Intertidal Emergent
* E2SS - Estuarine Scrub Shrub /Forest
PEM - Palustrine Emergent
PSS - Palustrine Scrub Shrub
PFO - Palustrine Forested
* PUBPAB - Palustrine Unconsolidated Bottom /Aquatic Bed. Ponds that are not used solely for waste
treatment or for other strictly industrial, aquacultural, or agricultural purposes.
Pf- Palustrine Farmed. Farmed wetlands that are not currently being intensively managed for crop (row
and close grown crops, rice, horticulture) production.
Non-Sampleable - Temporary Categories (site may be sampleable during index period)
Temporarily non-sampleable - The site could not be sampled on the day of sampling but could be at a later
date during the index period. Examples include a recent precipitation event or temporary flooding that has
caused unrepresentative conditions. The site should be rescheduled for sampling at a later date.
Non-Sampleable - No Access to Site Categories
Access permission denied - Access to site denied by landowner(s).
Permanently inaccessible - Site is unlikely to be sampled by anyone due to physical barriers that prevent
access to site (e.g., dangerous conditions)
Temporarily inaccessible - Site cannot be reached at the present time due to barriers that may not exist at a
future date (e.g., major flooding, fire) but are expected to persist throughout the index period.
Non-Sampleable - Non-Target Categories
Map error - There is no evidence that a target wetland type is present.
Non target wetland type - The wetland type present is not in the target population for the NWCA (i.e.,
palustrine or estuarine unconsolidated shore, estuarine and marine intertidal aquatic bed).
Active crop production during index period - There is conclusive evidence that the site will be intensively
managed for crop (row, rice, horticulture) production during the index period.
Strictly used for an industrial/'agricultural/'aquacultural purpose - There is conclusive evidence that the
site is used solely to treat waste or other strictly industrial, agricultural, or aquacultural purpose.
Inundated by water > 1 m in depth (over 90% of 60 m aroundpt) - Water over 1 meter in depth covers
90% or more of the area in a 60 meter radius around the POINT.
Other - explain in additional comments.
Non-Sampleable - Assessment Area (AA) Cannot Be Established Categories
Sampleable area too small - Sampleable area is less than 0.1 hectare or less than 20 meters in width.
Unsampleable area greater than 10% - More than 10 % of the AA is non-target or unsafe to sample.
Sampleable area crosses a hydrogeomorphic (HGM) boundary - AA contains more than one HGM type or
includes a tributary to the reach of the river or stream associated with the POINT
Figure 2 Sampleable / Non-sampleable categories in NWCA
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Step 2. Determine the predominant wetland type for the POINT. See Figure 2 for sampleable
wetland categories and Attachment 1 for technical descriptions of the S&T wetland
categories included in the NWCA.
2A. If the wetland type at the POINT is Palustrine Unconsolidated Bottom / Aquatic
Bed, review the aerial image and other sources of information to determine whether
there is conclusive evidence that the POINT is in a wetland that is:
1) Strictly used to treat waste (e.g., wastewater lagoons, mining ponds),
2) Strictly used for industrial, agricultural, or aquacultural purposes (e.g., cooling
ponds, livestock ponds, fish pens, commercial cranberry bogs),
3) Lined wholly with concrete or other manufactured barrier,
4) Inundated by water greater than 1 meter in depth that covers most of the area
(90% or more) within a 60-m radius of the POINT.
If the POINT meets one or more of these criteria, note the reason(s) for this conclusion
on the Electronic Evaluation Form and follow the procedures for selecting an alternate
sample POINT in Section 5.0.
2B. If the wetland type at the POINT is Palustrine Farmed, review the aerial image and
other sources of information and determine whether there is conclusive evidence that
the wetland will be in managed crop production during the growing season either
immediately prior to or during the NWCA sample period. Factors that should be
considered include:
1) Presence of row or close grown crops (corn, sugar cane, soybeans, etc),
2) Terraced land (or other evidence of rice cultivation),
3) Recent evidence that the soil has been mechanically tilled,
4) Any other evidence uncovered during evaluation.
If the POINT meets one of these criteria or there is other information that provides
conclusive evidence that the POINT lies in a Palustrine Farmed wetland that will be
managed for crop production and will not have any characteristics of naturally-
occurring wetlands, note the reason(s) for this conclusion on the Electronic Evaluation
Form and follow the procedures for selecting an alternate sample point in Section 5.0.
Use any information obtained through the evaluation to also estimate the wetland type
that would be present if the POINT was not actively cropped and note this on the form.
Step 3. Review maps, other collected information, or enlist the assistance of someone with
personal knowledge of the location of the POINT to determine if it is physically
accessible by Field Crews and safe to sample. If these sources of information indicate
conclusively that the point is not accessible, note the reason(s) for this conclusion on
the Electronic Evaluation Form and follow the procedures for selecting an alternate
POINT in Section 5.0.
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In order to achieve the most robust results possible with the probabilistic sampling
design, every effort must be made to sample the base points generated by the design.
POINTS should not be rejected based on inconvenience in access. POINTS that
require lengthy hikes from road access or the use of alternative vehicles (e.g., air
boats, canoes) should not automatically be rejected. However, safety concerns for the
field crew and permanent physical barriers (e.g., cliffs) that prevent access are
legitimate reasons to reject POINTS.
Step 4. Review maps, other collected information, or enlist the assistance of someone with
personal knowledge of the location of the POINT to determine if the wetland
encompassing the POINT is large enough to sample3.
If the POINT is determined to be non-sampleable, follow the procedures for selecting
an alternate POINT in Section 5.0.
If the POINT is determined to be sampleable, follow the procedures for obtaining
permission to access the POINT in Section 3.0. If you are certain that the POINT is in
the target population, accessible, and the wetland encompassing it is large enough to
sample, then the POINT may be scheduled for sampling during the NWCA index
period. Make sure to document any relevant site access issues or special requirements
uncovered during desktop evaluation on the Electronic Evaluation Form.
If the status of the POINT is uncertain after desktop evaluation, then a field evaluation
(Section 4.0) should be conducted, after first obtaining permission to access the
location of the POINT.
Information and data sources used in the desktop evaluation should be retained as part of
the project record and incorporated into the official site packet for each POINT. If you have
questions about whether information should be deemed conclusive evidence of a POINT'S status,
please contact your EPA Regional NWCA Coordinator and/or Gregg Serenbetz.
3 As part of the sampling protocol for the NWCA an Assessment Area (AA) is established around the POINT in a
prescribed manner outlined in the NWCA Field Operations Manual (FOM). The AA must be at least 0.1 hectares in
area and at least 20 meters wide. Detailed information on establishing the AA is provided in Chapter 3 of the FOM.
