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Recent Advances in Wetland Delineation—Implications and impact of Regionalization

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Abstract

Methodologies used to identify wetland boundaries continue to evolve and impact ecosystem management. Field testing conducted at 232 locations evaluated Regional Supplements to the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual. These documents are used for wetland delineation by regulatory agencies and resource managers. Wetland delineations compared 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual guidance to Regional Supplement guidance. Supplement testing occurred in 37 States. This document examines changes in the wetland boundary, wetland delineation factors (vegetation, soils, and hydrology), problem situations, and comments provided by field teams. The wetland boundary did not change at 83% (192 sites) of locations. Where the boundary differed, wetland delineation based on Supplement guidance resulted in larger wetland in 12% (28 sites) of cases, while 1987 Manual guidance resulted in a larger wetland in 5% (12 sites) of cases. Changes in the boundary were reported at 25 locations and produced a mean increase of 5.8 m (median 4.6 m). Atypical or problem situations were reported at 22% (51 sites) of the sites examined. Supplement guidance was clear and easily applied at 84% (195 sites) of locations. Teams reported Supplement guidance as more defensible at 79% (183 sites) of locations compared to the 1987 Manual.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. US Army Corps of Engineers – Engineer Research and Development Center, Environmental Laboratory – Wetlands and Coastal Ecology Branch, CEERD-EE-W, 3909 Halls Ferry Rd, Vicksburg, MS, 39180, USA

    Jacob F. Berkowitz

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  1. Jacob F. Berkowitz
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Correspondence to Jacob F. Berkowitz.

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Berkowitz, J.F. Recent Advances in Wetland Delineation—Implications and impact of Regionalization. Wetlands 31, 593–601 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-011-0167-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-011-0167-6

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