KEY PAGES

Site Index
Contact us / About Us
Bay & Watershed Info
Old CCMP|New CCMP
Links
Funding
Laws and Regulations
NEP Information
Reference
Status & Trends
Solutions
Take Action
Violations, Reporting
Weather and Tides

20 years of Wetland Delineation Training

John Rockwell marks 20 years of wetland delineation training.

Since 1989, Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program Wetland Specialist, John Rockwell, has been training Conservation Commission members on how to delineate wetlands in cooperation with the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions, MACC.

In addition to wetland delineation training with MACC, Mr. Rockwell has conducted delineation training for almost all the Conservation Commissions in the Buzzards Bay Watershed, in addition to Conservation Agents, Boards of Health and Realtors.

Attendees at the 2009 Vegetation Training Workshop

Figure 1. Attendees at the 2009 Vegetation Training Workshop measure out the study plot. At contentious sites it is always wise to mark out the size of the plot so all parties can agree to what is in the observation plot. Photo by John Rockwell

In 1983, the modern era of wetland delineation began in Massachusetts with the promulgation of wetland regulations that said that the edge of the bordering vegetated wetlands under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act, M.G.L. 131 s. 40 (for a current copy of the law click Wetlands Protection Act ) was determined by a plant community that was at least 50% wetland species. There was no definition of "plant community"or "wetland species' at the time, but over the next few years, some methods to delineate wetlands did develop.

By 1987, the forerunner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Department of Environmental Quality Engineering (DEQE) issued an Adjudicatory Hearing Final Decision, "In the Matter of Gail O'Connell and Brian Bierig,"that accepted both the Wetland Site Index (WSI) developed by Dr. Martin C. Michener, and the Relative Dominance By Layers (RDL) developed by Dr. Gary Sanford, as acceptable methods for determining the edge of a bordering vegetated wetlands.

In 1995, the DEP adopted the current DEP Delineation Policy concurrently with amending 310 CMR 10.00, the Wetland Regulations . In the policy, DEP established a clear methodology found in its delineation manual DEP Delineating Wetlands in Massachusetts

Cover of cinnamon fern.

Figure 2. Notice the almost complete cover of cinnamon fern in the ground cover. Photo by John Rockwell taken at the BBNEP/MACC 2009 Vegetation workshop.

Delineation Theory:

Wetlands are created by wet conditions at or near the surface for sufficient time to create anaerobic condition in the surface. We can't see oxygen levels, so it's lucky for us that wet conditions due to water near the surface (12 inches) for sufficient time make:

a. a wetland plant community
b. wetland soil morphologies
c. wetland plant adaptations

Soil sample Advanced Delineation Training session

Figure 3. Soil sample from the BBNEP/MACC Advanced Delineation Training session. The sample contains both redox concentrations and depletions. Photo by John Rockwell.

Wetland identification is a four step process.

1. Plant identification;
2. Plant designation as a wetland indicator; and
3. Determination of % wetland species
4. Confirmation of wetland hydrology

The BBNEP has developed a three part series of workshops to train Conservation Commission members. The Vegetation workshop explains items #1-3 above, and the Soils section looks at #4. The Advanced workshop discusses special problems for those more familiar with the DEP Manual.

VEGETATION:

The Vegetation workshop focuses on the first three steps of the wetland identification process. You'll need the following to get started:

The DEP delineation manual: Delineating Bordering Vegetated Wetlands in Massachusetts. This manual is the basis for delineating wetlands in Massachusetts. Down load a copy and read it.

Since you can't memorize all the things you need to in the DEP manual, we've made the Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program Pocket Guide to Delineating Wetlands that contains all the essential info and fits in your back pocket. Like all our pocket guides, print it out on a two sided printer, 8.5 X 11 paper, landscape setting.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wetland "Plant List"is now maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. We've made a pocket size copy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National List of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands: Massachusetts 1988, which is cited as the official list in the Wetland Regulations at 310 CMR 10.55(2)c.

When recording your data, the DEP data sheet found in Appendix G of the DEP manual is good but the BBNEP Improved DEP Data Sheet is better

You also might want to look at the 2009 Spring BBNEP/MACC Vegetation Workshoppresentation that has all the lecture notes included.

Step 1: Plant Identification

Plant identification is done by a "key"that has artificially segmented a series of choices describing a plant. For example:

opposite vs. alternate leaves,
simple vs. compound leaves,
twigs hairy, or not so.

