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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20170783 Ver 1_NC WAM Rating Calculator v5-whag015f_w2_20170627 NC WAM WETLAND ASSESSMENT FORM Accompanies User Manual Version 5 USACE AID#:NCDWR #: Project NameScotland NeckDate of Evaluation03/24/2017 Applicant/Owner NameDominionWetland Site Namewhag015f2 Wetland TypePine FlatAssessor Name/OrganizationColin Gentry; Cab Bates Level III EcoregionMiddle Atlantic Coastal PlainNearest Named Water BodyConoconnara Swamp River BasinRoanokeUSGS 8-Digit Catalogue Unit03010107 CountyHalifaxNCDWR RegionRaleigh YesNoPrecipitation within 48 hrs?Latitude/Longitude (deci-degrees)36.202864, -77.591709 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 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 NC WAM Wetland Rating Sheet Accompanies User Manual Version 5.0 Wetland Site Namewhag015f2Date03/24/2017 Wetland TypePine FlatAssessor Name/Organization Colin Gentry; Cab Bates Notes on Field Assessment Form (Y/N)NO Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N)YES Wetland is intensively managed (Y/N)YES Assessment area is located within 50 feet of a natural tributary or other open water (Y/N) Assessment area is substantially altered by beaver (Y/N)NO Assessment area experiences overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions (Y/N)NO 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 Water QualityPathogen ChangeConditionNA Condition/OpportunityNA Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)NA Particulate ChangeConditionNA Condition/OpportunityNA Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)NA Soluble ChangeConditionNA Condition/OpportunityNA Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)NA Physical ChangeConditionNA Condition/OpportunityNA Opportunity Presence? (Y/N)NA LOW Pollution ChangeCondition LOW Condition/Opportunity YES Opportunity Presence? (Y/N) LOW HabitatPhysical StructureCondition MEDIUM Landscape Patch StructureCondition Vegetation CompositionConditionNA Function Rating Summary FunctionMetrics/NotesRating MEDIUM HydrologyCondition LOW Water QualityCondition LOW Condition/Opportunity YES Opportunity Presence? (Y/N) LOW HabitatCondition Overall Wetland RatingLOW