A METHOD FOR WETLAND FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT: VOLUME II FHWA ASSESSMENT METHOD

The manual provides a rapid assessment procedure for screening functional values of wetlands. Functions covered include groundwater recharge and discharge, flood storage and desynchronization, shoreline anchoring and dissipation of erosive forces, sediment trapping, nutrient retention and removal, food chain support (detrital export), habitat for fish and wildlife, and active and passive recreation. The method can be used for all wetland types in the 48 coterminous states, and uses the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service definition and classification scheme. The assessment method is qualitative and not based on a series of weights and scores. It can be used to evaluate the importance of a single wetland or to compare several wetlands. It may be applied to choices regarding reasonableness of mitigation, replacement ratios for compensation wetlands, priorities for site-specific reshearch, and route alignment. It may also be used for decisions regarding route widening or realignment. It can use "office-type" data, data from cursory field visits, and/or detailed data, with corresponding increase in the predictive validity. Social as well as scientific factors are incorporated, and a framework is also provided for inclusion of mitigation cost data. Contributions of wetlands versus their basins are differentiated, and seasonal variability is taken into account. Net primary productivity data for wetland plants is catalogued by region. Wetland type preferences of all harvested waterfowl, 120 species of other wetland-dependent birds, 133 marine fishes and invertebrates of commercial or sport value, and 95 freshwater or anadromous fishes of commercial or sport value, are described. The method also can be used to evalaute functions of many rivers and lakes. (FHWA)

• Corporate Authors:

  Center for Natural Areas

  P.O. Box 98, River Road
  South Gardiner, ME  United States  04359

  Federal Highway Administration

  Office of Research and Development, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Adamus, P R
• Publication Date: 1983-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 138 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aquatic life; Erosion; Evaluation; Floods; Groundwater; Lakes; Productivity; Rivers; Routes; Sedimentation; Wetlands; Wildlife
• Old TRIS Terms: Nutrient content
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00388829
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-IP-82-24 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-80-C-00086
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 28 1984 12:00AM