Wetland I.D. Guide - Island County Government

Field Indicators Worksheet - 3 parts
About the Field Indicators Worksheet
Information provided in the Field Indicators Worksheet helps landowners and applicants identify if their
property contains or is affected by a wetland or wetland buffer. This Worksheet is required to be submitted
with all development proposals. County Planners will review the submitted Worksheet and issue a Critical Area
Determination.
As discussed earlier, an area must meet three specific criteria to be considered a wetland: First, a wetland must
have hydrological indicators. Secondly, only specific types of Vegetation can grow in a wetland. Lastly, a
wetland must have specific soil conditions. Most wetlands have all three characteristics.
tools You May need
shoVel
Used to dig hole for hydrology
test and to collect soil sample
MeAsURIng tApe
Used to measure depth of hole
for hydrology test and soil sample
MAchete
May be used to cut small trail
for access to potential wetlands
Section #1 - HYDROLOGY
Hydrology is the movement and distribution of water. Determining hydrology
is important because wetlands need to have water present at some time of
the year for at least 2-3 weeks. The Hydrology Section (Questions 1-6) of
the Field Indicators worksheet guides in the identification of water on or near
your property, how frequently water is present, and how it enters/exits your
property.
Section #2 - VEGETATION
The Vegetation Section (Questions 7-8) of the Field Indicators Worksheet helps
to identify the type of plants you have on your property. Because only certain
types of plants can survive in the oxygen-deprived soils that are characteristic
of wetlands, there are certain indicator plants that can be used to verify the
presence of a wetland. Brief descriptions as well as detailed photographs are
provided in the Wetland Vegetation Section of this guide.
Section #3 - SOIL
The Soils Section (Questions 9-11) of the Field Indicators Worksheet will help
you determine if your property has wetland soils. Technically termed “hydric
soils”, these soils serve as an essential indicator for determining the presence of
a wetland. Hydric soils are created in areas where water displaces oxygen that
would otherwise be present.
6
cAMeRA
Pictures provide helpful information
about land characteristics