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3.0 OBTAINING PERMISSION TO ACCESS AND SAMPLE CANDIDATE SITE
Landowner permission is required to traverse, access, and sample any POINT that falls
on privately-owned land. Each Field Crew is responsible for obtaining the permissions necessary
to access their assigned sampling POINTS. Field Crews should follow protocols already
established by their State, Tribe, or organization to obtain permission to access private land. If no
protocols exist, Field Crews should employ the most personal contact practicable, enlisting the
aid of any partners, groups or organizations that may be able to provide meaningful assistance
(e.g., NRCS agents, local cooperative extension staff, state or tribal staff, USGS) and be
potentially more effective at obtaining landowner permission. It is vital for the integrity of the
survey to sample all POINTS that are in the target population whether they fall on public
or private land. All efforts should be made to obtain permission to sample POINTS on
private land
An in-person visit is an effective way to establish contact with land owner(s) and could
be incorporated into field evaluation of the POINT (see Section 4.0). Past surveys have found
that landowners are more likely to grant permission if they meet with a study representative than
if their only contact is through a phone call or letter. If a personal visit cannot be made, a phone
call is considered the best alternative. If attempts to reach the landowner(s) through an in-person
visit or telephone call are unsuccessful, a letter should be mailed with a fact sheet on the survey
and a permission slip for the landowner(s) to return. Included in this package should be a return-
addressed and postage-paid envelope with a specific date by which the permission slip should be
returned. See Figure 3 for an example of a permission letter signed by an EPA Regional
Coordinator. Attachments 4, 5, and 6 provide a sample landowner permission slip, a letter sent to
landowners in the Gulf of Mexico Pilot Assessment, and a survey fact sheet. A signed
permission slip is important documentation to have when visiting the site for field evaluation or
sampling, and becomes part of the project record.
Landowner information can be obtained from the county tax assessor's office. Tax
assessor maps display landowner boundaries, addresses and, oftentimes, phone numbers. This
information enables the Field Crew to contact landowners before accessing the POINT and will
identify the landowners of parcels Field Crews may have to traverse to reach the POINT. For
some counties, these records are available through a publicly-accessible electronic database that
is searchable online. For other counties, it may require a visit to the assessor's office to manually
search these records.
Field Crews will also need to be aware of and follow any special conditions and
requirements for accessing and sampling on state, tribal, or federal lands. POINTS that fall on
federal or tribal lands will be identified when the site lists are distributed to states and tribes.
Field Crews should work with appropriate state, tribal, and federal agencies to determine
whether any permits or special conditions apply to these lands. EPA will provide assistance to
Field Crews in coordinating efforts with federal land management agencies and with state and
tribal agencies as needed.
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[Date]
Dear Landowner:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in cooperation with State agencies, is conducting an ecological
assessment of wetlands across the United States. A computer was used to randomly select sampling locations
throughout the United States. A total of 900 wetland sites were selected for sampling in 2011. We will be
conducting a site survey that will last 5-6 hours and will require no permanent structures. Our sampling area will be
small, consisting of a 40-meter radius circle around the computer-selected point. The primary focus of the survey is
to record observations about plant species, soil, hydrology, and water chemistry to assess the health of wetlands
nationally. A minimal amount of water, soil, and vegetation will be collected from the site. The data collected is to
be used for scientific purposes and copies of the final reports will be provided to landowners upon request.
One or more of the 900 randomly selected sites [is located on your property] / [requires a field crew to
cross your property in order to reach the site]. We are contacting you prior to visiting the site to obtain your
permission (form enclosed) to access the sampling site. We have enclosed a copy of a map(s) with the site(s)
identified by a red circle at the specific point in the wetland to be sampled. We realize that working on your property
is a privilege and we will respect your rights and wishes at all times.
Please return the completed Landowner Access Permission Form in the enclosed postage-paid envelope by
[date]. If you have any questions concerning this request, please contact me [phone number]. We are looking
forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
[Name]
EPA Regional Monitoring Coordinator
Figure 3 Example of a permission letter
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4.0 FIELD EVALUATION
The components of the field evaluation of the POINT are similar to those outlined for the
desktop evaluation and the primary purpose is the same - to determine if the selected POINT is,
or likely will be, in the target population during the 2011 sample period, accessible by a Field
Crew under the constraints of the NWCA, and within a wetland that is large enough to sample.
Information obtained during the field evaluation should be documented on the POINT
Verification Form (Attachment 7). A form should be completed for every POINT assessed in
the field, regardless of whether it is ultimately scheduled for sampling. When using this form
for field evaluation done prior to sampling, make sure to mark the circle labeled "RECON" next
to VISIT at the top of the form.
The Evaluation Team that conducts the field evaluation should consist of at least 2
people, and one should have experience in wetland delineation. An important component of the
field evaluation will be to determine if the POINT is in a wetland4, and if not, to determine if it is
possible to relocate the POINT to a nearby area that is a wetland (see Section 4.2). This will be
achieved more easily and quickly if one member of the Evaluation Team is experienced in
wetland delineation and can recognize wetland characteristics in a variety of situations.
The field evaluation is also an important opportunity to invite and meet with Natural
Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) extension agents and soil scientists to utilize their
assistance. They will be valuable partners in coordinating with landowners and providing
expertise in sampling soils and analyzing soil conditions.
4.1 POINT VERIFICATION
The first task in field evaluation of the POINT is to verify that the site is accessible, the
POINT is in the target wetland population identified for the NWCA, and an Assessment Area
can be established that encompasses the POINT. The following steps document the procedures to
accomplish this task.
Step 1. Record a detailed description of the route taken to access the POINT (roads, trails,
etc) on the POINT Verification Form starting from an appropriate central road
intersection. In addition, note any access issues or requirements (locked gates,
permits, etc). This information will be provided to the Field Crew as part of the site
packet used on the day of sampling.
4 The NWCA uses the same definition of wetland as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in its Wetlands Status and
Trends study. See Technical Procedures for Conducting Status and Trends of the Nation's Wetlands, p. 10 (Dahl
and Bergeson, 2009).
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Step 2. If permission to access the POINT has not yet been obtained, meet with respective
landowner(s) to discuss the survey and access to the POINT. This is also a good
opportunity to get information about the area that includes the POINT from the
landowner. In particular, if it is a Palustrine Farmed wetland, ask if the area will be in
managed crop production5 during the 2011 sample period.
Step 3. Navigate to the POINT and verify the latitude and longitude of the POINT using a
GPS receiver set to reference NAD 83. Use at least one other map source to confirm
your location. If it is not possible or practicable to navigate to the exact location of
the point due to high water (over 1 meter in depth), safety, or other reason, detail this
on the POINT Verification Form and determine whether this is likely to prevent
sampling during the NWCA index period. Take a digital picture to further document
conditions at the POINT. The picture(s) should be representative of the prevailing
conditions at the POINT. Digital pictures should be saved electronically and
catalogued with NWCA site and date evaluated information to allow for future
retrieval.
Step 4. Determine the predominant NWCA wetland type for the POINT. See Figure 2 for
sampleable wetland categories and Attachment 1 for technical descriptions of the
S&T wetland categories included in the NWCA.
4A. If the wetland type at the POINT is Palustrine Unconsolidated Bottom / Aquatic
Bed document any evidence that the POINT is in a wetland that is:
1) Strictly used to treat waste (e.g., wastewater, mining ponds),
2) Strictly used for industrial, agricultural, or aquacultural purposes (e.g., cooling
ponds, livestock ponds, fish pens, commercial cranberry bogs),
3) Lined wholly with concrete or other manufactured, non-vegetative barrier,
4) Inundated by water greater than 1 meter in depth that covers most of the area
(90% or more) within a 60-m radius of the POINT.
4B. If the wetland type at the POINT is Palustrine Farmed document any evidence
that the POINT will be actively managed for crop production during the NWCA field
season:
1) Presence of row or close grown crops (corn, sugar cane, soybeans, etc),
2) Terraced land (or other evidence of rice cultivation),
3) Recent evidence that the soil has been mechanically tilled,
4) Confirmation from the landowner,
5) Any other evidence uncovered during evaluation.
