MDT Montana Wetland Field Evaluation Form and Instructions 



July 1. 1996 



rushes, grasses, bulrush, cattail), excluding mosses and lichens. 



Scrub-shrub class: Vegetated wetland dominated by woody vegetation less than 6m (20 ft) tall. 

 Species include shrubs, young trees, and stunted trees and shrubs. 



Forested class: Vegetated wetland characterized by woody vegetation that is 6m (20 ft) tall or 



taller. 



Moss-lichen class: Wetland where mosses or lichens cover substrates other than rock and where 

 emergents, shrubs, or trees make up less than 30% of areal cover. 



11. Estimated Relative Abundance of Similarly Classified Sites within Major Montana Watershed 

 Basin. 



Circle the estimated relative abundance of sites that are similar in composition to the AA and occur 

 within the same major Montana watershed basin (Appendix A) using the following definitions: 



Rare estimated < 10% of wetlands in basin similar to AA 



Common estimated 10-50% of wetlands in basin similar to AA 



Abundant estimated >50% of wetlands in basin similar to AA 



The Major Montana Watershed Basin Map is based on a modification of the 1974 United States 

 Geological Survey Hydrologic Unit Map for Montana, and is used by the MDT Interagency Wetlands 

 Group to determine the suitability of mitigation project locations relative to impact locations. 



12. General Condition. Circle the term that best corresponds to the condition of the AA using the 

 definitions and examples listed below. Many wetlands that occur immediately adjacent to or are bisected 

 by an existing road/highway will be classified as "encroached upon" or "directly disturbed", depending 

 on whether or not the evaluator elects to split a bisected wetland into more than one AA (see # 9). 



Undisturbed: Wetland is in virtually pristine condition; no significant sources of 



human disturbance occur within or immediately adjacent to the site; 

 undisturbed habitat is contiguous with site (e.g., pothole on native 

 prairie). 



Encroached Upon: Human disturbance has encroached upon the wetland, but very minimal 

 or no direct disturbance has resulted (e.g., pothole on agricultural land 

 [converted prairie] that has been tilled to the wetland edge, wetland with 

 road constructed along one edge). 



Directly Disturbed: Wetland has been more than minimally directly disturbed by human 

 activity; significant clearing, filling, conversion has occurred (e.g., 

 farmed/tilled prairie pothole, wetland bisected by road construction). 



13. Habitat Diversity. Determine the habitat diversity rating for the AA by multiplying the appropriate 

 point values as indicated on the form. For variable A, count only those classes that are persistently 



