PART IV: METHODS 



Section A. Introduction 



50. PART IV contains sections on preliminary data gathering, method 

 selection, routine determination procedures, comprehensive determination 

 procedures, methods for determinations in atypical situations, and guidance 

 for wetland determinations in natural situations where the three-parameter 

 approach may not always apply. 



51. Significant flexibility has been incorporated into PART IV. The 

 user is presented in Section B with various potential sources of information 

 that may be helpful in making a determination, but not all identified sources 

 of information may be applicable to a given situation. Note: The user is not 

 required to obtain information from all identified sources. Flexibility is 

 also provided in method selection (Section C) . Three levels of routine deter- 

 minations are available, depending on the complexity of the required determi- 

 nation and the quantity and quality of existing information. Application of 

 methods presented in both Section D (routine determinations) and Section E 

 (comprehensive determinations) may be tailored to meet site-specific require- 

 ments, especially with respect to sampling design. 



52. Methods presented in Sections D and E vary with respect to the 

 required level of technical knowledge and experience of the user. Application 

 of the qualitative methods presented in Section D (routine determinations) 

 requires considerably less technical knowledge and experience than does appli- 

 cation of the quantitative methods presented in Section E (comprehensive 

 determinations) . The user must at least be able to identify the dominant 

 plant species in the project area when making a routine determination 

 (Section D) , and should have some basic knowledge of hydric soils when employ- 

 ing routine methods that require soils examination. Comprehensive determina- 

 tions require a basic understanding of sampling principles and the ability to 

 identify all commonly occurring plant species in a project area, as well as a 

 good understanding of indicators of hydric soils and wetland hydrology. The 

 comprehensive method should only be employed by experienced field inspectors. 



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