NC WAM FIELD ASSESSMENT FORM

Accompanies User Manual Version 5.0

USACE AID #	NCDWR#
Project Name	Date of Evaluation
Applicant/Owner Name	Wetland Site Name
Wetland Type	Assessor Name/Organization
Level III Ecoregion	Nearest Named Water Body
River Basin	USGS 8-Digit Catalogue Unit
County	NCDWR Region
Yes No	Precipitation within 48 hrs?	Latitude/Longitude (deci-degrees)
Evidence of stressors affecting the assessment area (may not be within the assessment area) Please circle and/or make note on the last page if evidence of stressors is apparent. Consider departure from reference, if appropriate, in recent past (for instance, within 10 years). Noteworthy stressors include, but are not limited to the following. • Hydrological modifications (examples: ditches, dams, beaver dams, dikes, berms, ponds, etc.) • Surface and sub-surface discharges into the wetland (examples: discharges containing obvious pollutants, presence of nearby septic tanks, underground storage tanks (USTs), hog lagoons, etc.) • Signs of vegetation stress (examples: vegetation mortality, insect damage, disease, storm damage, salt intrusion, etc.) • Habitat/plant community alteration (examples: mowing, clear-cutting, exotics, etc.) Is the assessment area intensively managed? Yes No Regulatory Considerations - Were regulatory considerations evaluated? Yes No If Yes, check all that apply to the assessment area. Anadromous fish Federally protected species or State endangered or threatened species NCDWR riparian buffer rule in effect Abuts a Primary Nursery Area (PNA) Publicly owned property N.C. Division of Coastal Management Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) (including buffer) Abuts a stream with a NCDWQ classification of SA or supplemental classifications of HQW, ORW, or Trout Designated NCNHP reference community Abuts a 303(d)-listed stream or a tributary to a 303(d)-listed stream What type of natural stream is associated with the wetland, if any? (check all that apply) Blackwater Brownwater Tidal (if tidal, check one of the following boxes) Lunar Wind Both Is the assessment area on a coastal island? Yes No Is the assessment area’s surface water storage capacity or duration substantially altered by beaver? Yes No Does the assessment area experience overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions? Yes No

1.	Ground Surface Condition/Vegetation Condition – assessment area condition metric

Check a box in each column. Consider alteration to the ground surface (GS) in the assessment area and vegetation structure (VS) in the assessment area. Compare to reference wetland if applicable (see User Manual). If a reference is not applicable, then rate the assessment area based on evidence an effect.

GS	VS

A	A	Not severely altered

B	B	Severely altered over a majority of the assessment area (ground surface alteration examples: vehicle tracks, excessive

sedimentation, fire-plow lanes, skidder tracks, bedding, fill, soil compaction, obvious pollutants) (vegetation structure alteration examples: mechanical disturbance, herbicides, salt intrusion [where appropriate], exotic species, grazing, less diversity [if appropriate], hydrologic alteration)

2.	Surface and Sub-Surface Storage Capacity and Duration – assessment area condition metric

Check a box in each column. Consider surface storage capacity and duration (Surf) and sub-surface storage capacity and duration (Sub). Consider both increase and decrease in hydrology. A ditch ≤ 1 foot deep is considered to affect surface water only, while a ditch > 1 foot deep is expected to affect both surface and sub-surface water. Consider tidal flooding regime, if applicable.

Surf	Sub

A	A	Water storage capacity and duration are not altered.

B	B	Water storage capacity or duration are altered, but not substantially (typically, not sufficient to change vegetation).

C	C	Water storage capacity or duration are substantially altered (typically, alteration sufficient to result in vegetation change) (examples: draining, flooding, soil compaction, filling, excessive sedimentation, underground utility lines).

3.	Water Storage/Surface Relief – assessment area/wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes)

Check a box in each column. Select the appropriate storage for the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT).

AA	WT

3a.	A	A	Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water > 1 deep

B	B	Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 6 inches to 1 foot deep

C	C	Majority of wetland with depressions able to pond water 3 to 6 inches deep

D	D	Depressions able to pond water < 3 inches deep

3b.	A	Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is greater than 2 feet

B	Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is between 1 and 2 feet

C	Evidence that maximum depth of inundation is less than 1 foot

4.	Soil Texture/Structure – assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes)

Check a box from each of the three soil property groups below. Dig soil profile in the dominant assessment area landscape feature. Make soil observations within the top 12 inches. Use most recent National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils guidance for regional indicators.

