Part 512 - Wetland Conservation 



512.27(b) 



Plans will be approved within 90 days after ASCS notifies SCS that 

 a plan is necessary. The plan will include the restoration of 

 hydrology and hydrophytic vegetation to its pre-conversion 

 condition. 



(1) Restoration of hydrology will include the 

 establishment of the hydrological conditions (e.g. duration, 

 frequency, and timing of ponding, flooding, or saturation) that 

 existed prior to the conversion of the wetland. 



(2) Restoration of vegetation means the estedDlishment of 

 the wetland species present prior to the conversion. If a seed or 

 tuber source for herbaceous vegetation is present in the soil, then 

 planting may not be necessary. In the case of woody species, a 

 revegetation plan will be developed that restores a plant community 

 similar to that present before the conversion. The restored plant 

 community will approximate the same species and percent species 

 composition. This information can be obtained from personal 

 knowledge, photos, and existing wetlands within the area. Follow 

 up assistance will be provided to ensure that the wetland is 

 revegetated as planned. If the plants fail to establish, the area 

 will be replanted. The area will not be considered fully restored 

 until the vegetation is established. 



(c) The restoration plan will include structures needed to 

 restore the hydrology, land shaping to restore previous gradients 

 and other topographical features, the species of plants to be 

 established, percent species composition, planting schedules and 

 seeding/planting rates, and management needed to ensure that the 

 wetland is fully restored to its previous condition. 



(d) If the wetland was cropped before to the conversion, the 

 plan will allow cropping after restoration. 



(e) SCS will inform ASCS that the producer is actively 

 restoring the wetland once it is signed by SCS, FWS, emd the 

 producer. 



(f) The plan must be implemented within 12 months. If 

 circumstances beyond the control of the producer occur which 

 prevent full implementation of the plan within the specified time, 

 then an extension can be granted if ASCS, SCS, and FWS are in 

 agreement. 



512-44 



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



