Typical Steps:

Review site mapping and aerial photographs. Review available site plans showing wetland boundaries, site boundaries, and other site features, and aerial maps to identify and delineate major on-site habitats.
 

Site walkover and vegetation assessment. A site walkover is done to further define site habitats.  Dominant vegetation characterized as ground cover, shrubs, vines, and trees are identified.  Most of the dominant plants encountered can be identified in the field; those that cannot be field-identified are sampled and brought to the lab for more detailed study.
 

Develop current conditions habitat map. Based on the information collected from the above steps, a habitat map can be made.  The map can range from a simple sketch that shows the major habitats by vegetation type, to a detailed map keyed into a GIS database.

Identify potential impacts and habitat goals. By integrating the current habitats of and the intended use(s) of the site, habitat management goals can be established.  Some habitats may need to be created or restored if some habitats are impacted or destroyed during site development.
 

Develop habitat management plan. Develop a management plan to achieve the goals established for each habitat.  The plan may specify various action items including maintenance activities such as periodic mowing of meadows or cleaning out nest boxes, or occasional inventories of key components of each habitat such as snag trees or food sources.

Who:  Developers; ecological/environmental organizations; land and resource managers; environmentally conscientious businesses.

When: Developing property; assessing natural resources; developing resource management plans; regulatory requirement.

Why: Regulatory requirements; assess the potential presence of endangered, threatened or special concern species and significant areas; wildlife management; resource management.

Contacts:  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Habitat Conservation, National Wetland Inventory http://www.nwi.fws.gov

Endangered Species Assessment

Description: The Connecticut Endangered Species Act lists imperiled species as State Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern.  The Federal Endangered Species Act lists imperiled species as Federal Endangered or Threatened.

In accordance with Connecticut Act 89-224, “An Act Establishing a Program for the Protection of Endangered and Threatened Species”, the State has a goal to conserve, protect, restore and enhance any endangered or threatened species and their essential habitat.   The first step of implementing the law requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to develop lists of Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern Species.  The list includes the taxonomic groups: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, and plants.

The Natural Diversity Data Based (NDDB) stores information regarding the biology, population status and threats to the “elements of natural diversity in the state of Connecticut”.  Information on rare plants and animals and communities in the State is stored and made available through the NDDB.  The NDDB is a responsibility of the Natural Resources Center of the DEP.
 

Typical Steps:

Review site plans and mapping. Review available site plans showing wetland boundaries, site boundaries, and other site features, and aerial maps to identify and delineate major on-site habitats.

Query endangered species databases.   Query the NDDB at the Natural Resources Center of the DEP in Hartford.  A formal request typically is submitted that includes a portion of a topographic map showing the exact site location.  DEP personnel will access the NDDB to identify any recorded information pertaining to rare plants or animals or communities on or near the site.  Resources at environmental organizations and universities also may be helpful.

Site reconnaissance and field work.  In some cases, site-specific searches for listed species or communities are needed.  If that’s the case, detailed study protocols and field investigations are conducted to assess the presence of listed species or communities.

Identify species-specific requirements.  To avoid costly and time-consuming studies for specific species, sometimes assessments of required habitats, food sources, breeding areas or other species-specific requirement can be conducted to evaluate the likelihood for occurrence of that species at the site.

Who:  Developers; ecological/environmental organizations; land and resource managers; environmentally conscientious businesses.

When: Developing property; assessing natural resources; developing resource management plans; regulatory requirement.

Why: Regulatory requirements; water discharge permit requirements; wildlife management; resource management.

Contacts: State of Connecticut Resource Center in Hartford, CT, Natural Diversity Data Base
http://dep.state.ct.us/cgnhs/nddb

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Endangered Species Program
http://endangered.fws.gov

Endangered Species
http://endangeredspecie.com

CT Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership (CT CWRP)
http://ctcwrp.org

Wetlands Restoration, Creation, and Enhancement

Description: Numerous regulatory and non-regulatory wetland projects include aspects of enhancement, restoration, or creation.  The degree to which these aspects are taken for a wetland depends upon project goals, site conditions, and regulatory requirements.  Project goals typically relate to enhancement of one or more functional values of the wetland such as recreation, aesthetics, wildlife, flood control, etc.  Site conditions, (hydrology, soil type, existing vegetation) often limit what wetland restoration activities are reasonable.  State, federal, and/or local regulations dictate permitted and non-permitted activities in inland and coastal wetlands.

Wetland enhancement includes any activity that improves the overall quality or functional values of an existing wetland.  Returning a disturbed or extensively altered wetland to preexisting conditions is referred to as wetland restoration.  Wetland creation refers to the construction of a wetland in an area where a wetland did not exist previously.

Because wetlands have a wide variety of functional values, a scientifically-based, well-designed wetland enhancement, restoration, or creation project once completed can achieve specific goals for that wetland.  The general guidelines for the design and completion of wetland enhancement, restoration, or creation projects typically are taken from the characteristics of existing wetlands (reference wetlands), either the subject wetland being enhanced or restored or a nearby wetland that can be referenced for a creation project.  The project design is developed to address the key characteristics of the existing wetland or a nearby wetland to attain specific project goals.

The design of a wetland enhancement, restoration, or creation project can be involved due to technical or regulatory issues.  The steps shown below outline major stages of a typical wetland enhancement, restoration, or creation project. The complexity of each step depends is site- and project-specific.
 

