Part 512 - Wetland Conservation 

 512.14(c) 



(c) Manipulation, as used in this manual, is the alteration of 

 the hydrology or removal of woody vegetation for the purpose or to 

 have the effect of making commodity production possible. 

 Manipulation includes any action which removes excess water from a 

 wetland, such as hydrological alterations with dams, dikes, 

 ditches, diversions, subsurface drains, pumps, or filling that is 

 sufficient to affect the flow, circulation, or reach of water 

 within the wetland or farmed wetland. The following exzmples would 

 not be considered manipulation and therefore will not require a 

 minimal effect evaluation: 



- Placing less than a cubic yard of fill in a 10-acre wetland 

 if there is no apparent effect on the hydrology of the wetland. 

 However, additional placement of fill may be considered 

 manipulation if there is a detectable effect on hydrology. 



- Undercutting of a ditch bottom which was already below the 

 outlet prior to the action. 



- Construction of a diversion which outlets back into the 



wetland. 



- Replacement of a few feet of damaged tile, on areas that 

 have not been abandoned. 



- Construction of a ditch that brings additional water into a 

 wetland and does not provide additional drainage. 



Actions that exceed the above examples or similar practical limits 

 will be considered manipulation and will be considered converted 

 wetland if agricultural commodities, hay, or pasture can be grown. 



Manipulations that will not maike possible the production of an 

 agricultural commodity; Certain manipulations, however, will not 

 have the effect of making the production of an agricultural 

 commodity possible, as illustrated by the following exeunples: 



- The removal of woody vegetation without removal of stumps 

 such that the area cannot be cropped or established to hay or 



pasture. 



- The removal of woody vegetation from an area so small that 

 production is not practical, such as clearing a fence line in a 

 manner that will not permit the use of conventional tillage 

 equipment on the cleared area. 



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512-16 



(180-V-NFSAM, Second Ed., Amend. 6, May 1991) 



