4.8. For every upcoming field inspection, the fol- 

 lowing pre-inspection steps should be undertaken: 



W Step 1. Locate the project area on a map 



{e.g., U.S. Geological Survey topographic map or 



SCS soil survey map) or on an aerial photograph 



and determine the limits of the area of concern. 



. Proceed to Step 2. 



Step 2. Estimate the size of the subject area. 

 ' Proceed to Step 3. 



Step 3. Review existing background infor- 

 mation and determine, to the extent possible, the 

 site's geomorphological setting (e.g., floodplain, 

 isolated depression, or ridge and swale complex), 

 its habitat or vegetative complexity (i.e., the range 

 of habitat or vegetation types), and its soils. (Note: 

 Depending on available information, it may not be 

 possible to determine the habitat complexity with- 

 out going on the site; if necessary, do a field recon- 

 naissance.) Proceed to Step 4. 



Step 4. Determine whether a disturbed con- 

 dition exists. Examine available information and 

 determine whether there is evidence of sufficient 

 natural or human-induced alteration to significandy 

 modify all or a portion of the area's vegetation, 

 ^ soils, and/or hydrology. If such disturbance is not- 

 ed, identify the limits of affected areas for they 

 should be evaluated separately for wedand determi- 

 nation purposes (usually after evaluating undis- 

 turbed areas). The presence of disturbed areas 

 within the subject area should be considered when 

 selecting an onsite determination method. {Note: It 

 may be possible that at any time during this deter- 

 mination, one or more of the three characteristics 

 may be found to be significandy altered. If this 

 happens, follow the disturbed area wetland deter- 

 mination procedures, as necessary, noted on p. 

 50.) Proceed to Step 5. 



Step 5. Determine the field determination 

 method to be used. Considering the size and com- 

 plexity of the area, determine whether a routine, 

 intermediate-level, or comprehensive field determi- 

 nation method should be used. When the area is 

 equal to or less than five acres in size or is larger 

 and appears to be relatively homogeneous with 

 respect to vegetation, soils, and/or hydrology, use 

 the routine method (see below). When the area is 

 greater than five acres in size, or is smaller but 

 appears to be highly diverse with respect to vegeta- 

 ^ tion, use the intermediate-level method (p. 35). 



When detailed quantification of plant communities 

 and more extensive documentation of other factors 

 (soils and hydrology) are required, use the compre- 

 hensive method regardless of the wetland's size (p. 

 39.) Significandy disturbed sites (e.g., sites that 

 have been filled, hydrologically modified, cleared 

 of vegetation, or had their soils altered) will gener- 

 ally require intermediate-level or comprehensive 

 methods. In these disturbed areas, it usually will be 

 necessary to follow a set of subroutines to deter- 

 mine whether the altered characteristic met the 

 applicable criterion prior to its modification; in the 

 case of altered wedand hydrology, it may be neces- 

 sary to determine whether the area is effectively 

 drained. Because a large area may include a diver- 

 sity of smaller areas ranging from simple wetiands 

 to vegetatively complex areas, one may-use a com- 

 bination of die onsite determination methods, as 

 appropriate. 



Routine Onsite Determination Method 



4.9. For most cases, wedand determinations can 

 be made in the field without rigorous sampling of 

 vegetation and soils. Two approaches for routine 

 determinations are presented: (1) hydric soil 

 assessment procedure, and (2) plant community 

 assessment procedure. In the former approach, are- 

 as diat meet or may meet the hydric soil criterion 

 are first delineated and then dominant vegetation is 

 visually estimated to determine if hydrophytic veg- 

 etation is obvious. If so, the area is designated as 

 wedand. If not, then the site must undergo a more 

 rigorous evaluation following one of the other 

 onsite determination methods presented in the man- 

 ual. The second routine approach requires initial 

 identification of representative plant community 

 types in die subject area and dien characterization 

 of vegetation, soils, and hydrology for each type. 

 After identifying wedand and nonwedand commu- 

 nities, the wedand boundary is delineated. All per- 

 tinent observations on die three mandatory wetland 

 criteria should be recorded on an appropriate data 

 sheet. 



4.10. Hydric Soil Assessment Procedure 



Step 1. Identify the approximate limits of 

 areas that may meet the hydric soil criterion within 

 the area of concern and sketch limits on an aerial 

 photograph. To help identify these limits use 

 sources of information such as Agricultural Stabili- 



31 



