HomeMy WebLinkAbout20170783 Ver 1_NC WAM Rating Calculator - whac031f_20170627
NC WAM WETLAND ASSESSMENT FORM
Accompanies User Manual Version 5
USACE AID#:NCDWR #:
Project NameScotland NeckDate of Evaluation4/28/2017
Applicant/Owner NameDominionWetland Site Namewhac031f
Wetland TypeHeadwater ForestAssessor Name/OrganizationJonathan Connelly; Laura Clark/ERM
Level III EcoregionMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNearest Named Water BodyDeep Creek
River BasinTar-PamlicoUSGS 8-Digit Catalogue Unit03020102
CountyHalifaxNCDWR RegionRaleigh
YesNoPrecipitation within 48 hrs?Latitude/Longitude (deci-degrees)36.151124, -77.497359
Evidence of stressors affecting the assessment area (may not be within the assessment area)
Please circle and/or make note on last page if evidence of stressors is apparent. Consider departure from reference, if
appropriate, in recent past (for instance, approximately within 10 years). Noteworthy stressors include, but are not limited
to the following.
•Hydrological modifications (examples: ditches, dams, beaver dams, dikes, berms, ponds, etc.)
•Surface and sub-surface discharges into the wetland (examples: discharges containing obvious pollutants, presence of nearby
septic tanks, underground storage tanks (USTs), hog lagoons, etc.)
•Signs of vegetation stress (examples: vegetation mortality, insect damage, disease, storm damage, salt intrusion, etc.)
•Habitat/plant community alteration (examples: mowing, clear-cutting, exotics, etc.)
Is the assessment area intensively managed?
YesNo
Regulatory Considerations
- Were regulatory considerations evaluated?YesNoIf Yes, check all that apply to the assessment area.
Anadromous fish
Federally protected species or State endangered or threatened species
NCDWR riparian buffer rule in effect
Abuts a Primary Nursery Area (PNA)
Publicly owned property
N.C. Division of Coastal Management Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) (including buffer)
Abuts a stream with a NCDWQ classification of SA or supplemental classifications of HQW, ORW, or Trout
Designated NCNHP reference community
Abuts a 303(d)-listed stream or a tributary to a 303(d)-listed stream
What type of natural stream is associated with the wetland, if any? (check all that apply)
Blackwater
Brownwater
Tidal (if tidal, check one of the following boxes)Lunar LunarWindBoth
Is the assessment area on a coastal island?
YesNo
Is the assessment area's surface water storage capacity or duration substantially altered by beaver?
YesNo
Does the assessment area experience overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions?
YesNo
1.Ground Surface Condition/Vegetation Condition – assessment area condition metric
Check a box in each column.
Consider alteration to the ground surface (GS) in the assessment area and vegetation structure
(VS) in the assessment area. Compare to reference wetland if applicable (see User Manual). If a reference is not applicable,
then rate the assessment area based on evidence of an effect.
GSVS
AANot severely altered
BBSeverely altered over a majority of the assessment area (ground surface alteration examples: vehicle tracks, excessive
sedimentation, fire-plow lanes, skidder tracks, bedding, fill, soil compaction, obvious pollutants) (vegetation structure
alteration examples: mechanical disturbance, herbicides, salt intrusion \[where appropriate\], exotic species, grazing,
less diversity \[if appropriate\], hydrologic alteration)
2.Surface and Sub-Surface Storage Capacity and Duration – assessment area condition metric
Check a box in each column.
Consider surface storage capacity and duration (Surf) and sub-surface storage capacity and
duration (Sub). Consider both increase and decrease in hydrology. A ditch ≤ 1 foot deep is considered to affect surface water only,
while a ditch > 1 foot deep is expected to affect both surface and sub-surface water. Consider tidal flooding regime, if applicable.
SurfSub
AAWater storage capacity and duration are not altered.
BBWater storage capacity or duration are altered, but not substantially (typically, not sufficient to change vegetation).
CCWater storage capacity or duration are substantially altered (typically, alteration sufficient to result in vegetation
change) (examples: draining, flooding, soil compaction, filling, excessive sedimentation, underground utility lines).
3.Water Storage/Surface Relief – assessment area/wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes)
Check a box in each column for each group below
. Select the appropriate storage for the assessment area (AA) and the wetland
type (WT).
