HOW TO USE THE WETLAND RATING SYSTEM 



STEP 1. OBTAIN COPY OF MAPS SHOWING DELINEATED BOUNDARIES, OR DECIDE THAT 

 DELINEATION IS NOT NECESSARY FOR YOUR PURPOSES* 



STEP 2. SENT) LETTERS TO STATE AGENCIES REQUESTING INFORMATION (SEE SAMPLE 

 LETTERS ON p.37) AND ATTACHING A COPY OF A MAP SHOWING THE WETLAND 

 LOCATION. 



STEP 3. WAIT FOR STATE AGENCIES TO RETURN INFORMATION, THEN COMPLETE THE 

 "OFPICE DATA" SECTION OF THE WETLAND RATING FORM (SEE p.9). 



STEP 4. IF NECESSARY, GO TO THE UTETLAND AND COMPLETE THE HELD DATA FORM IN 

 THE WASHINGTON WETLANDS RATIN'G SYSTEM - HELD METHODOLOGY. 



STEP 5. COMPLETE THE "HELD DATA" SECTION OF THE WETLANT) RATLNG FORM TO 

 DETERMINE CATEGORY (SEE p.lO). 



* For regulatory purposes it is assumed that wetland locations are accurately known before categories are 

 determined. The area of land affected by buffers for example, depends firstly on the location of a given 

 wetland and secondly the category of the wetland. Delineation using the Federal Manual should 

 proceed determination of category. 



This does not mean that delineation of wetlands must always be detennined according to the (relatively 

 expensive and time consuming) Federal Manual before a meaningful determination of category can be 

 made. 



For example, determination of category on the basis of a "less than strict" delineation may be useful in a 

 local government overview for inventory or policy purposes, or to meet the needs of individuals who need 

 a "best estimate" of wetland value for project analysis. National Wetlands Inventory maps could be used 

 for this purpose. 



DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY - DRAFT 