Unfortunately, there is no one book that will identify all plants well for the beginner. Magee's book, Field Guide to Wetland Plants , does list the more common wetland plants. Plant guides are available from MACC and of course, online. They can cost anywhere from $4.00 to $25.00. Sometimes you can find them at used bookstores. Buy one you can use. Each key is designed by the author to make perfect sense. If it doesn't work for you, get a different key.

You will need a field guide for the identification of:

Trees,
Shrubs,
Wild flowers,
Ferns, and
Grasses and grass-likes.

Concentrate on the more common wetland plants in your area. You don't have to learn all the plants, just the wetland ones! Rely on the consultant to identify the species if you have a question, and then use the field guide to verify the ID. You can slide along the first year by just knowing the most common wetland plants in your area.

If you are in southeastern Massachusetts, you should learn the following wetland plants:

TREES
Red maple
Tupelo
Atlantic white cedar
Eastern hemlock

SHRUBS
Sweet pepperbush
Northern arrowwood
Swamp azalea
Highbush blueberry

FERNS
Sensitive fern
Cinnamon fern
Royal fern

GRASSES AND GRASS-LIKES
Phragmites australis
Soft rush
Canada rush

If you are in another part of the state, make your own list of most common plants - then learn them!

A Helpful Hint:

For plant identification, remember the phrase "MAD-CAP". Only a limited number of woody plants have opposite leaves. They are:

Maples,
Ashes,
Dogwoods, and
Caprifoliaceae. (Plants of the Caprifoliaceae family include Viburnums, honeysuckles, and elderberry.)

You can use the MAD-CAP phrase to narrow down what you're looking for. When using a tree or shrub key.

Remember that "Sedges have edges, Rushes are round". While there are upland sedges and rushes, they should be considered guilty (of wetness) until proven innocent.

Web Resources

There are many good web sites to aid in plant identification. Here are a few with a brief description from the BBNEP staff:

The PLANTS Database http://plants.usda.gov/ The PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories. It has great photos.

Wetland Monocots of the USA: http://plants.usda.gov/plantkeys/wetland_monocots/WETLAND_MONOCOTS.html Monocots are a class of non-woody flowering plants.^[1] This is a good key to be used for identification. Also find on the "plant keys"site keys to gymnosperms, and grasses.

MEKA Homepage: http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/meacham/meka/. This is a technical key for those who can identify plant families and understand botanical nomenclature.

Quick Guide to Common Ferns of New England www.ct-botanical-society.org/docs/fernchart.html The Quick Guide to Common ferns of New Englandwas prepared by Connecticut Botanical Society member Arieh Tal. It is intended as a supplement to field guides or keys. It is organized as tables, allowing you to use multiple features for identification.

Quick Guide to the Common Goldenrods of New England www.ct-botanical-society.org/docs/solidago.html The Quick Guide to the Common Goldenrods of New England was prepared by Connecticut Botanical Society member Arieh Tal. It is intended as a supplement to field guides or keys. It is organized as tables, allowing you to use multiple features for identification. Very handy.

Field Guide to the Asters and Goldenrods www.nttlphoto.com/botany/asters-goldenrods/a&g_main.htm . If you don't know anything, this guide is for you. This guide was written by Arieh Tal.

Gallery of Connecticut Wildflowers www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/galleryindex.html . This collection of photos has the flowers of forbs and shrubs. You can sort by color, common name or scientific name. This is at the Connecticut Botanical Society website.

Grass Identification http://plants.usda.gov/plantkeys/massachusetts_grasses/MASSACHUSETTS_GRASSES.html. You need to know grass nomenclature to use this site. Better to get a copy of Lauren Brown's Grasses . On the other hand it's not that bad to use because there is a definition handy for every botanical term

Trinomial Identification ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/WLI/IdentificationOfPlantSpeciesTrinomials5_%2024_2007.pdf If you need to know the difference between Acer rubrum and Acer rubrum or Nyssa sylvatica and Nyssa sylvaticathen this is the document for you. Has diagnostic info for nine species. 16pp. color

Step 2: Plant designation as a wetland indicator

Remember, wetland delineation is an this is an open book test. So just remember to bring your books. The following species have been designated wetland indicators and should be included; and are shown on the BBNEP improved DEP Data Sheet & page 6 of BBNEP Pocket Guide . You won't have to memorize this.