AAWT
3a.AAMajority of wetland with depressions able to pond water > 1 foot deep
BBMajority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 6 inches to 1 foot deep
CCMajority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep
DDDepressions able to pond water < 3 inches deep
3b.AEvidence that maximum depth of inundation is greater than 2 feet
BEvidence that maximum depth of inundation is between 1 and 2 feet
CEvidence that maximum depth of inundation is less than 1 foot
4.Soil Texture/Structure – assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes)
Check a box from each of the three soil property groups below.
Dig soil profile in the dominant assessment area landscape
feature. Make soil observations within the 12 inches. Use most recent National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils guidance for
regional indicators.
4a.ASandy soil
BLoamy or clayey soils exhibiting redoximorphic features (concentrations, depletions, or rhizospheres)
CLoamy or clayey soils not exhibiting redoximorphic features
DLoamy or clayey gleyed soil
EHistosol or histic epipedon
4b.ASoil ribbon < 1 inch
BSoil ribbon ≥ 1 inch
4c.ANo peat or muck presence
BA peat or muck presence
5.Discharge into Wetland – opportunity metric
Check a box in each column.
Consider surface pollutants or discharges (Surf) and sub-surface pollutants or discharges (Sub).
Examples of sub-surface discharges include presence of nearby septic tank, underground storage tank (UST), etc.
SurfSub
AALittle or no evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the assessment area
BBNoticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the wetland and stressing, but not overwhelming the
treatment capacity of the assessment area
CCNoticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges (pathogen, particulate, or soluble) entering the assessment area and
potentially overwhelming the treatment capacity of the wetland (water discoloration, dead vegetation, excessive
sedimentation, odor)
6.Land Use – opportunity metric (skip for non-riparian wetlands)
Check all that apply (at least one box in each column).
Evaluation involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. Consider sources
draining to assessment area within entire upstream watershed (WS), within 5 miles and within the watershed draining to the
assessment area (5M), and within 2 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (2M). Effective riparian buffers
are considered to be 50 feet wide in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont ecoregions and 30 feet wide in the Blue Ridge Mountains ecoregion.
WS5M2M
AAA≥ 10% impervious surfaces
BBBConfined animal operations (or other local, concentrated source of pollutants)
CCC≥ 20% coverage of pasture
DDD≥ 20% coverage of agricultural land (regularly plowed land)
EEE≥ 20% coverage of maintained grass/herb
FFF≥ 20% coverage of clear-cut land
GGGLittle or no opportunity to improve water quality. Lack of opportunity may result from little or no disturbance in
the watershed or hydrologic alterations that prevent dainage and/or overbank flow from affectio the
assessment area.
7.Wetland Acting as Vegetated Buffer – assessment area/wetland complex condition metric (skip for non-riparian wetlands)
7a.Is assessment area within 50 feet of a tributary or other open water?
YesNoIf Yes, continue to 7b. If No, skip to Metric 8.
7b.How much of the first 50 feet from the bank is weltand? (Wetland buffer need only be present on one side of the water body. Make
buffer judgment based on the average width of wetland. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been removed or disturbed.)
A≥ 50 feet
BFrom 30 to < 50 feet
CFrom 15 to < 30 feet
DFrom 5 to < 15 feet
< 5 feet or buffer bypassed by ditches
E
7c.Tributary width. If the tributary is anastomosed, combine widths of channels/braids for a total width.
≤ 15-feet wide> 15-feet wideOther open water (no tributary present)
7d.Do roots of assessment area vegetation extend into the bank of the tributary/open water?
YesNo
7e.Is tributary or other open water sheltered or exposed?
Sheltered – adjacent open water with width < 2500 feet and no regular boat traffic.
Exposed – adjacent open water with width ≥ 2500 feet or regular boat traffic.
8.Wetland Width at the Assessment Area – wetland type/wetland complex condition metric (evaluate WT for all marshes
and Estuarine Woody Wetland only; evaluate WC for Bottomland Hardwood Forest, Headwater Forest, and Riverine Swamp
Forest only)
Check a box in each column.
Select the average width for the wetland type at the assessment area (WT) and the wetland complex at the
assessment area (WC). See User Manual for WT and WC boundaries.
