Sea Level Rise on Georgia’s Coast Georgia Conservancy Georgia Conservancy .
Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems: Level I Inventory Field ... · Acknowledgments This field guide...
101
Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems: Level I Inventory Field Guide Inventory Methods for Assessment and Planning United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Gen. Tech. Report WO-86a March 2012 Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems: Level I Inventory Field Guide Inventory Methods for Assessment and Planning United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Gen. Tech. Report WO-86a March 2012
Transcript of Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems: Level I Inventory Field ... · Acknowledgments This field guide...
-
Gro
und
wat
er-D
epen
den
t E
cosy
stem
s: L
evel
I In
vent
ory
Fie
ld G
uid
e
Inve
ntor
y M
etho
ds
for
Ass
essm
ent
and
Pla
nnin
g
Uni
ted
Sta
tes
Dep
artm
ent
of
Ag
ricu
ltur
e
Fore
st S
ervi
ce
Gen
. Tec
h. R
epor
t W
O-8
6a
Mar
ch 2
012
Gro
und
wat
er-D
epen
den
t E
cosy
stem
s: L
evel
I In
vent
ory
Fie
ld G
uid
e
Inve
ntor
y M
etho
ds
for
Ass
essm
ent
and
Pla
nnin
g
Uni
ted
Sta
tes
Dep
artm
ent
of
Ag
ricu
ltur
e
Fore
st S
ervi
ce
Gen
. Tec
h. R
epor
t W
O-8
6a
Mar
ch 2
012
-
The
U.S
. Dep
artm
ent
of A
gric
ultu
re (U
SD
A) p
rohi
bits
dis
crim
ina-
tion
in a
ll its
pro
gram
s an
d a
ctiv
ities
on
the
bas
is o
f rac
e, c
olor
, na
tiona
l orig
in, a
ge, d
isab
ility
, and
whe
re a
pp
licab
le, s
ex, m
arita
l st
atus
, fam
ilial
sta
tus,
par
enta
l sta
tus,
rel
igio
n, s
exua
l orie
ntat
ion,
ge
netic
info
rmat
ion,
pol
itica
l bel
iefs
, rep
risal
, or
bec
ause
all
or
par
t of
an
ind
ivid
ual’s
inco
me
is d
eriv
ed fr
om a
ny p
ublic
ass
ist-
ance
pro
gram
. (N
ot a
ll p
rohi
bite
d b
ases
ap
ply
to
all p
rogr
ams.
) P
erso
ns w
ith d
isab
ilitie
s w
ho r
equi
re a
ltern
ativ
e m
eans
for
com
-m
unic
atio
n of
pro
gram
info
rmat
ion
(Bra
ille,
larg
e p
rint,
aud
iota
pe,
et
c.) s
houl
d c
onta
ct U
SD
A’s
TA
RG
ET
Cen
ter
at (2
02) 7
20-2
600
(voi
ce a
nd T
DD
). To
file
a c
omp
lain
t of
dis
crim
inat
ion,
writ
e U
SD
A,
Dire
ctor
, Offi
ce o
f Civ
il R
ight
s, 1
400
Ind
epen
den
ce A
venu
e, S
.W.,
Was
hing
ton,
D.C
. 202
50-9
410,
or
call
(800
) 795
-327
2 (v
oice
) or
(202
) 720
-638
2 (T
DD
). U
SD
A is
an
equa
l op
por
tuni
ty p
rovi
der
and
em
plo
yer.
The
info
rmat
ion
cont
aine
d in
thi
s p
ublic
atio
n ha
s b
een
dev
elop
ed
for
the
guid
ance
of e
mp
loye
es o
f the
For
est
Ser
vice
, U.S
. Dep
art-
men
t of
Agr
icul
ture
, its
con
trac
tors
, and
coo
per
atin
g Fe
der
al a
nd
Sta
te a
genc
ies.
The
For
est
Ser
vice
ass
umes
no
resp
onsi
bili
ty fo
r th
e in
terp
reta
tion
or u
se o
f thi
s in
form
atio
n b
y ot
her
than
its
own
emp
loye
es. T
he u
se o
f tra
de,
firm
, or
corp
orat
ion
nam
es is
for
the
info
rmat
ion
and
con
veni
ence
of t
he r
ead
er. S
uch
use
doe
s no
t co
nstit
ute
an o
ffici
al e
valu
atio
n, c
oncl
usio
n, r
ecom
men
dat
ion,
en
dor
sem
ent,
or
app
rova
l of a
ny p
rod
uct
or s
ervi
ce t
o th
e ex
clu-
sion
of o
ther
s th
at m
ay b
e su
itab
le.
iiiG
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
Co
ntri
but
ors
This
fiel
d g
uid
e w
as d
evel
oped
und
er t
he d
irect
ion
of t
he
Gro
undw
ater
-Dep
ende
nt E
cosy
stem
s (G
DE
) Pro
toco
l Dev
elop
men
t C
ore
Team
with
prim
ary
cont
ribut
ions
from
Mar
c C
oles
-Ritc
hie
of
Man
agem
ent
& E
ngin
eerin
g Te
chno
logi
es In
tern
atio
nal,
Inc.
(M
ETI
, Inc
.) an
d J
oe G
urrie
ri (F
ores
t S
ervi
ce, a
n ag
ency
of t
he
U.S
. Dep
artm
ent
of A
gric
ultu
re).
Chr
is C
arls
on (F
ores
t S
ervi
ce)
and
Ste
ve S
olem
(ME
TI, I
nc.)
pro
vid
ed e
ssen
tial e
dits
and
gui
d-
ance
in t
he fi
eld
gui
de
dev
elop
men
t p
roce
ss. O
ther
mem
ber
s of
th
e C
ore
Team
, who
pro
vid
ed d
etai
led
ed
its a
nd r
ecom
men
da-
tions
at
mul
tiple
sta
ges
of t
he fi
eld
gui
de
dev
elop
men
t, w
ere
(of t
he F
ores
t S
ervi
ce u
nles
s ot
herw
ise
note
d):
Alli
son
Ald
ous
(The
Nat
ure
Con
serv
ancy
), D
even
dra
Am
atya
, Tris
h C
arro
ll,
Kat
e D
wire
, Mar
k G
onza
lez
(Bur
eau
of L
and
Man
agem
ent,
U.S
. D
epar
tmen
t of
the
Inte
rior)
, and
Bar
ry J
ohns
ton.
The
GD
E P
roto
col D
evel
opm
ent
Ste
erin
g Te
am p
rovi
ded
val
u-ab
le g
uid
ance
at
mul
tiple
sta
ges
of t
he p
roce
ss. T
hat
team
was
m
ade
up t
he fo
llow
ing
ind
ivid
uals
(of t
he F
ores
t S
ervi
ce u
nles
s ot
herw
ise
note
d):
Lesl
ie B
ach
(The
Nat
ure
Con
serv
ancy
), C
hris
C
arls
on (t
eam
lead
er),
Tony
Cru
mp
, Ton
y E
rba,
Rus
s La
faye
tte,
B
ill L
eVer
e, D
an N
eary
, Mik
e N
evill
, And
y R
oric
k, L
ind
a S
pen
cer,
C
ynth
ia T
ait,
and
Ric
hard
Ullr
ich.
Luk
e B
oehn
ke c
reat
ed t
he
figur
es, i
nclu
din
g in
vert
ebra
te il
lust
ratio
ns in
ap
pen
dix
11.
Rev
iew
s an
d c
omm
ents
wer
e al
so p
rovi
ded
by
mem
ber
s of
Te
chni
cal A
dvi
sory
Tea
ms
for
the
GD
E P
roto
col D
evel
opm
ent
pro
ject
.