1. All plants specifically listed in the Wetlands Protection Act. These include:

a. Red Maple
b. Tupelo
c. Canadian Hemlock
d. Sweet pepperbush
e. Sheep laurel

2. All Plants listed in the USFWS plant list that are given an OBL, FACW+, FACW, FACW-, FAC+, and FAC indicator status.

3. All plants in the genus Sphagnum.

4. Plants with Morphological adaptations to wet conditions. (see page 36 of the DEP Manual or page 27 of the BBNEP Pocket Guide as well as this Minnesota web page for a discussion of plant morphology associated with wet conditions)

Explanation of OBL, FACW+, FACW, FACW-, FAC+, and FAC

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has rated plants as to their percent occurrence in wetlands in Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts indicators reflect the range of estimated probabilities of a species occurring in wetlands versus non-wetlands. A positive (+) or negative (-) sign is used with the Facultative indicator categories (Facultative Wetland, Facultative, and Facultative Upland) to more specifically define the regional frequency of occurrence in wetlands The positive sign indicates a frequency, toward the higher end of the category (more frequently found in wetlands), and a negative sign indicates a frequency toward the lower end of the category, (less frequently found in wetlands), or the + and - designation was used to get agreement by the reviewers.

This federal government website has the definitive explanation in a little more depth. http://plants.usda.gov/wetinfo.html However, the link of the site to the United States Fish & Wildlife Service is dead. ACOE now has ownership of the wetland plant list program.

More on the status of the current efforts concerning the plant list updates can be found at this non-agency website .

Indicator categories:

Obligate Wetland (OBL). Occur almost always (estimated probability, >99%) under natural conditions in wetlands.

Facultative Wetland (FACW) . Usually occur in wetlands (estimated probability, 67%-99%). but occasionally, found in non-wetlands.

Facultative (FAC). Equally likely to occur in wetlands or non-wetlands (estimated probability, 34%-66%),

Facultative Upland (FACU) . Usually occur in non-wetlands (estimated probability 67%-99%), but occasionally found in wetlands (estimated probability, 1%-33%).

Obligate Upland (UPL) . Occur in wetlands in another region, but occur almost always (estimated probability >99%) under natural conditions in non-wetlands in Massachusetts. If a species does not occur in wetlands in any region, it is not on the National List.

Step 3. Determination of % Wetland Species

How to Look at Vegetation - Communities and Growth Forms.

Vegetation describes the plant community, but how to describe the vegetation? The vegetation can be segmented into different vegetation layers. The layers agreed to for wetland delineation are:

Trees,
Saplings,
Shrubs,
Ground cover, and
Vines.

Not all layers may be present an in any particular plot. See page 3 of the BBNEP pocket guide to determine when plants belong in particular group.

Observation Plots

Look at the plants for each layer in the appropriate observation plats. Due to experience in "sampling"it has been determined that one does not have to observe all the plants along the wetland line. Observation plot sizes change with the vegetative layer being observed and the area being studied. Use the plot sizes and methods in the DEP Delineation Manual on page 11 or in the BBNEP pocket guide on page 3. When you start out this is hard to remember, so keep the BBNEP Pocket Guide handy.

2009 Vegetation Class

Figure 4. The 2009 Vegetation Class identifies the vegetation in each layer. Photo by John Rockwell

Percent Cover Estimation

Estimating the "amount"of a plant has become standardized and fairly easy to learn. Pick a range of cover and use the median of that range to record as present for that species. The standard ranges for estimating cover are on page12 of the DEP Manual, and page 4 of the BBNEP booklet. So you won't have to look back to it again and again, it's also on the bottom of the BBNEP enhanced DEP data sheet.

If you see this amount of cover for a species: then record this amount

1- 5%	3.0%
6- 15%	10.5%
16- 25%	20.5%
26- 50%	38.0%
51- 75%	63.0%
76- 95%	85.5%
96- 100%	98.0%

Once you have made all your vegetative observations follow the procedures form transforming the percent cover into percent dominance and determining dominant species that are shown in the DEP Manual. Keep a copy with you of the BBNEP Pocket Guide in case you need reminding on the procedures out in the field.

If you find it all a little confusing, there is a great DEP publication, "Delineating Bordering Vegetated Wetlands in Massachusetts "that was put out in 1995.

