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<br />U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District <br />Colorado/Gunnison Basin Regulatory Office <br />402 Rood Avenue, Room 142 <br />Grand Junction, Colorado 81501-2563 <br />November 8, 2002 <br />WETLANDS DELINEATION CONSULTANTS <br />Increasingly, potential applicants for Department of the Army permits are hiring environmental <br />consultants to do wetlands determinations and delineations for them. In addition, because of Federal <br />budgetary and work force constraints, we are requesting that many potential applicants have wetlands <br />delineations done by consultants. Under existing constraints, the Corps of Engineers will field verify as <br />many wetlands delineations as possible. we recommend that wetlands delineations performed by consultants be <br />submitted for review and verification at teas[ one month in advance of a submittal of a Department of the <br />Army permit application. - - -- ~ --- -- - _- --- -- - <br />Alt wetlands delineations will be reviewed to insure compliance with the methodology contained in <br />the Corps of Engineers wetlands Delineation Manual dated January 1987 and that sufficient information is <br />provided to justify the wetlands/upland boundaries as shown on the delineation map(s). To obtain a <br />jurisdictional determination letter from the western Colorado Regulatory Office, aLL consultant-prepared <br />wetlands delineations shall contain: <br />i. A wetlands delineation map depicting a point-to-point survey of the wetlands boundary <br />as flagged by the consultant in the field. The consultant should review the survey for accuracy before <br />submittal to this office. we prefer topographic maps with contour intervals of one or two feet and at a <br />scale of 1 inch equals 100 feet. However, these specifications may vary depending upon the scope of the <br />delineation and the nature of the project. In certain situations, a point-to-point survey of the wetlands <br />boundary may not be required. However, the boundary must be reproducible in some manner. The consultant <br />should contact this office for approval before submitting a delineation without a point-to-point survey. [n <br />all cases, the wet Lands boundary must be marked with survey flagging or stakes in the field before this <br />office will conduct a site inspection to verify the tleLineaticn. The flags or stakes must be sequentially <br />numbered and those numbers shall appear on the survey for each point; .~ <br />2. The type(s) of wetlands present, such as riparian wSllou, wet meadow, marsh, etc., <br />should be shown on the delineation map. The respective sizes in acres of each type should be included <br />either on the map or in a report; <br />3. The location of all sample sites should be shown on the delineation map(s); <br />4. wetlands delineation data forms, or similar data sheets, for each sample site, cross- <br />referenced to the sites should be shown on the delineation map(s), The data for each sample site shall <br />clearly list the indicators for the soils, vegetation and hydrology, and shall include the basis far <br />determining whether the sample site is wetlands or upland. The number of sample sites will vary depending <br />upon the size and shape of the wetlands, the degree of difficulty in differentiating wetlands and upland, <br />width of transition zones, etc.; <br />5. A site location map, preferably a 7.5-minute USGS quadrangle, shall be included and any <br />other pertinent maps of the site; and <br />6. A brief written report shall be included with the submittal. This report should list <br />the property owner(s) and/or the developer(s) requesting the delineation. The report shall also describe <br />the nature of the proposed development, and when a permit application viii be submitted for the project. <br />Your report should explain the basis for the wetlands boundary location and any problems or questionable <br />areas. The dates of the actual fieldwork should also be included in this narrative. <br />7. For potential isolated waters, including isolated wetlands, note in your delineation <br />report any observed and/or documented examples that substantiate the rationale for jurisdictional or non- <br />jurisdic[ional eaters of the United States. <br />The Corps of Engineers will acknowledge wetlands delineations that are complete and accurate. in <br />the even[ that work force constraints preclude timely field verifications, this office may issue a qualiti ed <br />approval. However, prior to definitive regulatory approvals, such as a letter of no Federal jurisdiction, <br />nationwide general permit verification, individual permit issuance, etc., wetlands maps will usually be <br />field verified by the Corps of Engineers. <br />1 <br />