4a.	A	Sandy soil

B	Loamy or clayey soils exhibiting redoximorphic features (concentrations, depletions, or rhizospheres)

C	Loamy or clayey soils not exhibiting redoximorphic features

D	Loamy or clayey gleyed soil

E	Histosol or histic epipedon

4b.	A	Soil ribbon < 1 inch

B	Soil ribbon ≥ 1 inch

4c.	A	No peat or muck presence

B	A peat or muck presence

5.	Discharge into Wetland – opportunity metric

Check a box in each column. Consider surface pollutants or discharges (Surf) and sub-surface pollutants or discharges (Sub). Examples of sub-surface discharges include presence of nearby septic tank, underground storage tank (UST), etc.

Surf	Sub

A	A	Little or no evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the assessment area

B	B	Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges entering the wetland and stressing, but not overwhelming the

treatment capacity of the assessment area

C	C	Noticeable evidence of pollutants or discharges (pathogen, particulate, or soluble) entering the assessment area and

potentially overwhelming the treatment capacity of the wetland (water discoloration, dead vegetation, excessive

sedimentation, odor)

6.	Land Use – opportunity metric (skip for non-riparian wetlands)

Check all that apply (at least one box in each column). Evaluation involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. Consider sources draining to assessment area within entire upstream watershed (WS), within 5 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (5M), and within 2 miles and within the watershed draining to the assessment area (2M).

WS	5M	2M

A	A	A	> 10% impervious surfaces

B	B	B	Confined animal operations (or other local, concentrated source of pollutants

C	C	C	≥ 20% coverage of pasture

D	D	D	≥ 20% coverage of agricultural land (regularly plowed land)

E	E	E	≥ 20% coverage of maintained grass/herb

F	F	F	≥ 20% coverage of clear-cut land

G	G	G	Little or no opportunity to improve water quality. Lack of opportunity may result from little or no disturbance in

the watershed or hydrologic alterations that prevent drainage and/or overbank flow from affecting the

assessment area.

7.	Wetland Acting as Vegetated Buffer – assessment area/wetland complex condition metric (skip for non-riparian wetlands)

7a.	Is assessment area within 50 feet of a tributary or other open water?

Yes	No	If Yes, continue to 7b. If No, skip to Metric 8.

Wetland buffer need only be present on one side of the water body. Make buffer judgment based on the average width of wetland. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been removed or disturbed.

7b.	How much of the first 50 feet from the bank is wetland? (Wetland buffer need only be present on one side of the .water body. Make buffer judgment based on the average width of wetland. Record a note if a portion of the buffer has been removed or disturbed.)

A	≥ 50 feet

B	From 30 to < 50 feet

C	From 15 to < 30 feet

D	From 5 to < 15 feet

E	< 5 feet or buffer bypassed by ditches

7c.	Tributary width. If the tributary is anastomosed, combine widths of channels/braids for a total width.

≤ 15-feet wide	> 15-feet wide	Other open water (no tributary present)

7d.	Do roots of assessment area vegetation extend into the bank of the tributary/open water?

Yes	No

7e.	Is stream or other open water sheltered or exposed?

Sheltered – adjacent open water with width < 2500 feet and no regular boat traffic.

Exposed – adjacent open water with width ≥ 2500 feet or regular boat traffic.

8.	Wetland Width at the Assessment Area – wetland type/wetland complex condition metric (evaluate WT for all marshes and

Estuarine Woody Wetland only; evaluate WC for Bottomland Hardwood Forest, Headwater Forest, and Riverine Swamp Forest only)

Check a box in each column for riverine wetlands only. Select the average width for the wetland type at the assessment area (WT) and the wetland complex at the assessment area (WC). See User Manual for WT and WC boundaries.

WT	WC

A	A	≥ 100 feet

B	B	From 80 to < 100 feet

C	C	From 50 to < 80 feet

D	D	From 40 to < 50 feet

E	E	From 30 to < 40 feet

F	F	From 15 to < 30 feet

G	G	From 5 to < 15 feet

H	H	< 5 feet

9.	Inundation Duration – assessment area condition metric (skip for non-riparian wetlands)

Answer for assessment area dominant landform.

