2. Since the late 1700s, >50% of U.S. wetlands have been converted to other uses.

3. Flood Flow Storage and Attenuation Recreation Fish and Shellfish Habitat Uniqueness/Heritage Groundwater Recharge/Discharge Wildlife Habitat Production Export (Nutrient)Visual Quality/Aesthetics Nutrient Removal/Transformation Educational/Scientific Value Threatened or Endangered Species Habitat Sediment/Toxicant/Pathogen Retention Sediment/Shoreline Stabilization

4. Help to define the limits of Federal jurisdiction, in accordance with current law, regulations, and policy Determine the wetland area affected by a project, as a first step in impact assessment, alternatives analysis, and mitigation

5. Clean Water Act of 1972 and Amendments Authorized EPA and the Corps to regulate the placement of fill in wetlands and other waters Food Security Act of 1985 and Amendments Authorized NRCS to make wetland determinations under the Act’s “Swampbuster” provisions

6. Corps/EPA definition - for Clean Water Act Section 404 purposes: Areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.

9. Memorandum to the Field in 2005 http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/compliance/index.html#3rd_Edi tion Goal is to administer Federal wetland programs in a manner that minimizes duplication between Swampbuster and CWA May still need both an NRCS & COE determination/delineation because of different laws Does not always resolve differences between the NFSAM and the 1987 COE Manual Does not always provide one-stop-shopping for wetland delineations

10. Determinations solely for CWA purposes Other Waters jurisdiction COE jurisdictional determination may/may not be valid for Food Security Act purposed. Special language Coordination with NRCS when both agencies are involved

11. The National Food Security Act Manual is used to make wetland determinations on disturbed sites, but COE Manual, Atypical Sites may be used to supplement NFSAM (NFSAM part 527.4) The Corps manual is used to identify wetlands on all undisturbed sites, and may be used for areas not in annually tilled crops or where existing vegetation can be used in making hydrophytic vegetation determination

12. Ag:Lands intensively used and managed for food and fiber production. Examples are cropland, hayland and pastures, including native pastures and rangeland, orchards, vineyards, areas that support wetland crops (e.g., cranberries, taro, watercress, or rice), other lands used to produce or support the production of livestock, and small tree farms. Non-Ag: Commercial tree farms, ag land where non- ag uses are or will be established (e.g. urban growth), and ag lands that are abandoned

13. NRCS is responsible for delineating wetlands on land for participants and persons intending to become participants in USDA programs. Based on AD-1026 Activities that make production possible Pertains to Food Security Act Compliance for program participants Includes a statement (see next slide) on CPA-026/map: Coordination with COE when both agencies are involved

14. “This certified wetland determination/delineation has been conducted for the purpose of implementing the wetland conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985. This determination/delineation may not be valid for identifying the extent of the COE’s Clean Water Act jurisdiction for this site. If you intend to conduct any activity that constitutes a discharge of dredged or fill material into wetlands or other waters, you should request a jurisdictional determination from the local office of the COE prior to starting the work.”

16. Prior converted croplands (PC) are wetlands that were drained, dredged, filled, leveled, or otherwise manipulated, including the removal of woody vegetation, before December 23, 1985, to make production of an agricultural commodity possible, and that (1) do not meet specific hydrologic criteria, (2) have had an agricultural commodity planted or produced at least once prior to December 23, 1985, and (3) have not since been abandoned. Activities in prior converted cropland are not regulated under Swampbuster or CWA � 404.

17. Farmed wetlands (FW) are similar to prior converted cropland in that they were drained, dredged, filled, leveled, or otherwise manipulated before December 23, 1985, to make production of an agricultural commodity possible, but are often wet enough to still be valuable wetland habitat subject to Swampbuster and CWA � 404. Farmed wetlands include potholes, playas, pocosins, and other manipulated and cropped areas that meet specific hydrologic criteria.

18. A wetland that, after 23 December 1985, has been drained, dredged, filled, leveled, or otherwise manipulated (including the removal of woody vegetation or any activity that results in impairing or reducing the flow, circulation, or reach of water) for the purpose of, or to have the effect of, making possible the production of an agricultural commodity.

