The Corps of Engineers has developed Regional Supplements to the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual. The Corps Manual provides technical guidance and procedures, from a national perspective, for identifying and delineating wetlands that may be subject to regulatory jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) or Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (33 U.S.C. 403). According to the Corps Manual, identification of wetlands is based on a three-factor approach involving indicators of hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soil, and wetland hydrology.
Map of Wetland Delineation Manual Regional Supplements Nationwide
These Regional Supplements were developed by wetland delineation experts from state and Federal agencies and academia with experience within the applicable regions. Each of these Regional Supplements addresses regional wetland characteristics and improves the accuracy and efficiency of wetland-delineation procedures. Regional differences in climate, geology, soils, hydrology, plant and animal communities, and other factors are important to the identification and functioning of wetlands. The development of these supplements followed National Academy of Sciences recommendations to increase the regional sensitivity of wetland delineation methods (National Research Council 1995). The intent of regional supplements is to bring the Corps Manual up to date with current knowledge and practice in the region and not to change the way wetlands are defined or identified. The procedures given in the Corps Manual, in combination with wetland indicators and guidance provided in each supplement, can be used to identify wetlands for a number of purposes, including resource inventories, management plans, and regulatory programs. The determination that a wetland is subject to regulatory jurisdiction under Section 404 or Section 10 must be made independently of procedures described in this supplement (see the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jurisdictional Determination (JD) Form Instructional Guidebook).