5 Palustrine Farmed wetlands that are being intensively managed for crop production will not be sampled in the
NWCA. This includes row and close grown crops (corn, sugar cane, soybeans, etc), rice cultivation, and
horticultural crops. It does not include hay, pasture, and uncultivated fields (which may be sampled).
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If the POINT is under active crop production, use any information obtained through
the evaluation of the POINT to estimate the wetland type that would be present if the
POINT was not actively cropped.
If evidence of any of the items listed in Step 4A and 4B is confirmed, then the POINT
is not in the target wetland population for the NWCA.
Step 5. Verify that an Assessment Area (AA) can be established for the POINT. Chapter 3 of
the Field Operations Manual provides full details on the establishment of the AA and
should be used as a reference when completing this step.
Select the aerial photo from the site map packet, or another image that best depicts the
setting at the POINT, and use this to annotate details on AA establishment. This
annotated image will be provided to the Field Crew sampling the site to facilitate their
work on the day of sampling.
Using the maps provided as a guide and the information you find at the POINT
determine if an AA can be established that meets the following criteria:
i. AA is between 0.1 and 0.5 hectares in area
ii. AA is at least 20 meters wide
iii. AA contains less than 10% unsampleable area (unsampleable area is defined as
upland, non-target wetland, standing water greater than 1 m in depth, or soft substrate
that is unsafe or impossible to sample)
iv. AA does not cross a hydrogeomorphic (HGM) boundary (i.e., the AA contains
only one HGM type6 or is alongside the reach of a river or stream with no entering
tributaries)
If an AA can be established, depict on the map the most appropriate layout utilizing
the Key to AA Layouts provided in the Field Operations Manual (Reference Card
AA-1) and schedule the POINT for sampling.
Step 6. If the information gathered in the previous steps indicates that the POINT cannot be
sampled, determine whether it is possible to relocate the POINT to a place within 60
meters of the original POINT by following the procedures outlined in Section 4.2.
Information, data sources, and pictures used in field evaluation should be retained as part of the
project record and incorporated into the official site packet for each POINT. If you have
questions about whether information is conclusive evidence of a POINT'S status, please contact
your EPA Regional NWCA Coordinator and/or Gregg Serenbetz.
6 Refer to Chapter 3 of the Field Operations Manual for detailed information on HGM types, examples, and a key to
assist in classification (Reference Card AA-2: Key to Hydrogeomorphic Classes).
EVALUATION
JANUARY 2011
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4.2 POINT RELOCATION
If during POINT verification it is determined that the original POINT cannot be sampled
because the POINT is inaccessible, falls in a non-target wetland, or an Assessment Area cannot
be established, the next task is to determine if the POINT can be moved to a sampleable wetland
that lies within 60 meters of the original POINT.7 The following steps document the procedures
to accomplish this task:
Step 1. Navigate to the nearest place that could serve as the CENTER of a valid Assessment
Area AND is of the same NWCA wetland type as that listed for the original POINT
in the spreadsheet distributed to you. Using a range finder, GPS, or measuring tape
determine if this is within 60 meters of the original POINT. If it is, take a GPS
reading for the new POINT. Document the GPS coordinates on the POINT
Verification Form as well as evidence that the new POINT is in a wetland (wetland
vegetation, hydrology, or hydric soils).8 Take a digital picture to further document the
prevailing conditions at the POINT. Digital pictures should be saved electronically
and catalogued with NWCA site and date evaluated information to allow for future
retrieval. Field evaluation is complete and the POINT should be scheduled for
sampling.
Step 2. If there is not a wetland of the same NWCA type as that listed for the original POINT
within 60 meters, navigate to the nearest place that could serve as the CENTER of a
valid Assessment Area AND is included in the target population. Using a range
finder, GPS, or measuring tape determine if this is within 60 meters of the original
POINT. If it is, take a GPS reading for the new POINT. Document the GPS
coordinates on the POINT Verification Form as well as evidence that the new POINT
is in a wetland (wetland vegetation, hydrology, or hydric soils). Take a digital picture
to further document the prevailing conditions at the POINT. Digital pictures should
be saved electronically and catalogued with NWCA site and date evaluated
information to allow for future retrieval. Field evaluation is complete and the POINT
should be scheduled for sampling.
Step 3. If there is not a wetland in the target population within 60 meters of the original
POINT, document this conclusion on the POINT Verification Form and follow the
procedures for selecting an alternate POINT in Section 5.0. Field evaluation is
complete.
7 60 meters was chosen to establish a new sample POINT because it is the distance that would encompass a roughly
± 1 second latitude/longitude degree mapping or GPS error.
8 The NWCA uses the same definition of wetland as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in its Wetlands Status and
Trends study. See Technical Procedures for Conducting Status and Trends of the Nation's Wetlands, p. 10 (Dahl
and Bergeson, 2009).
EVALUATION
JANUARY 2011
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Information, data sources, and pictures used in field evaluation should be retained as part
of the project record and incorporated into the official site packet for each POINT. If you have
questions about whether information should be deemed conclusive evidence of a POINT'S status,
please contact your EPA Regional NWCA Coordinator and/or Gregg Serenbetz.
NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES 19
JANUARY 2011
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5.0 SELECTING ALTERNATE POINTS
The list of POINTS randomly generated for the NWCA is organized in a spreadsheet by
state for each EPA Region. Each spreadsheet contains a list of "revisit," "base" and
"oversample" POINTS in the state. The POINTS are listed on the spreadsheet in the order in
which they were randomly selected. The first two POINTS are designated as revisit sites and
each POINT is sampled on 2 separate occasions during the NWCA index period. POINTS
designated as base sites are sampled once. All revisit and base POINTS must be evaluated and
should be sampled unless they are determined to be non-sampleable for one of the following
reasons:
i. The POINT is inaccessible (due to safety, persistent deep water, or other physical
barriers),
ii. Permission to access the POINT has been denied,
iii. The POINT is not in a target wetland, nor can it be relocated to a nearby wetland that
is,
iv. An Assessment Area cannot be established for the POINT.
If a revisit POINT is rejected because it is non-sampleable, then it is replaced by the next
base POINT within the same state and the first oversample site on the list becomes a base
POINT. If a base POINT is rejected because it is non-sampleable, then it is replaced by an
oversample POINT within the same state.
When either a revisit or base POINT is rejected, the Evaluation Team must report it to the
Designated EPA Contact (this could be the Regional NWCA Coordinator, a State/Tribal
designee, or a representative from the contractor managing the Field Crews). The Evaluation
Team must inform the Designated EPA Contact which site was rejected, the reason why, and the
POINT selected from the oversample list to replace it. The Designated EPA Contact will then:
i. Confirm that the correct process was used to select the alternate POINT,
ii. Confirm which Field Crew is responsible for sampling the alternate POINT (if
multiple organizations are sampling within state boundaries),
iii. Report the replacement of revisit and base POINTS with oversample POINTS to
appropriate Field Crew(s) and agencies AND to the EPA Project Team.
EPA Project Team:
Gregg Serenbetz (Serenbetz.gregg@epa.gov, 202-566-1253), or
Michael Scozzafava (scozzafava.michaele@epa.gov, 202-566-1376)
EVALUATION
JANUARY 2011
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Figure 4 is provided to help illustrate the process for replacing POINTS within a state.
