1. “Regionalizing” the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual

2. National wetland delineation guidance cannot capture the variability of wetlands across the entire United States

3. Reasons to Regionalize
Regional variability in wetland conditions due to climate, geology and landforms, and biogeography
Failure to regionalize can result in inconsistent, arbitrary, and controversial wetland determinations
To be technically and legally defensible, the Manual should reflect the state-of-the-science
National Academy of Sciences recommendations

4. Interagency Cooperation
National Advisory Team
2 EPA, 2 NRCS, 2 FWS, 6 Corps District, 3 ERDC, and 1 Corps HQ members
Provides technical oversight, consistency across regions, and quality control during the development of Regional Supplements
In the future, serves as the point-of-contact and reviewer of proposals to update the Manual or its supplements

5. Interagency Cooperation (cont.)
Regional Working Groups
Composed of federal, state, local, Tribal, and academic experts from the region
Identify technical issues, select wetland indicators, develop regionalized procedures, and help ERDC draft the Regional Supplement
Participate in field testing the supplement

6. Steps in the Process
Develop a Regional Supplement in cooperation with the Regional Working Group
Review by the National Advisory Team
Independent peer reviews (including consultants, other federal agencies, and states with regulatory programs)
Field testing
Public notice for review and comments
Public notice for implementation

7. Supplements vs. National Manual
As regional supplements are finalized and implemented, they will take precedence over those sections of the 1987 delineation manual
Wetland indicators tailored to the region
Procedures for “difficult wetland situations” in the region

8. Arid West Regionalization Issues
Identifying wetland hydrology during prolonged dry periods
Expanded list of hydrology indicators
Biotic crusts

9. Arid West Regionalization Issues
Aquatic invertebrates
Salt deposits

10. Regional Supplements National Wetland Delineation Manual
Technical Standard for Water-Table Monitoring
Regional Supplements
Alaska
Great Plains
Midwest
Etc.
Arid
West
Western Mountains
Coastal Plain

11. Contents of the “Umbrella” National Delineation Manual
Corps/EPA wetland definition
Basics of the three-factor approach to wetland identification
General definitions of hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soil, and wetland hydrology
No specific indicators
Preliminary data gathering (offsite sources)
Routine and Comprehensive field methods
General Atypical Situation guidance
General Problem Area guidance
Main Glossary

12. Contents of a Regional Supplement
Chapter 1 – Introduction
Applicable region and subregions
Physical and biological characteristics of the region
Kinds, distribution, and abundance of wetlands
Chapter 2 – Hydrophytic vegetation indicators
Chapter 3 – Hydric soil indicators
Chapter 4 – Wetland hydrology indicators
Chapter 5 – Difficult wetland situations in the region (including delineation guidance)

13. Status of the Work
Draft Regional Supplements have been completed for Alaska, Arid West, Western Mountains, Valleys and Coast, and Great Plains
Reviewed by the National Advisory Team
Currently field tested and implemented (Alaska and Arid West)
Initiating work in 4 new regions
Great Plains (Peer review Process)
Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast (Peer Review Process)
Midwest (Met in Nov. 2006)
Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain (Met in Dec. 2007)

14. Proposed Wetland Delineation Regions
Alaska
Western Mountains and Valleys
Glaciated Northcentral and Northeast
Midwest
Arid West
Great Plains
Mid-Atlantic and Southeast
Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain
Pacific Islands
Caribbean Islands

16. Tentative Sequence of Regions
Target Date
Alaska
Arid West
Western Mountains and Valleys 2006
Great Plains
Midwest
Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain 2007
Mid-Atlantic and Southeast
Caribbean Islands
Glaciated Northcentral / Northeast 2009
Hawaii / Pacific Islands

17. National Advisory Team Members
Steve Eggers, MVP (651)
Bob Lichvar, ERDC (603)
Dan Martel, SPN (415)
Jennifer McCarthy, NRCS (202)
Paul Minkin, NAE (978)
Chris Noble , ERDC (601)
Ralph Thomas Rogers, EPA Region X (206)
Stu Santos, SAJ (904)
Ralph Spagnolo, EPA Region III (215)
Ralph Tiner, FWS (413)
Mike Whited, NRCS (508) #3
Jim Wood, SPA (505)

18. Relationship to SWANCC, Rapanos/Carabell, etc.
This effort will not affect Section 404 jurisdictional policy. The goal in regionalizing the 1987 Manual is to provide the most current scientific and technical information for identifying wetlands and determining their boundaries. Whether or not a wetland is regulated under Section 404 is an entirely different and separate issue.

19. Relationship to the Plant Lists
The “regionalization” of the 1987 Manual and the updating of FWS plant lists are separate and independent efforts. The Regional Supplements do not contain any changes to the plant lists.

20. What Can I Do? Volunteer to serve on a peer-review panel
Contact Kathy Trott, Corps HQ, ,
Participate in field testing a Regional Supplement when announced by Public Notice
Other questions?
Call Jim Wakeley at ,