Pilo
t te
stin
g of
thi
s fie
ld g
uid
e in
volv
ed d
edic
ated
ind
ivid
uals
fr
om t
he fo
llow
ing
units
: Bla
ck H
ills
and
Neb
rask
a N
atio
nal
Fore
sts
(Roc
ky M
ount
ain
Reg
ion)
; the
Sp
ring
Mou
ntai
ns N
atio
nal
Rec
reat
ion
Are
a (o
n th
e H
umb
old
t-To
iyab
e N
atio
nal F
ores
t) (In
term
ount
ain
Reg
ion)
; Iny
o N
atio
nal F
ores
t (P
acifi
c S
outh
wes
t R
egio
n); t
he M
alhe
ur, W
allo
wa-
Whi
tman
, and
Um
atill
a N
atio
nal
Fore
sts
(Pac
ific
Nor
thw
est
Reg
ion)
; Fra
ncis
Mar
ion
and
Sum
ter
Nat
iona
l For
est
(Sou
ther
n R
egio
n), W
hite
Mou
ntai
n N
atio
nal F
or-
est
(Eas
tern
Reg
ion)
; and
the
Fra
ser
Exp
erim
enta
l For
est
(Roc
ky
Mou
ntai
n R
esea
rch
Sta
tion)
.
-
ivG
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
Ack
now
led
gm
ents
This
fiel
d g
uid
e is
a p
rod
uct
of a
par
tner
ship
bet
wee
n Th
e N
atur
e C
onse
rvan
cy, O
rego
n C
hap
ter,
and
the
For
est
Ser
vice
to
imp
rove
the
aw
aren
ess
and
man
agem
ent
of g
roun
dw
ater
-d
epen
den
t ec
osys
tem
s.
Sup
por
t fo
r d
evel
opm
ent
of t
his
field
gui
de
was
pro
vid
ed b
y A
nne
Zim
mer
man
n, D
irect
or o
f Wat
ersh
ed, F
ish,
Wild
life,
Air,
and
R
are
Pla
nts
and
Ton
y Fe
rgus
on, F
orm
er D
irect
or o
f Min
eral
s an
d
Geo
logy
Man
agem
ent.
Joe
l Hol
trop
, For
mer
Dep
uty
Chi
ef fo
r N
atio
nal F
ores
t S
yste
m, p
rovi
ded
enc
oura
gem
ent
and
sup
por
t al
ong
with
the
Info
rmat
ion
Res
ourc
es D
ecis
ion
Boa
rd in
pro
vid
-in
g p
roje
ct fu
ndin
g. O
per
atio
nal s
upp
ort
was
pro
vid
ed b
y P
atric
e Ja
niga
, Eco
syst
em M
anag
emen
t C
oord
inat
ion
(EM
C) I
nfor
mat
ion
Ass
ets
Por
tfol
io M
anag
er; M
ind
y M
artin
, EM
C C
ontr
actin
g O
ffice
r’s
Rep
rese
ntat
ive;
and
Jod
y R
ose,
Inte
rmou
ntai
n R
egio
n W
ebm
aste
r. T
he p
roje
ct t
eam
mem
ber
s an
d le
ader
ship
pro
vid
ed
by
ME
TI, I
nc.,
wer
e es
sent
ial f
or s
ucce
ssfu
l pro
ject
man
agem
ent
and
dev
elop
men
t of
the
fiel
d g
uid
e.
vG
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
Foun
dat
ions
Man
y q
uest
ions
in t
he “
Pre
-Fie
ld S
urve
y” a
nd “
Fiel
d S
urve
y”
por
tions
of t
his
field
gui
de
are
bas
ed o
n th
e Fo
rest
Ser
vice
Site
G
ener
al: F
ield
Gui
de
(US
DA
For
est
Ser
vice
200
9). A
ttrib
utes
tha
t ar
e re
qui
red
in S
ite G
ener
al a
re n
oted
as
such
.
Muc
h of
thi
s fie
ld g
uid
e ha
s b
een
influ
ence
d b
y th
e fo
und
atio
nal
wor
k of
oth
ers
in t
he fi
eld
s of
sp
ring
and
wet
land
sci
ence
as
rep
rese
nted
in t
he fo
llow
ing
pro
toco
ls:
• Fi
eld
and
Lab
orat
ory
Op
erat
ions
Rep
ort
for
the
Ore
gon
Wet
land
s S
tud
y (M
agee
et
al. 1
995)
.
• Te
rres
tria
l Sp
rings
Eco
syst
ems
Inve
ntor
y P
roto
cols
(Ste
vens
et
al.
2006
).
• N
atio
nal P
ark
Ser
vice
Moj
ave
Inve
ntor
y an
d M
onito
ring
Net
-w
ork
Sp
ring
Sur
vey
Pro
toco
ls: L
evel
I an
d L
evel
II (S
ada
and
P
ohlm
ann
2006
dra
ft).
• G
roun
dw
ater
and
Bio
div
ersi
ty C
onse
rvat
ion:
A M
etho
ds
Gui
de
for
Inte
grat
ing
Gro
und
wat
er N
eed
s of
Eco
syst
ems
and
Sp
ecie
s In
to C
onse
rvat
ion
Pla
ns in
the
Pac
ific
Nor
thw
est
(Bro
wn
et a
l. 20
07).
• In
terim
Pro
toco
l, G
roun
d-W
ater
Res
ourc
e In
vent
ory
and
Mon
i-to
ring
Pro
toco
l, Le
vel I
Sp
ring
Eco
syst
em In
vent
ory
(Gur
rieri
2007
dra
ft).
• A
sses
sing
Pro
per
Fun
ctio
ning
Con
diti
on fo
r Fe
n A
reas
in t
he
Sie
rra
Nev
ada
and
Sou
ther
n C
asca
de
Ran
ges
in C
alifo
rnia
: A
Use
r G
uid
e (W
eixe
lman
and
Coo
per
200
9).
• S
tud
y P
lan:
Sam
plin
g of
the
Pol
ygon
s P
hoto
inte
rpre
ted
for
Pos
sib
le F
ens
on t
he G
rand
Mes
a-U
ncom
pah
gre-
Gun
niso
n N
atio
nal F
ores
t, C
olor
ado
(Joh
nsto
n et
al.
2009
dra
ft).
-
viG
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
vii
GD
E:
Leve
l IIn
vent
ory
Fiel
d G
uid
e
Co
nten
tsIn
trod
uctio
n ...
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.1
Bus
ines
s R
equi
rem
ents
Ad
dre
ssed
by
This
Fie
ld G
uid
e ...
..2
Rel
atio
nshi
ps
Bet
wee
n B
usin
ess
Req
uire
men
ts a
nd
Fiel
d G
uid
e Le
vels
.....
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.....
5
Targ
eted
GD
Es .
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
..8
Lim
itatio
ns o
n U
se...
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.....
15
Usi
ng t
he L
evel
I Fi
eld
Gui
de.
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.....
17
Ski
lls a
nd T
ime
Req
uire
d...
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.19
Whe
n To
Sam
ple
.....
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.....
20
Pre
vent
ing
Dam
age
to S
ites .
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
....2
2
Pre
-Fie
ld S
urve
y A
ctiv
ities
(in
offic
e) ..
......
......
......
......
......
......
....2
3
Site
Info
rmat
ion
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
23
Geo
grap
hic
Info
rmat
ion
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.....
26
Map
pin
g ...
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
..29
Rou
te ..
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
..31
Oth
er In
form
atio
n A
bou
t th
e S
ite ..
......
......
......
......
......
......
.32
Fiel
d S
urve
y A
ctiv
ities
.....
