Moreover, individuals or experts having firsthand 

 knowledge of the project site should be contacted 

 for information whenever possible. Be sure, how- 

 ever, to know the reliability of these sources. After 

 reviewing this information, proceed to Step 6. 



Step 6. Determine whether wetlands exist in 

 the subject area. Based on a review of existing 

 information, wetlands can be assumed to exist if: 



1) Wetlands are shown on NWI or other 

 wetland maps, and hydric soil or a soil with hydric 

 soil inclusions is shown on the soil survey; or 



2) Hydric soil or soil with hydric soil inclu- 

 sions is shown on the soil survey, and 



A) site-specific information confirms 

 hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, and/or wet- 

 land hydrology, or 



B) signs of wetland are detected by 

 reviewing aerial photos; or 



3) Any combination of the above or parts 

 thereof (e.g., vegetated wetland on NWI maps and 

 signs of wetland on aerial photos). 



If after examining the available reference 

 material one is still unsure whether wedand occurs 

 in the area, then a field inspection should be con- 

 ducted, whenever possible. Alternatively, more 



detailed informadon on the site characterisdcs may 

 be sought from the project sponsor, if applicable, to 

 help make the determination. 



4.6. Offsite procedures are dependent on the avail- 

 ability of information for making a wedand determi- 

 nation, the quality of this information, and one's 

 ability and experience to interpret these data. In 

 most cases, therefore, the offsite procedure yields a 

 preliminary determination. For more accurate 

 results, one must conduct an onsite inspection. 



Onsite Determinations 



4.7. When an onsite inspection is necessary, be 

 sure to review pertinent background information 

 (e.g., NWI maps, soil surveys, and site plans) 

 before going to the subject site. This information 

 will be helpful in determining what type of field 

 method should be employed. Also, read the sec- 

 tions of this manual that discuss disturbed and 

 problem area wetlands before conducting field work 

 (see p. 50-59). Recommended equipment and mate- 

 rials for conducting onsite determinations are listed 

 in Table 3. 



Figures 1, 2, and 3 show the conceptual approaches 

 for making onsite wetland determinations. These 

 figures are NOT decision matrices for making wet- 

 land determinations. 



Table 3. Recommended equipment and materials for onsite determinations. 



Equipment 



Soil auger, probe, or spade 



Sighting compass 



Pen or pencil 



Penknife 



Hand lens 



Vegetation sampling frame* 



Camera/Rim 



Binoculars 



Tape measure 



Prism or angle gauge 



Diameter tape* 



Vasculum (for plant collection) 



Calculator* 



Dissecting kit 



Materials 



Data sheets and clipboard 



Field notebook 



Base (topographic) map 



Aerial photograph 



National Wetlands Inventory map 



Soil survey or other soil map 



Appropriate Federal interagency wetland plants list 



County hydric soil map unit list 



Munsell scoil color book 



Plant identification field guides/manuals 



National List of Scientific Plant Names 



Flagging tape/wire flags/wooden stakes 



Plastic bags (for collecting plants and soil samples as needed) 



* Needed for comprehensive determination 



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