Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/11681/6503
Title: Wetlands functions and values study plan. Appendix A, Analysis of methodologies for assessing wetland values
Authors: Lonard, Robert I.
Clairain, Ellis J., Jr.
Huffman, Robert T.
Hardy, Joe Wayne, 1935-
Brown, Linda D.
Ballard, Paul E.
Watts, Janet W.
Keywords: Aquatic resources
Wetlands
Wetlands conservation
Land use
Environmental management
Publisher: U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station
Series/Report no.: Technical Report (Wetlands Research Program (U.S.)) ; no. Technical Report Y-83-2 App.A
Abstract: This appendix contains a detailed analysis of selected methods used to assess inland and coastal wetland functions. Discussions include a critical review of the current literature, identification of research needs, and recommendations on how currently available wetland evaluation methods can be improved. Forty-two documents were identified by State wetland management agencies, by members of the Wetland Evaluation Work Group of the U.S. Water Resources Council, and by members of the U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station (WES) study team. These 42 documents were initially evaluated according to a set of screening criteria to determine which documents merited detailed examination and analysis. Twenty documents were selected for detailed review. A series of descriptive characteristics were developed to ensure consistency during detailed analysis and multiple review: wetland functions, geographic features, personnel needs, data requirements, and products, field testing, flexibility, and administrative uses of each evaluation methodology were analyzed. The merits and limitations of each were also noted. Several limitations in currently available wetland evaluation techniques (tabulated in the report for ease of comparison) were found to be (A.) their specificity to a particular region often making modification necessary for use elsewhere, (B.) their frequent lack of field testing, (C.) discrepancies regarding information available for different wetland functions, (D.) an insubstantial data base for evaluating hydrologic functions of wetlands, and (E.) problems in assessing agricultural, silvicultural, recreational, and preservational functions of wetlands. Techniques for assessing habitat functions, however, are well developed and comprise several species-specific or biophysical methods. Recommendations offered to improve wetland evaluation methods were (A.) incorporation of criteria that evaluate specific wetland regions into methods for widespread use, (B.) continued field testing on a variety of wetland types in a variety of geographical areas, (C.) identification and correction of gaps in hydrologic data, and (D.) clearer communication between Federal and State wetland managers and the authors of wetland evaluation methods.
Description: Technical Report
Gov't Doc #: Technical Report Y-83-2 App.A
Rights: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/11681/6503
Appears in Collections:Technical Report

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