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.....
35
Sur
vey
Info
rmat
ion
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.35
Geo
refe
renc
ing
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.40
Geo
logi
c S
ettin
g ...
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
..42
Imag
es ..
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
48
Unu
sual
Site
s ...
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
52
Veg
etat
ion
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
..52
Soi
l ....
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
...55
Hyd
rolo
gy ..
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.64
Aq
uatic
and
Ter
rest
rial F
auna
.....
......
......
......
......
......
......
...76
Nat
ural
and
Ant
hrop
ogen
ic D
istu
rban
ce ..
......
......
......
......
..77
Man
agem
ent
Ind
icat
or T
ool .
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
....8
2
-
viii
GD
E:
Leve
l IIn
vent
ory
Fiel
d G
uid
e
Pos
t-Fi
eld
Sur
vey
Act
iviti
es (i
n of
fice)
.....
......
......
......
......
......
...10
5
Ob
tain
or
Ver
ify D
ata
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
..10
5
Lab
orat
ory
Ana
lyse
s ....
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.....
105
Imp
lem
ent
Dat
a M
anag
emen
t an
d In
terp
reta
tion
Pro
ced
ures
.....
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
106
Val
idat
e an
d C
onfir
m M
anag
emen
t In
dic
ator
Too
l E
ntrie
s ...
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
...10
6
Ana
lyze
and
Eva
luat
e C
olle
cted
Info
rmat
ion .
......
......
......
.106
Glo
ssar
y ...
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
..10
7
Ref
eren
ces
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.115
Ap
pen
dix
1. O
rder
of D
ata
Col
lect
ion
......
......
......
......
......
......
..11
9
Ap
pen
dix
2. J
ob H
azar
d A
naly
sis
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
..12
1
Ap
pen
dix
3. F
ield
For
ms
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
....1
29
Ap
pen
dix
4. S
ite P
rote
ctio
n G
uid
elin
es...
......
......
......
......
......
...14
1
Ap
pen
dix
5. G
roun
dw
ater
-Dep
end
ent
Eco
logi
cal S
yste
ms
Des
crib
ed in
Nat
ureS
erve
.....
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
...14
3
Ap
pen
dix
6. E
qui
pm
ent
List
.....
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
147
Ap
pen
dix
7. S
econ
dar
y Li
thol
ogy
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
..15
1
Ap
pen
dix
8. L
and
form
.....
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
...16
1
Ap
pen
dix
9. P
lant
Lab
els
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
...16
5
Ap
pen
dix
10.
Mea
sure
men
t of
Dis
char
ge a
t S
prin
gs a
nd
Wet
land
s ...
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
......
.167
Ap
pen
dix
11.
Iden
tifica
tion
of F
resh
wat
er In
vert
ebra
tes
......
...18
1
1G
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
Intr
od
ucti
on
This
Lev
el I
inve
ntor
y fie
ld g
uid
e d
escr
ibes
a n
atio
nal p
roto
col
to s
upp
ly d
ata
used
in p
roje
ct id
entifi
catio
n an
d p
lann
ing.
Dat
a co
llect
ed t
hrou
gh t
his
field
gui
de
serv
e as
the
bas
is fo
r th
e as
-se
ssm
ent
of p
roje
ct a
nd a
ctiv
ity e
ffec
ts o
n, a
nd t
he id
entifi
catio
n of
pro
ject
-lev
el d
esig
n an
d m
itiga
tion
mea
sure
s fo
r, a
sp
ecifi
c se
t of
gro
und
wat
er-d
epen
den
t ec
osys
tem
(GD
E) t
ypes
.
This
Lev
el I
field
gui
de
incl
udes
pro
ced
ures
for
colle
ctin
g a
narr
ower
arr
ay o
f dat
a at
trib
utes
and
less
det
ail f
or s
ome
dat
a at
trib
utes
tha
n th
e co
mp
anio
n Le
vel I
I fiel
d g
uid
e (G
TR-W
O-8
6b).
This
Lev
el I
field
gui
de
is in
tend
ed t
o d
ocum
ent
the
loca
tion,
siz
e,
and
bas
ic c
hara
cter
istic
s of
a s
ite d
urin
g a
rela
tivel
y sh
ort
2-ho
ur
site
vis
it by
a tr
aine
d fie
ld c
rew
. The
Lev
el II
fiel
d gu
ide
is in
tend
ed
to m
ore
com
pre
hens
ivel
y ch
arac
teriz
e th
e ve
geta
tion,
hyd
rolo
gy,
geol
ogy,
and
soi
ls o
f GD
E s
ites
and
typ
ical
ly w
ould
req
uire
4 t
o
8 ho
urs
at t
he fi
eld
site
by
a cr
ew o
f sp
ecia
lists
.
If in
vent
ory
or m
onito
ring
of s
pec
ific
spec
ies
or c
omm
uniti
es is
th
e go
al, t
hen
a m
ore
det
aile
d a
nd/o
r ta
rget
ed s
et o
f met
hod
s sh
ould
be
used
.
Sp
ecifi
c ex
amp
les
of w
hat
this
fiel
d g
uid
e is
des
igne
d t
o b
e us
ed
for
incl
ude
the
follo
win
g:
• D
eter
min
ing
the
loca
tion
and
ext
ent
of G
DE
s w
ithin
an
area
(a
s lo
ng a
s ap
pro
pria
te s
ite s
elec
tion
pro
cess
is u
sed
).
• Q
ualit
ativ
ely
char
acte
rizin
g G
DE
s w
ithin
an
area
(as
long
as
app
rop
riate
site
sel
ectio
n p
roce
ss is
use
d).
• D
eter
min
ing
if G
DE
s m
ay b
e af
fect
ed b
y p
rop
osed
act
ions
or
activ
ities
.
If th
e ob
ject
ive
is t
o m
onito
r ce
rtai
n co
nditi
ons
of a
GD
E, t
hen
it w
ill b
e ne
cess
ary
to d
evel
op a
nd u
se a
mor
e d
etai
led
and
site
-sp
ecifi
c Le
vel I
II p
roto
col.
This
Lev
el I
field
gui
de,
how
ever
, can
b
e us
ed a
s a
star
ting
poi
nt fo
r th
e d
evel
opm
ent
of a
site
-sp
ecifi
c Le
vel I
II p
roto
col t
hat
will
mee
t th
e m
anag
emen
t ne
eds
of a
p
artic
ular
situ
atio
n. A
ssis
tanc
e w
ith t
he d
evel
opm
ent
of L
evel
III
pro
toco
ls is
ava
ilab
le fr
om t
he N
atio
nal G
roun
dw
ater
Tec
hnic
al
Team
.
