2010-04-26_PERMIT FILE - C1980007A (14)

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a Soil profiles were excavated with the use of a Dutch auger, typically up to a depth of 24 inches below the ground surface, or when bedrock was encountered, or when definitive hydric soil indicators were encountered. The soil sample points reported in Appendix A were located close to the water -ward extent of the wetland line, for the wetland sample point, and close to the land -ward extent of the wetland line for the upland data point. The soil profiles from each boring were examined for hydric soil indicators according to the Pocket Guide to Hydric Soil Field Indicators (Wetland Training Institute 2004). Soil colors were determined with the aid of a Munsell soil color chart. Soil textures were determined by feel. The hydrologic conditions within the immediate vicinity of each soil boring were documented. Vegetative plots were established for herbaceous layers, and when possible, in a nested fashion with shrub and tree layers, within each wetland and adjacent upland. The plant species at each sample location were identified and their wetland indicator status (for Region 8) was noted (Reed 1988; USDA 2009). When the wetland indicator status for a species was inconclusive (i.e. "NI" — no indicator status given), the status of the species in an adjacent Region was used. Efforts were made to meet the Army Corps Delineation Manual plot size requirements for each stratum, but due to wetland shape and size and steep site topography, smaller rectangular plots were often created, but still covered a suitable percentage of wetland area. Dominant species were determined by use of the 50/20 rule. The delineated wetlands habitat types were classified using both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Circular 39 System (U.S. Fish and Wildlife 1956) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Cowardin System ( Cowardin et al. 1979). 3.2 Delineation Results Three wetlands were encountered and delineated on the property, totaling ±0.266 acres. All three wetlands are ground -water driven seepage wetlands, also referred to as slope wetlands. Since these wetlands are fed by groundwater discharge, and not precipitation, it is likely that these wetlands are inundated and saturated year -round and are not subject to seasonality or draw -down due to periods of drought. Because: each wetland is uniform in habitat type and small in size, only one paired wetland /upland set of sample points was prepared for each wetland. The following narrative describes each of the three wetlands in additional detail. •