A	Evidence of short-duration inundation (< 7 consecutive days)

B	Evidence of saturation, without evidence of inundation

C	Evidence of long-duration inundation or very long-duration inundation (7 to 30 consecutive days or more)

10.	Indicators of Deposition – assessment area condition metric (skip for non-riparian wetlands and all marshes)

Consider recent deposition only (no plant growth since deposition).

A	Sediment deposition is not excessive, but at approximately natural levels.

B	Sediment deposition is excessive, but not overwhelming the wetland.

C	Sediment deposition is excessive and is overwhelming the wetland.

11.	Wetland Size – wetland type/wetland complex condition metric

Check a box in each column. Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This metric evaluates three aspects of the wetland area: the size of the wetland type (WT), the size of the wetland complex (WC), and the size of the forested wetland (FW) (if applicable, see User Manual). See the User Manual for boundaries of these evaluation areas. If assessment area is clear-cut, select “K” for the FW column.

WT	WC	FW (if applicable)

A	A	A	≥ 500 acres

B	B	B	From 100 to < 500 acres

C	C	C	From 50 to < 100 acres

D	D	D	From 25 to < 50 acres

E	E	E	From 10 to < 25 acres

F	F	F	From 5 to < 10 acres

G	G	G	From 1 to < 5 acres

H	H	H	From 0.5 to < 1 acre

I	I	I	From 0.1 to < 0.5 acre

J	J	J	From 0.01 to < 0.1 acre

K	K	K	< 0.01 acre or assessment area is clear-cut

12.	Wetland Intactness – wetland type condition metric (evaluate for Pocosins only)

A	Pocosin is the full extent (≥ 90%) of its natural landscape size.

B	Pocosin type is < 90% of the full extent of its natural landscape size.

13.	Connectivity to Other Natural Areas – landscape condition metric

13a.	Check appropriate box(es) (a box may be checked in each column). Involves a GIS effort with field adjustment. This metric evaluates whether the wetland is well connected (Well) and/or loosely connected (Loosely) to the landscape patch, the contiguous naturally vegetated area and open water (if appropriate). Boundaries are formed by four-lane roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors the width of a four-lane road or wider, urban landscapes, maintained fields (pasture and agriculture), or open water > 300 feet wide.

Well	Loosely

A	A	≥ 500 acres

B	B	From 100 to < 500 acres

C	C	From 50 to < 100 acres

D	D	From 10 to < 50 acres

E	E	< 10 acres

F	F	Wetland type has a poor or no connection to other natural habitats

13b.	Evaluate for marshes only.

Yes	No	Wetland type has a surface hydrology connection to open waters/stream or tidal wetlands.

14.	Edge Effect – wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes and Estuarine Woody Wetland)

May involve a GIS effort with field adjustment. Estimate distance from wetland type boundary to artificial edges. Artificial edges include non-forested areas ≥ 40 feet wide such as fields, development, roads, regularly maintained utility line corridors, and clear-cuts. Consider the eight main points of the compass. Artificial edge occurs within 150 feet in how many directions? If the assessment area is clear cut, select option ”C.”

A	0

B	1 to 4

C	5 to 8

15.	Vegetative Composition – assessment area condition metric (skip for all marshes and Pine Flat)

A	Vegetation is close to reference condition in species present and their proportions. Lower strata composed of appropriate

species, with exotic plants absent or sparse within the assessment area.

B	Vegetation is different from reference condition in species diversity or proportions, but still largely composed of native species characteristic of the wetland type. This may include communities of weedy native species that develop after clearcutting or clearing. It also includes communities with exotics present, but not dominant, over a large portion of the expected strata.

C	Vegetation severely altered from reference in composition, or expected species are unnaturally absent (planted stands of non-characteristic species or at least one stratum inappropriately composed of a single species), or exotic species are dominant in at least one stratum.

16.	Vegetative Diversity – assessment area condition metric (evaluate for Non-tidal Freshwater Marsh only)

A	Vegetation diversity is high and is composed primarily of native species (< 10% cover of exotics).

B	Vegetation diversity is low or has > 10% to 50% cover of exotics.

C	Vegetation is dominated by exotic species (> 50 % cover of exotics).

