20070828 Ver 1_NC WAM Assessment_20080326

NC W IED ASSESSMENT FORM
`ruC.� 0 V ION 3.13 Janua 12, 200 )
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Wetland Site Name J ��( - Date .-")
Wetland Typ t Au ) Assessor Name/Organization - r
Level III Ecoregion Nearest Named Water Body
River Basin �'��pl�,rt �`( USGS 8 -Digit Catalogue Unit
❑ Yes ❑ No Precipitation within 48 hrs? Latitude/Longitude (deci-degrees)
Evidence of stressors affecting the assessment area (may not be within the assessment area)
Please circle and/or make note below if evidence of stressors is apparent. Consider departure from reference, if appropriate, in recent past
(for instance, 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? ❑ Yes ❑ No
Describe effec s of stressors that are present.
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Regulatory Considerations
Select all that apply to the assessment area.
❑ Anadromous fish
❑ Federally protected species or State endangered or threatened species
❑ NCDWQ riparian buffer rule in effect
❑ Wetland adjacent to or associated stream drains to a Primary Nursery Area
❑ Publicly owned property— M
❑ N.C. Division of Coastal Management Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) (including buffer)
❑ N.C. Division of Water Quality best usage classification of SA or supplemental classifications of HQW, ORW, or Trout
❑ Designated NCNHP reference community
What type of natural stream is associated with the wetland, if any? (Check all that apply)
❑ Blackwater
Brownwater
Jxi Tidal (if tidal, check one of the following boxes) ❑ Lunar NJ Wind _ ❑ Both
Is the assessment area on a coastal island? ❑ Yes W No fib- J
Is the assessment area's surface water storage capacity or duration substantially altered by beaver? ❑ Yes kNo
". C_Q
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 0.0). If a reference is not applicable, then rate the
assessment area based on evidence of alteration. 1
GS
&A �A Not severely altered
❑B ❑B Severely altered over most 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), artificial 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. Refer to the NRCS Scope and Effect Guide (see User Manual v1.0 Appendix
G) for North Carolina hydric soils for the zone of influence of ditches in hydric soils. A ditch 5 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.
Su &b
A NA Water storage capacity and duration are not altered.
❑B 0 Water storage capacity or duration are altered, but not substantially (typically, not sufficient to change vegetation).
❑C ❑C Water storage capacity or duration are substantially altered (typically, alteration sufficient to result in vegetation
change) (examples: intensive ditching, fill, sedimentation, channelization, diversion, man-made berms, beaver
dams, stream incision, sewer lines, soil compaction).
3. Water Storage/Surface Relief — assessment area/wetland type condition metric
Check
a box in
each column. Select the appropriate storage for the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT).
AA
WT
❑A
❑A
> 50% of the wetland type with depressions able to pond water > 2 feet
❑B
❑B
> 50% of the wetland type with depressions able to pond water 1 to 2 feet
El
❑C
> 50% of wetland type with depressions able to pond water 6 inches to 1 foot
> 50% of wetland type with depressions able to pond water 3- to 6 -inches deep
`� ❑E
E
Depressions able to pond water < 3 -inches deep

4. Soil Texture/Structure — assessment area condition metric
Select all that apply. Dig soil profile in the dominant assessment area landscape feature. Make soil observations within the top foot.
National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils regional indicators are noted (use most recent guidance).
kA Sandy soil
B Predominantly characterized by mottled (redoxymorphic features), mineral soil (F6, F8, F12, TF1 0, S5, S6)
❑C Predominantly characterized by other, mineral soil (no mottling)
/ ❑D Gleyed mineral soil (F2, S4)
/V `OE Soil ribbon < 1 inch
❑F Soil ribbon z 1 inch
SG No peat or muck presence
❑H A peat or muck presence (A6, A7, A8, A9, A10, F1, S1)
❑I Peat or muck soil (histosol or histic epipedon) (Al, A2, A3)
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.
Brfb
A JBA Little or no evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the assessment area
(� ❑B ❑B Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the wetland and stressing, but not overwhelming the
treatment capacity of the assessment area
❑C ❑C Noticeable 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)
Land Use — opportunity metric
Check all that apply. Evaluation of this metric 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 and 30 feet wide in the Mountains.
