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0 3.7.4 Wetlands <br />The following text is excerpted from the formal wetland delineation report submitted to the U. S. <br />Army Corps of Engineers for a formal determination of jurisdictionality. This text has been edited to <br />emphasize a description of the wetland community. A brief.(and edited) discussion of the methods <br />section is also provided to offer detail regarding data collection procedures as they differed significantly <br />from the quantitative procedures used for the upland communities of the Study Area. <br />Methods <br />In 2005, the wetland delineation work completed for the Collom vegetation study area encompassed <br />13,605 acres. This study area includes all perceived potential disturbances plus an adequate buffer zone. <br />Wetland / upland boundary delineation work began with an extensive site reconnaissance and analysis of <br />existing information including aerial imagery of the project area. Aerial imagery was examined for <br />evidence of hydrology (drainage patterns) and photographic signatures characteristic of wetlands <br />("mottled appearance" due to the distribution of vegetation) as well as a determination of access, <br />topography, and general vegetation communities existing in the area. Potentially problematic areas were <br />0 also identified on aerial imagery to aid the mapping effort and to document those areas warranting <br />special attention. <br />Following examination of Color Infra-Red (CIR) aerial imagery and various site characteristics, <br />detailed wetland / upland boundary field delineation occurred. The field effort was completed following <br />the methods and techniques specified for "routine on-site delineations" in the publication Corps of <br />Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (1987). To properly identify and delineate wetland / upland <br />boundaries, each vegetation community observed on site was evaluated. Extensive pedestrian transects <br />were implemented within these communities, as appropriate, and along the boundaries with adjacent <br />communities during which observations were made with respect to vegetation, soil characteristics, and <br />hydrologic conditions. Sample points representing the dominant wetland communities or larger wetland <br />units along and within suspected wetland / upland boundaries were evaluated. <br />A total of nine formal sample points were located within typical wetland circumstances to document <br />and represent the various site conditions. Six of these were located within each of the six larger (or in <br />one case problematic) wetland units and three were located to be representative of the three main <br />drainage systems and at three different elevational circumstances. At each sample point, percent total <br />ground cover of dominant plant species was visually estimated. Species were then classed as OBL <br />CEDAR CRZIZKAMOCIIA77 3, INC. Page 36 2005 Collom Vegetation Survey