GENERAL50133

• Permit No: M1977407
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 10/27/1997
• From: DEPT OF THE ARMY
• To: DMG
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
402 Rood Avenue, Room 142
Grand Junction, Colorado 81501-2563
May 30, 1997
WETLANDS DELINEAT{ON CONSULTANTS
Increasingly, potential applicants for Department of the Army permits are hiring envi r~nmental
consultants to do wetlands determinations and delineations for them. In addition, because of Federal
budgetary and work force constraints, we ere requesting that many potential applicants have wet lards
delineations done by consultants. Under existing constraints, the Corps of Engineers will field verify as
many wetlands delineations es possible. we retammend that wetlands delineations performed by consultants be
submitted for review and verification at least one nronth in advance of a submittal of a Department of the
Army permit application.
All wetlands delineations will be reviewed to insure camel fiance with the methodology ccntained in
the Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual dated January 7987 and that sufficient infori~tion is
provided to justify the wet lards/upland bourdari es as shown on the delineation map(s). To obtain e
jurisdictional determination letter from the Western Colorado Regulatory Office, all consultant ~prepa red
wetlands delineations shall contain:
7. A wet lends delineation map depicting a point to point survey of the wetlards boundary
as flagged by the consultant in the field. The consultant should review the survey for accurac)• before
submittal to this office. He prefer topographic maps with contour intervals of one or two feet end et a
scale of 1 inch equals 100 feeC. However, these specifications may vary depending upon the scorn of the
delineation and the nature of the project. In certain situations, a point to point survey of the wetlands
boundary may not )x required. However, the boundary must be reproducible in some manner. The consultant
should contact this office for approval before submitting a delineation without a point to point survey. In
all cases, the wetlands boundary must be marked with survey flagging or stakes in the field before this
office will corxluct a site inspection to verify the delineation, The flags or stakes must be sequentially
numbered and those numbers shall appear on the survey for each point;
2. The type(s) of wetlands present, such as riparian willow, wet meadow, marsh, etc „
should be shown on the delineation map. The respective sizes in acres of each type should be in.l uded
either on [he map or in a report;
3. The location of ell sample sites should be shown on the delineation map(s);
4. Hell girds delineation date forms, or similar data sheets, for each sample site, cross-
referenced to the sites should be shown on the delineation map(s). The date for each sample site shalt
clearly list the indicators for the soils, vegetation
end hydrology, and shall include the basis for determining whether the sample site is wetlands or upland.
The nunber of sample sites will vary depending upon the size and shape of the wetlands, the degrze of
difficulty in differentiating wetlands and upland, vidth of transition zones, etc.;
5. A site location map, preferably a 7.5-minute USGS quadrangle, shall be included gird any
other pertinent maps of the site; aM
6. A brief written report shall be included with the submittal. This report should list
the property owner(s) andlor the developer(s) requesting the delineation. The report shall also describe
the nature of the proposed development, end when a permit application will be sutznitted for the project.
Your report should explain the basis for the wetlands boundary location end any problems or questionable
areas. The dates of the actual field work should also be included in this narrative.
Hetlands delineations that are complete and accurate will be acknowledged in writing by the Corps of
Engineers. In the event that vork force constraints preclude timely field verifications, qualifiod approval
may be issued by this office. However, prior to definitive regulatory approvals, such as a letter of no
Federal jurisdiction, nationwide general permit verification, individual permit issuance, etc., wetlands
maps will be field verified by the Corps of Engineers.
He have attached a wetlerds delineation field data sheet for photocopying end field use. This form
should be used for wetlands delineations subl act to Corps of Engineers vertf tcatton. If you and/or your
consultants have questions regarding wetlands delineation procedures, please contact the U. S. Arnry, Corps
of Engineers, Sacramento District in Grand Junction, Colorado at telephone number [phone].