19. A converted wetland where conversion occurred prior to 23 December 1985, an agricultural commodity had been produced at least once before 23 December 1985, and as of 23 December 1985, the converted wetland did not support woody vegetation and met the following hydrologic criteria:

20. Inundation < 15 consecutive days during growing season or 10% of growing season, whichever is less, in most years If a pothole, playa, or pocosin, ponding was < 7 consecutive days during g.s. in most years and saturation < 14 consecutive days during the g.s., in most years (50% chance or more) May maintain or improve the manipulation as long as it doesn’t adversely impact adjacent/off-site wetlands

21. Dams Dikes Ditches Diversions Pumps Terraces Dredge and fill Subsurface drains Alteration of the hydrology and/or the removal of woody vegetation (including stems and stumps) on a wetland Manipulation may result from:

22. Established (i.e., ongoing), normal farming activities such as: plowing, harvesting, seeding, minor drainage, cultivating Maintenance, but not construction, of drainage ditches Construction and maintenance of irrigation ditches Construction and maintenance of farm or stock ponds Construction and maintenance of farm roads, in accordance with best management practices

25. Wetland Vegetation Hydrology Hydric Soils

26. Evidence of ongoing wetland conditions

27. Corps Manual: Area is inundated or saturated to the surface for at least 5% of the growing season in most years Supplements: 14 or more consecutive days or a water table at 12 inches or less in growing season for at least 5 years in 10

28. National Food Security Act Manual: Area is inundated for at least 7 consecutive days during the growing season in most years, or Saturated at or near the surface for at least 14 consecutive days during the growing season in most years. Soils may be considered saturated if the water table is within: 0.5 ft of the surface for sands 1.0 ft of the surface for all other soils

29. The portion of the year when soil temperature (measured 20 inches below the surface) is above biological zero (41 °F or 5 °C).

30. May be approximated by: Period when air temperatures are above 28 °F at a frequency of 5 years in 10 Data sources: Soil survey reports WETS tables

31. Dominated by species that are tolerant of prolonged inundation or soil saturation

32. Indicator Status Symbol in Wetlands Obligate wetland plantsOBL > 99% Cattail, BulRush, Nebraska sedge, Water Hemlock Facultative Wetland plantsFACW67 - 99% Baltic Rush, Curly Dock, Poison hemlock Facultative plantsFAC34 - 66% Salt grass, Woods rose, Cockle bur Facultative Upland plantsFACU 1 - 33% Quackgrass, Red/White clover, Prickly lettuce Obligate Upland plantsUPL < 1% Crested Wheatgrass, Sow thistle, Four-wing saltbush

33. If a plant is not listed on the plant list:

34. More than 50% of the dominant species are OBL, FACW, or FAC

35. The “50/20 rule”: More than 50% of the dominant plant species across all strata are rated OBL, FACW, or FAC For each stratum in the plant community, dominant species are the most abundant plant species 1.ranked in descending order of abundance 2.cumulatively totaled until exceeds 50 percent for the stratum 3.plus any additional species that comprise 20 percent or more for the stratum. 4.Use absolute percent cover 5.If a plant is dominant in two strata, count twice

36. PI Guidelines 80% or more of total vegetation cover on the plot (summed for all strata), must be correctly identified species and have an indicator status PI = weighted average If PI ≤ 3.0, then veg is hydrophytic

37. A hydric soil is a soil that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part.

38. Color Organic matter Texture Horizonation Drainage Permeability Properties that are important to hydric soil development and recognition:

39. Munsell Soil Color Book, 7.5YR page

40. Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual http://www.spk.usace.army.mil//organizations/cespk- co/regulatory/pdf/delineation_manual.pdf National Food Security Act Manual http://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/?l=5 Then go to Manuals; Title 180 Cons. Plan. Application Corps Headquarters, Regulatory Program http://www.usace.army.mil/inet/functions/cw/cecwo/reg/ EPA Office of Water http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/