National Wetland Condition Assessment
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National Meetings
National Wetland Condition Assessment Planning
Background Material
EPA 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.
The National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA) survey will use a probability-based sample design that will result in statistically-valid estimates of condition for a population of wetlands. Interested states and tribes can participate in the design, planning, and field assessment of the NWCA. A consistent field assessment procedure will be used for the NWCA to ensure that the results can be compared across the country.
Once complete, and in concert with similar surveys on the Nation's coastal waters, wadeable streams, rivers, and lakes, the NWCA will inform decision-making on how to better protect, maintain, and restore water-quality to the Nation's aquatic resources.
If you have questions or comments on the National Wetland Condition Assessment, please feel free to email Michael Scozzafava (Scozzafava.Michaele@epa.gov) or Chris Faulkner (Faulkner.Chris@epa.gov).
- National Wetland Condition Assessment: Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 314K)
- Information on Section 106 of the CWA
Pending final federal appropriations, states that choose to participate in the field component of the NWCA will generally receive one-time funding under Clean Water Act (CWA) section 106 proportional to the number of field sites in their state; these funds would be provided in Fiscal Year 2010.
Schedule for the Wetlands Survey
Activities |
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2007-2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
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Research |
Design |
Field |
Lab/Data |
Report |
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Scientific issues Policy issues Supplemental data analysis Methods refinement |
Target population Indicators Field/Lab practices Quality assurance plan |
Training Site reconnaissance Sample Collection Field Quality Assurance |
Lab analysis Lab quality assurance Data entry Data quality assurance |
Data analysis Presentations Peer review Final report |
National Meetings
September 11-12, 2007 - National Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Work Group Training Workshop -Kansas City, MO
The first gathering of the National Wetlands Monitoring and Assessment Workgroup since 2003 provided State, Tribal, and Federal participants the opportunity to share success stories and learn from common experiences assessing wetlands. Sponsored by EPA's Wetlands Division, the workshop highlighted accomplishments and explored ways to advance mutual assessment priorities.
- Kansas City Workshop Agenda (PDF) (3 pp, 48K)
- Kansas City Workshop Participant List (PDF) (9 pp, 132K)
- Kansas City Workshop Meeting Presentations
March 11-13, 2008 - Indicators for the 2011 National Wetland Condition Assessment Workshop - Portland, OR
The purpose of this workshop was to discuss environmental indicators for use in EPA's 2011 National Wetland Condition Assessment. The workshop was structured around a fewKey presentations and facilitated discussion to select and prioritize Level 3 indicators of wetland condition.
- Indicators Workshop Agenda (PDF) (9 pp, 58K)
- Indicators Workshop Participant List (PDF) (4 pp, 71K)
- Indicators Workshop Presentations
December 3-5, 2008 - National Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Work Group National Training Workshop - Crystal City, VA
This workshop focused on helping states and tribes improve their wetlands monitoring and assessment programs to support management objectives and provided information on current planning activities for the 2011 National Wetland Condition Assessment.
- National Workshop Agenda (PDF) (7 pp, 62K)
- National Workshop Participant List (PDF) (1 pg, 20K)
- National Workshop Presentations
National Wetland Condition Assessment Planning
Collaboration with US Fish and Wildlife Service Wetlands (FWS) Status and Trends Report
FWS publishes a report that documents the status and trends in the acreage of the nation's wetlands. Through preliminary planning for the survey, it has become clear that the sample plots used in the report offer one of the best starting points for a probabilistic national condition assessment. Compared to other options, the plots provide more contemporary spatial wetlands data and the highest probability of a given point actually being a wetland. EPA and FWS will continue to work in partnership throughout the design and implementation of the national assessment.
National Wetland Condition Assessment Sampling Frame
The sampling frame is needed to define which wetlands have a probability of being selected for sampling in the statistical survey. After preliminary planning discussions - including EPA's Office of Research and Development, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS, and other partners - EPA is proposing a sampling frame based on the US FWS Status & Trends report.
- National Wetland Condition Assessment Sample Frame (PDF) (11 pp, 876K)
Regional Wetland Assessment Pilot Projects
EPA, in collaboration with Regional Offices, the Office of Research and Development, States and Tribes, is coordinating a number of regional pilot projects to test design approaches, field protocols, and indicators for use in the National Wetland Condition Assessment. EPA anticipates that the lessons learned from these pilot projects will inform final decision-making for the national effort. Some of these on-going efforts include:
- Gulf of Mexico Coastal Wetlands Pilot Survey
- Mid-Atlantic Inland Wetlands Survey
- California Estuarine Assessment
- Minnesota Statewide Wetlands
- Ohio Wetlands Monitoring Program
- New England Coastal Wetlands
- North Dakota Prairie Potholes
- Southeast Isolated Wetlands
- Southeast Isolated Wetland Assessment
Background Material
- Statistically-Valid Surveys of the Nation's Waters
- Wadeable Streams Assessment
- Survey of the Nation's Lakes
- ORD's Ecological Research Program (ERP)
- Level II Ecoregion maps
- The Aquatic Resource Monitoring site has more information on designing a probability-based study