SOILS

The SOILS workshop focuses on the fourth step of the wetland identification process; confirmation of wetland hydrology. In addition to the DEP Manual, BBNEP Pocket Guide, and BBNEP Improved DEP Data Sheet You'll need the following to get started:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service and University of Massachusetts got together and produced Documenting and Describing Soil Conditions . This too will have to be printed out on a two sided printer, 8.5 X 11 paper, landscape setting.

There is a good handout prepared some years ago about the chemistry of hydric (wetland) soils, Pedogenic Processes in Hydric Soils and Redoximorphic Features.

Perhaps the best thing we've found about wetland soil identification was on the Internet several years ago. We can't find it on the web today but Identifying Hydric Soils in the Field , is so good we kept a copy for you.

If it's all too confusing, the problem may be that you need a little work in surface geology. "Geologic Deposits ,"by Peter Fletcher, and some internet searches is a good place to start.

There is also the Field Indicators of Hydric Soils , version 6, which has some nice color photos of redoximorphic features. Keep in mind that the federal criteria for hydric soils in this publication does not exactly match up with the DEP criteria found in the DEP Delineation manual. (Note that there is an errata for this document.)

You also might want to look at the 2009 Spring BBNEP/MACC Soils Workshop presentation that has all the lecture notes included.

You will also need a shovel, a ruler, and a Munsell color chart.

start your soil investigation with digging a hole

Figure 5. Always start your soil investigation with digging a hole. Make the hole big enough to get a good view of the soil profile. Photo by John Rockwell at the BBNEP/MACC Advanced BVW training session.

Step 4: Confirmation of wetland hydrology - This means Soils!

Certain soil characteristics indicate wetland hydrology. Learn these characteristics to become a good delineator! Dig a test pit large enough to confirm the soil conditions. Use the information from both the DEP Delineation Manual to evaluate soils. We have included links to the excellent NE soil website

Soils are described by Depth, Horizon and Color

Horizons

Soil horizons are used to describe the layers that one sees as one looks at a hole. These main layers, or Master Horizons, were first called layers A, B & C. Simple soils are still referred to as ABC soils! Horizons are differentiated by color and texture.

The master horizons you will likely encounter are:

O - organic
A - mineral top soil,
E- - elluvial
B - mineral subsoil,
C - parent material
R - hard bedrock

Common subclasses Ap Bw Bhs, Bg. A complete list of subclasses is in the Notessection of Side 18 in the Power Point presentation.

Depth

Depth is usually measured down from the top of the mineral soil surface, less the duff layer. For organic soils (soils with greater than 8 inches of organic material, the depth is measured from the top of the organic material (less the duff layer.)

So for most soils you might have something like this:

4"- 0" O
0"- 4" A
4"- 20" B
20"- C

This is shorthand for 4 inches of organic material over 4 inches of topsoil over 16 inches of subsoil over the parent material. Notice the measurement of depth (0") starts at the top of the A horizon

For an Organic soil (one with over 8 inches of organic deposits) you might have something like this:

0"- 12" O
12"- 24" B
24"-- C

Which is shorthand for 12 inches of organic material over 12 of subsoil over the parent material. Notice the measurement of depth (0") starts at the top of the O horizon.

Color has been standardized by the use of the Munsell Soil Color Chart. The colors are differentiated by hue, value, and chroma.

Hue is that attribute of a color by which we distinguish red from green, blue from yellow, and so on. Each page of the Color Chart is a different hue. The redder hues are in the front, the yellower hues in the back.

Value indicates the lightness of a color. The scale of value ranges from 0 for pure black to 10 for pure white. The value increases as one goes down a page in the color chart. (Black, white and the grays between them are called "neutral colors."Neutral Colors have no hue and can be found on the "Gley 2"chart.)

Chroma is the degree of departure of a color from the neutral color of the same value. Colors of low chroma are sometimes called "weak,"while those of high chroma are said to be "highly saturated,""strong" or "vivid."Imagine mixing a little vivid yellow paint with a gray paint of the same value. The chroma increases as one moves from left to right across a page of the color chart.

When denoting color characteristics from the Munsell chart, the notation may look like this:

4-10" B_w10YR 5/4

Translation: the subsoil between 4 and 10 inches in depth is a yellowish brown with a hue of 10YR value of 5 and chroma of 4

Color is used to determine the presence of redoximorphic features, which can be used to determine the ground water elevation during the start of the growing season. These are considered hydric soil indicators when present within 12 inches of the soil surface.

