Wednesday, March 1, 2017

ID your Wetlands as Functionally Significant!

Criteria for a functionally significant wetland:




Flood Flow Alteration

Upslope wetlands < 5% of the wetland’s watershed

Wetland area <20% of watershed area

Majority of the watershed is made of impervious surfaces

Most soils (>80%) have a slow infiltration rate <.06” /hour

Wetland is located near intermittent or first order stream

Wetland > 81 hectares

Surface Water Improvement

Watershed => potential pollutants

Majority of watershed != forest or scrub

Wetland < 5% watershed acreage

Upslope wetlands < 5% of the watershed

Avg. slope > 10% in watershed

Wetland type => riparian

Soil Type histosol or frequently flooded mineralized soil with high clay and organic materials levels

Near a 1st order or intermittent stream

Wildlife Habitat

1+ wetland of a different type bordering the wetland

Least common among other watershed types

Connection to surface water network

A football field or more of natural vegetation along the perimeter of the defined wetland

Hydrologically connected to another wetland within 400 meters

Reference:
Cedfeldt, Paul T., Mary C. Watzin, and Bruce Dingee Richardson. "Using GIS to identify functionally significant wetlands in the Northeastern United States." Environmental management 26, no. 1 (2000): 13-24.

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