For example, if NWCA11-1001 is reported as non-sampleable, then:
1. The first base POINT, NWCA11-1003, becomes a revisit POINT; and
2. The first oversample POINT on the list, NWCA11-1022, is added as a replacement
base site.
It does not matter that these are different NWCA wetland types. If NWCA11-1022 is also
determined to be non-sampleable, then it is replaced by the next oversample POINT, NWCA11-
1023. As POINTS are rejected, Evaluation Teams will continue to work with the Designated
EPA Contact to replace them with oversample POINTS by selecting the next site on the list,
irrespective of NWCA wetland type.
SitelD
NWCA1 1-1001
NWCA1 1-1002
NWCA1 1-1003
NWCA1 1-1004
NWCA1 1-1005
NWCA1 1-1006
NWCA1 1-1021
NWCA11-1022
NWCA11-1023
NWCA11-1026
NWCA11-1027
Longitude
-88.268106824848400
-87.728912203214800
-88.114136619867600
-88.357687090780200
-87.979944286647600
-87.744739545635400
-87.739674733605000
-85.997599738081100
-87.962016076724700
-87.815794709207200
-87.977035378142400
Latitude
30.537665718642400
30.261784749595300
30.384340175481200
31.544670184200500
30.773282394326700
30.277746748701500
30.270637571547600
31.130269459574500
30.797037871918800
32.744723094459900
30.772369828378300
State
AL
AL
AL
AL
AL
AL
AL
AL
AL
AL
AL
Panel
Revisit
Revisit
Base
Base
Base
Base
Base
OverSample
OverSample
OverSample
OverSample
NWCA Wetland Type
PUBPAB
E2EM
PSS
PFO
E2SS
E2SS
E2EM
Pf
PFO
PUBPAB
E2EM
Figure 4 Example excerpt from EPA state spreadsheet of POINTS
NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES
JANUARY 2011
21
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6.0 REPORTING SITE EVALUATION INFORMATION TO EPA
It is critical that Evaluators and Field Crews report information obtained during the site
evaluation process to EPA in a timely manner throughout the period of site evaluation in 2010-
11 and field sampling in 2011. The following forms must be returned to EPA for all POINTS
that are evaluated:
NWCA Site Evaluation Electronic Form: This electronic form must be completely filled out
for ALL revisit and base POINTS on the state spreadsheet regardless of whether they are
ultimately sampled. It must also be completed for ALL oversample POINTS considered as
replacements. Please send completed spreadsheets to your Regional NWCA Coordinator and
Gregg Serenbetz in a timely fashion prior to the 2011 field season and every several weeks
during the field season. (See Attachment 2 for complete NWCA contact information).
NWCA POINT Verification Form: This form must be completed for ALL revisit, base, and
oversample POINTS that are evaluated in the field, regardless of whether they are ultimately
sampled. Send completed forms in batches with other field forms for the sites to the Information
Management Coordinator, Marlys Cappaert, in the FedEx envelopes provided in the site kits.
Forms should be submitted within 2 weeks of sampling.
EVALUATION
JANUARY 2011
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7.0 LITERATURE CITED
Cowardin, L. M., V. Carter, F.C. Golet, and E.T. LaRoe. 1979. Classification of Wetlands and
Deepwater Habitats of the United States. FWS/OBS-79/31. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Washington, DC.
Dahl, I.E. 2006. Status and trends of wetlands in the conterminous United States 1998 to 2004.
U.S. Department of the Interior; Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C.
Dahl, I.E. and M.T. Bergeson. 2009. Technical procedures for conducting status and trends of
the Nation's wetlands. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Habitat and Resource
Conservation, Washington, D.C.
Dahl, T.E., J. Dick, J. Swords, and B.O. Wilen. 2009. Data Collection Requirements and
Procedures for Mapping Wetland, Deepwater and Related Habitats of the United States. U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Habitat and Resource Conservation, National Standards
and Support Team, Madison, WI.
Peck, D.V., J.M. Lazorchak, and DJ. Klemm (editors). Unpublished draft. Environmental
Monitoring and Assessment Program -Surface Waters: Western Pilot Study Field Operations
Manual for Wadeable Streams. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
Stevens, D.L., Jr. and A.R. Olsen. 2004. Spatially-balanced sampling of natural resources.
Journal of American Statistical Association 99:262-278.
US EPA. 2006. Survey of the Nation's Lakes: Lake Evaluations Guidelines. EPA841-B-06-003.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
US EPA. 2007. National Rivers and Streams Survey: Site Evaluations Guidelines.
EPA841-B-07-008. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
US EPA. 2011. National Wetland Condition Assessment: Field Operations Manual.
EPA-843-10-001. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
USGS. 2008. Gulf of Mexico Coastal Wetlands Condition Assessment - Pilot Survey; Quality
Assurance Project Plan. Gulf Breeze, FL.
EVALUATION
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES 24
JANUARY 2011
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 1
Wetland, Deepwater, and Upland Categories L'sed in FWS Wetland Status and Trends Studies
CATKUOKIKS [Nrl.lJDKD IN NWCA
Code Subcode Full Name
E2EM
K2SS
PEM
PSS
Estuarine Intertidal Emergent
Hstuarine IiiUTlitkjl Scrub Shrub/
Fares cd
Paluarine {emergent
Palusirine Scrub Shrub
PFO Paluarine Foreaed
Pf
PUBPAB
Palustrine Farmed
PalustrineUnwnsuliduled Bottom
1 / Aquatic ficd
PAB Palustrine Aqualic Bed
Pl'W Pond -Agriculture
PUBn Pond - Natural
PUBu Pond -Urban
Common Description
Salt marsh
M angroVes
Other csliiarinc dirubs
Inland marries
Wcl ITI endows
Shrub wetlands
Foreaed swamps
Farmed wetland
Ponds, aquatic beds
Intertidal freshwater
seagrass beds
Pond weeds
Farm ponds
Drainage waler ponds
Bog lakes
Venial pools
Kettles
Beaver poii ds
AHigalcirhulc=e
Aesthetic ponds
Recreation ponds
Gull' course ponds
Rcsiduiliiil lakes
Water retention ponds
Technical Description'
Emergent wetlands in estuarine systems characterized by erect.
rooted, herbaceous hydrophytes: excluding mosses and lichens.
TTiis vegetation is present tor most of the .growing season in
most years. These wetlands are usually dominated by perennial
plants.
Shrub wetlands in . -i i;r H . ^'stcm> mat arc dominated by
woody vegetation less than 20 feet (6 meters) tall. 'Hie species
include true shrubs, young trees, and trees or shrubs that are
small or stunted because of environ mental conditions. Forested
wetlands are characterized by woody vegetation that is 6 meters
tail or taller
Kmereent wetlands in paln3rinc systems characterized by erect.
moled, hcrbiiccuiiK hydrophytes, excluding mosses and lichens.
Tliis vegetation is present for most of the .growing season in
mosi years. These wetlands are usually dominated by perennial
plants.
Shrub wetlands in [tjilitstrine systems mat are dominated by
woody vegetation less lh;in 2Ci Icct (6 meters) hill. The .spedew
include true Khmbs, yaune; trees, and trees or shrubs that arc
small or bunted because ot\ti\ iiotitiicntul (.T/isRlitiiMis.
Foreaed wetlands in pa lustrine systems that are characterized
bv woody vegetation thai is 6 meters tall or taller.
