CWD Field Survey & Data Collection 3

Question 1

Which of the following is classified as a PRIMARY hydrology indicator under the Corps of Engineers wetland methodology?

Accepted Answer

Surface water present within or ponding the area

Answer

Surface water present within or ponding the area is a primary hydrology indicator because it directly demonstrates inundation without requiring inference from secondary evidence.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Monitor the depth and duration of seasonal water table fluctuations

Answer

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.

Question 3

During a field survey, 'oxidized rhizospheres' are best described as:

Accepted Answer

Orange or reddish iron oxide coatings lining root channels in otherwise reduced soil

Answer

Oxidized rhizospheres form when plants pump oxygen through their roots into anaerobic soil, causing localized iron oxidation that appears as orange or red coatings around root channels.

Question 4

In most temperate US regions, the optimal time to conduct a wetland hydrology field survey is:

Accepted Answer

During the wet season (late winter/early spring) when indicators are most visible

Answer

Late winter and early spring represent the peak hydrology period in temperate regions, when water table levels are highest and inundation/saturation indicators are most easily observed.

Question 5

'Drift lines' as a secondary wetland hydrology indicator are best described as:

Accepted Answer

Rows of dead plant material and debris deposited at the high-water mark as floodwaters recede

Answer

Drift lines are accumulations of organic debris, leaves, and fine sediment deposited in lines along vegetation or ground surface at the elevation reached by receding floodwaters.

(CWD) Certified Wetland Delineator Practice Test

(CWD) Certified Wetland Delineator Practice Test

CWD Field Survey & Data Collection 3