-
2G
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
Bus
ines
s R
equi
rem
ents
Ad
dre
ssed
b
y T
his
Fiel
d G
uid
eP
ress
ure
on N
atio
nal F
ores
t S
yste
m (N
FS) l
and
s to
sup
ply
the
w
ater
, min
eral
s, a
nd e
nerg
y ne
eded
to
mee
t so
ciet
al n
eed
s is
in
tens
ifyin
g. In
add
ition
, wild
land
fire
man
agem
ent,
haza
rdou
s fu
els
red
uctio
n, in
vasi
ve s
pec
ies
cont
rol,
lives
tock
gra
zing
, min
eral
ex
trac
tion,
roa
d a
nd t
rail
man
agem
ent,
and
eco
logi
cal r
esto
ratio
n ac
tiviti
es a
lso
affe
ct G
DE
s. A
ccur
ate
and
con
sist
ent
info
rmat
ion
rega
rdin
g G
DE
s an
d t
heir
cond
ition
is c
ritic
al t
o m
akin
g d
ecis
ions
ab
out
and
imp
lem
entin
g a
wid
e va
riety
of m
issi
on r
esp
onsi
bili
ties
of t
he F
ores
t S
ervi
ce, a
n ag
ency
of t
he U
.S. D
epar
tmen
t of
Agr
i-cu
lture
(US
DA
). Th
is L
evel
I fie
ld g
uid
e is
des
igne
d t
o co
llect
ac-
cura
te a
nd c
onsi
sten
t in
form
atio
n re
gard
ing
the
loca
tion
of G
DE
s an
d t
heir
cond
ition
. Dat
a co
llect
ed a
re e
ssen
tial t
o in
form
ed
dec
isio
nmak
ing
asso
ciat
ed w
ith t
he a
genc
y’s
mis
sion
res
pon
si-
bili
ties
sup
por
ted
by
bro
ad-
and
mid
-sca
le a
sses
smen
ts a
nd la
nd
and
res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t p
lann
ing.
The
Lev
el II
GD
E fi
eld
gui
de
shou
ld b
e us
ed t
o co
llect
dat
a ne
eded
to
info
rm p
roje
ct-l
evel
d
ecis
ions
and
act
ivity
ad
min
istr
atio
n af
fect
ing
GD
Es.
Eff
ectiv
e re
sour
ce m
anag
emen
t re
qui
res
a cl
ear
und
erst
and
ing
of
the
und
erly
ing
bus
ines
s re
qui
rem
ents
for
pra
ctic
ing
cons
erva
tion.
In
som
e in
stan
ces,
pol
icy
and
dire
ctio
n lim
it m
anag
emen
t’s a
bilit
y to
re
spon
d t
o id
entifi
ed n
eed
s; in
oth
ers,
the
y cr
eate
an
affir
mat
ive
oblig
atio
n fo
r th
e ag
ency
to
take
act
ion
to c
onse
rve
or p
rote
ct
reso
urce
s an
d p
ublic
saf
ety.
Bus
ines
s re
qui
rem
ents
ste
m fr
om
two
prim
ary
sour
ces:
(1) r
egul
ator
y an
d p
olic
y re
qui
rem
ents
, and
(2
) man
agem
ent
que
stio
ns a
nd c
once
rns
asso
ciat
ed w
ith la
nd
and
res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t p
lans
and
ong
oing
or
pro
pos
ed
pro
ject
s/ac
tiviti
es (s
ee t
able
1).
Acr
oss
the
NFS
, leg
al r
equi
rem
ents
and
man
agem
ent
issu
es a
re
high
ly v
aria
ble
, so
it is
diffi
cult
to d
efine
a d
iscr
ete
set
of b
usin
ess
req
uire
men
ts a
pp
licab
le t
o al
l NFS
land
s. In
sev
eral
inst
ance
s,
law
s an
d r
egul
atio
ns p
rovi
de
the
opp
ortu
nity
for
Sta
tes
and
trib
es
to e
stab
lish
add
ition
al r
equi
rem
ents
(the
se c
ould
be
stat
utor
y or
ru
le b
ased
) for
the
pro
tect
ion
of r
esou
rces
ass
ocia
ted
with
GD
Es.
Th
is s
ituat
ion
crea
tes
an e
ven
mor
e co
mp
lex
set
of m
anag
emen
t re
qui
rem
ents
. Thi
s Le
vel I
fiel
d g
uid
e, t
here
fore
, is
des
igne
d t
o al
-lo
w fo
r lo
cal a
dd
ition
s w
ithin
an
esta
blis
hed
nat
iona
l fra
mew
ork.
Info
rmat
ion
used
to
iden
tify
man
agem
ent
req
uire
men
ts w
as
glea
ned
from
the
For
est
Ser
vice
Dire
ctiv
es S
yste
m. F
ores
t S
er-
vice
Man
ual (
FSM
) 288
0 an
d t
he “
zero
cha
pte
rs”
of F
SM
s 19
00,
1940
, and
250
0 w
ere
the
prim
ary
sour
ces
cons
ulte
d.
3G
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
Man
agem
ent
req
uire
men
tsM
anag
emen
t q
uest
ions
• La
ws—
Est
ablis
h Fo
rest
Ser
vice
au
thor
ity a
nd p
roce
dura
l re
quire
men
ts fo
r m
anag
ing
GD
Es.
• R
egul
atio
ns—
Est
ablis
h th
e pr
oces
ses
and
polic
y fo
r co
nduc
ting
land
and
reso
urce
m
anag
emen
t act
iviti
es a
ffect
ing
GD
Es.
• E
xecu
tive
Ord
ers
and
P
resi
den
tial D
irect
ives
—S
peci
fy
proc
edur
es a
nd re
quire
men
ts
appl
icab
le to
all
Gov
ernm
ent
agen
cies
for
the
man
agem
ent
and
prot
ectio
n of
GD
Es
and
asso
ciat
ed re
sour
ces.
• D
epar
tmen
tal p
olic
y—E
stab
lishe
s pr
oced
ures
and
po
licie
s fo
r U
SD
A a
genc
ies
resp
onsi
ble
for
or p
oten
tially
af
fect
ing
GD
E re
sour
ces.
• A
genc
y p
olic
y—Es
tabl
ishe
s ag
ency
-spe
cific
pro
cedu
res
for
regu
lato
ry re
quire
men
ts if
not
ad
dres
sed
dire
ctly
thro
ugh
othe
r m
eans
.
Tab
le 1
.—B
usin
ess
req
uire
men
t so
urce
s. • L
and
man
agem
ent
pla
ns—
Est
ablis
h de
sire
d ou
tcom
es
(goa
ls a
nd o
bjec
tives
), st
anda
rds
and
guid
elin
es, a
nd m
onito
ring
requ
irem
ents
. Pla
ns in
clud
e:
�E
colo
gic
al c
ont
ext—
Are
ec
olog
ical
sys
tem
s fu
nctio
ning
an
d di
stur
banc
e pr
oces
ses
oper
atin
g w
ithin
the
natu
ral o
r de
sire
d ra
nge
of v
aria
tion?
Are
hu
man
pre
ssur
es o
r ch
ange
s in
eco
logi
cal s
yste
ms
indu
cing
ch
ange
s to
the
ecol
ogic
al
cont
ext i
n w
hich
spe
cies
re
side
?
�S
pec
ies
cont
ext—
Are
hab
itat
rela
tions
hips
or
ecol
ogic
al
fact
ors
affe
cted
by
man
age-
men
t cre
atin
g ris
k to
spe
cies
pe
rsis
tenc
e?
• R
eso
urce
or
area
pla
ns—
Refi
ne in
terp
reta
tions
and
re
quire
men
ts fo
r sp
ecifi
c re
sour
ces
or a
reas
.
• M
oni
tori
ng—
Incl
udes
:
�Im
ple
men
tatio
n—A
re
proj
ects
and
act
iviti
es b
eing
im
plem
ente
d as
des
igne
d?
�E
ffec
tiven
ess—
Are
miti
gatio
n m
easu
res,
bes
t pra
ctic
es,
and
desi
gn fe
atur
es e
ffect
ive
in m
itiga
ting
antic
ipat
ed
impa
cts?
�Va
lidat
ion—
Are
con
serv
atio
n ac
tions
ach
ievi
ng d
esire
d ou
tcom
es?
