1. Wetland Delineation

3. Major Areas Evaluated to Determine Presence of Wetland  Soils – evidence of past presence of water  Plants – wetland obligate or facultative  Hydrology – sufficient to cause wetland plant and soil characteristics Note: for ACOE definition  all three are needed for EPA any one of three for EPA any one of three IMHO – two out of three probably a good compromise

4. Wetland soils  soils that are “…saturated, flooded, or ponded long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions that favor the growth and regeneration of hydrophytic vegetation..” (Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual, 1987)

5. Wetland Soils  Usually high in organics  Show evidence of eluviation called alluvial soils, usually found in B horizon  nutrients leached out by water so only clay is left. called alluvial soils, usually found in B horizon  nutrients leached out by water so only clay is left.  Generally soils are the best indicators of wetlands because alluvial soils will still be there even after most disturbances

6. Evaluating the soil for wetland characteristics

7.  Mottled soils have a matrix of one color with blotches and flecks of other colors  Gleyed soils are usually light grey with a bluish or greenish tint (chroma of 1 or less).

8. Wetland Hydrology  “The area is inundated either permanently or periodically at mean water depths <6.6 ft [2 m], or the soil is saturated to the surface at some time during the growing season of the prevalent vegetation.” (Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual 1987)

12. Evidence for wetland hydrology on cypress tree trunks

13. Wetland Plants  “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” Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual, 1987  hydrophytic vegetation - capable of growing, competing, and reproducing in saturated soils which produce, contain, or maintain anaerobic conditions.

14. Wetland Plants  Have to be able to tolerate anoxia because roots are covered with water  Types of wetland plants Obligate – found in wetlands 100% of the time, require inundation. If find any  wetland! Obligate – found in wetlands 100% of the time, require inundation. If find any  wetland! Facultative wetland – found in wetlands 66 to 99%  preponderance  wetland! Facultative wetland – found in wetlands 66 to 99%  preponderance  wetland! Mixture of facultative wetland/facultative/upland – need to take a closer look Mixture of facultative wetland/facultative/upland – need to take a closer look

15. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation & Management Training Incorporating proposed Wetland Delineator Certification Program & Regulatory IV Interagency Wetland Delineation Training. This training has been based in part on the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual Technical Report Y-87-1 (1987 manual), as provided for in the training materials developed in conjunction with Section 307(e) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1990 for the Wetland Delineator Certification Program. Water Resources Development Act of 1990Wetland Delineator Certification ProgramWater Resources Development Act of 1990Wetland Delineator Certification Program This 38-Hour Course  Covers, in detail, the knowledges necessary for one to delineate wetlands per the accepted protocols of the Army Corps of Engineers and many state and local agencies,  Satisfies the training requirement to become a Certified Wetland Delineator, upon implementation of the Wetland Delineator Certification Program, Wetland Delineator Certification ProgramWetland Delineator Certification Program  Satisfies the training requirements of the state Departments of Transportation that require their contractors who perform wetland delineation services to have completed a Wetland Delinator Certification Program or Regulatory IV Interagency Wetland Delineation Training Course,  Satisfies the training requirements or recommendations to be listed by the Corps of Engineers districts as a competent wetland delineator and/or consultant on their mailing list and/or web page,  Provides approximately 2.6 semester hours toward the specialized wetland training required to become a Professional Wetland Scientist from the Society of Wetland Scientists, Professional Wetland ScientistSociety of Wetland ScientistsProfessional Wetland ScientistSociety of Wetland Scientists  Richard Chinn Environmental Training covers all the materials designated in the Army Corps of Engineers' Wetland Delineator Certification Program plus additional wetland management topics of interest to environmental consultants, engineers, land developers, land managers and regulatory staff, Army Corps of Engineers' Wetland Delineator Certification ProgramArmy Corps of Engineers' Wetland Delineator Certification Program  Covers current events including the January 10, 2001, Supreme Court decision, SWANCC vs. US,  Is designed for the novice, the wetland manager with limited experience and the seasoned wetland manager seeking refresher re-training,  Is 50% (2 days) Classroom material and 50% (2 days) Field training,  Allows you to access our alumni page. alumni pagealumni page  Click here for a  Click here for a Click here for a Click here for a Skills & Knowledges you will gain Upon completion of this course, you will:  Be able to determine if a site satisfies the hydrophytic vegetation requirements, once the dominant plants have been identified  Be able to determine if a site satisfies the hydrology requirement based on in-situ field indicators of hydrology  Be able to determine if a site has hydric soils, based on in-situ field indicators  Be able to understand the biological, chemical, and physical features at work in wetlands  Be able to apply your knowledge of wetlands to other parts of the country / world  Be able to determine if a site is within a wetland  Be able to determine the boundaries of a wetland  Be able to discuss the implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling, SWANCC vs. US Topics  Introduction to the 1987 Manual  Recent wetland events, including SWANCC vs. US decision  History of wetland regulations in the US  History of the ACOE's Wetland Delineation Manuals (1987, 1989 and proposed 1991)  Section 404 authorization  Definitions of Waters of the US (and how it has changed over time)  Introduction to the Cowardin System  Introduction to wetland hydrology  Definition of prior converted croplands  Definition of farmed wetlands  Growing season determination  Primary field wetland hydrology indicators  Secondary field wetland hydrology indicators  Introduction to hydrophytic vegetation  Morphological, physiological, & reproductive adaptations to hydrology  Vegetation strata  Measuring and comparing species within strata  National Wetlands Inventory classifications  The NWI's proposed, new Subregional lists  Selection of dominant species  Introduction to hydric soils  NTCHS old and new criteria compared  Hydric soil lists (national, state and local)  Utilizing your Soil Survey  Soil taxonomy  Soil hydrogeochemistry processes  Oxidation / Reduction processes  Soil colors  Off-site application  Routine Small Area application  Routine Large Area application  Comprehensive application  Atypical situations  Problem areas  Field delineation using Routine Small Area application  Field delineation using Routine Large Area application  Field delineation of Atypical situation (if available locally)  Overview of Mitigation (i.e., Creation, Restoration, Enhancement, Preservation, Mitigation Banks): as time permits  Overview of the Nationwide Permit system, Nationwide Permits and Regional General Permits, their conditions and their criteria: as time permits Logistics  All courses are four days long, either Monday through Thursday, or Tuesday through Friday. Courses start at 7:30 am and end at 6:00 pm daily, with an hour-long lunch and frequent short breaks.  You will be confirmed within 2 days of registering by telephone, email, or fax.  Your cancelled check or credit card statement is generally accepted by the IRS; however, we give you a receipt at the end of a course. if you need a receipt from RCET before the course, please let us know and we will mail, email, or fax you a receipt before the course.  Your comprehensive workbook will be provided on the first day of class. You only need to bring pens, although they are often provided by the hotel.  We generally provide coffee in the morning and soft drinks after lunch. Occasionally a continental breakfast is included, if so, you will be notified beforehand.  Lunch is on your own; on field trip days, we will stop at a mutually-agreeable location for a sit-down lunch.  Transportation is generally provided from the training center to the field. Occasionally, we may ask for a volunteer to drive to a site.  Dress appropriately for the weather; our classes range from cold weather ( 90° F). If you are not sure what the expected weather is, please see The Weather Channel. For cold climates, we recommend Sorel® or Lacrosse® (or equivalent) insulated, waterproof boots; multiple socks; multiple layered clothing; head covering and mittens (preferred) or gloves. For hot weather, we recommend full skin covering (i.e., long sleeves and long pants), and leather Gore-Tex® or rubber mid-calf (preferably white) boots. Snake chaps or snake boots may be appropriate. All persons should carry drinking water and a snack, and, if appropriate, sunscreen and / or insect repellant. The Weather ChannelThe Weather Channel  The instructor will generally have a cellular telephone for emergencies.  If you are allergic or may be allergic to bee or wasp stings or ant bites, contact your physician and the instructor before the field trip.  Now, a note from out legal counsel: Because of the field nature of this course, there are hazards that we cannot foresee (including, but not limited to, slips; trips; and falls, sharp objects, uneven terrain, venomous snakes, bees; wasps; and ants, cold and heat stress, lyme disease, chiggers, large mammals, alligators, & poison ivy).  Now, a note from out legal counsel: Because of the field nature of this course, there are hazards that we cannot foresee (including, but not limited to, slips; trips; and falls, sharp objects, uneven terrain, venomous snakes, bees; wasps; and ants, cold and heat stress, lyme disease, chiggers, large mammals, alligators, & poison ivy). That said, the field trip portion of this course carries no more health and safety risk than what the typical wetland scientist would expect in a day's assignment! And after 400+ field trips, we have never experienced anything more severe than athlete's feet! Links of Interest Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineator Certification Program Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineator Certification Program Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineator Certification Program Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineator Certification Program Advanced Wetland Delineation and Management Training Class Advanced Wetland Delineation and Management Training Class Advanced Wetland Delineation and Management Training Class Advanced Wetland Delineation and Management Training Class Revised. Hosted by Jagged Peak, Inc.Jagged Peak, Inc. © 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005. Richard Chinn Environmental Training, Inc. All rights reserved. Evaluating for wetlands plants

16. Wetland Plants

17. Areas Likely to Contain Wetlands  Area occurs in a floodplain or otherwise has low spots in which water stands at or above the soil surface during the growing season. Caution: Most wetlands lack both standing water and waterlogged soils during at least part of the growing season.  Area has plant communities that commonly occur in areas having standing water for part of the growing season (eg. Cypress-gum swamps, cordgrass marshes, cattail marshes, bulrush and tule marshes, and sphagnum bogs).  Area has soils that are called peats or mucks.  Area is periodically flooded by tides, even if only by strong, wind- driven, or spring tides.

19. Used in draft supplement of 1987 delineation manual

20. Wetland Mitigation  Replace destroyed wetland with artificially constructed one  Often fail  use mitigation ratio Open water 1.5:1 Open water 1.5:1 Grasses, wildflowers 2:1 Grasses, wildflowers 2:1 Scrub/Shrub 3:1 Scrub/Shrub 3:1 Forested land 3-4:1 Forested land 3-4:1 Note: under certain circumstances the mitigation ratio could be as high as 10:1.