WTWC
AA≥ 100 feet
BBFrom 80 to < 100 feet
CCFrom 50 to < 80 feet
DDFrom 40 to < 50 feet
EEFrom 30 to < 40 feet
FFFrom 15 to < 30 feet
GGFrom 5 to < 15 feet
HH< 5 feet
9.Inundation Duration – assessment area condition metric (skip for non-riparian wetlands)
Answer for assessment area dominant landform.
AEvidence of short-duration inundation (< 7 consecutive days)
BEvidence of saturation, without evidence of inundation
CEvidence of long-duration inundation or very long-duration inundation (7 to 30 consecutive days or more)
10.Indicators of Deposition – assessment area condition metric (skip for non-riparian wetlands and all marshes)
Consider recent deposition only (no plant growth since deposition).
ASediment deposition is not excessive, but at approximately natural levels.
BSediment deposition is excessive, but not overwhelming the wetland.
CSediment deposition is excessive and is overwhelming the wetland.
11.Wetland Size – wetland type/wetland complex condition metric
Check a box in each column.
Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This metric evaluates three aspects of the wetland area: the
size of the wetland type (WT), the size of the wetland complex (WC), and the size of the forested wetland (FW) (if applicable, see User
Manual). See the User Manual for boundaries of these evaluation areas. If assessment area is clear-cut, select “K” for the FW column.
WTWCFW (if applicable)
AAA≥ 500 acres
BBBFrom 100 to < 500 acres
CCCFrom 50 to < 100 acres
DDDFrom 25 to < 50 acres
EEEFrom 10 to < 25 acres
FFFFrom 5 to < 10 acres
GGGFrom 1 to < 5 acres
HHHFrom 0.5 to < 1 acre
IIIFrom 0.1 to < 0.5 acre
JJJFrom 0.01 to < 0.1 acre
< 0.01 acre or assessment area is clear-cut
KKK
12.Wetland Intactness – wetland type condition metric (evaluate for Pocosins only)
APocosin is the full extent (≥ 90%) of its natural landscape size.
BPocosin is < 90% of the full extent of its natural landscape size.
13.Connectivity to Other Natural Areas – landscape condition metric
Check appropriate box(es) (a box may be checked in each column). Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment.
This
13a.
evaluates whether the wetland is well connected (Well) and/or loosely connected (Loosely) to the landscape patch, the contiguous
metric naturally vegetated area and open water (if appropriate). Boundaries are formed by four-lane roads, regularly maintained utility
line corridors the width of a four-lane road or wider, urban landscapes, fields (pasture open and agriculture), or water > 300 feet wide.
WellLoosely
AA≥ 500 acres
BBFrom 100 to < 500 acres
CCFrom 50 to < 100 acres
DDFrom 10 to < 50 acres
EE< 10 acres
FFWetland type has a poor or no connection to other natural habitats
Evaluate for marshes only
.
13b.
YesNoWetland type has a surface hydrology connection to open waters/stream or tidal wetlands.
14.Edge Effect – wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes and Estuarine Woody Wetland)
May involve a GIS effort with field adjustment. Estimate distance from wetland type boundary to artificial edges. Artificial edges include
non-forested areas ≥ 40 feet wide such as fields, development, roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors and clear-cuts. Consider
the eight main points of the compass. Artificial edge occurs within 150 feet in how many directiions? If the assessment area is clear-cut,
select option "C."
A0
B1 to 4
C5 to 8
15. Vegetative Composition – assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes and Pine Flat)
AVegetation is close to reference condition in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of appropriate
species, with exotic plants absent or sparse within the assessment area.
BVegetation is different from reference condition in species diversity or proportions, but still largely composed of native species
characteristic of the wetland type. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clearcutting or
clearing. It also includes communities with exotics present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata.
Vegetation severely altered from reference in composition, or expected species are unnaturally absent (planted stands of non-
C
characteristic species or at least one stratum inappropriately composed of a single species), or exotic species are dominant in
at least one stratum.
16.Vegetative Diversity – assessment area condition metric (evaluate for Non-tidal Freshwater Marsh only)
AVegetation diversity is high and is composed primarily of native species (<10% cover of exotics).
BVegetation diversity is low or has > 10% to 50% cover of exotics.
CVegetation is dominated by exotic species (>50% cover of exotics).