-
4G
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
Man
agem
ent
req
uire
men
ts a
pp
licab
le t
o in
vent
ory
and
mon
itor-
ing
of G
DE
s fa
ll in
to t
hree
gro
ups:
1. G
DE
res
our
ce m
anag
emen
t—Th
e im
por
tanc
e of
GD
Es,
and
th
eir
abili
ty t
o su
stai
n b
oth
ecol
ogic
al s
yste
ms
and
sp
ecie
s d
epen
den
t on
gro
und
wat
er r
esou
rces
, is
evid
ent
in m
ost
natio
nal f
ores
ts a
nd g
rass
land
s. T
he c
olle
ctio
n of
req
uire
-m
ents
rel
ated
to
the
man
agem
ent
of w
ater
and
wat
er u
ses,
an
d t
he c
onse
rvat
ion
of t
hrea
tene
d, e
ndan
gere
d, a
nd s
ensi
-tiv
e sp
ecie
s th
at r
ely
upon
the
se a
reas
, is
furt
her
evid
ence
of
thei
r im
por
tanc
e. P
rote
ctio
n, c
onse
rvat
ion,
and
res
tora
tion
of
GD
Es
are
ofte
n ke
y as
pec
ts o
f dec
isio
nmak
ing
on N
FS la
nds
and
a fo
und
atio
n fo
r m
any
land
man
agem
ent
pla
ns. I
nven
tory
an
d m
onito
ring
of G
DE
s ar
e d
escr
ibed
in F
SM
288
0.
Bec
ause
of t
he S
tate
-by-
Sta
te v
aria
bili
ty a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith
wat
er r
ight
s an
d u
ses
with
in t
he N
FS, n
o at
tem
pt
has
bee
n m
ade
to s
umm
ariz
e su
ch r
equi
rem
ents
tha
t ap
ply
bel
ow t
he
natio
nal l
evel
as
par
t of
thi
s ef
fort
. Rea
der
s ar
e en
cour
aged
to
cons
ult
FSM
254
0 an
d a
pp
rop
riate
reg
iona
l and
fore
st s
upp
le-
men
ts t
o th
at c
hap
ter
to r
evie
w t
hose
req
uire
men
ts.
2. P
lann
ing
and
env
iro
nmen
tal c
om
plia
nce—
Pol
icy
and
p
roce
dur
es fo
r la
nd m
anag
emen
t p
lann
ing
and
env
ironm
enta
l co
mp
lianc
e ac
tiviti
es a
re o
utlin
ed in
FS
M 1
920
and
195
0,
resp
ectiv
ely.
Dep
end
ing
on t
he “
vint
age”
of t
he la
nd a
nd
reso
urce
man
agem
ent
pla
n fo
r an
NFS
ad
min
istr
ativ
e un
it,
diff
eren
t re
qui
rem
ents
ap
ply
. Fie
ld u
sers
are
enc
oura
ged
to
cons
ult
thei
r ap
pro
pria
te la
nd m
anag
emen
t p
lans
and
the
N
atio
nal E
nviro
nmen
tal P
olic
y A
ct (N
EP
A) d
ecis
ion
doc
umen
ts
asso
ciat
ed w
ith in
div
idua
l use
s, a
ctiv
ities
, and
aut
horiz
atio
ns
to d
eter
min
e sp
ecifi
c d
esig
n an
d m
onito
ring
req
uire
men
ts.
3. R
eso
urce
info
rmat
ion
man
agem
ent—
Fore
st S
ervi
ce N
atur
al
Res
ourc
e M
anag
er (N
RM
) res
ourc
e in
form
atio
n sy
stem
s,
such
as
NR
M-N
atur
al R
esou
rce
Info
rmat
ion
Sys
tem
(NR
IS),
NR
M-I
nfra
stru
ctur
e (IN
FRA
), an
d N
RM
-Aut
omat
ed L
and
s P
rogr
am (A
LP),
pro
vid
e ag
ency
wid
e d
ata
syst
ems
that
com
ply
w
ith d
epar
tmen
tal a
nd a
genc
y re
qui
rem
ents
. NR
M a
pp
lica-
tions
mus
t b
e us
ed t
o st
ore
GD
E d
ata
colle
cted
und
er t
his
Leve
l I fi
eld
gui
de.
NR
M a
pp
licat
ions
als
o p
rovi
de
stan
dar
d
anal
ysis
and
eva
luat
ion
tool
s su
pp
orte
d b
y th
e d
ata
colle
ctio
n m
etho
ds
des
crib
ed in
thi
s fie
ld g
uid
e.
5G
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
Man
agem
ent
req
uire
men
ts a
pp
licab
le t
o G
DE
inve
ntor
y an
d
mon
itorin
g ca
n b
e su
mm
ariz
ed in
to t
he fo
llow
ing
gene
ral p
oint
s:
• S
upp
ort
an a
ffirm
ativ
e ag
ency
ob
ligat
ion
to p
rote
ct, c
on-
serv
e, a
nd r
esto
re w
ater
s, w
ater
shed
s, a
nd li
sted
wild
life
and
p
lant
sp
ecie
s an
d t
heir
hab
itats
, and
to
cons
erve
bio
logi
cal
div
ersi
ty.
• A
sses
s an
d d
iscl
ose
env
iro
nmen
tal e
ffec
ts a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith
ongo
ing
and
pro
pos
ed a
ctio
ns a
nd a
ctiv
ities
, inc
lud
ing
usin
g m
onito
ring
dat
a to
iden
tify
need
ed a
dju
stm
ents
to
man
age-
men
t p
ract
ices
.
• U
se t
he b
est
avai
lab
le in
form
atio
n an
d s
cien
ce t
o su
pp
ort
agen
cy d
ecis
ionm
akin
g. C
olle
ct a
nd m
aint
ain
reso
urce
dat
a w
ith k
now
n d
ata
stan
dar
ds
and
dat
a q
ualit
y fo
r us
e in
age
ncy
dec
isio
nmak
ing
pro
cess
es. P
rovi
de
for
info
rmat
ion
secu
rity.
A d
etai
led
rev
iew
of m
ore
than
100
sta
tute
s an
d p
olic
ies
that
es
tab
lish
man
agem
ent
req
uire
men
ts a
dd
ress
ed b
y th
is e
ffor
t is
d
ocum
ente
d in
Gro
und
wat
er D
epen
den
t E
cosy
stem
s In
vent
ory
and
Mon
itorin
g B
usin
ess
Req
uire
men
ts A
naly
sis
(v5.
2, J
anua
ry
30, 2
010)
and
is a
vaila
ble
for
revi
ew a
t ht
tp:/
/ww
w.fs
.fed
.us/
geol
ogy/
grou
ndw
ater
.htm
l.
Rel
atio
nshi
ps
Bet
wee
n B
usin
ess
Req
uire
men
ts
and
Fie
ld G
uid
e Le
vels
Bec
ause
of t
he v
arie
ty o
f situ
atio
ns e
ncou
nter
ed o
n N
FS la
nds,
it
is e
ssen
tial t
o d
evel
op a
fiel
d g
uid
e “p
acka
ge”
cons
istin
g of
in-
tegr
ated
mod
ules
or
com
pon
ents
tha
t ca
n b
e m
atch
ed t
o a
loca
l un
it’s
bus
ines
s re
qui
rem
ents
and
nee
ds.
Usi
ng d
iffer
ent
inve
ntor
y an
d m
onito
ring
“int
ensi
ty le
vels
,” w
hich
her
ein
corr
esp
ond
to
field
gui
de
leve
ls, s
upp
orts
thi
s fu
nctio
nalit
y.
