Mixed Deck — All CWD Topics Flashcards

Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, what document establishes the framework for how compensatory mitigation should be conducted?

Answer: 2008 Compensatory Mitigation Rule (33 CFR Part 332)

The 2008 Compensatory Mitigation Rule (jointly issued by the Corps and EPA) establishes the regulatory framework for compensatory mitigation under Section 404.

What is change management in CWD technology?

Answer: A structured process for evaluating and implementing changes safely

IT change management ensures changes are evaluated, approved, tested, and implemented in a controlled manner.

What field evidence is most useful when vegetation has been removed in a potential atypical situation?

Answer: Hydric soil indicators and water table measurements

When vegetation is absent, hydric soil indicators and direct water table measurements become the primary tools for confirming wetland status.

Which of the following best describes the mitigation sequencing requirement under the Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines?

Answer: Avoidance, then minimization, then compensatory mitigation must be considered in that order

The Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines require applicants to first demonstrate avoidance of impacts, then minimize unavoidable impacts, and finally provide compensatory mitigation for remaining unavoidable impacts.

A wetland observation well (piezometer) installed at a survey site is used primarily to:

Answer: Monitor the depth and duration of seasonal water table fluctuations

Observation wells record water table depth over time and are used to confirm whether hydrology criteria (saturation within 12 inches for ≥5–12.5% of the growing season) are met.

To precisely locate a wetland boundary between a forested wetland and an adjacent upland, the recommended field approach is to:

Answer: Move incrementally from the wetland toward the upland, placing flags where parameters transition from positive to negative

The standard practice is to begin in clearly positive wetland conditions and move toward the upland, placing sample points at intervals until all three parameters are no longer met, then flagging that transition line.

What is an in-lieu fee (ILF) program in wetland mitigation?

Answer: A program where applicants pay a fee instead of restoring wetlands directly

An ILF program allows permittees to pay a fee to an approved organization that performs mitigation on behalf of multiple permittees.

Coastal wetlands such as salt marshes and mangroves support marine fisheries primarily by:

Answer: Serving as critical spawning grounds and nursery habitat for juvenile fish

Salt marshes and mangroves provide structure, cover, and abundant invertebrate prey that make them essential spawning and nursery habitat for many commercially and recreationally important fish species.

Which microbial process in wetland soils converts nitrates to nitrogen gas, permanently removing nitrogen from the aquatic system?

Answer: Denitrification

Denitrification is the anaerobic microbial process that converts nitrates (NO3-) to nitrogen gas (N2), which escapes to the atmosphere and removes nitrogen from the system.

The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) uses the Cowardin classification system. In GIS, NWI data is delivered as which file format?

Answer: Shapefile or geodatabase feature class

NWI data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is distributed as vector shapefiles or geodatabase feature classes representing wetland polygons with Cowardin classification attributes.

What defines a riverine wetland?

Answer: A wetland associated with rivers or streams with flowing water

Riverine wetlands are directly associated with natural flowing water systems such as rivers and streams. They are characterized by unidirectional water flow and typically include floodplains, oxbow lakes, and riparian zones. These wetlands play a crucial role in water quality, sediment retention, and providing habitat along river corridors.

For the vegetation parameter to support a positive wetland determination using the Dominance Test, what threshold of dominant species must be hydrophytic (OBL, FACW, or FAC)?

Answer: More than 50% of dominant species

Under the Dominance Test, a positive vegetation indicator is established when more than 50% of dominant species across all strata are hydrophytes (OBL, FACW, or FAC).

What is peer review in CWD Conservation & Sustainability?

Answer: Quality evaluation by qualified colleagues for improvement

Peer review provides objective assessment by qualified professionals to identify improvements and ensure accountability.

Which factor most commonly causes long-term failure of restored wetland mitigation sites?

Answer: Chronic hydrologic deficits due to inadequate water source or altered watershed conditions

Insufficient or poorly designed hydrology is the leading cause of mitigation site failure, as vegetation and function cannot persist without the correct hydroperiod.

Which hydric soil indicator is identified in the field by a distinctive sulfurous 'rotten egg' odor when the soil is disturbed?

Answer: Sulfidic Material (A4)

Sulfidic Material (Indicator A4) produces hydrogen sulfide gas when disturbed, giving a characteristic rotten egg odor that indicates prolonged anaerobic decomposition of organic matter.

Under the 2008 Mitigation Rule, which form of compensatory mitigation is generally given preference by the Corps of Engineers?

Answer: Mitigation banking

The 2008 Mitigation Rule establishes a preference hierarchy with mitigation banking first, in-lieu fee programs second, and permittee-responsible mitigation third, because banks and ILF programs offer greater ecological certainty.

When a soil horizon has both a dominant matrix color and secondary mottles, which is recorded first on the Corps data form?

Answer: The dominant matrix color

Data forms require the dominant matrix color to be listed first because it represents the majority of the horizon and is the primary basis for hydric soil indicator assessment.

Which federal program established mitigation banking as a preferred form of compensatory mitigation for wetland impacts?

Answer: 2008 Mitigation Rule under Clean Water Act Section 404

The 2008 Compensatory Mitigation Rule established a preference hierarchy with mitigation banks first, in-lieu fee programs second, and permittee-responsible mitigation third.

Which organization administers the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) maps used widely in U.S. conservation planning?

Answer: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

The USFWS produces and maintains NWI maps, which classify wetlands using the Cowardin system and are a primary baseline tool for wetland conservation planning.

In Rapanos v. United States (2006), Justice Kennedy's concurring opinion established which test for determining CWA jurisdiction over wetlands?

Answer: The Significant Nexus Test

Justice Kennedy's 'significant nexus' test requires a meaningful connection between a wetland and a traditional navigable water to establish CWA jurisdiction.