Fanned wetlands are wetlands that meet the Cowardin el al
dctltntion where the soil surface has been mechanically or
physically altered tor production of crops, but where
hydrophytes will become reestablished if fanning is
discontinued.
Aquatic beds arc dominated by plant* that grow principally on
tir below (lie surface of lite water for most of the growing
satsoii in niissl years. I'ixiimples include seagrass beds,
poiLthveeds [Potajnogeton spp.). wild celery (Vallisneria
amcricana), watcnvccdtlilodeaspp.), and duckweed ( Lcnma
spp.).
Untonsohdalcd bottom includes all wetlands with al least 25
percent cover of particles smaller limn stones, and ;i vegetative
cover less iliun ^.'puccni I-_\arnplc4 of imcunsoliilalcd
biibstrale^ ur c sartd mud. orgiinic nuikTinl, cobble gravel.
The wetlands must also have the following four characteristics:
( 1 J area less than 20 acres ('8 ha); (2) an active wave formed or
bedrock shoreline features arc lacking; (3) water depth in llic
decpcsl part of a basin less than 6.6 feet (2 meters) al low
water and M ) salinity due to ocean derived salts less than 0.5
parts per thousand.
1 Descriptions arc taken from Status and Trends of Wetlands in Ihc Conterminous United Stales 1998 to 2004. U.S. Department of
the Interior; Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C (Dahl 20(16)
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 1
Wetland, Deepwater, and Upland Categories L'sed in FWS Wetland Status and Trends Studies
<:ATKC:OKIKS t:xc:i.ijpi)i>:i> FROM NWCA
Code Subcode Full Name Common Description
PUBPAB PaiustrineUnconsolidated Bottom Ponds, aquatic beds
1 /Aquatic Bed
PUBa Pond Aquacullure Cranberry product ion
| | Fish rearing pens
PUBf Pond- Agriculture Dug ouls for livestock
Waste ponds
PUHi Pond InJiMrial Mine pits
H islrway burrow ponds
Sewage lagoons
Holding ponds
LAC
RJV
Lacustrine
Riven nc
Lakes and reservoirs
River syrftnis
l-ll.i]! CstiiarineSnhridal Open water . bay bottoms
E2AJ.-J Estuarinc Intertidat Aquatic Bed SAV
E2US Estuarine Intertidal Beaches^ bars
I ti Consolidated Sliorc
Ml Marine SubHdal Open ocean
M? Marine Intertidal Near ;tn hind is compnsedofareas of inlcnsivc u>c in utncti
much i>f ilic land is covered by s-triiclures (high building
density). Urbanized areas arc cities and towns that provide Ihc
goods and services needed to survive by modem day standards
through a central business district. Services such as banking,
medical and k-;d office buildings, supermarkets, and
department stores make up the business center of a city.
Commercial strip developments along main transportation
routes, shopping centers, contiguous dense residential areas.
industrial and commercial complexes, transportation, power
and communication facilities, city parks, ball fields arid golf
courses nan ;ilso tie included in the urban category.
2 Descriptions are taken from Status and Trends of Wetlands in the Conterminous United States 1998 to 2004. U.S. Department of
the Interior; Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C (Dahl 2006)
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 1
Wetland, 1 Hi |m;iU-r. and I pkind (Categories L'sed in FVVS Wetland Status and Trends Studies
CATKOOKIKS t>:xc:i.iDI-:I> FROM NWCA
Full Name
Common Description
Technical Description'
Upland - Forested Plantations
Plained or intensively Forested plantations include areas of planted and managed
managed forests forea stands. Planted pines. Christinas tree farms, clear cuts,
suitl other managed fores! stands, suth as hardwood forestry arc
included in this category. Forested plantations can be identified
by observing ihe following remote pending indicators: I) irecs
planted in rows or blocks; 2) forested blocks growing with
uniform crown heights and 3) logging activity and use
Upland - Other
Rural uplands not in any Oilier Land Use is composed of uplands not characterized by
catesory. barreji lands the previous categories. Typically these lands would include
nut ivc nrairic; unmaiingcd or non-pattemcd upland forests and
scrub lands: and barren land. Lands in transition may also fit
into this category. Transitional lands arc lands in transition
Irom one land use to another. They generally occur in large
acreage blocks of 40 acres (16 ha) or more and arc
charaticri/eil by the luck of any remote sensor information ilmi
would enable the interpreter to reliably predict future use. The
transitional phase occurs when wetlands are drained, dildicd
filled, leveled, or the vegetation has been removed and the area
is temporarily bare.
URD
Upland Rural Development
Xori urban developed ;t
and ilLlraslructure
evekipmenlv occur in sparse rural and suburban settings
outside distinct urban cities and towns. They arc chanKlcrizcd
by Eiori-itUciisive land use and sparse building density.
Typically, a rural development is a cross-roads community thai
has a comer gas staiion and a convenience store which are
surrounded by sparse residential housing and agriculture.
Scattered suburban communities located outside of a major
urban center can also be included in this category as well as
sonic mdiislriul and commercial complexes; isolated
transportation, power, and communication facilities strip
mines: quarries and recreational areas such as eolf courses, etc.
Major highways through rural development areas are included
in Mn- runt I dcvdopnicnl catcgon,
Marine, Kstuarine, and Palustrine System Definitions'
Marine System: The marine system consists of the open ocean overlying the continental shelf and its associated high energy
coastline Marine habitats are exposed to the waves and currents of the open ocean. Salinity exceeds 30 parts per thousand, with
little or no dilution except outside the mouths of estuaries. Shallow coastal indentations or bays without appreciable freshwater
inflow and coasts wilh exposed rocky islands that provide (he mainland with lilllc or no shelter from wind and waves, are also
considered part of the Marine System because they generally support a typical marine biota
F.Kl iKiri ur System: The estuarine system consists of dccpwalcr tidal habitats and adjacent Udal wetlands that are usually sem i
enclosed by land but have open, partly obstructed, or sporadic access to the open ocean, and in which ocean water is at least
occasionally diluted by freshwater runoff from the land. The salinity may be periodically increased above that of the open ocean
by evaporation. Along some low energy coastlines there is appreciable dilution of sea water. Offshore areas with typical
esluarine plants and animals, such as red mangroves (Rhi/ophora mangle) and eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica), are also
included in the Estuarine System.
Palustrine System: The palustrine (freshwater) system includes all nontidal wetlands dominated by trees, shrubs, persistent
cm agents, emergent mosses or lichens, farmed wetlands, and all such wetlands that occur in tidal areas where salinity due to
ocean derived salts is below 0.5 parts per thousand. It also includes wetlands lacking such vegetation, but with all of the
following four characteristics: (1) area less than 20 acres (8 ha): (2) an active wave formed or bedrock shoreline features arc
lacking; (3) water depth in the deepest part of a basin less than 6.6 feel (2 meters) al low water; and (4) salinity due to ocean
derived salts less than 0.5 parts per thousand.
