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National Wetland Condition Assessment

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Schedule for the Wetlands Survey
National Meetings
National Wetland Condition Assessment Planning
Background Material

Assessing the Nation's Waters
Photo courtesy of Jim Newton, EPA Wetlands Photo Contest
The purpose of this site is to provide technical information to states, tribes and federal governments working with EPA to produce a national survey of wetland condition in 2011.

Features

Frequently Asked Questions

Wadeable Streams Assessment

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).

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

2007-2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Research

Design

Field

Lab/Data

Report

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.

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.

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 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.

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:

Background Material

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