WS 5M 2M
❑A ❑A ❑A > 30% impervious surfaces with stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) (land use examples:
industrial, commercial, and high-density residential)
❑B ❑B ❑B > 30% impervious surfaces without stormwater BMPs
❑C ❑C ❑C 10 to 30% impervious surfaces
❑D ❑D ❑D < 10% impervious surfaces
❑E ❑E ❑E Old urban development (pink areas on USGS 7.5 -minute quadrangles)
❑F ❑F ❑F New adjacent development
El ❑G ❑G Confined animal operations (or other local, concentrated source of pollutants)
❑H ❑H ❑H z 20% coverage of pasture without riparian buffer
❑I ❑I ❑I 2 20% coverage of pasture with effective riparian buffer
❑J ❑J ❑J z 20% coverage of agricultural land (regularly plowed land) without riparian buffer
❑K ❑K ❑K z 20% coverage of agricultural land (regularly plowed land) with effective riparian buffer
❑L ❑L 0 Z 20% coverage of maintained grass/herb
❑M ❑M ❑M Silvicultural land with disturbance < 5 years old
❑N ❑N ❑N Little or no opportunity. Lack of opportunity may result from hydrologic modifications that prevent drainage or
overbank flow from affecting the assessment area.
7. Wetland Acting as Vegetated Buffer — assessment area condition metric
Is the assessmentr within 50 feet of a stream or other open water? ('open water" does not include man-made ditches or canals)
❑Yes NNNo If No, skip to next metric.
Stream width (Stream width is normal flow width [ordinary high water to ordinary high water]). If the stream is anastomosed, combine
widths of channels/braids for a total stream width.
❑5 15 -feet wide ❑> 15 -feet wide ❑Not Applicable
Do roots of assessment area vegetation extend into the bank of the adjacent stream/open water?
❑Yes ❑No
Is stream 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 z 2500 feet or regular boat traffic.
8. Wetland/Riparian Buffer Width — assessment area/wetland type/wetland complex metric
Check a box in each column. Select the appropriate width for the wetland type at the assessment area (VVT), the wetland complex
(WC), and the riparian buffer at the assessment area (RB) (if applicable). Riparian buffer width is measured from top of bank and need
only be present on one side of the water body. The riparian buffer is measured from the outside banks of the outer channels of an
anastomosed system. Make buffer judgment based on dominant landscape feature. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been
removed or disturbed.
f WT WC RB (if applicable)
_ZA A ❑A z 100 feet
1L.J B B ❑B From 80 to < 100 feet
❑C ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 80 feet
❑D n n From 40 to < 50 feet
❑E ❑E ❑E From 30 to < 40 feet
❑F ❑F ❑F From 15 to < 30 feet
❑G ❑G ❑G From 5 to < 15 feet
❑H ❑H Fl < 5 feet

9. Inundation Duration — assessment area condition metric
Answer for assessment area dominant landform.
DA Evidence of short -duration inundation (< 7 consecutive days)
JNB Evidence of saturation, without evidence of inundation
�J ❑C Evidence of long -duration inundation (7 to 30 consecutive days or more)
10. Indicators of Deposition — assessment area condition metric
Cgnsider recent deposition only (no plant growth since deposition).
{� 9 Sediment deposition is not excessive, but at approximately natural levels.
C ❑B Sediment deposition is excessive, but not overwhelming the wetland.
El Sediment deposition is excessive and is overwhelming the wetland.
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 contiguous wetland complex (WC), and the size of the contiguous, forested wetland (FW) (if
applicable, see User Manual). Boundaries are formed by uplands, four -lane roads, or urban landscapes. An observed beaver pond forms
a boundary if it extends across the entire width of the floodplain. Additionally, other wetland types are considered boundaries for column
WT. If assessment area is clear-cut, select "K" for FW column.
WC FW (if applicable)
V❑A ❑A Z 500 acres
❑B ❑B ❑B From 100 to < 500 acres
❑C ❑C ❑C From 50 to < 100 acres
❑D ❑D ❑D From 25 to < 50 acres
❑E ❑E ❑E From 10 to < 25 acres
❑F ❑F ❑F From 5 to < 10 acres
❑G ❑G ❑G From 1 to < 5 acres
❑H ❑H ❑H From 0.5 to < 1 acre
❑I ❑I ❑I From 0.1 to < 0.5 acre
❑J ❑J ❑J From 0.01 to < 0.1 acre
❑K ❑K ❑K < 0.01 acre
12. Wetland Intactness — wetland type condition metric (evaluate for Pocosins only)
❑A Wetland type is the full extent (z 90%) of its natural landscape size.