3 Descriptions are taken from Status and Trends of Wetlands in the Conterminous United States 1998 to 2004. U.S. Department of
the Interior; Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C (Dahl 2006)
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 1
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 2
NWCA PROJECT CONTACT LIST
US EPA Regional NWCA Coordinators
Region 1
Jeanne Voorhees
EPA Region 1
1 Congress St. Ste. 1100
Boston, MA 02114
617-918-1686
voorhee s j eanne @epa.gov
Region 2
Kathleen Drake
EPA Region 2
290 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
212-637-3817
drake .kathleen@epa.gov
Region 3
Regina Poeske
EPA Region 3
1650 Arch St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-814-2725
poeske.regina@epa.gov
Region 4
David Melgaard
EPA Region 4
60 Forsyth St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-562-9265
melgaard.david@epa.gov
Region 5
Sue Elston
EPA Region 5
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
312-886-6115
elston.sue@epa.gov
Tom Faber
EPA - New England Regional Lab
11 Technology Drive
North Chelmsford, MA 01863
617-918-8672
faber.tom@epa.gov
Darvene Adams
US EPA Facilities, Raritan Depot
2890 Woodbridge Avenue
Edison, NJ 08837
732-321-6700
adams.darvene@epa.gov
Bill Richardson
EPA Region 3
1650 Arch St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-814-5675
richardson.william@epa.gov
Peter Kalla
EPA Region 4
980 College Station Rd
Athens, GA 30605
706-355-8778
Kalla.peter@epa.gov
Mari Nord
EPA Region 5
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
312-886-3017
nord.mari@epa.gov
Diana Woods
EPA Region 4
60 Forsyth St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-562-9404
Woods.diana@epa.gov
Peter Jackson
EPA Region 5
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604
312-886-3894
jackson.peter@epa.gov
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 2
Region 6
Mark Stead
EPA Region 6
1445 Ross Ave. Ste. 1200
Dallas, TX 75202
214-665-2271
stead.mark@epa.gov
Region 7
Eliodora Chamberlain
EPA Region 7
90 IN Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
913-551-7945
chamberlain.eliodora@epa.gov
Region 8
Karl Hermann
EPA Region 8
1595 Wynkoop St
Denver, CO 80202
303-312-6628
hermann.karl@epa.gov
Region 9
Paul Jones
EPA Region 9
75 Hawthorne St. (WTR-8)
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-972-3470
j ones .paul@epa.gov
Region 10
Mary Anne Thiesing
EPA Region 10
1200 Sixth Ave Suite 900
Seattle WA 98101
206-553-6114
thiesing.mary@epa.gov
Laura Hunt
EPA Region 6
1445 Ross Ave. Ste. 1200
Dallas, TX 75202
214-655-9729
Hunt.laura@epa.gov
Gary Welker
EPA Region 7
90 IN Fifth St.
Kansas City, KS 66101
913-551-7177
Welker.gary@epa.gov
Liz Rogers
EPA Region 8
1595 Wynkoop St
Denver, CO 80202
303-312-6974
Rogers.liz@epa.gov
Janet Hashimoto
EPA Region 9
75 Hawthorne St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-972-3452
hashimoto j anet@epa.gov
Gretchen Hayslip
EPA Region 10
1200 Sixth Ave Suite 900
Seattle WA 98101
206-553-1685
hayslip.gretchen@epa.gov
Richard Prather
EPA Region 6
1445 Ross Ave. Ste. 1200
Dallas, TX 75202
214-665-8333
Parther.richard@epa.gov
Julia McCarthy
EPA Region 8
1595 Wynkoop St.
Denver, CO 80202
303-312-6153
mccarthy.julia@epa.gov
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 2
US EPA HEADQUARTERS NWCA COORDINATORS
Michael Scozzafava Chris Faulkner Gregg Serenbetz
EPA Wetlands Division EPA Wetlands Division EPA Wetlands Division
1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
(4502T) (4502T) (4502T)
Washington , DC 20460 Washington , DC 20460 Washington , DC 20460
202-566-1376 202-566-1185 202-566-1253
Scozzafava.michaele@epa.gov Faulkner.chris@epa.gov Serenbetz.gregg@epa.gov
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR
Marlys Cappaert
Computer Sciences Corporation
200 S.W. 35th Street
Corvallis, OR 97333
541-754-4467
541-754.4799 (fax)
Cappaert.marlys@epa.gov
CONTRACT LOGISTICS COORDINATOR
Dennis J. McCauley
Great Lakes Environmental Center
739 Hastings St.
Traverse City, MI 49686
231-941-2230
dmccauley@glec-tc.com
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 2
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 3
Instructions for Completing the NWCA Site Evaluation Electronic Form (spreadsheet)
EPA will provide each state or other organization conducting sampling as part of the NWCA with a site evaluation
spreadsheet that includes all of the applicable sampling sites organized by state and site id. The list of sites includes
revisit sites (visited twice), base sites (visited once) and oversample sites (visited only if a revisit or base site is
dropped from sampling).
A. Complete site evaluation information for all sites highlighted in pink (revisit) and yellow (base). Several
columns use pick lists for ease in data entry and to ensure consistent information.
1. Columns A-G. These columns will be completed for you in the spreadsheet.
2. Column H. Add the 2010 era FWS Status and Trends classification code for the POINT. This information
is included in the NWCA site maps for your state distributed by EPA. If the site maps have not yet been
completed for your state, leave blank.
3. Column I. Indicate whether the POINT is in, or within 60 meters, of a wetland in the target population for
the NWCA based on the target definition provided in Section 1.0 of the Site Evaluation Guidelines. If you
have questions about what is target/non-target please contact your EPA Regional NWCA Coordinator or
Gregg Serenbetz.
4. Columns J-L. Either during desktop evaluation or a field visit, determine whether the site is sampleable
using the sampleable/non-sampleable categories guide below. If it is sampleable, select the predominant
wetland type of the site in Column K. If it is not sampleable, select the appropriate category in Column L.
If the site is not currently sampleable, but will be later in the index period, be sure to note when you plan to
return in the comments field. The information in the spreadsheet should be updated when the site is
determined to be sampleable.
5. Columns M-N. Input the actual GPS coordinates in decimal degrees (set to NAD83) for the latitude and
longitude recorded at the POINT if a site visit was conducted. If the POINT can not be accessed, provide
the coordinates where the evaluation took place. If the POINT is relocated, provide the coordinates for the
NEW POINT. Leave columns blank if no site visit was made.
6. Column O. If a site is dropped, please provide any information that could be useful for NWCA field and
data analysis teams. If it is dropped because it is in active crop production, provide an estimate of the
predominant wetland type that would be present if not farmed.
7. Column P. Please indicate the highest level of review that was conducted. If only a desktop evaluation was
conducted, indicate this. If both a desktop evaluation and site visit were done, indicate site visit.
8. Columns Q-S. Provide contact information for the person(s) conducting the site evaluation.
9. Column T. Provide any additional comments about the site that further explain the results of the evaluation
and/or would be useful to a field crew sampling the site. In particular, note any relevant site access issues or
special requirements for the site (difficult terrain, locked gates, permits).
B. If you drop a site, select the NEXT available replacement site from the oversample list. Oversample sites
are listed after revisit (highlighted in pink) and base (highlighted in yellow) sites and are in italics.
1. Be sure to let your EPA regional coordinator and Gregg Serenbetz know which sites have been dropped
and which sites are selected as replacements. This is especially important when more than one organization
is conducting sampling within a state.
2. If a revisit site is dropped, the next base site on the list becomes a revisit site, and the next oversample site
on the list is used as a replacement base site.
C. Site evaluation information must be completed for all oversample sites used as replacements for
revisit or base sites that are dropped.
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 3
D. Submit site evaluation information in the spreadsheet to your EPA Regional NWCA Coordinator and
Gregg Serenbetz prior to the start of the 2011 field season and periodically throughout the field season as changes
are made.