17.Vegetative Structure – assessment area/wetland type condition metric
17a.Is vegetation present?
YesNoIf Yes, continue to 17b. If No, skip to Metric 18.
for all marshes only
Evaluate percent coverage of assessment area vegetation . Skip to 17c for non-marsh wetlands.
17b.
A≥ 25% coverage of vegetation
B< 25% coverage of vegetation
Check a box in each column for each stratum for non-marsh wetlands
.Evaluate this portion of the metric. Consider structure
17c.
in airspace above the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT) separately.
AAWT
AACanopy closed, or nearly closed, with natural gaps associated with natural processes
BBCanopy present, but opened more than natural gaps
CCCanopy sparse or absent
Canopy
AADense mid-story/sapling layer
BBModerate density mid-story/sapling layer
CCMid-story/sapling layer sparse or absent
Mid-Story
AADense shrub layer
BBModerate density shrub layer
CCShrub layer sparse or absent
Shrub
AADense herb layer
BBModerate density herb layer
CCHerb layer sparse or absent
Herb
18.Snags – wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes)
ALarge snags (more than one) are visible (> 12-inches DBH, or large relative to species present and landscape stability).
BNot A
19.Diameter Class Distribution – wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes)
AMajority of canopy trees have stems > 6 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH); many large trees (> 12 inches DBH) are
present.
BMajority of canopy trees have stems between 6 and 12 inches DBH, few are > 12-inch DBH.
CMajority of canopy trees are < 6 inches DBH or no trees.
20.Large Woody Debris – wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes)
Include both natural debris and man-placed natural debris.
ALarge logs (more than one) are visible (> 12 inches in diameter, or large relative to species present and landscape stability).
BNot A
21.Vegetation/Open Water Dispersion – wetland type/open water condition metric (evaluate for Non-Tidal Freshwater
Marsh only)
Select the figure that best describes the amount of interspersion between vegetation and open water in the growing season. Patterned
areas indicate vegetated areas, while solid white areas indicate open water.
ABCD
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22.Hydrologic Connectivity – assessment area condition metric (evaluate for riparian wetlands and Salt/Brackish Marsh only)
Examples of activities that may severely alter hydrologic connectivity include intensive ditching, fill, sedimentation, channelization,
diversion, man-made berms, beaver dams, and stream incision. Documentation required if evaluated as B, C, or D.
Overbank and overland flow are not severely altered in the assessment area.
A
BOverbank flow is severely altered in the assessment area.
COverland flow is severely altered in the assessment area.
Both overbank and overland flow are severely altered in the assessment area.
D
Notes
Old logging roads or long cleared areas.
NC WAM Wetland Rating Sheet
Accompanies User Manual Version 5.0
Wetland Site Namewhac031fDate4/28/2017
Wetland TypeHeadwater ForestAssessor Name/Organization Jonathan Connelly; Laura Clark/ERM
Notes on Field Assessment Form (Y/N)YES
Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N)YES
Wetland is intensively managed (Y/N)NO
Assessment area is located within 50 feet of a natural tributary or other open water (Y/N)YES
Assessment area is substantially altered by beaver (Y/N)NO
Assessment area experiences overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions (Y/N)YES
Assessment area is on a coastal island (Y/N)NO
Sub-function Rating Summary
FunctionSub-functionMetricsRating
LOW
HydrologySurface Storage and RetentionCondition
HIGH
Sub-Surface Storage and RetentionCondition
HIGH
Water QualityPathogen ChangeCondition
HIGH
Condition/Opportunity
NO
Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)
HIGH
Particulate ChangeCondition
Condition/OpportunityNA
Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)NA
MEDIUM
Soluble ChangeCondition
HIGH
Condition/Opportunity
YES
Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)
HIGH
Physical ChangeCondition
HIGH
Condition/Opportunity
YES
Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)
Pollution ChangeConditionNA
Condition/OpportunityNA
Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)NA
MEDIUM
HabitatPhysical StructureCondition
HIGH
Landscape Patch StructureCondition
MEDIUM
Vegetation CompositionCondition
Function Rating Summary
FunctionMetrics/NotesRating
MEDIUM
HydrologyCondition
HIGH
Water QualityCondition
HIGH
Condition/Opportunity
YES
Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)
HIGH
HabitatCondition
Overall Wetland RatingHIGH