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Monitoring and Assessment
Application of Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Program For WetlandsThis document was prepared to help EPA and State program managers plan and implement a wetland monitoring and assessment program within the context of the March 2003 EPA document, Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Program (EPA 841-B-03- 003). It provides clarification and further information on how the original Elements document applies to wetlands. That document recommended ten basic elements of a state water monitoring and assessment program, and serves as a tool to help EPA and the States determine whether a monitoring program meets the requirements of Clean Water Act Section 106(e)(1). Application of
Elements of a State Water Monitoring and Assessment Program For Wetlands (PDF, 90KB, 12 pages)
National Wetland Condition AssessmentEPA and its partners are beginning work on the first-ever national survey on the condition of the Nation's wetlands. The survey will be designed to provide regional and national estimates of the ecological integrity and biological condition of wetlands. The process of designing and conducting the survey is also intended to help build state and tribal capacity to monitor and analyze wetland condition while promoting collaboration across jurisdictional boundaries. Monitoring for Compensatory Wetland MitigationThe EPA, as part of a federal interagency team, has prepared a National Wetlands Mitigation Action Plan. A major element of the Plan is the development of technical guidance for clarifying the performance standards used for compensatory mitigation projects. In 2005, the EPA provided a grant to NatureServe to explore how their methodology for conducting ecological integrity assessments can be applied to compensatory mitigation projects. In 2006, NatureServe produced a report entitled, "Ecological Integrity Assessment and Performance Measures for Wetland Mitigation." It describes how NatureServe's assessment system was adapted for use in evaluating the performance of compensatory mitigation projects. The report includes detailed analysis of 18 types of wetland ecosystems. Relying on literature sources and field wetland manuals, NatureServe has identified indicators and metrics for assessing the ecological integrity of each system. They used 1) a standardized classification of wetland types, including diagnostic characteristics, 2) identified key ecological attributes and indicators of each system, with protocols for measuring those indicators to ensure consistent field measurements and documentation, 3) identified practical metrics with ratings based on "reference' or "natural" benchmarks, and 4) provided a scorecard matrix by which the indicators/metrics are rated and integrated into an overall assessment of the ecological integrity of the wetland. The NatureServe report has been formally peer reviewed by a panel of independent scientists. Based on the results of that review, a commentary was prepared to reconcile issues raised by the panel. The text of the original report remains unchanged because of plans for the preparation of a new revised version of the report. The revised report is expected to be published by NatureServe in late 2007. NatureServe Report: Ecological Integrity Assessment and Performance Measures for Wetland Mitigation - (PDF format, 57 pages, 1.2 MB) - Includes science peer review commentary at the end of the report.
For report supplements on 18 wetland ecosystems, visit NatureServe's Ecological Integrity Assessments (http://www.natureserve.org/getData/eia_integrity_reports.jsp)
 Federal Mitigation Action Plan Website (http://www.MitigationActionPlan.gov)
Monitoring for Biological IntegrityAccurate information is needed to measure the success of wetland protection and restoration programs and to integrate wetlands into watershed recovery programs. There is little or no information on the condition of our wetlands and no baseline environmental data to determine if resources are allocated effectively and actions taken result in environmental improvement. In November 1999, EPA's National Wetlands Program made the establishment of comprehensive state and tribal wetland monitoring programs a national priority. A workgroup representing the Wetlands Division in the Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds and all ten EPA regions was established the next spring to develop a national wetland monitoring strategy. Coordinating activities will increase monitoring efficiency and help ensure that chemical, physical and biological data is scientifically sound and geographically comparable. The use of sound data is essential to a comprehensive assessment of ecological health and achievement of the goals of our program and the Clean Water Act. Funding AvailableFunds are available to state, local, and tribal organizations to establish wetland monitoring programs. For more information see: Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) Approach for Assessing Wetland FunctionsHGM Action Plan - Federal Register notice -Through the National
Action Plan, the Corps of Engineers is announcing the strategy the Corps and other Federal agencies will follow to implement
the Hydrogeomorphic Approach for Assessing Wetland Functions (HGM Approach) through the development of regional guidebooks. The
National Action Plan was developed by a National Interagency Implementation Team.
For additional information on HGM, link to the
Corps Waterways Experiment Station Home Page.
Methods for Evaluating Wetland ConditionEPA has prepared a set of technical documents to give states and tribes
"state-of-the-science" information that will help them develop biological assessment methods to evaluate both
the overall ecological condition of wetlands and nutrient enrichment (one of the primary stressors on many wetlands). These
modules are a starting point to help states and tribes
establish biological and nutrient water quality criteria specifically refined for wetlands. When the work is completed, there
will be 20 modules addressing the topic. A fact sheet
provides more information.
Hydrogeomorphic Wetland Profiling: An Approach to Landscape and Cumulative Impacts Analysis (PDF Format, 2,066 KB) Review of Rapid Assessment Methods for Evaluating Wetland Condition (PDF Format, 372 KB) 305(b) Water Quality ReportAs required by Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act, EPA transmits to Congress the
National Water Quality Inventory Report (305(b) Report). Based on water quality
information submitted by States, Tribes, and Territories, including information on wetlands, this document characterizes
our water quality, identifies widespread water quality problems, and describes various programs implemented to restore
and protect our waters.
Wetlands - Chapter 6 of 305(b) Report (PDF Format) Volunteer MonitoringIn conjunction with the Assessment and Watershed Protection Division, the Wetlands Division is determining the scope of assistance it will provide for volunteer wetlands monitoring programs. We expect this effort to aid States, Tribes, and non-governmental organizations in providing the skilled personnel to carry out necessary wetlands monitoring tasks.General Information
Volunteer Wetland Monitoring: An Introduction and Resource Guide
"Starting Out in Volunteer Water Monitoring" (PDF) (4 pages, 837KB) - brochure The Volunteer Monitor, Vol. 10, No. 1, Spring 1998 Issue on Monitoring Wetlands Monitoring Wetlands: A Flexible Approach - Article in The Volunteer Monitor, Volume 8, No. 2. Fall 1996. Preliminary Compendium of Volunteer Wetland-Monitoring Materials - The following list of publications and contacts is in the development stage; it is not comprehensive. The EPA Wetlands Division offers this as an interim guide to resources; at a later date we will produce a more complete compendium of resources including an annotated bibliography. Volunteer Monitoring Home Page - This page addresses methods and tools to monitor, ssess, and report on the health of America's water resources, and software and automated information systems to manage monitoring data. Manuals/Guides Handbook for Wetlands Conservation and Sustainability - This handbook
has an overview of wetlands ecology, functions, and values and provides a framework for hands-on activities to monitor wetlands
health that you can follow directly or adapt to fit your local needs.
Wetlands Walk Manual (PDF, 273K) and Supplement Worksheets (PDF, 132K) - offers citizens the opportunity to become partners in learning about wetlands as a valuable resource and provides an opportunity to collect information and data which will help identify trends in wetlands health and location. Volunteer Monitoring Organizations Frogwatch USA: Monitoring Frogs for Fun and Science
- Frogwatch USA was established in February 1999 to help researchers track populations of frogs and toads
(AKA"amphibians"). It is modeled after the Frogwatch Ontario program. Volunteers across the United States
collect data on their local amphibian populations by choosing and periodically monitoring a wetland site for calling
frogs and toads.
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