Sampleable/Non-Sampleable Categories
Use these categories as a guide to help determine the sampling status of the POINT.
Sampleable Categories
E2EM - Estuarine Intertidal Emergent
* E2SS - Estuarine Scrub Shrub /Forest
* PEM - Palustrine Emergent
* PSS - Palustrine Scrub Shrub
* PFO - Palustrine Forested
* PUBPAB - Palustrine Unconsolidated Bottom /Aquatic Bed. Ponds that are not used solely for waste
treatment or for other strictly industrial, aquacultural, or agricultural purposes.
Pf- Palustrine Farmed. Farmed wetlands that are not currently being intensively managed for crop (row
and close grown crops, rice, horticulture) production.
Non-Sampleable - Temporary Categories (site may be sampleable during index period)
Temporarily non-sampleable - The site could not be sampled on the day of sampling but could be at a later
date during the index period. Examples include a recent precipitation event or temporary flooding that has
caused unrepresentative conditions. The site should be rescheduled for a later date.
Non-Sampleable - No Access to Site Categories
Access permission denied - Access to site denied by landowner(s).
Permanently inaccessible - Site is unlikely to be sampled by anyone due to physical barriers that prevent
access to site (e.g., dangerous conditions)
Temporarily inaccessible - Site cannot be reached at the present time due to barriers that may not exist at a
future date (e.g., major flooding, fire) but are expected to persist throughout the index period.
Non-Sampleable - Non-Target Categories
Map error - There is no evidence that a target wetland type is present.
Non target wetland type - The wetland type present is not in the target population for the NWCA (i.e.,
palustrine or estuarine unconsolidated shore, estuarine and marine intertidal aquatic bed).
Active crop production during index period - There is conclusive evidence that the site will be intensively
managed for crop (row, rice, horticulture) production during the index period.
Strictly used for an industrial/'agricultural/'aquacultural purpose - There is conclusive evidence that the
site is used solely to treat waste or for another strictly industrial, agricultural, or aquacultural purpose.
Inundated by water > 1 m in depth (over 90% of 60 m aroundpt) - Water over 1 meter in depth covers
90% or more of the area in a 60 meter radius around the POINT.
Other - explain in additional comments.
Non-Sampleable - Assessment Area Cannot Be Established Categories
Sampleable area too small - Sampleable area is less than 0.1 hectare or less than 20 meters in width.
Unsampleable area greater than 10% - More than 10 % of the AA is non-target or unsafe to sample
Sampleable area crosses a hydrogeomorphic (HGM) boundary - AA contains more than one HGM type or
includes a tributary to the reach of the river or stream associated with the POINT
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 4
SITE ID:
NWCA Landowner Permission Form
The Field Crew from [fill in state agency, Cooperator, or contractor name] has requested
permission to access the wetland site located on my property as part of the EPA's National
Wetland Condition Assessment. Please check one of the choices below:
I grant permission
I grant permission, but with the following restrictions:
. I do not grant permission
Landowner Name (please print):
Landowner Signature:
Date:
Phone Number:
Address:
Additional Access Information (please describe any specific details about your property that the
Field Crew should be aware of, such as gates, cattle or livestock on property, planned prescribed
burns, planned harvests, etc.):
If the occupant is different than the landowner, please list the name and phone number of the
occupant below so that we may contact them before the site visit:
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 5
United States Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
Biological Resources Division / National Wetlands Research Center
Gulf Breeze Project Office
1 Sabine Island Drive
Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561
May 1,2007
Dear Landowner:
The U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with other federal and state agencies is conducting an
ecological assessment of coastal wetlands across the Gulf of Mexico region. A computer was used to
randomly select sampling locations throughout the five Gulf of Mexico states. A total of 100 coastal
wetlands sampling sites were selected for sampling in 2007/2008. We will be conducting a one-time
site survey that will last 3-5 hours and will require no permanent structures. Our sample area will be
small, consisting of a sample point location (latitude/longitude) and a 25-meter radius circle around the
point. The primary focus of the on-site field survey is to record observations such as plant species
diversity, topographic complexity, hydrology source and distance to uplands. A minimal amount of
water, sediment and vegetation will be collected from the sample point, not to exceed the following
amounts: a) water chemistry (less than 1 quart), b) sediment samples (less than 1 gallon) and c)
vegetative clippings (3 plots of 3 square feet from herbaceous marsh sites or 15 live tree leaves from
forested sites). This is part of a research study to evaluate methods that may be used in a national
ecological assessment of coastal wetlands slated for 2011.
One or more of the 100 randomly selected sampling sites is located on your property. We are contacting
you prior to the site visit to obtain permission (form enclosed) to access the sampling site. We have
enclosed a copy of a topographic map(s) with the site(s) identified by an "X" at the specific point in the
wetlands to be sampled. We realize that working on your properly is a privilege and we will respect
your landowner rights at all times and no visits will be made without prior contact to establish a specific
field date and logistics. The data collected is to be used for scientific purposes and USGS agrees to
provide the landowner a copy of final reports if requested For legal clarification, USGS follows The
Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 USC 2671, which holds the U.S. Government liable for personal injuries
and property damage caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission of its employees while they
are performing their official duties.
Please return the completed Landowner Access Permission Form in the enclosed envelope. If you have
any questions concerning this request, please contact me (850-934-9373). We are looking forward to
your reply.
Sincerely,
Tom Heitmuller
Field Monitoring Coordinator
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 6
IftJ
Survey of the Nation's Wetlands:
A Fact Sheet for Communities
Introduction
The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), states, and tribes are
conducting the first-ever nationwide
survey of the condition of the nation's
wetlands. This survey, the National
Wetlands Condition Assessment, is one in
a series of studies that will help us
measure the health of our waters, take
action to prevent pollution, and evaluate
the effectiveness of protection and
restoration efforts.
Designed to estimate the percentage of
wetlands that are in good, fair, or poor
condition, this survey will serve as a
scientific report card on America's
wetlands. It will examine ecological,
biological and water quality indicators and
assess the extent of key stressors
across the country.
This survey is a collaborative effort that
involves dozens of state environmental
and natural resource agencies, federal
agencies, tribes, universities and other
organizations. In most states, state
water quality staff will conduct the
ecological sampling and habitat
assessments.
How were wetlands selected?
A total of 900 wetland sites are included
in this survey, representing seven wetland
types and distributed across the lower 48
states. EPA selected the wetland sites
from the network of plots in the U.S.
Fish Wildlife Service's wetland status and
trends report, which characterizes
wetland acreage by type in the lower 48
states. Sampling sites were selected
randomly using a statistical survey design
to represent the population of wetlands in
their ecological region - the geographic
area in which climate, ecological features,
and plant and animal communities are
similar.
Distribution of wetlands in the surve/
What about my wetland?
If your wetland is being sampled for this
survey, it was selected randomly from the
total population of wetlands in your part
of the country. Your wetland was not
selected because it exhibits any
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 6
particular problem or water quality
condition, or because it was recommended
for sampling by an agency or organization.
Data from your wetland will contribute to
the regional and national picture of
wetland condition,
If your we tland is no t being sampled for
thissurvey, it was not omitted for any
particular reason, but rather because it
was not randomly selected or did not fit
into the target population of wetlands
(e.g., wetlands that have rooted
vegetation and water not greater than
one meter in depth).
