Laserfiche WebLink
made(this may be done through review of precipitation records where available). In addition to the <br /> primary indicators of wetland hydrology,there are secondary indicators(e.g.oxidized root channels, <br /> water-stained leaves, local soil survey data, FAC-Neutral test), of which two must be present to <br /> consider the sample point as having wetland hydrology. <br /> Hydrophytic Vegetation(Wetland Vegetation) <br /> Wetland vegetation is defined in the 1987 Manual as "The sum total of macrophytic plant life <br /> growing in water or on a substrate that is at least periodically deficient in oxygen as a result of <br /> excessive water content. When hydrophytic vegetation comprises a community where indicators of <br /> hydric soils and wetland hydrology also occur,the area has wetland vegetation." In more standard <br /> terms, some plants are more adapted to growing within inundated or saturated soil. Based on <br /> literature records and professional experience,a panel of experts compiled a list of plant species and <br /> assigned each a hydrophytic status(described below and includes five major classes of probability of <br /> a plant occurring within a wetland). <br /> In terms of delineation there is a gradient of plant species that are adapted to"growing in water or on <br /> substrate that is at least periodically deficient of oxygen". Fieldwork associated with wetland <br /> delineations includes a procedure(the 50/20 Rule,for determination of dominance),which is also <br /> outlined in the 1987 Manual, by which to determine if hydrophytic plant species dominate the <br /> vegetation at a given location. This procedure has been used for the wetland delineation at the <br /> subject parcel of this report. <br /> Hydric Soil <br /> Defined in the 1987 Manual as"A soil that is saturated,flooded,or ponded long enough during the <br /> growing season to develop anaerobic conditions that favor the growth and regeneration of <br /> hydrophytic vegetation. Hydric soils that occur in areas having positive indicators of hydrophytic <br /> vegetation and wetland hydrology are wetland soils." <br /> For the purposes of delineation of wetlands,soils cannot be viewed without digging pits or extracting <br /> soil using an auger. Therefore, transects of soil samples are taken from perceived upland to <br /> perceived wetlands along a transitional boundary. There are specific color indicators,textures,and <br /> depth requirements in the soil that are reviewed in order to determine whether hydric soils occur at a <br /> given point or not. After a transect of soil samples has been taken,upon consideration of vegetation <br /> and indicators of appropriate hydrology a working prototype for the given wetland is developed by <br /> the delineator.The wetland delineator then uses this working prototype to complete the location of <br /> the remainder of the wetland boundary,unless the wetland is large enough or the landscape features <br /> (vegetation or topography) change enough to warrant additional transect samples. <br /> Wetland Boundaries <br /> Wetland boundaries were marked at the site by blaze-orange"wetland boundary"flagging attached <br /> to 4-foot wooden lath.Where vegetation was dense, to assist in locating the flagged lath(wetland <br /> edge), a second piece of flagging was attached to a nearby tree or shrub branch. The "wetland <br /> boundary"is considered to be the topographically highest extent of the wetland basin; areas below <br /> the staked boundary met the three required wetland criteria while areas above were lacking in one or <br /> 4 <br /> Svoboda Ecological Resources 531 North Stream Road <br /> Project No.2005-309-03 Gronberg and Associates <br />