Evaluation of Wetland Quality Using a Numerical Functional Value Matrix, 1992 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Wetlands have become recognized as a valuable land form in our environmental awareness. The enforcement of existing regulations and the development of new state and local wetland regulations requires an evaluation method to characterize wetland quality and significance. A functional value system can be utilized to develop the significance and characterization that will quantify restoration, revitalization, and enhancement as mitigation and/or compensation options for impacted wetlands.

The quality and/or significance of a wetland can be determined by an evaluation of the functional values of the ecological and hydrological characteristics of a wetland. The evaluation includes a semi-quantitative numerical and descriptive rating of various functional values of wetlands such as the biology, hydrology, roundwater, water quality, storm water/flood control, aesthetics, recreational, and social economic characteristics of the wetland. The functional value is assigned a numerical value based on a percentage rating and is also ranked low, moderate or high. A descriptive value is based on field observations. The various functional value parameters are compiled on a decision matrix that can be summated for numerical value, rank and wetland segment description to develop the overall quality of the wetland.

The evaluation system is used to determine the quality and significance of existing conditions of each wetland segment. Wetlands which are to be mitigated by restoration, revitali-zation and/or enhancement can also be evaluated with the system to measure the extent of improvement in quality.