Typical Steps:

Plan.  A project plan is the first step in wetland restoration or creation.  A plan that is scientifically based and well prepared provides the basis for decisions throughout the creation or restoration process.  The plan should include goals, objectives and performance standards, which are based on wetland functional values and community types.  The plan also should include assessment of regulatory compliance, site selection, and methods that will be used in the project.

Assessment.  The main objective of this step is to collect site-specific information of the components that are essential for the success of the project such as soils, hydrogeology, water quality, vegetation, and wildlife.  The information collected should be used to develop the wetland design.

Design.  The design of the wetland is driven by the project goals and objectives, and the wetland functional values, community type, and size.  The design should focus on construction and ecological considerations that will result in optimum achievement of the project goals and objectives.

Construction.  Planned wetland construction should be conducted as designed.  However, minor modifications to the design are common based on what’s encountered in the field.

Monitoring.  Post-construction monitoring essentially is collecting data over time to assess the progress and development of the created or restored wetland.  In planned wetlands, monitoring is vital to assess whether project goals have been met.  Also, monitoring information allows for management decisions to correct various problems such as inappropriate hydrology, plant mortality, and the presence of unwanted invasive alien plants.  Monitoring typically is required by regulators.
 

Management.  Management of planned wetlands typically is directed to attainment of project goals and objectives.  The management plan includes schedules and involved personnel.  When a management program is designed for a wetland, it should include consideration of the natural ecological processes of the wetland.  If those processes are lost, the structure and diversity of the natural system can be lost as well.

Who:  Developers; ecological/environmental organizations; land and resource managers; businesses and industries.

When: Developing property; protecting natural resources; developing resource management plans; regulatory requirement; tradeoffs.

Why: Regulatory requirements; site development; wildlife management; wastewater treatment; stormwater treatment or control; resource management.

Society of Wetland Scientists
http://www.sws.org

U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers
http://www.usace.army.mil/

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Habitat Conservation, National Wetland Inventory http://www.nwi.fws.gov/

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Invasive Species Program
http://www.nbii.gov/index.html/

Water Quality Information Center at the National Agricultural Library
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/

U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources of the United States
http://water.usgs.gov/
 

Water Quality Surveys

Description: The Clean Water Act of 1972 was implemented with the objective “restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters”.  Regulations developed under requirements of the Clean Water Act control point-source and non-point-source discharges.  Water quality surveys are often required per state or Federal regulation to assess the quality of surface water bodies that receive point-source and non-point-source discharges.  These surveys typically include assessment of chemical, physical, and biological conditions.

Water chemistry typically is the prevailing characteristic used to determine water quality, because it provides a precise indication of the presence of a pollutant.  Although very useful, water chemistry often does not provide a good indication of the overall condition or quality of watersheds or water bodies.  Biological monitoring, which typically includes some water chemistry and assessment of physical conditions, can detect changes in species composition, including the identity and quantity of species present; changes in ecological processes, such as nutrient dynamics; and the general health of individual species.  Biological evaluations are an economical means to diagnose and identify chemical, physical, and biological cumulative impacts.

Fish and bottom dwelling invertebrates (benthic organisms) are effective indicators of water quality.  Invertebrates are abundant and easily sampled, and represent adaptations to their natural habitat.  Anthropogenic impacts to the watershed or water body would result in changes in the benthic invertebrate communities, which would signal a change has occurred.  Monitoring of the aquatic invertebrate community is a proven and effective means of documenting changes in the health of water bodies or watersheds.

Water quality is a key factor in the distribution of invertebrates.  Many caddisflies, stoneflies, and mayflies, for example, prefer healthy streams with cool temperatures, swift currents, coarse substrate, high dissolved oxygen, and low turbidity.  Some snails, midges and worms prefer water bodies with poor water quality including low dissolved oxygen and warm temperatures.  Therefore, the presence or absence and the relative distribution of particular macroinvertebrates indicate water quality and specific habitat conditions.
 

Typical Steps:

Prepare study scope.  A work scope is prepared as the first step of a water quality monitoring program.  The work scope should be designed to address all regulatory requirements, seasonal effects, specific site conditions, and include the tasks needed to address study goals and objectives.  Consideration should be given to the sampling and analytical methods and statistics needed to meet the study objectives.

Chemical and physical sampling.  Fieldwork should include the collection of physical data necessary to adequately characterize the study area including morphology, bathymetry, temperature, and stream velocity.  Water or sediment samples also may be collected for testing of specific contaminants.

Biological sampling.  At the time chemical and physical samples and measurements are collected, biological samples also should be collected.  Various sampling methodologies are available; the selected method depends on site conditions.  Samples are collected and preserved in the field.  Sample processing, such as possible use of dyes and preliminary sorting into broad taxa, and final identification of the biological specimens are done in the laboratory.
 

Sample identification.  The final identification of the biological specimens usually is conducted using a microscope.  Some organisms require dissection, and a compound microscope is needed to observe specific organs or parts of the organism for the final identification.

Data evaluation.  Results of the chemical, physical, and biological monitoring are used to assess current water quality and general health of the watershed or water body.  Chemical parameters are compared to pertinent regulatory standards and criteria.  Various graphics and biological indices can be used to evaluate and illustrate the results.

Who:  Developers; ecological/environmental organizations; land, resource, or watershed managers; businesses and industries.

When: Developing property; assessing natural resources; land, resource, or watershed management plans; regulatory requirement.

Why: Regulatory requirements; water discharge or diversion permit requirements; wildlife management; land, resource, or watershed management.

Contacts: Water Quality Information Center at the National Agricultural Library
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/

U.S. Geological Survey Water Resources of the United States
http://water.usgs.gov/