MDT Montana Wetland Assessment Method May 25. 1999 



Bogs, fens, waim springs, and mature forested wetlands are verv' difficult, and in some cases are not possible, to successfully replicate 

 at mitigation sites. In the absence of these t>-pes, wetlands with higher structural diversit\' or higher MNHP rank are considered more 

 difficult to repUcate than sites with low structural diversit\' or lower MNHP ranks. Wetland t\-pes that occur rarely within a watershed 

 are considered to be more unique than wetlands that occur commonly or abundantly within a watershed. Finally, wetlands with low 

 disturbance that are fimctioning under primarily natural conditions are considered more unique than are wetlands exposed to moderate 

 or high disturbance levels. 



L Rating. Working from top to bottom, use the matrix on the data form to arrive at [circle] the functional points and rating [H = high, 

 M = moderate, or L = low] for this function. First determine whether the AA is or contains a bog. fen. warm springs, or mature 

 forested wetland (average age of dominant trees is greater than 80 years) using the definitions provided below. When determining if 

 the wetland is/contains mature forested wetland, take care to ensure that non-jurisdictional riparian area is not counted as wetland. If 

 the AA does not contain any of these four wetland t\-pes, use the associations listed in Table 1 . If none of these associations are 

 present, use the structural drversit\' rating determined under # 1 3 



Bog: A peat-accumulating wetland that has no significant inflows or outflows and supports acidophilic mosses, 



particularK' sphagnum (Mitch and Gosselink 1993). 



Fen: A peat-accumulating wetland that receives some drainage from surrounding mineral soil and usualh* 



supports marsh-Uke vegetation (Mitch and Gosselmk 1993). 



Forested Wetland: See discussion and definition under #10, Classification of AA. 



Next indicate the estimated occurrence frequency of similarly classified sites within the same major Montana watershed basin using 

 the ans^ver from #11. Finally, circle the appropriate fimctional points and rating based on the degree of disturbance at the AA as 

 determined under #12. 



14L. Recreation/Education Potential: This field assesses the potential of the AA to support recreational and/or educational 

 activities. In the absence of known recreational or educational properties of a site, the rating is determined based on the evaluators 

 assessment of potential for such use. along with ownership of and degree of disturbance at the AA. Sites that are publich' ov^■ned 

 generalh' offer better access opportumties than do privately owned sites. Potential for recreation or education is usualh' higher at sites 

 that are less, rather than more, disturbed unless the activitv itself would result in substantial disturbance. 



L Is the AA a Knovra Recreation or Education Site? If the AA is a known recreation or education site, circle the high rating (1 

 functional point) on the matrix provided on the data form and indicate which t}.pes of activities occur on the site under ii. If the site is 

 not a known recreation/education site, proceed to iii. 



ii. Recreation and Education Categories That Apply to the AA. Check the categories that apply to the AA. 



iii. Potential for Recreation or Education Use. Determine whether there is strong potential for recreational or educational use of 

 the AA based on its location, size. diversif\'. and other site attributes. If so, check the appropriate categories under \L then proceed to 

 iv. If not circle the low rating (. 1 functional point) on the matrix provided on the data form. 



iv. Rating. Working from top to bottom, use the matrix on the data form to arrive at [circle] the functional points and rating [H = 

 high. M = moderate, or L = low] for this function. First, indicate the level of disturbance at the AA using the answer fix)m # 12i. Next, 

 circle the appropnate functional points and rating based on the ownership (pubbc verses private) of the AA. 



Function <Sc Value Summani' and Overall Rating: Transfer the ratings and fimctional points assigned for each of the 12 fiinctions 

 in items 14A through 14L to the appropriate fields on the summary form. Record values of 1 under the Possible Functional Points 

 column for fimctions that apph' to the AA but for which no default values appear on the form. For functions that do not appfy to a given 

 AA (e.g., flood attenuation), enter "NA" under each of the column headings. 



If desired, calculate the functional units for each function by multiplying the actual fimctional points by the estimated acreage in the AA 

 (from #9). This is optional and will not affect the site's overall rating. In some cases, such as when more than one site is assessed on a 

 smgle form, it is best to leave this column blank and derive a separate table or other means to depict functional units. Record the totals 

 from the Actual Functional Points, Possible Functional Points, and Functional Units columns (if completed) in the Totals row. 

 Calculate the percentage of the possible functional points that the AA achieved using the following equation; % of possible = total 



12 