Redoximorphic features

In addition to the background color of the soil (the matrix color) there are other color patterns present. When these colors are due to wetness they are considered redox features. Clip one of the links below to do a Google search to find useful documents on these topics.

redoximorphic features "soft masses redoximorphic reddish mottles redox feature pore linings oxidized rhizospheres soils nodules and concretions iron depletions clay depletions

Texture

Sandy soils are a "difficult soil"mentioned on page 30 of the DEP Manual. "Sandy"refers to the size of the soil particle. Sandy is no longer sandy when loamy sand becomes sandy loam (sand to loam). To differentiate between sandy loam and loamy sand in the field, refer to the moist soil sample characteristics of each on pages 17 & 18 of "Describing and Documenting Soil Conditions."

Wet? Page 20 of pocket guide

0-2	A 2.5Y 4/1

2-7	B 10YR 7/8

7-15	C 10YR 7/1

Wet? Page 20 of pocket guide

2-0	O
0-8	Ap	10YR 3/3
8-10	B1	10YR 4/2
10-12	B2	10YR 4/2	5YR3/4 (10%)

Problem Areas

If problem area soils are present, contact an expert who is familiar with the "Field Indicators for Identifying Hydric Soils in New England"version 3. (More on this in the "ADVANCED"workshop.) In certain areas you may contact the Natural Resource Conservation Service for assistance. Common problem areas are sandy soils and evergreen forest soils (spodosols). Less common regionally are red soils from the Connecticut River valley and black soils from the southeastern area of Bristol County. Learn how to identify spodosols.

2009 Advanced session

Figure 6. Attendees of the 2009 Advanced session check colors for a partially cemented spodic horizon.

ADVANCED

The ADVANCED workshop focuses on the fourth step of the wetland identification process; confirmation of wetland hydrology. You'll need the following to get started:

New England Indicators of Hydric Soils - Download a PDF copy free.

We have developed a pocket size for the NE Field Indicators that pretty handy. Use a double sided printer set on landscape mode.

The Supplement to the NE Field Indicators is full of info on soils and is highly recommended.

For problem soils with a thick A horizon you need to see the Wetland Reserve Program Technical Note #SG-DE-4.1

Michigan DEQ's Wetland delineation: What you need to know is pretty handy, although not 100% applicable to Massachusettswetlands

This is a very good list from the Association of Massachusetts Wetland Scientists of books that one should have.

DELINEATION TIPS

1. Get the proper attitude . Rather than look for the "real"wetland edge, one must find the wetland edge defined by the regulations. Rather than saying "This is not a wetland."When looking at a site, one should ask "What do the regulations say?"

2. Study area : The area of interest is rarely the 30-foot radius of the DEP guide. The study area should give you information that you can use in determining the edge of the wetland. On either side of a wetland flag! You have to modify the study area size to answer the question you are trying to ask. If you have a 15 foot difference between delineator a AND Delineator B, then the study area should be that 215 foot strip.

3. Plants with morphological adaptations to wetland conditions are wetland plants. The most commonly seen attribute is shallow root systems. Southeast Massachusettsis well known for the white pine (Pinus strobus) and pitch pine (Pinus rigida) wetlands. In coastal areas, these can usually be identified by blowdowns from Hurricane Bob (1990).

Blowdown due to shallow root system.

Figure 7. Blowdown due to shallow root system. This is a common adaptation of white pine, Pinus strobus, to wet conditions. The white pines in this area would be considered wetland plants due to the shallow root systems.

4. Hydrology information from soil characteristics should be the primary delineation tool in wet meadows where plants are unidentifiable due to cropping. (see page 48 of the DEP manual). [Studies have shown that the wetlands rating of the dominant species, that are visible, change from FACW to FACU over the course of the growing season.] NOTE: The draining of farm fields, using drain tiles or drainage ditches, will not change soil characteristics. This may result in a false positive indicating wetlands. However, there are many instances where the lowering of the water table in a farm field will allow farming but still allow for hydric conditions. The growing season starts in April, but the fields many times don't dry out until June. That leaves more than enough time to develop anaerobic conditions, and still get a crop in.

5. Problem Soil #1 Spodosols Referred to as "evergreen forest soils"on page 31 of the DEP Manual and page 21-22 of the BBNEP Pocket Guide.

