CWD Wetland Functions & Values 3

Question 1

Under the Clean Water Act Section 404 mitigation hierarchy, wetland functional assessments are most directly used to:

Accepted Answer

Determine appropriate compensatory mitigation type and calculate mitigation ratios

Answer

Establish the jurisdictional limits of wetland boundaries in the field

Answer

Set water quality standards for wetland discharge permits

Answer

Classify wetland types for the National Wetlands Inventory database

Question 2

The term 'ombrotrophic' describes a wetland that receives its water and nutrients:

Accepted Answer

Exclusively from precipitation, isolated from groundwater and surface water inputs

Answer

From coastal tidal flooding and ocean spray deposits

Answer

Primarily from mineral-rich groundwater discharge and springs

Answer

Periodically from river overflow and floodplain inundation events

Question 3

Which wetland function is most critical for maintaining stream base flows and sustaining aquatic ecosystems during dry-weather periods?

Accepted Answer

Groundwater recharge and discharge regulation

Answer

Flood attenuation and peak flow reduction

Answer

Sediment and particulate matter retention

Answer

Primary productivity and organic matter export

Question 4

In wetland mitigation banking, 'functional lift' refers to:

Accepted Answer

The increase in wetland functional capacity achieved from pre-restoration to post-restoration condition

Answer

The mechanical equipment used to restore wetland topography and grading

Answer

The elevation change required to restore natural hydrology to a degraded site

Answer

The monetary credit value assigned to each restored wetland acre sold to permittees

Question 5

Which coastal wetland ecosystem provides the most significant protection against shoreline erosion and wave energy dissipation?

Accepted Answer

Coastal marshes, mangroves, and seagrass beds

Answer

Inland depressional wetlands and prairie potholes

Answer

Isolated vernal pools and seasonal depressional wetlands

Answer

Headwater bogs and montane fens

Question 6

The Floristic Quality Index (FQI) is used in wetland assessment primarily to:

Accepted Answer

Measure ecological quality of a plant community based on plant species conservatism values

Answer

Estimate the monetary value of wetland carbon sequestration services

Answer

Determine regulatory jurisdiction of a water body under the Clean Water Act

Answer

Calculate compensatory mitigation ratios for Section 404 wetland fill permits

Question 7

Which wetland function is most directly measured in the field by comparing nutrient concentrations and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in water entering versus leaving a wetland?

Accepted Answer

Water quality improvement and pollutant removal

Answer

Flood storage and peak flow attenuation

Answer

Wildlife habitat provision and biodiversity support

Answer

Shoreline and streambank stabilization