Basic Wetland Delineation in Minnesota

Transcription

1 Basic Wetland Delineation in Minnesota 2009 Wetland Delineator Certification Program (WDCP) Course MN Board of Water and Soil Resources University of Minnesota U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1

2 Introductions The instructors The class Course materials Why are we here? - Learn to make consistent determinations of wetland regulatory jurisdiction. Have fun be informal and ask questions! 2

3 Course Goals Learn the basics about the 87 Manual and Supplements Learn specific techniques for delineating wetlands in Minnesota Apply techniques in the field Be informal Have fun 3

4 Basis for the Class 4

5 Also 5

6 And other guidance documents & resources such as: Technical Standard for Water Table Monitoring (Corps) Wetland Mapping Conventions for Ag Land in MN (Corps, BWSR, NRCS) Water Table Monitoring Project Design (Corps) Web Soil Survey (NRCS) 6

7 Other Resources (continued) Evaluating Antecedent Precipitation in MN (BWSR) Climatology web tool for retrieving precipitation data (U. of Minnesota) Wetland Delineation Review Checklist (BWSR) 7

8 Other Resources (continued) COMMON SENSE! Reasonableness Honesty Ability to objectively review data and make decisions based on best available evidence Ability to document and record data in accordance with accepted scientific protocol. 8

9 Agenda Regulation and Classification The Manual and Supplements Wetland soils Wetland hydrology Wetland vegetation Difficult Wetland Situations Field exercises 9

10 What is a wetland? Wetlands are 1 of the 6 special aquatic sites recognized by the EPA. The others are sanctuary and refuges, mudflats, vegetated shallows, coral reefs, and riffle and pool complexes. 10

11 Why do we care? Because wetlands provide functions that we as a society value. Examples include floodwater storage, water quality improvement, wildlife habitat, shoreline protection, fisheries habitat, ecosystem diversity, etc. So, we have developed laws and regulations to protect and restore them. To implement these laws and regulations we need to know how to define and delineate them. 11

12 What skills do I need to delineate wetlands? Basic plant identification and the ability to use a dichotomous plant key Ability to describe soil profiles (texture, color) An understanding of wetland hydrology The ability to objectively collect and record scientific data The ability to make reasoned decisions based on available evidence 12

13 Wetland Regulation This course is not about wetland regulation, but one must have at least some basic knowledge of regulation to understand why we have wetland delineation. 13

14 Wetland Regulation in MN Wetland Conservation Act (State) DNR Protected Waters Program (State) Section 404 Clean Water Act (Federal) 14

15 The Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act Purpose: To maintain and protect Minnesota s wetlands and the benefits they provide. 15

16 The Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act History: In 1991, reacting to public concern about Minnesota s disappearing wetlands, the Minnesota Legislature approved and Governor Arne Carlson later signed the Wetland Conservation Act, one of the more comprehensive wetland protection laws in the country. 16

17 WCA Administration: Local government units cities, counties, watershed management organizations, soil and water conservation districts, and townships implement the act locally. The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources oversees and administers the act statewide, and The MN Department of Natural Resources enforces it. 17

18 WCA Methodologies: 1987 Corps Manual is used to delineate the wetland jurisdictional boundary. Cowardin, Shaw and Fredine (Circ. 39) and Eggers and Reed Classification Systems are used for policy implementation. A local technical evaluation panel-- BWSR, SWCD and LGU and DNR and CORPS of Engineers (sometimes)-- are responsible for technical decisions. 18

19 Section 404 Clean Water Act Regulate discharge of dredged or fill material in navigable waters of the U.S. (1972). In 1975 Court orders expansion of jurisdiction to all waters of the U.S Supreme Court ruling that jurisdiction does not include isolated wetlands (i.e. isolated from a navigable water body). 19

20 Section 404 Clean Water Act U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) provides day to day administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides program oversight. In Minnesota, regulatory program is similar to the WCA. Both regulatory programs utilize the 87 Manual and supplements for delineating wetlands. 20

21 Minnesota DNR Public Water Inventory Program This inventory program began in the 1970 s and is administered by the Division of Waters. 21

22 DNR Public Waters Program Regulates waterbodies and watercourses meeting certain statutory requirements. For wetlands, mainly Circular 39 types 3, 4, and 5 wetlands (surface water wetlands) >10 acres in unincorporated areas and >2.5 acres in incorporated areas. Public Waters Inventory Maps are County-scale maps showing general location of waters regulated by the program. 22

23 Public Water Inventory PWI maps can be viewed at: pwi/index.html 23

24 Ramsey County PWI Example 234 W = Public Water Wetland

25 Morrison County PWI Example 25P = Public Water 25 25

26 OHWL of Public Waters Unlike WCA and 404, the public waters program determines the extent of jurisdiction based on the ordinary high water level (OHWL) of the public water. The OHWL is an elevation delineating the highest water level that has been maintained for a sufficient period of time to leave evidence upon the landscape, commonly that point where the natural vegetation changes from predominantly aquatic to predominantly terrestrial. 26

27 OHWL of Public Waters For watercourses, the ordinary high water level is the elevation of the top of the bank of the channel; and For reservoirs and flowages, the ordinary high water level is the operating elevation of the normal summer pool. 27

28 Minnesota Wetland Regulation Corps 404 Corps 404 WCA DNR Jurisdiction WCA (unless isolated) WCA wetland water wetland Upland wetland OHWL wetland delineation 28

29 Methodologies Ordinary high water elevations: not wetland delineation Circular 39 (Shaw and Fredine) 29