❑B Wetland type is < 90% of the full extent of its natural landscape size.
13. Connectivity to Other Natural Areas — landscape condition metric
Check appropriate box(es). This metric refers to the landscape patch, the contiguous naturally vegetated area and open water (if
appropriate) that includes the wetland type. Boundaries are formed by four -lane roads, urban landscapes, maintained fields (pasture and
agriculture), or open water > 300 feet wide. Consider if the wetland type is well-connected (WC) or loosely -connected (LC) to the
landscape patch.
WC LC
EIA 500 acres
B
❑ ❑ From From 100 to < 500 acres
El ❑C From 50 to < 100 acres
❑D ❑D From 10 to < 50 acres
❑E ❑E < 10 acres
0 ❑F Wetland type has a poor or no connection to other natural habitats
Check Yes or No.
[]Yes ❑No Does wetland type have a surface hydrology connection to open waters or tidal wetlands? (evaluate for marshes only)
❑Yes o Is the assessment area subject to overbank flooding during normal conditions?
14. Edge Effect — wetland type condition metric
Estimate distance from wetland type boundary to artificial edges. Artificial edges include permanent features such as fields, development,
two-lane or larger roads (z 40 -feet wide), utility line corridors wider than a two-lane road, and clear -cuts < 10 years old. Consider the eight
main points of the compass.
\ A No artificial edge within 150 feet in all directions
B No artificial edge within 150 feet in four to seven directions
❑C An artificial edge occurs within 150 feet in more than four directions or assessment area is clear-cut
15. Vegetative Composition — assessment area condition metric (skip for marshes and Pine Flat)
❑A Vegetation 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.
Vegetation 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.
❑C Vegetation severely altered from reference in composition. Expected strata are unnaturally absent or dominated by exotic
species or composed of planted stands of non -characteristic species or inappropriately composed of a single species.
16. Vegetative Diversity — assessment area condition metric (evaluate for Non -tidal Freshwater Marsh only)
❑A Vegetation diversity is high and is composed primarily of native species.
El Vegetation diversity is low or has > 10% cover of exotics.
0C Vegetation is dominated by exotic species.

17.getative Structure — assessment area/wetland type condition metric
y�A, Vegetation present
/ \ Evaluate percent coverage of vegetation for marshes only
❑A 2 25% coverage of vegetation
❑B < 25% coverage of vegetation
Check a box in each column for each stratum. Evaluate this portion of the metric for non -marsh wetlands. Consider
structure in airspace above the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT) separately.
AA WT
�+ ❑A ❑A Canopy closed, or nearly closed, with natural gaps associated with natural processes
�J ❑B BCanopy present, but opened more than natural gaps
ZC RC Canopy sparse or absent
MA .NA Dense mid-story/sapling layer
Q, ❑B ❑B Moderate density mid-story/sapling layer
❑C ❑C Mid-story/sapling layer sparse or absent
A [:]A Dense shrub layer
B "0B Moderate density shrub layer
C C Shrub layer sparse or absent
' ❑A ❑A Dense herb layer
eB ❑B Moderate density herb layer
t&c RC Herb layer sparse or absent
❑ Vegetation absent
18. Snags — wetland type condition metric
❑A Large snags (more than one) are present (> 12 -inches DBH, or large relative to species present and landscape stability).
`ZB Not A
19. Diameter Class Distribution — wetland type condition metric
❑A Most canopy trees have stems > 6 -inches in diameter at breast height (DBH); many large trees (> 12 -inches DBH) are
present.
�i �❑� Most canopy trees have stems between 6- and 12 -inches DBH, few are > 12 -inch DBH.
�qC Most canopy trees are < 6 -inches DBH or no trees.
20. Large Woody Debris — wetland type condition metric
Include both man-made and natural debris piles.
❑]A Large logs (more than one) are present (> 12 -inches in diameter, or large relative to species present and landscape stability).
K
t,JB Not 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.
❑A ❑B ❑C ❑D
A
At
22. Habitat Uniqueness — wetland type condition metric
/J ❑Yes k_,6o Has the N.C. Environmental Management Commission classified the assessment area as "Unique Wetlands" (UWL)?
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