Data Collection Requirements and Procedures for Mapping Wetland, Deepwater, and Related Habitats of the United States (version 3) U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE - ECOLOGICAL SERVICES DIVISION OF BUDGET AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT BRANCH OF GEOSPATIAL MAPPING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT FALLS CHURCH, VA 2204 REVISED JULY 2020 1 Acknowledgements The authors would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their support and contributions: Bill Kirchner, USFWS, Region 1, Portland, OR; Elaine Blok, USFWS, Region 8, Portland, OR Brian Huberty, USFWS, Region 3, Twin Cities, MN; Ralph Tiner, USFWS, Region 5, Hadley, MA: Kevin Bon, USFWS, Region 6, Denver, CO; Jerry Tande, USFWS, Region 7, Anchorage, AK; Julie Michaelson, USFWS, Region 7, Anchorage, AK; Norm Mangrum, USFWS, St. Petersburg, FL; Dennis Fowler, USFWS, St. Petersburg, FL; Jim Terry, USFWS, St. Petersburg, FL; Martin Kodis, USFWS, Chief - Branch of Resources and Mapping Support, Washington, D.C. and David J. Stout, USFWS, Chief - Division of Habitat and Resource Conservation, Washington, D.C. Peer review was provided by the following subject matter experts: Dr. Shawna Dark and Danielle Bram, California State University - Northridge. Robb Macleod, Ducks Unlimited, Great Lakes and Atlantic Regional Office, Ann Arbor, MI; Michael Kjellson, Dept. Wildlife and Fisheries, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD; and Deborah (Jane) Awl, Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, TN. This document may be referenced as: Dahl, T.E., J. Dick, J. Swords, and B.O. Wilen. 2020. Data Collection Requirements and Procedures for Mapping Wetland, Deepwater and Related Habitats of the United States. Division of Habitat and Resource Conservation (version 3), National Wetlands Inventory, Madison, WI. 91 p. (Original document published 2009) This document can be found at http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Contributed-Data 2 PAGE NO. TABLE OF CONTENTS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - Ecological Services Division of Budget and Technical Support Branch of Geospatial Mapping and Technical Support Falls Church, VA 2204 Revised June 2020 ................... 1 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................... 2 Page No. .................................................................................................................................................... 3 Table of Contents ...................................................................................................................................... 3 DATA COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR MAPPING WETLAND, DEEPWATER AND RELATED HABITATS OF THE UNITED STATES ........................................... 5 Preface .................................................................................................................................................. 5 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 6 2. Standardized Classification and Terminology ...................................................................................... 7 2.1. Wetland Classification - Adaptations for Mapping Purposes ........................................................ 7 3. Data Collection Guidelines ................................................................................................................... 8 3.1. Basic Data Creation Guidelines: .................................................................................................... 8 3.2. Avoiding Extraneous Detail and Misrepresentation of Data ......................................................... 9 4. Technical Procedures for Data Collection and Image Analysis .......................................................... 10 4.1. Image Interpretation of Wetlands - General Concepts ................................................................. 10 4.2. Technical Methodologies:............................................................................................................ 11 4.3 Data Accuracy and Precision ........................................................................................................ 16 5. Non-compliant Map Data .................................................................................................................... 20 6. Limitations .......................................................................................................................................... 20 7. Universal Technical Processes ............................................................................................................ 22 7.1. Suitable Imagery .......................................................................................................................... 22 7.2. Ancillary Data as an Aid to Image Analysis ................................................................................ 22 7.3. Field Reconnaissance ................................................................................................................... 24 7.4. Aids to Field Determinations ....................................................................................................... 25 7.5. Field Forms and Reporting Requirements ................................................................................... 26 7.6. Private Land Access Protocol ...................................................................................................... 27 8. Achieving Quality Requirements for Wetland and Deepwater Data .................................................. 27 8.1 Review by Technical Specialist(s) ................................................................................................ 27 8.2 Scalable Products .......................................................................................................................... 28 3 8.3 Data Verification ........................................................................................................................... 29 8.4 Attribute Validity .......................................................................................................................... 29 8.5 Oversight, Data Integrity, and Database Management ................................................................. 29 9. References ........................................................................................................................................... 31 Appendix A: Wetland and Deepwater Classification for Mapping Purposes ......................................... 33 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................................. 33 Deepwater Habitats ............................................................................................................................. 34 Limits .................................................................................................................................................. 34 The Classification System ................................................................................................................... 35 Appendix B. Map Code Diagram ........................................................................................................... 64 Appendix C: Glossary of terms for Appendix A and B. ........................................................................ 66 Appendix D: Using the Verification Tools ............................................................................................ 72 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 72 Folder Contents ................................................................................................................................... 72 Dataset Compatibility ......................................................................................................................... 74 Running the models ............................................................................................................................ 74 Explanations of Verification Models .................................................................................................. 75 Appendix E – Supplemental Map information Template ....................................................................... 80 4 DATA COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR MAPPING WETLAND, DEEPWATER AND RELATED HABITATS OF THE UNITED STATES Preface These technical procedures serve as a reference for conducting the image analysis work associated with mapping wetlands and deepwater habitats. This document is intended to be comprehensive, however situations may develop that require modifications or additions. It is impractical to include all of the technical aspects of data handling and analysis within this document or anticipate all resource inventory needs. Users are advised that other written conventions or formal training may be useful in recognizing and describing wetland habitats, image interpretation and/or mapping protocols. More detailed field guides, regional information, wetland plant lists and soils descriptions are available. This information is intended to provide general guidelines for work performance, but should not be substituted for direct communication with the appropriate Program, Project, or Technical Specialist(s) regarding procedural questions. For additional information