CWD CWD Atypical Situations & Problem Wetlands 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is an 'atypical situation' in wetland delineation under the 1987 Corps Wetland Delineation Manual?
- A site with unusually high biodiversity
- A situation where wetland indicators are absent due to recent human disturbance or natural events (Correct answer)
- A wetland located in an unusual geographic region
- A site with more than three wetland types present
Correct answer: A situation where wetland indicators are absent due to recent human disturbance or natural events
Atypical situations occur when one or more wetland indicators are absent due to human activities or natural events, requiring special delineation procedures.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of an atypical situation requiring special delineation procedures?
- A forested wetland with abundant hydrophytic vegetation
- A recently farmed wetland where vegetation was removed by cultivation (Correct answer)
- A coastal marsh with obvious tidal influence
- A bog with sphagnum moss and saturated soils
Correct answer: A recently farmed wetland where vegetation was removed by cultivation
Recently farmed areas may lack visible wetland vegetation indicators due to cultivation, requiring special assessment procedures under the 1987 Manual.
Question 3: What term applies to sites that show no wetland vegetation due to recent disturbance but still exhibit hydric soils and wetland hydrology?
- Ephemeral wetlands
- Problematic wetlands
- Atypical situation wetlands (Correct answer)
- Non-jurisdictional wetlands
Correct answer: Atypical situation wetlands
Sites lacking one or more wetland indicators due to recent disturbance are classified as atypical situations requiring special delineation procedures under the 1987 Manual.
Question 4: Under the 1987 Manual, when may a delineator use problematic hydrophytic vegetation indicators?
- When vegetation is dominated by upland species
- When vegetation alone cannot confirm wetland status due to transitional or stressed conditions (Correct answer)
- When the site is already classified as wetland by the state
- When soil data is completely unavailable
Correct answer: When vegetation alone cannot confirm wetland status due to transitional or stressed conditions
Problematic vegetation indicators are applied when normal vegetation assessment is inconclusive, such as in drought conditions or transitional zones near the wetland boundary.
Question 5: What field evidence is most useful when vegetation has been removed in a potential atypical situation?
- Canopy cover measurements
- Hydric soil indicators and water table measurements (Correct answer)
- Presence of upland shrubs at the site margins
- Leaf litter depth and decomposition rate
Correct 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.
Question 6: Which regional supplement should be used when applying the 1987 Manual in the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain?
- Midwest Regional Supplement
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Regional Supplement (Correct answer)
- Western Mountains and Valleys Supplement
- Arid West Regional Supplement
Correct answer: Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Regional Supplement
The Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Regional Supplement provides region-specific guidance and updated indicators for applying the 1987 Manual in that geographic area.
CWD CWD Atypical Situations & Problem Wetlands 1
What is an 'atypical situation' in wetland delineation under the 1987 Corps Wetland Delineation Manual?