These soils are quite varied.

Figure 8. These soils are quite varied but were all found within 100 feet of each other at WashburnPark in Marion. The three on the right are samples from a disturbed site. The left sample is a wet spodosol. Photo by John Rockwell

A spodosol can be identified in undisturbed areas by an elluvial layer above the spodic horizon. (See the Wikipedia page, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Podsol&oldid=51373504

for a nice European spodosol and description of the formation process.) For field ID of spodosols use the criteria in the definition section of "Field Indicators for Identifying Hydric Soils in New England."

Note: There are more hydric soils than there are in the DEP Manual. Use the "Field Indicators for Identifying Hydric Soils in New England, Version 3 "for the more complicated sites that are not in the DEP manual.

Soil sample with redox features.

Figure 9. Soil sample with redox features found in a spodic horizon by the 2009 Advanced trainees.

Web Resources for hydric soil identification

Franklin County Provisional Soil Mapping ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/MA/Franklin%20Soils%20Draft/ If you do work in Franklin Countyyou will want to have access to this.

Massachusetts Soil Survey http://nesoil.com/massachusetts_soil_survey.htm has all the soil information you need to file a report, except for Plymouth County! For Plymouth Countycheck with the NRCS office at 508-295-5151 x 2. or call the Resource Soil Scientist directly at 508-295-5151 x 117.

Delineation Assistance on the Web

1987 USACOE Delineation Manual http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/wlman87.pdf

WetDataShed www.crrel.usace.army.mil/rsgisc/wetshed/wetdatashed.htm U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) WetDataShed is software that allows you to simplify the wetland delineation process by automating calculations and providing a consistent means for collecting necessary data. There are various formats the user can select from for data entry that range from a simple delineation form, expanded and more detailed delineation form, to the ability to perform ecological or watershed scale studies using environment variables. The current version has the complete flora of North America matching the 1988 wetland plant indicator status list currently required for delineation purposes. In those few regions that have adopted 1993 revisions of the wetland plant indicator list, or would like to use the 1998 list, the software allows for changes to be made to those species that differ in status or synonymy.

Basic Stuff

A. DEP Forms: All the DEP Wetland Application forms in both Word format and as a pdf. For the most current forms always check the DEP website http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/wetlands.htm#forms

B. DEP Program Policies and Links

a. Aquatic Plant Management in Lakes and Ponds

b. Beach Nourishment , Mass DEP Guide to Best Management Practices

c. Technical Notes to Beach Nourishment

d. DEP Beaver and Muskrat Policy

e. BVW Delineation Manual

f. Dam Removal & the Wetland Regulations

g. DEP Enforcement Manual

h. Erosion and Sediment Control Guidelines, Sections 1-3. Section 1, Section 2, Section 3

i. Farming in Wetland Resource Areas, A guide to Agriculture and the Wetlands Protection Act

j. Hydrology Handbook

k. Stream Crossing Handbook

l. Stream Crossing Standards

m. West Nile Virus Policy

n. Inland Wetland Replication Guidelines

o. Wildlife Habitat Protection Guidelines for Inland Wetlands

p. Nineteen links to DEP Policies

i. Access Roadways: Interpretation of 310 CMR 10.53(3)(e)
Limited Projects: Access Roadways or Driveways (DWW Policy 88-2)

ii. Adjudicatory Hearings Commissioner's Directive Concerning Adjudicatory Proceedings - April 23, 2004

iii. Adjudicatory Hearings. Filing a Claim for an Adjudicatory Hearing at the Department of Environmental Protection

iv. Adjudicatory Hearings. Naming a MassDEP Adjudicatory Appeal

v. Amended Orders: Amending an Order of Conditions (DWW Policy 85-4)

vi. Appeals: Frequently Asked Questions

vii. BVW: Bordering Vegetated Wetland Delineation Criteria and Methodology

viii. Coastal Banks: Definition and Delineation Criteria
for Coastal Bank (DWW Policy 92-1) Issued: March 3, 1992

ix. Coastal dunes. MassDEP Guidance to Homeowners and Conservation Commissions Relative to Storm Emergency Certification for Rebuilding of Primary Coastal Dunes

x. Expedited Review: Policy Relating to the Expedited Review of License, Approval, or Permit Applications (same as current MassDEP Policy CO93-1; DWW Policy 87-1)