A r
elat
ions
hip
exi
sts
bet
wee
n th
e ty
pes
of m
anag
emen
t re
qui
re-
men
ts a
nd q
uest
ions
bei
ng a
dd
ress
ed a
nd t
he d
ata
need
ed t
o ad
dre
ss t
hose
que
stio
ns. T
he a
mou
nt o
f eff
ort
or “
inte
nsity
” of
in
vent
ory
and
mon
itorin
g ca
n b
e ca
tego
rized
into
thr
ee le
vels
. Ta
ble
2 d
escr
ibes
the
leve
l of e
ffor
t an
d fo
cus
of t
hese
leve
ls.
-
6G
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
Inve
nto
ry a
nd
mo
nito
ring
in
tens
ity
leve
lD
escr
ipti
on
Leve
l IC
ondu
cted
to c
hara
cter
ize
GD
Es
qual
itativ
ely
with
in a
n ad
min
istr
ativ
e un
it or
man
agem
ent a
rea.
GD
E lo
catio
n an
d e
xten
t ar
e sp
atia
lly r
efer
ence
d. S
erve
s as
the
basi
s fo
r de
term
inin
g w
hen
GD
Es
may
be
affe
cted
by
prop
osed
act
ions
or
activ
ities
or
land
scap
e sc
ale
chan
ge.
Leve
l II
Ser
ves
as th
e fo
unda
tion
for
asse
ssm
ent
of
pro
ject
and
ac
tivity
eff
ects
and
iden
tifica
tion
of
des
ign
mea
sure
s.
Des
crib
es m
ajor
att
ribut
es in
clud
ing
the
follo
win
g:
hydr
ogeo
logi
c se
ttin
g, a
quat
ic h
abita
t, aq
uatic
and
w
etla
nd fl
ora
and
faun
a, a
nd s
ite-a
ffect
ing
dist
urba
nces
. C
an b
e us
ed to
det
erm
ine
ecol
ogic
al s
igni
fican
ce o
f the
G
DE
and
ass
ocia
ted
reso
urce
s. C
an a
lso
be u
sed
as a
fo
unda
tion
for
desi
gnin
g a
long
-ter
m m
onito
ring
plan
.
Leve
l III
Usu
ally
con
duct
ed in
rela
tion
to m
onito
ring
a m
ajor
ac
tivity
or
set o
f act
iviti
es a
ffect
ing
GD
Es
and
thei
r ch
arac
teris
tics.
Com
pile
s hi
ghly
qua
ntita
tive
info
rmat
ion
that
des
crib
es s
patia
l and
tem
pora
l var
iatio
n in
phy
s-io
chem
ical
cha
ract
eris
tics
of G
DE
s. O
ften
used
in t
he
adm
inis
trat
ion
of
pro
ject
s o
r ac
tiviti
es a
nd, t
here
fore
, is
hig
hly
site
spe
cific
.
Tab
le 2
.—D
escr
iptio
ns o
f GD
E in
vent
ory
and
mon
itorin
g in
tens
ity le
vels
.
To p
rovi
de
flexi
bili
ty a
nd e
nsur
e ap
pro
pria
te u
se o
f the
GD
E fi
eld
gu
ides
, the
rel
atio
nshi
p b
etw
een
bus
ines
s re
qui
rem
ents
(why
d
ata
are
colle
cted
) and
inve
ntor
y an
d m
onito
ring
field
gui
des
(h
ow d
ata
are
colle
cted
) mus
t b
e cl
early
des
crib
ed a
nd u
nder
-st
ood
. The
rel
atio
nshi
p b
etw
een
bus
ines
s re
qui
rem
ents
and
GD
E
inve
ntor
y an
d m
onito
ring
field
gui
de
(inte
nsity
) lev
els
is il
lust
rate
d
in fi
gure
1.
The
num
ber
of m
anag
emen
t q
uest
ions
con
sid
ered
and
the
leve
l of
det
ail n
eed
ed t
o ad
dre
ss t
hese
que
stio
ns in
crea
ses
with
the
in
vent
ory
and
mon
itorin
g in
tens
ity le
vel.
Eac
h of
the
box
es in
fig
ure
1 re
pre
sent
s a
grou
pin
g of
man
agem
ent
req
uire
men
ts. T
he
leve
l of d
etai
l and
res
olut
ion
for
dat
a el
emen
ts n
eed
ed t
o su
pp
ort
the
bus
ines
s re
qui
rem
ents
incr
ease
s fr
om L
evel
I to
Lev
el II
I. Fo
r ex
amp
le, t
he t
ypes
of i
nfor
mat
ion
colle
cted
in L
evel
I fo
r ve
geta
-tio
n w
ould
be
mor
e ge
nera
l tha
n th
ose
colle
cted
in L
evel
II, w
hich
w
ould
like
ly b
e m
ore
gene
ral t
han
thos
e co
llect
ed in
Lev
el II
I, d
epen
din
g on
the
par
ticul
ar m
anag
emen
t re
qui
rem
ents
for
whi
ch
7G
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
Figure 1.—General relationships between GDE business requirements and field guide levels.
the
Leve
l III
pro
toco
l was
dev
elop
ed. S
pec
ific
man
agem
ent
q
uest
ions
hav
e b
een
iden
tified
and
ass
ocia
ted
with
bus
ines
s re
qui
rem
ents
as
par
t of t
he G
DE
Bus
ines
s R
equi
rem
ents
Ana
lysi
s.
-
8G
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
Tar
get
ed G
DE
s
Alth
ough
man
y d
iffer
ent
typ
es o
f GD
Es
exis
t, n
ot a
ll ar
e ta
rget
ed
for
this
fiel
d g
uid
e. G
DE
s ar
e ec
osys
tem
s th
at a
re s
upp
orte
d b
y
grou
ndw
ater
, whi
ch in
clud
e sp
rings
and
see
ps,
cav
e an
d k
arst
sy
stem
s, p
hrea
top
hytic
eco
syst
ems,
and
, in
man
y ca
ses,
riv
ers,
w
etla
nds,
and
lake
s. T
his
field
gui
de w
as d
evel
oped
to fo
cus
on a
su
bset
of n
onm
arin
e G
DE
s, s
peci
fical
ly s
prin
gs a
nd g
roun
dwat
er-
dep
end
ent
wet
land
s (s
uch
as fe
ns) a
s ill
ustr
ated
in fi
gure
2.
Figure 2.—Diagram of GDE types, with the highlighted types (in box on left) representing those for which this field guide was designed.
9G
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
Alth
ough
thi
s fie
ld g
uid
e is
not
inte
nded
sp
ecifi
cally
for
othe
r ty
pes
of G
DE
s (la
kes
and
pon
ds,
str
eam
s an
d h
ypor
heic
zon
es,
ripar
ian
area
s, p
hrea
top
hytic
sys
tem
s, o
r m
arin
e sy
stem
s), p
arts
of
thi
s fie
ld g
uid
e co
uld
be
used
to
inve
ntor
y or
mon
itor
thes
e sy
stem
s as
wel
l.
In g
ener
al, w
here
gro
und
wat
er in
ters
ects
the
gro
und
sur
face
, p
lant
s an
d a
nim
als
that
are
sup
por
ted
by
acce
ss t
o th
at
grou
ndw
ater
will
occ
ur, h
ence
the
ter
m “
grou
ndw
ater
-dep
end
ent
ecos
yste
ms.
” In
som
e ca
ses,
gro
und
wat
er e
mer
ges
at a
poi
nt
loca
tion,
usu
ally
cal
led
a s
prin
g or
see
p, d
epen
din
g on
the
q
uant
ity o
f wat
er a
vaila
ble
. Her
ein
the
term
“sp
ring”
will
be
used
to
incl
ude
bot
h sp
rings
and
see
ps.
Sp
rings
are
alw
ays
GD
Es.
