% WASHINGTON STATE WETLANDS RATING SYSTEM 



for 

 RATING THE RESOURCE VALUE OF REGULATED WETLANDS 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



BACKGROUND 2 



INTRODUCTION 2 



OVERVIEW FOR USERS: 



HOW THE WETLANDS RATING SYSTEM WORKS 4 



WHEN TO USE THE WETLANDS RATING SYSTEM 4 



SUMMARY OF THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE CATEGORIES 6 



HOW TO USE THE WETLANDS RATING SYSTEM 8 



WETLANDS RATING FORM (Office data) 9 



WETLANDS RATING FORM (Field data) 10 



^ SUB-CRITERIA, SOURCES AND JUSTIFICATION FOR EACH CRITERIA 



CATEGORY I WETLANDS 



Documented Threatened or Endangered Habitat 13 



Documented Natural Heritage Sites 17 



Documented Migratory Bird Habitat 18 



Regionally Rare Wetland Communities 18 



Wetlands With Irreplaceable Ecological Functions 21 



PcatWetlands 21 



Mature Forested Wetlands 22 



Esluarine Wetlands 23 



Kelp and Eel Grass 24 



CATEGORY n WETLANDS 



Documented Habitat for Sensitive Species 25 



Docunr»entecl Priority Habitats and Species 28 

 Wetlands with Significant Functions that may not be 



Adequately Replicated or Replaced 30 



Wetlands with Significant Habitat Value 30 



CATEGORY IV WETLANDS 31 



WETLANDS OF LOCAL SIGNIHCANCE 32 



GLOSSARY 34 



I REFERENCES CITED 35 



FIGURES : SAMPLE LETTERS TO STATE AGENCIES 37 



DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY - DRAR 1 



