MPT Montana Wetland Field Evaluation Form and Instructions July I, 1996 



springs, or mature forested wetland (average age of dominant trees is greater than 80 years). 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 types, use the habitat diversity rating determined 

 under #13. Circle the condition of the site using the answer from #12. Determine the uniqueness rating 

 for the AA by multiplying and adding the appropriate point values as indicated on the form. 



Bog: A peat-accumulating wetland that has no significant inflows or outflows and 



supports acidophilic mosses, particularly sphagnum (Mitch and Gosselink 1993). 



Fen: A peat-accumulating wetland that receives some drainage from surrounding 



mineral soil and usually supports marsh-like vegetation (Mitch and Gosselink 

 1993). 



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



K. Recreation/Education Potential. This field assesses the potential of the AA to support recreational 

 and/or educational activities. If the AA is a known recreation or education site, assign a high rating and 

 indicate which types of activities occur on the site. If the site is not a known recreation/education site 

 and provides little potential for such use, assign a low rating (functional point value of .1). 



If the AA has potential to be used as a recreation/education site, indicate which types of activities may 

 occur and circle the condition of the AA using the answer from #12. Determine the rating for the AA by 

 multiplying the appropriate point values as indicated on the form. 



L. Dynamic Surface Water Storage. This field assesses the potential of the AA to capture water from 

 precipitation, upland surface (sheetflow) or subsurface (groundwater) flow. If jurisdictional wetlands in 

 the AA are not subject to flooding or are flooded exclusively by in-channel or overbank flow (see 15.e), 

 circle NA here and proceed with the evaluation. 



First, estimate the area of jurisdictional wetland that is subject to periodic flooding within the AA. This 

 can be based on aerial photos, water marks, other physical evidence. Next, estimate (based on 

 photographs, NRCS data, interviews, knowledge of the area, etc.) whether the jurisdictional wetlands 

 that flood do so at a frequency greater than or less than 5 out of every 10 years. Determine the dynamic 

 surface water storage rating for the AA by multiplying and adding the appropriate point values as 

 indicated on the form. 



Function & Value Summary and Overall Rating. Transfer the ratings and fimctional points assigned 

 for each of the 12 fiinctions and values on pages Fl, F2, and F3 to the appropriate fields in the summary 

 form (F4). Record values of 1 under the Possible Functional Points column for functions that apply to 

 the AA but for which no default values appear on the form. For fiinctions that do not apply to a given AA 

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



Calculate the fimctional units for each fiinction by multiplying the actual fimctional points by the 



11 