In
the
case
of w
etla
nds
sup
por
ted
by
grou
ndw
ater
, oft
en t
here
is
not
a si
ngle
poi
nt w
here
the
gro
und
wat
er fl
ows
or e
mer
ges
at
the
surf
ace;
rat
her,
it u
sual
ly e
mer
ges
in a
mor
e d
iffus
e m
anne
r ac
ross
a la
rge
area
. In
som
e w
etla
nds,
how
ever
, sp
rings
em
erge
w
ithin
the
wet
land
, or
a co
mp
lex
of w
etla
nds
and
sp
rings
is
pre
sent
acr
oss
an a
rea.
In m
any
case
s, g
roun
dw
ater
-dep
end
ent
wet
land
s, s
uch
as fe
ns, a
re s
imp
ly s
prin
gs c
over
ed b
y un
cons
oli-
dat
ed m
ater
ial (
such
as
glac
ial d
epos
its, p
umic
e, c
ollu
vium
) tha
t b
ecom
e sa
tura
ted
to
the
surf
ace.
Bec
ause
an
ind
istin
ct b
ound
ary
exis
ts b
etw
een
sprin
gs a
nd w
etla
nds
dep
end
ent
on g
roun
dw
ater
d
isch
arge
, a s
ingl
e fie
ld g
uid
e w
as d
evel
oped
for
thes
e sy
stem
s.
Gro
und
wat
er e
mer
ging
at
the
grou
nd s
urfa
ce is
the
com
mon
th
read
tha
t lin
ks t
hese
feat
ures
and
the
ir as
soci
ated
eco
syst
ems.
It is
imp
orta
nt t
o re
cogn
ize
that
som
e w
etla
nds
are
not
sup
por
ted
b
y gr
ound
wat
er, b
ut a
re fo
rmed
from
wat
er t
hat
orig
inat
es e
x -
clus
ivel
y fr
om p
reci
pita
tion
and
ass
ocia
ted
sur
face
run
off.
Suc
h w
etla
nds
are
calle
d “
omb
roge
nous
” hy
dro
logi
cal s
yste
ms
(Na-
tiona
l Wet
land
s W
orki
ng G
roup
199
7). T
he m
eani
ng o
f the
ter
m
omb
roge
nous
is “
rain
fed
” ac
cord
ing
to M
itsch
and
Gos
selin
k (2
007)
. Om
bro
geno
us w
etla
nds
are
not
the
focu
s of
thi
s fie
ld
guid
e, a
lthou
gh t
he fi
eld
gui
de
may
hav
e co
mp
onen
ts t
hat
coul
d
be
used
to
eval
uate
om
bro
geno
us w
etla
nds.
This
fiel
d g
uid
e is
inte
nded
for
thos
e w
etla
nds
that
are
sup
por
ted
b
y gr
ound
wat
er t
hat
has
com
e in
con
tact
with
min
eral
soi
ls o
r b
edro
ck. S
uch
wet
land
s ar
e ca
lled
“m
iner
ogen
ous”
hyd
rolo
gica
l sy
stem
s (N
atio
nal W
etla
nds
Wor
king
Gro
up 1
997)
or
“min
erot
ro-
phi
c p
eatla
nds”
(Mits
ch a
nd G
osse
link
2007
). M
iner
ogen
ous
wet
-la
nd s
yste
ms
are
norm
ally
situ
ated
at
pos
ition
s in
the
land
scap
e lo
wer
tha
n ad
jace
nt t
erra
in, s
uch
that
wat
er a
nd t
rans
por
ted
m
iner
al e
lem
ents
are
intr
oduc
ed b
y gr
ound
wat
er.
-
10G
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
Min
erog
enou
s hy
dro
logi
cal s
yste
ms
have
a s
tron
g lin
kage
with
th
e p
hysi
cal a
nd c
hem
ical
nat
ure
of t
he g
eolo
gica
l env
iron-
men
t an
d g
ener
ally
invo
lve
the
regi
onal
gro
und
wat
er s
yste
m.
They
are
not
res
tric
ted
by
loca
l clim
atic
con
diti
ons
bec
ause
th
e gr
ound
wat
er s
ourc
e is
gen
eral
ly s
uffic
ient
to
mai
ntai
n so
il sa
tura
tion
and
, the
refo
re, w
etla
nd p
roce
sses
. By
cont
rast
, om
bro
geno
us h
ydro
logi
cal s
yste
ms
(or
omb
rotr
ophi
c p
eatla
nds,
as
des
crib
ed b
y M
itsch
and
Gos
selin
k (2
007)
) are
not
dep
end
ent
on g
roun
dw
ater
and
are
hig
hly
rest
ricte
d g
eogr
aphi
cally
bec
ause
of
loca
l clim
atic
con
diti
ons.
In a
rid a
nd s
emia
rid r
egio
ns, m
any
wet
land
s ar
e su
pp
orte
d b
y gr
ound
wat
er. I
n hu
mid
reg
ions
, d
istin
ctio
n of
gro
und
wat
er s
upp
ort
of w
etla
nds
bec
omes
mor
e d
ifficu
lt. N
ever
thel
ess,
man
y w
etla
nds
in h
umid
reg
ions
are
hig
hly
grou
ndw
ater
dep
end
ent.
Bec
ause
it is
not
alw
ays
easy
to
verif
y a
wet
land
’s d
epen
den
ce
on g
roun
dw
ater
, a s
ite-s
pec
ific
asse
ssm
ent
is n
eces
sary
. One
so
urce
of i
nfor
mat
ion
to h
elp
det
erm
ine
grou
ndw
ater
dep
en-
den
ce is
a p
ublic
atio
n b
y Th
e N
atur
e C
onse
rvan
cy (B
row
n et
al.
2007
), w
hich
incl
udes
dec
isio
n tr
ees
for
det
erm
inin
g gr
ound
wat
er
dep
end
ence
, suc
h as
the
one
for
wet
land
s, w
hich
is a
dap
ted
for
this
Lev
el I
field
gui
de
in b
ox 1
.
In s
umm
ary,
thi
s Le
vel I
fiel
d g
uid
e is
inte
nded
for
the
inve
ntor
y an
d m
onito
ring
of a
sub
set
of G
DE
s, s
pec
ifica
lly s
prin
gs a
nd
grou
ndw
ater
-dep
end
ent
wet
land
s (d
escr
ibed
in t
able
3).
The
prim
ary
bas
is fo
r d
eter
min
ing
whi
ch s
yste
ms
to in
clud
e in
the
G
DE
fiel
d gu
ide
is h
ydro
logy
, spe
cific
ally
the
prim
ary
wat
er s
ourc
e.
This
fiel
d g
uid
e p
rovi
des
a v
ery
gene
ral c
lass
ifica
tion
of w
etla
nds
to in
dica
te w
hich
type
s of
wet
land
s ar
e co
vere
d (fi
g. 2
and
tabl
e 3)
.
11G
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
Bo
x 1
Dec
isio
n T
ree
for
Iden
tifyi
ng G
roun
dw
ater
-Dep
end
ent
Wet
land
s(b
ased
on
Bro
wn
et a
l. 20
07, w
ith m
odifi
catio
ns fo
r th
is fi
eld
guid
e)
Ans
wer
the
ques
tions
in s
eque
nce.
A b
old
ans
wer
indi
cate
s lik
ely
grou
nd-
wat
er d
epen
denc
e, a
nd s
ubse
quen
t que
stio
ns n
eed
not b
e an
swer
ed.
1.
Is th
e w
etla
nd s
easo
nal?
Yes
—Lo
w li
kelih
ood
of g
roun
dwat
er d
epen
denc
eN
o—G
o to
nex
t que
stio
n
2.
