Wetland Assessment Criteria 



At a minimum, proposed wetland acquisition projects should have been 

 selected based on evaluation according to all three of these generic 

 criteria. Minimum standards for these criteria are indicated in the 

 Wetlands Assessment Threshold Criteria (Threshold Criteria) located in 

 Appendix 1. The Threshold Criteria are used in determining which 

 wetland sites (see definitions) qualify for Federal and State consideration 

 for acquisition. Those wetlands meeting the Threshold Criteria warrant 

 priority consideration for Federal and State acquisition. This systematic 

 evaluation of wetland sites will help achieve national consistency and 

 comparability between wetlands identified for acquisition consideration. 



States developing wetlands components to SCORPs, including State 

 Wetlands Priority Plans and their own or modified wetlands assessment 

 threshold criteria or methodologies, should ensure that all three of the 

 criteria mentioned above are addressed in their acquisition planning 

 process and documents. States also should ensure that sufficient 

 information will be available to allow a Federal or State decisionmaker to 

 determine that proposed wetland acquisitions meet each criterion 

 mentioned above. 



The NWPCP contains only the threshold standards for each criterion. 

 Users who need to rank various wetlands should develop a weighted 

 scoring system taking into account the priorities and needs of the agency 

 considering acquisition. The NWPCP has intentionally avoided devel- 

 opment of a weighted scoring system for all criteria. This is because a 

 single system will not serve all the differing applications of the NWPCP 

 by various users. For example, the Service uses a Land Acquisition 

 Priority System (LAPS) to rank and compare various properties proposed 

 for acquisition, including wetlands. Thus, the NWPCP does not stand 

 alone as an acquisition justification document. 



The Threshold Criteria address wetland losses, wetland threats and 

 wetland functions and values, which are fully discussed subsequently. 



1. WETLAND LOSSES 



Criterion 



Wetland types to be given priority consideration for acquisition are 

 those that are rare or have declined within an ecoregion. 



Discussion 



The following guidance will assist in applying this criterion: 



In general, palustrine emergent, forested and scrub-shrub wetland 

 types and coastal vegetated wetlands (estuarine intertidal, emer- 