The National Wetlands Condition
Assessment(NWCA) is designed to
complement the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service's status and trends report.
When paired together, the two efforts
will provide comparable and scientifically-
defensible national information on
wetland quantity and quality. The NWCA
will also provide a regional - and in some
cases, statewide - assessment of wetland
condition and allow for comparison of a
particular wetland to the range of
wetlands in a region or state.
What will researchers
measure?
Field crews will be taking many
measurements at each selected wetland
site. They will be using consistent
procedures at all sites so that results can
be compared across the country. They
will be measuring such things as:
i The presence and abundance of
grassy plants, trees, and shrubs
Algae collected from sediments and
the surface of plant stems and
leaves
Soil properties and chemistry
Water chemistry (such as dissolved
oxygen, nutrients, chlorophyll-t?)
Condition of the habitat in the area
surrounding the wetland.
What happens next?
Field crews will sample during the summer
of 2011. EPA intends to issue a report on
the findings in 2013. Between the sampling
period and publication of the national
report, samples will be analyzed in the lab,
the data will be entered into a database
and analyzed, and a draft report will be
written and reviewed. The public will have
the opportunity to review and comment on
the draft report.
For more information, visit:
http://water.cpQ.qov/type/wetlands/asscss
ment/survey/i ndcx.cf m
or email us with questions at
Scozzaf ova. Mich aele@epa.qov
Serenbetz6reqq@epa.aov
Faulkner.Chri s© epa.q ov
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW (4502T)
Washington, C)C 20460
October 2010
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 7
FORM PV-1: NWCA POINT VERIFICATION FORM (Front) R..i^by(Mi»il: J
SITE ID: NWCA11- VISIT: O RECON Q1 Q2 DATE: / / 2 0 1 1
!__!__
AFFILIATION:
EVALUATOR:
POINT LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY
Directions to POINT:
Provide GPS coordinates at the location
evaluation took place (use NAD83); identify
where below
O POINT O Nearest practicable
Decimal Degrees
Latitude
Longitude
POINT verified by (fill in all that apply): O Aerial PhotoQ Topo MapQ er (describel
Is the POINT accessible? O YES O NO
If it is not accessible, note the reason, whether this is permanent or
temporary, and provide any relevant comments below.
O Permission to access site denied
O Physically inaccessible (crew saftey. bamers. high water)
O Temporary
O Permanent
Note any difficulties accassing site
O Dense Vegetation O Steep/Unstable terrain
O Deep Watei O Livestock
OOlher (describe,'.
Special Access Requirements
O LockcH 3ates O Special Permits
Additional Access Comments:
PREDOMINANT ^TLAND TYPE AT THE POINT (MARK ONE)
Status & Trend Categories INCLUDED in target population
O E2EM - Estuarine Intertidal Emergent
O E2SS - Estuarine Shrub/Forested
O PEM - Palustrine Emergent
O PSS- Palustrine Scrub/Shrub
O PFO - Palustrine Forested
O PUBPAB- Palustrine Uncr.,solida;?d Bottom/Aquatic Bed (see conditions)
O Pf- Palustrine Farmed (s,»e conditions)
Status & Trend Categories EXCLUDED from target population
O Esluarine/Manne Intertidal Aquatic Bed (SAV)
O Esluarine Intertidal Unconsolidated Shore (mudflats)
O Esluarine/Marine Subtidal (deep water)
O Palustrine Unconsolidated Shore (non-tidal mudflats)
O Lacustrine/Riverine (deep water)
O Other (upland, developed, etc)
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
If either PUnrIAb ';r Pf are marked above then indicate the presence of any feature(s) that exclude the POINT from sampling in the
appropriate section below
Palustriro r .m. ->d (Mark all that apply)
O Presence of ruw or close grown crops (list type in comments)
O Terraced Land
O Recent evidence land has been mechanically tilled
O Confirmation from land owner
O Other evidence (describe)
Predominant wetland type if it were not in crop production
(Mark One)
O E2EM O E2SS O PEM O PSS O PFO O PUBPAB
11/30/2010 NWCA Point Verification Form
Palustrine Unconsolidated Bottom (Mark all that apply)
O Strictly used to treat waste
O Strictly used for industrial, agricultural, or aquacullural purposes
O Lined wholly with concrete or other manufactured non-vegetative barrier
O Inundated by water greater than 1m depth covering most of the area
within a 60m radius of POINT
Provide any additional information in the comments section on
the back of this form
2733231641
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NWCA SITE EVALUATION GUIDELINES: ATTACHMENT 7
Site ID:
NWCA11-
FORM PV-1: NWCA POINT VERIFICATION FORM
DATE:
R«i««w By (InHiill:
/ 2 0 1 1
IS POINT SAMPLEABLE
O YES O original POINT is sampleable (fill in category below)
O POINT can be relocated (fill in category below
AND enter documentation for relocated point)
SAMPLEABLE CATEGORIES
O E2EM - Estuarine Intertidal Emergent
O E2SS - Estuarine Scrub Shrub/Forest
O PEM - Palustrtne Emergent
O PSS- Palustrine Scrub Shrub
O PFO - Palustrine Forested
O PUBPAE - Palustrine Unconsdidated Bottom/Aquatic Bed. Ponds
that are not used solely for waste treatment or for other stnctly
industrial, aquaculiural or agncultural purposes
O Pf - Paluslrine Farmed. Farmed wetlands that are not currently
being intensively managed for crop (row and close ground crops.
rice, horticulture) production.
ORIES
O NO (fill in category below)
NON-SAMPLEABLE - TEMPORARY CATEGORIES
O Temporarily Non-Sarnpleable
NON-SAMPLEABLE - NO ACCESS CATEGORIES
O Access permission denied
O Permanently inaccessible
O Temporarily inaccessible
NON-SAMPLEABLE - NON TARGET CATEGORIES
0 Map Error
O Non target wetland type
O Active crop production during u dex period
O Strictly used for an Industnataflrlcultural/aquacultural purpose
O Inundated by water > 1m ir< de^th (over 90% of 60m around pt)
O Other (describe)
NON-SAMPLEAB: E - e.A CAN'T BE ESTABLISHED
O Sampleable area loo small
O Uniamplepble area greater than 10%
O Sampleabi-.- area crosses hydrogeomorphic (HGM) boundary
DOCUMENTATION FOR RELOCATED POINT
Provide GPS coordinates for the
relocated point (use IMAD83)
Decimal Degrees
Latitude
Longitude
Basis for Wetland Determination
(fill in all that apply):
O Hydrophyte vegetation predominant
O Hydric soil predominant
O Wetland hydrology is present
If at least one of the above is filled in
the POINT is a wetland for the purposes
of this survey.
Hydrophytic Vegetation Indicators (describe):
Hydric Soil Indicators:
O High organic content
O Reducing conditions
Soil Map Unit;
O Histosol O Concretions
Q Sulfidic odor Q Gleyed
O Aquic moisture regime
Q Histic epipedon
Q Organic streaking
Listed as hydric? Q Yes Q N°
Wetland Hydrology Indicators: O Standing water O Water marks
O Buttressed trunks
O Saturated Soils
O Other
Q Waler stained leaves
O Oxidized rhizospheres
Q Water carried debris
O Shallow roots
O Bare areas
O Floating Mat
COMMENTS
7893231643
1 1/30/2010 NWCA Point Verification Form
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