CWD Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CWD facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which of the following is a correct description of a 'problematic wetland' under the Corps of Engineers framework? → A site where one or more parameters are difficult to evaluate due to atypical conditions
2. What is the role of surface water in determining wetland boundaries? → Surface water marks the boundary where wetland soils and vegetation occur
3. What is the importance of continuing education for CWD professionals in Environmental Impact Assessment? → Maintaining current knowledge and adapting to industry changes
4. Which soil amendment is commonly used to reduce sulfide toxicity in restored tidal wetland soils? → Calcium carbonate (lime)
5. Which factor most commonly causes long-term failure of restored wetland mitigation sites? → Chronic hydrologic deficits due to inadequate water source or altered watershed conditions
6. Which state program allows states and tribes to assume administration of the Section 404 permit program from the Army Corps of Engineers in certain waters? → Section 404(g) State Assumption Program
7. Which sequence represents the preferred order of mitigation under the 404(b)(1) Guidelines? → Avoidance, minimization, compensation
8. How do hydric soils contribute to wetland identification? → They help distinguish wetlands from upland areas based on soil characteristics
9. Polygonum hydropiperoides (swamp smartweed) is commonly found in which hydrologic setting? → Seasonally flooded depressions and stream margins
10. Under the 2008 Compensatory Mitigation Rule, which type of mitigation is generally preferred over permittee-responsible mitigation? → Third-party mitigation through mitigation banking
11. Typha latifolia (broadleaf cattail) has which wetland indicator status? → OBL
12. What is an SLA in CWD technology? → A formal agreement defining expected service performance standards
13. Which wetland type is most effective at removing nitrogen through denitrification? → Freshwater emergent marshes with alternating aerobic/anaerobic zones
14. What is the primary function of hydrology in wetland delineation? → It helps identify the presence of water, determining wetland areas
15. A Type 4 wetland in the Circular 39 (Shaw & Fredine) classification is described as: → Inland deep fresh marsh
16. Which federal wetland plant list region includes the state of Louisiana for CWD purposes? → Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Region
17. The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) uses the Cowardin classification system. In GIS, NWI data is delivered as which file format? → Shapefile or geodatabase feature class
18. When delineating wetlands from aerial photography, what is a key limitation of using only true-color (RGB) imagery? → It cannot distinguish between wet and dry areas with similar green vegetation color
19. Which plant exhibits pneumatophores as an adaptation to flooded conditions? → Taxodium distichum (bald cypress)
20. Which soil horizon is most likely to exhibit redoximorphic features in a seasonally saturated wetland? → B horizon
21. The 'recapture' provision under Section 404(f)(2) can eliminate an agricultural exemption if the activity: → Is part of a plan or scheme to bring an area into use as a regulated activity
22. What is a quality audit in CWD practice? → Evaluating whether quality standards and procedures are followed
23. When using the FAC-neutral test to determine if vegetation is hydrophytic, which species are excluded from the calculation? → FAC species only
24. A wetland exhibits a pH of 4.2. Which water source is most likely contributing to this condition? → Sphagnum moss decomposition and organic acids
25. Which method is used to calculate the service area of a mitigation bank and determine which permitted impacts it may offset? → HUC 8 watershed delineation or Corps-approved service area boundary
26. Which of the following represents a common cause of compensatory mitigation site failure? → Improper hydrology or inadequate water supply
27. What is peer review in CWD Soil Science & Analysis? → Quality evaluation by qualified colleagues for improvement
28. What is the importance of continuing education for CWD professionals in Soil Science & Analysis? → Maintaining current knowledge and adapting to industry changes
29. Floating-leaved aquatic plants like Nuphar lutea (yellow pond-lily) contribute to wetland delineation as: → OBL indicator species confirming hydrophytic vegetation
30. Under the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, which section requires a permit for the placement of structures in navigable waters? → Section 10