S(DT Montana Wetland Assessment Method 



Mav25.1999 



1. Project Name: Enter the appropriate project name. 



2. Project # and Control #: Enter the appropriate project and control numbers, if applicable. 



3. Evaluation Date: Enter the date(s) that the field evaluation was conducted. 



4. Evaluator(s): Enter the names and/or afEUiation of the personnel conducting the evaluation. 



5. Wetland/Sitc #(s): Enter the wetland identification number(s) and name(s) (e.g.. Fish Creek), if applicable. 



6. Wetland Lx>cation(s): Enter the appropriate legal descriptions, stationing or mileposts, eight-digit watershed descriptor (fi^m the 

 Hydrologic Unit Slap - 1974: State of Montana [U.S. Geological Survey 1976]), global positioning station (GPS) reference s (if 

 available; not required), and other desired location information for the evaluated wetlands. 



7. Evaluating Agency and Purpose: Fill in the appropriate agenc>- (for MDT projects, this will generalh' be "MD'P) and check the 

 appropriate project categor.'. 



8. Estimated Total Wetland Size: Enter the estimated or measured (not required) size of the entire wetland that includes the 

 assessment area (.AA). If the AA is delineated such that the entire wetland is included, the responses to 8 and 9 wiU be the same. If 

 evaluating more than one AA on a single data form, enter the average wetland size or the range of wetland sizes. 



9. Estimated Acreage of Assessment Area (AA): Indicate the estimated or measured (not required) acreage within the boundanes of 

 the AA usmg the guidance below. If splitting a wetland into more than one AA. indicate the AA boundaries on the wetland delineation 

 map. Wetlands bisected by roads may be considered as a single AA or as more than one AA, depending on the perceived degree of 

 hydrologic/biological interaction between the two halves. If evaluating more than one AA on a single data form, enter the average AA 

 size or the range of AA sizes. Several example AAs relative to highway projects are provided in Figure 1 . 



The AA includes the portion of a wetland that is (see Figure 1): 



A. within a proposed project nght-of-way, construction easement, permit area, known detour area, etc. (e.g., within the 



area of interest) and contiguous to a distance determined by B or C below, whichever distance is closer to the 

 proposed project. 



B. contiguous up and downstream fi'om the project to physical points of significant hvdrologic change (these can 

 include jurisdictional boundaries, points where jurisdictional wetlands are no longer adjacent to a non-wetland 

 channel natural [geomorphic] or man made constrictions or expansions, points where the gradient changes rapidly, 

 points of significant inflow [e.g., tributaries], or places where other factors limi t hydrologic interaction) or 



C. contiguous up and downstream fi-om the project to maximum distances of 0.5 mile if no points of significant 

 hydrologic change (including termination of the wetland) occtir within this radius. 



The following conditions apply to wetlands contiguous with open water. Open water is defined as any area of standing orfloM-mg 

 water without emergent (not including pioneer species), scrub-shrub, or forested vegetation (e.g., in most cases, a flooded Met 

 meadow would not be considered to contain open water) . 



Where wetlands are contiguous with standing non-wetland water bodies (lakes, ponds); 



If wetlands are contiguous with < 20 acres of open water (e.g., prairie pothole), include all open water in the AA to a 