17.	Vegetative Structure – assessment area/wetland type condition metric

17a.	Is vegetation present?

Yes	No	If Yes, continue to 17b. If No, skip to Metric 18.

17b.	Evaluate percent coverage of assessment area vegetation for all marshes only. Skip to 17c for non-marsh wetlands.

A	≥ 25% coverage of vegetation

B	< 25% coverage of vegetation

Canopy 17c.	Check a box in each column for each stratum. Evaluate this portion of the metric for non-marsh wetlands. Consider structure in airspace above the assessment area (AA) and the wetland type (WT) separately.

AA	WT

A	A	Canopy closed, or nearly closed, with natural gaps associated with natural processes

B	B	Canopy present, but opened more than natural gaps

Mid-Story C	C	Canopy sparse or absent

A	A	Dense mid-story/sapling layer

B	B	Moderate density mid-story/sapling layer

C	C	Mid-story/sapling layer sparse or absent

Shrub

A	A	Dense shrub layer

B	B	Moderate density shrub layer

C	C	Shrub layer sparse or absent

Herb

A	A	Dense herb layer

B	B	Moderate density herb layer

C	C	Herb layer sparse or absent

18.	Snags – wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes)

A	Large snags (more than one) are visible (> 12 inches DBH, or large relative to species present and landscape stability).

B	Not A

19.	Diameter Class Distribution – wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes)

A	Majority of canopy trees have stems > 6 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH); many large trees (> 12 inches DBH) are

present.

B	Majority of canopy trees have stems between 6 and 12 inches DBH, few are > 12 inch DBH.

C	Majority of canopy trees are < 6 inches DBH or no trees.

20.	Large Woody Debris – wetland type condition metric (skip for all marshes)

Include both natural debris and man-placed natural debris.

A	Large logs (more than one) are visible (> 12 inches in diameter, or large relative to species present and landscape stability).

B	Not A

21.	Vegetation/Open Water Dispersion – wetland type/open water condition metric (evaluate for Non-Tidal Freshwater Marsh only)

Select the figure that best describes the amount of interspersion between vegetation and open water in the growing season. Patterned areas indicate vegetated areas, while solid white areas indicate open water.

A	B	C	D

22.	Hydrologic Connectivity – assessment area condition metric (evaluate for riparian wetlands and Salt/Brackish Marsh only)

Examples of activities that may severely alter hydrologic connectivity include intensive ditching, fill, sedimentation, channelization, diversion, man-made berms, beaver dams, and stream incision. Documentation required if evaluated as B, C, or D.

A	Overbank and overland flow are not severely altered in the assessment area.

B	Overbank flow is severely altered in the assessment area.

C	Overland flow is severely altered in the assessment area.

D	Both overbank and overland flow are severely altered in the assessment area.

Notes

NC WAM Wetland Rating Sheet

Accompanies User Manual Version 5.0

Wetland Site Name	Date of Assessment
Wetland Type	Assessor Name/Organization
Notes on Field Assessment Form (Y/N)
Presence of regulatory considerations (Y/N)
Wetland is intensively managed (Y/N)
Assessment area is located within 50 feet of a natural tributary or other open water (Y/N)
Assessment area is substantially altered by beaver (Y/N)
Assessment area experiences overbank flooding during normal rainfall conditions (Y/N)
Assessment area is on a coastal island (Y/N)

Sub-function Rating Summary

Function	Sub-function	Metrics	Rating
Hydrology	Surface Storage and Retention	Condition
Sub-surface Storage and Retention	Condition
Water Quality	Pathogen Change	Condition
Condition/Opportunity
Opportunity Presence (Y/N)
Particulate Change	Condition
Condition/Opportunity
Opportunity Presence (Y/N)
Soluble Change	Condition
Condition/Opportunity
Opportunity Presence (Y/N)
Physical Change	Condition
Condition/Opportunity
Opportunity Presence (Y/N)
Pollution Change	Condition
Condition/Opportunity
Opportunity Presence (Y/N)
Habitat	Physical Structure	Condition
Landscape Patch Structure	Condition
Vegetation Composition	Condition

Function Rating Summary

Function	Metrics	Rating
Hydrology	Condition
Water Quality	Condition
Condition/Opportunity
Opportunity Presence (Y/N)
Habitat	Condition

Overall Wetland Rating