july06

FreshwaterWetland Monitoring and Assessment in Rhode Island: 

Wetland Partners Meeting  July 6, 2006 Deb Pelton NEIWPCC at Rhode Island DEM Freshwater Wetland Monitoring and Assessment in Rhode Island http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/types/images/wet.gif

Wetland M & A Plan: 

Wetland M & A Plan Long-term objectives  Develop a database of information necessary to evaluate trends in condition.  Identify causes and sources of degradation including cumulative impacts to wetlands.  Identify program and policy changes needed to improve overall condition statewide.  Evaluate the effectiveness of management and protection programs with respect to condition.  

Wetland M & A Plan: 

Wetland M & A Plan Short-term objectives  Prioritize wetlands (& adjacent upland habitat) for protection through open space acquisition & other land protection mechanisms.  Develop & implement methods for monitoring impacts due to water withdrawals.  Monitor & assess impacts due to loss & degradation of adjacent upland habitats (buffers).  Monitor location & extent to which invasive species are present & affecting wetland condition.  

Year 1 Implementation Projects : 

Year 1 Implementation Projects With receipt of EPA Wetland Pilot Demonstration Grant Landscape Scale (Level 1) Wetland profiles by watershed Water withdrawals in proximity to wetlands Rapid Assessment (Level 2)  Demonstration of Rapid Assessment Methods

Wetland Profiles by Watershed : 

Wetland Profiles by Watershed  Landscape scale project using existing GIS data to generate profiles of information on wetlands in each of RI’s major watersheds.  Best available baseline to compare with future changes. Summarize existing information on the type and extent of wetlands present in each watershed. Note special projects or research.

Wetland Profiles by Watershed : 

Wetland Profiles by Watershed Wetlands in the Woonasquatucket River Watershed, RI

Wetland Profiles by Watershed : 

Wetland Profiles by Watershed Landuse in the Woonasquatucket River Watershed, RI

Wetland Profiles by Watershed: 

Wetland Profiles by Watershed Planning to add: R, T, E species that are wetland specific Open space areas that contain wetlands (note public access) % impervious surface in the watershed What other data are available? Wetland wildlife data by watershed? Breeding bird data?

Water Withdrawals Near Wetlands : 

Water Withdrawals Near Wetlands Use existing GIS to determine the extent to which wetlands and wells are in proximity to each other – potential for impacts to wetlands. Characterize wetlands in proximity to community wells, including distance from well to wetland edges, soil type, wetland class, surrounding land use, etc… (sorted by watershed)

Water Withdrawals Near Wetlands : 

Water Withdrawals Near Wetlands Distance to nearest wetland edge

Water Withdrawals Near Wetlands : 

Water Withdrawals Near Wetlands 41 community wells in stratified drift with pump rate >= 100 gpm <= 100 ft. from wetland edge in 7 watersheds, 11 sub-watersheds 162 acres of wetlands in 400 ft. radius of those wells FOB: 104 acres SSA: 27 acres FOA: 12 acres FOD: 8 acres EMA: 7 acres SSB: 4 acres

Rapid Assessment Methods: 

Rapid Assessment Methods Based on indicators of wetland condition derived from 3 universal features: Hydrology Presence of hydric soils Presence of hydrophytic vegetation and other biota Also consider landscape or hydrogeologic setting Assume that wetlands respond predictably to stressors from human activities. Indicators based on response of wetland to stressor or on the stressors themselves. Place wetlands along a gradient of disturbance.

Demonstrate RAMs in RI : 

Demonstrate RAMs in RI Test existing methods ORAM - Ohio Rapid Assessment Method DERAP - Delaware Rapid Assessment Procedure

ORAM: 

ORAM Narrative and Quantitative questions Narrative questions - consider whether wetland is uncommon (e.g. bog, fen old growth forest), provides critical habitat, supports rare and endangered species… info. from official records (NHP, FWS). Quantitative questions – 6 metrics with submetrics for total of 16 questions. Results used to place wetland into 1 of 3 categories. (In Ohio, used for regulatory purposes)

ORAM: 

ORAM Quantitative questions – 6 metrics, some with submetrics: Wetland size Upland buffers and surrounding land use Hydrology Habitat alteration and development Special wetland communities Vegetation interspersion, microtopography

DERAP: 

DERAP Stressor Checklist 3 Categories Habitat/Plant community – 13 stressors + “other” Hydrology – 9 stressors + “other” Buffer – 12 stressors + “other” Results used to place wetland into 1 of 3 categories or “condition classes.”

Implementation Decisions for RAMs: 

Implementation Decisions for RAMs Site selection Access to sites Definition of assessment area Classification of wetlands Reporting results

Adapting existing RAMs to RI: 

Adapting existing RAMs to RI Questions: Are there special wetland communities in RI to replace those in OH? Wetland size categories – keep? Buffer width categories – keep? Concept of stressor checklist – is it useful, helpful? Are there stressors in RI that are not on DE’s list? Are there stressors on DE’s list that are not relevant to RI?