Developing a Cooperative Wetland Condition Assessment for the Nanticoke Watershed The Research Stage David Bleil MD Department of Natural Resources

Project Goals Develop Skills in Wetland Condition Surveying at the Watershed Level. Develop a consistent data set of known quality and maximum usefulness. Add Wetland Condition to Department’s landscape focus. Meet CWA Sect. 305 (b) reporting requirements for unmodified wetlands

Integration of Field and GIS Expertise Departmental Reorganization Integration of field evaluation staff and GIS landscape analysis and remote sensing staff. Departmental focus on watershed- based integrated resource management

Developing A Cooperative Interstate Venture in the Nanticoke Data Sharing agreements –MSGICC requirements Data acquisition for Level 1 assessments Prior HGM reclassification of Nanticoke wetlands by NWI. Cooperative scheduling of field work & training Cooperative protocol development for level 2 & 3 assessment

Working with Volunteers Part of the initial plan Requires resources to recruit, train, organize & equip -- no free lunch! Can supplement staff expertise Builds public support Liability issues are not trivial –State vehicle policy –Health & safety Volunteers can easily work across political boundaries

Maximizing Data Usefulness across state agencies DNR –Integrated resource assessment – quality of natural systems –Watershed Restoration Action Strategies –Green Infrastructure assessment MDE –Regulatory focus –Site specific applications– impacts and restorations –Water quality monitoring responsibilities

Optimizing Data Usefulness Within State Agencies Integration of spatially random sample design for wetland condition surveys with the MD Biological Stream Survey. Integration with the stream condition surveys of WRAS development Integration of tiered assessment approach and level 3 vegetation sampling with the Green Infrastructure ground truth assessment. Integration of wetland condition field data with GIS analysis.

Lessons learned To be applied

Water in the wetlands may be visible and measurable only during portions of a year Index of condition will be based on vegetation. Vegetation is impacted by hydrology. Vegetation impacts hydrology

Now you see Now you see it…

And now you don’t

Level 1 – GIS Assessment Nanticoke study benefited from recent NWI update – data not available statewide yet. Limits of accuracy of level 1 set by spatial data quality and currency. –Field verification is required even for “non- impacted” wetlands –Wetlands are embedded in a dynamic landscape and react to their surroundings.

Key: Red Outline= NWI boundaries Red dots = GPS points Black line = SHA road

Future needs Improved spatial data: resolution, positional accuracy, temporal accuracy Extended HGM classification of wetlands maps statewide Additional botanical expertise for field staff