1987 Wetland Delineation Manual - The Wetlands Regulation Center
1987 Wetland Delineation Manual - The Wetlands Regulation Center
1987 Wetland Delineation Manual - The Wetlands Regulation Center
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<strong>Wetland</strong> Delination <strong>Manual</strong>, <strong>1987</strong> 38<br />
Section C. Selection of Method<br />
56. All wetland delineation methods described in this manual can be grouped into two general<br />
types: routine and comprehensive. Routine determinations (Section D) involve simple, rapidly<br />
applied methods that result in sufficient qualitative data for making a determination.<br />
Comprehensive methods (Section E) usually require significant time and effort to obtain the<br />
needed quantitative data. <strong>The</strong> primary factor influencing method selection will usually be the<br />
complexity of the required determination. However, comprehensive methods may sometimes<br />
be selected for use in relatively simple determinations when rigorous documentation is<br />
required.<br />
57. Three levels of routine wetland determinations are described below. Complexity of the<br />
project area and the quality and quantity of available information will influence the level<br />
selected for use.<br />
a. Level 1 - Onsite Inspection Unnecessary. This level may be employed when the<br />
information already obtained (Section B) is sufficient for making a determination for the entire<br />
project area (see Section D., Subsection 1).<br />
b. Level 2 - Onsite Inspection Necessary. This level must be employed when there is<br />
insufficient information already available to characterize the vegetation, soils, and hydrologyof<br />
the entire project area (see Section D, Subsection 2).<br />
c. Level 3 - Combination of Levels 1 and 2. This level should be used when there is sufficient<br />
information already available to characterize the vegetation, soils, and hydrology of a portion,<br />
but not all, of the project area. Methods described for Level 1 may be applied to portions of<br />
the area for which adequate information already exists, and onsite methods (Level 2) must be<br />
applied to the remainder of the area (see Section D, Subsection 3).<br />
58. After considering all available information, select a tentative method (see above) for use,<br />
and PROCEED TO EITHER Section D or E, as appropriate. NOTE: Sometimes it may be<br />
necessary to change to another method described in the manuaz, depending on the quality of<br />
available information and/or recent changes in the prospect area.<br />
Section D. Routine Determinations<br />
59. This section describes general procedures for making routine wetland determinations. It is<br />
assumed that the user has already completed all applicable steps in Section B, ( If it has been<br />
determined that it is more expedient to conduct an onsite inspection than to search for<br />
available information, complete STEPS 1 through 3 of Section B, and PROCEED TO<br />
Subsection 2.) and a routine method has been tentatively selected for use (Section C).<br />
Subsections 1-3 describe steps to be followed when making a routine determination using one<br />
of the three levels described in Section C. Each subsection contains a flowchart that defines the<br />
25 February 1997 Environmental Techncal Services Co. 834 Castle Ridge Rd Austin, Texas 78746