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w, ERC West Farm Pit Expansion Project Site <br /> Aquatic Resource Delineation Report <br /> 3.0 METHODOLOGY <br /> The aquatic resource delineation was conducted following the methodology enumerated in the 1987 Corps of <br /> Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual and the Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland <br /> Delineation Manual: Great Plains Region (Version 2.0) (herein referred to as "Supplement") (Environmental <br /> Laboratory 1987, USACE 2010). During the field inspection, dominant vegetation was recorded, representative <br /> hydrologic indicators were noted,and soil samples were examined for hydric indicators. Delineation field work for <br /> the survey area was completed on November 5, 2020. At the time of the field evaluation, circumstances were <br /> normal and hydraulic conditions were typical for the time of year the wetland determination was conducted. <br /> The USACE and the Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) jointly define wetlands as: "those areas that are <br /> inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and under <br /> normal circumstances do support,a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions" <br /> [40 CFR 230.3(t)].Three general environmental parameters define a wetland. These parameters must include the <br /> presence of hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils,and wetland hydrology. Except under certain situations,evidence <br /> of a minimum of one positive wetland indicator from each of the above parameters must be identified in order to <br /> make a positive wetland determination. <br /> In addition, waters of the U.S. are also defined as areas that "include essentially all surface waters such as rivers, <br /> streams and their tributaries, all wetlands adjacent to these waters, and all ponds, lakes and reservoirs' The <br /> boundaries of some waters of the U.S. (i.e., such as streams or lakes) are further defined by the ordinary high- <br /> water mark (OHWM). The OHWM is characterized as "the line on the shores established by the fluctuations of <br /> water and indicated by physical characteristics such as: a clear natural line impressed on the bank, shelving, <br /> changes in the character of the soil, wetland vegetation, the presence of litter and debris, and other appropriate <br /> means that consider the characteristics of the surrounding areas"(USACE 2005).These definitions are the basis of <br /> this delineation method. <br /> Areas that do not meet any one of the wetland parameters (hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils and/or wetland <br /> hydrology) or non-vegetated stream channel/open water(OHWM) were classified as a non-wetland (upland) and <br /> mapped as such. <br /> Any area determined to be potential waters of the U.S. was delineated in the field with pink pin flags and ribbon <br /> identified with 'WETLAND BOUNDARY' printed on it and sequentially labeled alpha-numerically(i.e.Al,A2...). <br /> Each wetland determination point was recorded using a hand-held Trimble GeoXH global positioning system (GPS) <br /> receiver. The resulting GPS data were post processed using GPS Pathfinder Office 5.85 software. Post processing <br /> differential correction provided an average horizontal mapping accuracy of+/- 2 feet. Post-processed GPS data <br /> were imported into ArcMap Geographic Information Systems(GIS) (Version 10.6)for spatial analysis and mapping. <br /> All aquatic resources delineated within the survey area are depicted on the Aquatic Resource Delineation Map <br /> (Appendix A).Wetland Determination data sheets are provided in Appendix B. <br /> 4 <br />