Doe
s th
e w
etla
nd o
ccur
in o
ne o
f the
se la
ndsc
ape
sett
ings
: (a
) slo
pe b
reak
, (b)
inte
rsec
tion
of a
con
fined
aqu
ifer
with
a s
lope
, (c
) str
atig
raph
ic c
hang
e, o
r (d
) alo
ng a
faul
t?Y
es—
Hig
h lik
elih
oo
d o
f g
roun
dw
ater
dep
end
ence
No—
Go
to n
ext q
uest
ion
3.
Is th
e w
etla
nd a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith a
spr
ing
or s
eep?
Yes
—H
igh
likel
iho
od
of
gro
und
wat
er d
epen
den
ceN
o—G
o to
nex
t que
stio
n
4.
Doe
s th
e w
etla
nd h
ave
sign
s of
sur
face
inflo
w?
No
—H
igh
likel
iho
od
of
gro
und
wat
er d
epen
den
ceY
es—
Go
to n
ext q
uest
ion
5.
Are
the
wet
land
soi
ls o
rgan
ic, m
uck,
or
peat
?Y
es—
Hig
h lik
elih
oo
d o
f g
roun
dw
ater
dep
end
ence
No—
Go
to n
ext q
uest
ion
6.
Is th
e w
etla
nd s
atur
ated
eve
n af
ter
surfa
ce in
puts
bec
ome
dry
and
durin
g ex
tend
ed p
erio
ds w
ith n
o pr
ecip
itatio
n?Y
es— A
re th
e w
etla
nd s
oils
cla
y, h
ardp
an, o
r im
perm
eabl
e?N
o—
Hig
h lik
elih
oo
d o
f g
roun
dw
ater
dep
end
ence
Yes
—Lo
w li
kelih
ood
of g
roun
dwat
er d
epen
denc
eN
o—Lo
w li
kelih
ood
of g
roun
dwat
er d
epen
denc
e
-
12G
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
CharacteristicsSpringsPeatlands, including fens (groundwater dependent)
Other wetlands (groundwater dependent)
HydrologyCompletely groundwater dependent
Minerotrophic; always groundwater dependent
Minerotrophic; depend on groundwater, precipitation, and sometimes stream inflow
Water table positionAt ground surface or, for artesian, a piezometric surface above the ground surface
At or slightly below surface, or piezometric surface above the ground
Above or below ground surface; can fluctuate dramatically; can have periodic standing water
Soils and peat or muck depths
Mostly mineral soils; sometimes a small accumulation of peat
Accumulation of peat or muck up to several meters; little or no mineral soil within plant-rooting zone for fens
Usually little or no peat or muck accumulation; sometimes wood-rich peat
Redox conditionsaOxic to anoxic depending on geochemistry and residence time of water in aquifer
Anoxic slightly below the surface, leading to the accumulation of peat or muck
Temporary soil anoxia during times of high water table or standing water
Water movement within GDEs
Standing or flowing waterSlow to imperceptible flow on surface
Periodic standing or flowing water
Table 3.—Important GDE characteristics and the GDE types covered by this field guide.
a Redox (short for REDuction-OXidation) conditions describe a key chemical characteristic in hydrologic systems that controls the availability of many elements and the propensity of the system to support the accumulation of organic matter, such as peat and muck. At the ground surface, redox conditions are often controlled by the availability of oxygen.
13G
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
CharacteristicsSpringsPeatlands, including fens (groundwater dependent)
Other wetlands (groundwater dependent)
Table 3.—Important GDE characteristics and the GDE types covered by this field guide. (continued)
Water chemistryHighly variable; from acidic to basic, temperatures vary, can be thermal, can be saline
Minerotrophic, acidic (poor fens) to basic (rich fens); can be iron rich or calcareous
Highly variable, from acidic to basic
VegetationGraminoids, forbs, shrubs, bryophytes, and trees; variable amount of wetland vegetation
Bryophytes, graminoids, and low shrubs; lichens; sometimes trees; always wetland vegetation
Tall woody plants and forbs (swamps) or emergent graminoids and floating aquatic macrophytes (marshes); mostly wetland vegetation
-
14G
DE
: Le
vel I
Inve
ntor
y Fi
eld
Gui
de
Sp
rin
gs
Sp
rings
are
GD
Es
whe
re g
roun
dw
ater
dis
char
ges
at t
he g
roun
d
surf
ace,
oft
en t
hrou
gh c
omp
lex
sub
surf
ace
flow
pat
hs (S
teve
ns
and
Mer
etsk
y 20
08).
Whe
re a
sp
ring
emer
ges
from
the
gro
und
, th
ere
are
com
mun
ities
of p
lant
s an
d a
nim
als
that
dep
end
on
that
w
ater
. The
re a
re m
any
diff
eren
t ty
pes
of s
prin
gs. S
prin
g-ty
pe
des
crip
tions
in t
his
field
gui
de
are
from
Sp
ringe
r an
d S
teve
ns
(200
9). M
ost
sprin
g ty
pes
—su
ch a
s ou
tflow
s fr
om c
aves
, hel
o-cr
enes
, hyp
ocre
nes,
hill
slop
e sp
rings
, lim
nocr
enes
, fou
ntai
ns,
and
rhe
ocre
nes—
can
be
char
acte
rized
usi
ng t
his
field
gui
de.
Wet
lan
ds
Dep
end
ent
on G
rou
nd
wat
er (i
ncl
ud
ing
p
eatl
and
s)Th
e Le
vel I
fiel
d g
uid
e re
cogn
izes
tha
t a
varie
ty o
f wet
land
typ
es
are
dep
end
ent
on g
roun
dw
ater
, with
man
y d
iffer
ent
regi
onal
ch
arac
teris
tics,
cla
ssifi
catio
ns, a
nd n
ames
. It
also
affi
rms
that
gr
ound
wat
er d
epen
den
ce s
pan
s a
cont
inuu
m fr
om c
omp
lete
ly
grou
ndw
ater
dep
end
ent
to n
ot d
epen
den
t, w
ith v
aryi
ng le
vels
of
dep
end
ence
bet
wee
n th
ese
end
mem
ber
s. In
thi
s fie
ld g
uid
e,
how
ever
, the
re is
no
need
to
dis
tingu
ish
amon
g th
ese
diff
eren
t ty
pes
of g
roun
dw
ater
-dep
end
ent
wet
land
s. F
or t
he p
urp
oses
of
thi
s sa
mp
ling
field
gui
de,
all
are
cons
ider
ed G
DE
wet
land
s,
incl
udin
g fe
ns, m
arsh
es, s
wam
ps,
wet
mea
dow
s, a
nd d
epre
s-si
onal
wet
land
s.
This
fiel
d g
uid
e, h
owev
er, d
oes
dis
tingu
ish
in s
ome
way
s b
etw
een
fens
(i.e
., w
etla
nds
that
hav
e ac
cum
ulat
ions
of p
eat
or m
uck)
and
gro
und
wat
er-d
epen
den
t w
etla
nds
that
do
not
have
pea
t or
muc
k ac
cum
ulat
ions
. Pea
t an
d m
uck
are
par
tially
d
ecay
ed p
lant
mat
eria
l tha
t ac
cum
ulat
es u
nder
sat
urat
ed c
ond
i-tio
ns w
here
the
re is
litt
le o
xyge
n to
faci
litat
e d
ecom
pos
ition
.
Som
e na
mes
for
wet
land
typ
es a
pp
ly b
oth
to s
ites
dep
end
ent
on g
roun
dw
ater
and
to
othe
rs t
hat
are
mai
ntai
ned
by
surf
ace
wat
er. T
he s
urfa
ce-w
ater
sup
por
ted
wet
