NRCS Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guide – Marsh
April 2010
Owner/Operator: District:
County: Field Office:
Assisted By: Acres:
Location: Date:
Farm & Tract #: Contract #:
Screening Questions: A yes answer to any of the following screening questions means you cannot use
this model for the site. Note: If working in an Eastern Plains depressional wetland, you should use the
Playa model.
1) Does this site have standing, deep water averaging more than 6’ deep for part/all of the year during
normal years? (A yes means you are in a deep water habitat)
2) Does the site have saturated soils, but never ponds water? (A yes means you are either on a wet
meadow or non-wetland)
3) Does site have organic soils? (A yes means you are in a peat/fen wetland)
4) Does site have trees and/or shrubs? (A yes means you are in a riparian area)
General Information: Marshland wetlands are characterized by periodic or continuous flooding with emergent,
macrophytic vegetation and mineral soils. Water levels tend to fluctuate throughout the year and may
occasionally dry completely. These wetlands depend on precipitation, ground water, irrigation runoff, or sub-
irrigation for their water source. Herbaceous plants such as rushes, sedges, bulrushes, and cattails dominate
these wetlands (CDNR 1993, CDOW 2000).
Hydrologic & Morphologic Condition Factors
1 Flooding Depth (look at average water depth) Value Before After
a) Flooding is 8-12” deep when it occurs 1.0
b) Flooding is between12-24” deep when it occurs 0.7
c) Flooding is 4-8 “ or 24-36” deep when it occurs 0.5
d) Flooding is 36”when it occurs 0.3
e) Flooding never occurs 0.0*
Enter value here ------->
2) Flooding Duration (duration of each flood episode) Value Before After
a) Flooding is from 30-45 days 1.0
b) Flooding is from 45-60 days 0.7
c) Flooding is from 60-90 days 0.5
d) Flooding is more than 90 days or less than 30 days 0.1
Enter value here ------->
3) Flooding Frequency Value Before After
a) Site goes through at least 2 flood-draw down cycles every year 1.0
b) Site floods once a year 0.5
c) Site floods less than once a year 0.1
Enter value here ------->
Average Value for Hydrologic Conditions Variables ------------------------------------> #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
*A “0” value is a limiting factor and means you are using the wrong model.
Vegetation Factors
4) Percent Native Vegetation Value Before After
a) Vegetation is comprised of >90% native species & food plants 1.0
b) Between 75-90% of vegetation is native species & food plants 0.7
c) Between 50-75% of vegetation is native species & food plants 0.5
d) Between 25-50% of vegetation is native species & food plants 0.3
e)
5) Vegetation Composition Value Before After
a) Predominant vegetation consists of several species of the following:
sedge, rush, cattail, bulrush, smartweed, duckweed, or other important 1.0
forage plants (seek advice of biologist for other plants)
b) Predominant vegetation is monoculture of cattail or bulrush 0.5
c) Predominant vegetation is invasive species (thistles, etc.) and/or
monoculture of any species (other than those in b) and/or woody species 0.1
(if woody species dominate, you are using the wrong model)
Enter value here ------->
6) Buffer zone adjacent to wetland-In wetland complexes this may Before After
Value
consist partly or wholly of other types of wetlands or open water
a) Adequate buffer (at least 100’ wide) of properly managed native
vegetation around perimeter of wetland (proper management includes
1.0
prescribed grazing, mowing after nesting season ends (July 15th), and
other wildlife oriented management as endorsed by biologist)
b) Buffer is over grazed, low plant vigor; or no-till small grains; or minimum
till in a grass/legume rotation; or 50-100 feet wide with vegetation 0.5
described in a conservation plan
c) Buffer is severely overgrazed, high amounts of bare ground, some soil
erosion, low plant vigor; or no-till row crops; or minimum till small grains; 0.2
or 30-50’ wide with any vegetation conditions in a or b
d) Buffer zone consists of row crops not covered above; or conventional
tillage with any crops; or
7) Percent of Wetland with a Buffer Zone Value Before After
a) Buffer around more than 90% of wetland perimeter 1.0
b) Buffer around 75-90% of wetland perimeter 0.8
c) Buffer around 50-74% of wetland perimeter 0.5
d) Buffer around 25-49% of wetland perimeter 0.3
e) Buffer around 0-24% of wetland perimeter 0.1
f) No buffer 0.0
Enter value here ------->
Average Value for 6 & 7 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------> #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
Average value for vegetation variables (Average values for 4, 5, and average of 6
& 7) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
Water Quality Factors
8) Salt or calcareous deposits on vegetation Value Before After
a) No salt or calcareous deposits on soil or vegetation 1.0
b) Salt/calcium deposits on 50% of soil/vegetation 0.1
Enter value here ------->
9) Eutrophication Value Before After
a) No animal waste or feedlot runoff 1.0
b) Limited amount of animal waste from proper grazing 0.7
c) Significant input of animal waste from heavy grazing 0.3
d) Wetland receives input from a feedlot 0.1
Enter value here ------->
Average Value for 8 & 9 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------> #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
Landscape Importance Factors
10) In kind wetlands – use for WRP and other wetland Before After
restoration/creation activities. Look 5 miles in any direction from the Value
center of the wetland
a) Wet meadows or marshes comprise 33-66% of the surrounding area 1.0
Wet meadows or marshes comprise 15-32% or 67-80% of the
b) 0.6
surrounding area
Wet meadows or marshes comprise 5-14% or 81-90% of surrounding
c) 0.3
area
d) Wet meadows or marshes comprise 90% of surrounding area 0.1
Enter value here ------->
11) Size Value Before After
a) Wetland is >10 acres 1.0
b) Wetland is 5-10 acres 0.7
c) Wetland is 1-4 acres 0.5
d) Wetland is
Average Value for 10 & 11 -------------------------------------------------------------------------> #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
HSI Scores Before After
Hydrology ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
Vegetation -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
Water Quality ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
Landscape Importance -----------------------------------------------------------------------------> #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
Overall HSI -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> #DIV/0! #DIV/0!
References:
CDNR. 1993. Wetlands of Colorado. Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Denver. 20 pp.
CDOW. 2000. Colorado wetlands initiative 1997-2000. Colorado Division of Wildlife. Denver. 36 pp.