Abstract
The practice of compensating wetland losses through wetland construction, restoration, or enhancement has become more commonplace; however, an appropriate method for assessing replacement of wetland function has been lacking. The Evaluation for Planned Wetlands (EPW) was developed to meet this need. It is a rapid assessment procedure which documents and highlights differences between a wetland assessment area and planned wetland based on their capacity to provide six functions: shoreline bank erosion control, sediment stabilization, water quality, wildlife, fish (tidal, non-tidal stream/river, and non-tidal pond/lake), and uniqueness/heritage. The differences between wetlands are expressed in terms of individual elements. Functional Capacity Indices, and Functional Capacity Units. The results provide information on individual design elements and measures of functional capacity which are a necessity under current regulatory programs that require tangible goals and a method for calculating planned wetland size. EPW includes functional assessment models, a procedure for using these models during the planning/mitigation process, and guidelines for functional design.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adamus, P.R., Clairain, Jr. E.J., Smith, R.D., and Young, R.E.: 1987, Wetland Evaluation Techniques (WET). Volume II. Technical Report Y-87. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Mississippi. 206 pp. +Appendices.
Ammann, A.P., Franzen, P.W., and Johnson, J.L.: 1986, Method for the Evaluation of Inland Wetlands in Connecticut. DEP Bulletin No. 9. Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Hartford, Connecticut. 68 pp. + Appendices.
Bartoldus, C.C.: 1992, EPW: A wetland evaluation procedure for the mitigation process, in: Kusler, J.A., and Lassonde, C. (eds), Effective Mitigation: Mitigation Banks and Joint Projects in the Context of Wetland Management Plans, Association of State Wetland Managers, Berne, New York, pp. 144–147.
Bartoldus, C.C., Garbisch, E.W., and Kraus, M.L.: 1994, Evaluation for Planned Wetlands. Environmental Concern Inc., St. Michaels, Maryland, 310 pp.
Girts, M.A., and Knight, R.L.: 1989, Operations optimization, in: Hammer, D.A. (ed), Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment: Municipal, Industrial, and Agricultural, Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, Michigan, pp. 417–429.
Hollands, G.H., and McGee, D.W.: 1986, A method for assessing the functions of wetlands, in: Kusler, J.A. (ed), Proceedings of the National Wetlands Assessment Symposium. Association of State Wetland Managers, Berne, New York, pp. 108–118.
Kadlec, J.A.: 1985, Aging phenomena in a wastewater wetland, in: Godfrey, P.J., Kaynor, E.R., Pelczarski, S., and Benforado, J. (eds), Ecological Considerations in Wetlands Treatment of Municipal Wastewaters, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, pp. 338–347.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Minnesota Environmental Quality Board: 1988, The Minnesota Wetland Evaluation Methodology for the North Central United States. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, Minnesota, 97 pp. + Appendices.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: 1980, Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP) (ESM 102), Washington, D.C., 76 pp. + Appendices.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bartoldus, C.C. EPW: A procedure for the functional assessment of planned wetlands. Water Air Soil Pollut 77, 533–541 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00478437
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00478437