xi. ILSF Definition: Interpretation of 310 CMR 10.57(2)(b):
Definition of Isolated Land Subject to Flooding (DWW Policy 85-2)

xii. Lank of Information. Wetlands Program Policy 08-1: Lack of Information Necessary for Conservation Commission Decisions

xiii. Multiple Filings: Multiple Notice of Intent Filings for the Same or Similar Projects on the Same Property (DWW Policy 88-3)

xiv. Plan Changes: Administrative Appeals Policy for the Review of Project Plan Changes (DWW Policy 91- 1)

xv. Rare Species: Standards and Procedures for Determining Adverse Impacts to Rare Species Habitat (DWW Policy 90-2)

xvi. Rare Species. Procedures for Coordinated Review Under the Endangered Species and Wetlands Protection Regulations for State-Listed Wildlife in Wetlands

xvii. Rivers Act. Wetlands Maps: Mouth of Coastal River

xviii. Salt Ponds: Criteria for Evaluating and Permitting Openings of Salt Ponds in Order to Manage, Maintain, or Enhance Marine Fisheries

xix. Title 5. Wetlands Program Policy 86-1: Presumptions for Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems That Meet Title 5 or More Stringent Local Board of Health Requirements

C. Stormwater. Follow the link to the DEP Policies and Guidance Documents page and click on "Stormwater." Scroll down to find the Stormwater Handbook.

D. ACOE Mass PGP

E. Wetland Regulations Prefaces

F. Wetland Regulations, 310 CMR 10.00

G. Wetlands Protection Act M.G.L. Chapter 131 section 40

Advanced Materials

A. Existing Vegetation and Classification Mapping Technical Guide

B. Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils, Version 2

C. Soil Drainage Classification and Hydric Soil Indicators has a nice discussion of hydric soil chemistry

D. Introduction to Field Indicators for Identifying Hydric Soils in New England, Version 3 Good pdf version of PowerPoint Presentation made to the SNESS from the www.nesoil.com website.

E. The Association of Massachusetts Wetland Scientists' link to "List of Selected Wetland Publications"

F. Army Corps Wetland Delineation Manual, 1987

G. Draft Interim Regional Supplement to the Crops of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Northcentral and Northeast Region

H. Identifying Problem Hydric Soils

I. Field Indicators of Hydric Soil PPT Presentation

J. Hydric Soil Overview PPT Presentation. Download this presentation and you will be able to view the notes pages.

K. Redoximorphic features PPT Presentation. Download this presentation and you will be able to view the notes pages.

L. Soil Formation PPT Show at www.nesoil.com

M. Soil Horizon PPT Show at www.nesoil.com

N. Soil Texture PPT Show at www.nesoil.com

O. Soil Color PPT Show at www.nesoil.com

P. WetDataShed Delineation Program The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) WetDataShed is software that allows you to simplify the wetland delineation process by automating calculations and providing a consistent means for collecting necessary data

Q. Northeast Wetland Flora, Field Office Guide to Plant Species. The document, florane.zip, can be downloaded at the bottom of the page

R. The PLANTS database has links to a key for pines, spruces, etc, " Key to Gymnosperm Species of the United States"(gymnosperms.zip), "Key to Grasses of Massachusetts"(massachusetts_grasses.zip), and "Key to Wetland Monocots"(wetland_monocots.zip). These can also be used on the interactive site.

S. The Association of Massachusetts Wetland Scientists' link to "Must have"Books in Your Wetland Library"

Visit: http://soils.usda.gov/use/hydric/ for more information about hydric soils.

The BBNEP Pocket Guides

Print the pocket guides in landscape mode on 8.5 x 11 inch paper on a double sided printer.

Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program Pocket Guide to Delineating Wetlands

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National List of Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands: Massachusetts 1988

Documenting and Describing Soil Conditions

Field Indicators for Identifying Hydric Soils in New England"version 3

Supplement to Field Indicators for Identifying Hydric Soils in New England"version 3

^[1] Botanist please forgive this description/definition of monocots.

Our program was established in 1985 after Congress designated Buzzards Bay an "estuary of national significance."We joined the NEP in 1987. Our mission is to protect and restore water quality and living resources in Buzzards Bay and its surrounding watershed through the implementation of the Buzzards Bay Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. Click to read more.

Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program | Website Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Web Accessibility | Home | Email us