| Wetlands | Rank 4 (Low) | Rank 3 (Low - moderate) | Rank 2 (Moderate - high) | Rank 1 (High) | |
| Wetland Ident - ification | Wetlands delineated on
plan map by USDA
Classification
| Wetlands identified on
plan map
| Most wetlands identified | Wetlands not identified
| |
| Upland Buffer Strip Between Wetland and Cropland | Wide upland buffer strip (50 ft. or more). Natural or planted upland vegetation. Buffer strip is permanently retired from agriculture. | Narrow upland buffer
strip(16-49 ft.).
Natural or planted
upland vegetation.
Buffer strip is
permanently retired
from agriculture.
| Narrow upland buffer strip (8-15). Upland vegetation is cut or grazed annually. | Upland buffer strip less than 8 ft. between agricultural cropland and the wetland or pond. | |
| Amount of Buffer
Strip around the
Edge of the Wetland
or Pond
| Buffer strip is around most of the wetland perimeter. | Buffer strip is around more than half of the wetland perimeter. | Buffer strip is around less than half of the wetland perimeter. | Little or no buffer strip | |
| Tillage and Planting Systems Used on the Fields Next to the Wetland or Pond | Permanent cover of native or planted vegetation. No tillage is done during the year. | A conservation tillage
system used, No-till
and mulch till. At least
30% of soil surface
covered with crop
residue after planting.
| Minimum tillage system. 20-29% of soil surface covered with crop residue after planting. | Conventional tillage and planting system. Less than 20% of the soil surface covered with crop residue after planting. | |
| Restorable Wetlands | There are restorable wetlands that will result in high quality habitat for wildlife | There are restorable wetland that will result in good quality habitat for wildlife | There are restorable wetlands that will result in fair quality habitat for wildlife | There are no restorable
wetlands that will
result in any wildlife
habitat
| |
| Water Usage | No water is taken, or removal of water does not impact wetland habitat | Water is taken, with slight impact of wetland habitat | Water is taken with moderate impact to wetland habitat | Water is taken with severe impact to wetland habitat | |
| Habitat Improve - ment | Some wetland areas have been maintained or are planned to be restored. | Some wet areas are left as is with no additional drainage activities planned | Wet areas are planned to be modified with drainage activities. | Wet areas are planned to be modified. There is no regard for wildlife needs. | |
| Riparian Areas | |||||
| Ident - ification | These areas have been delineated on the plan map | Areas not identified | |||
| Buffer Strips | Present and exceed the recommend width | Present and meets minimum width | Present and don't meet
minimum width.
| Not present | |
| Shading of Stream | Cover over 75% of the stream bed | Cover over 50% of the stream bed. | Cover over 25% of the stream bed | No cover over any of the stream bed. | |
| Habitat Devel - opment | In-stream man made structures are in place and functioning | Natural in-stream structures are in place and functioning | Some natural in-stream structures are in place. | No in-stream structures in place. Poor natural structure to the stream | |
| Habitat Corridors | Corridors connect more than 3 separate wildlife cover types | Corridors connect at least 2 separate wildlife areas | There is a seasonal corridor that connects 2 wildlife areas. | There are no corridors to connect separate wildlife cover types | |
This worksheet has been developed by the National Farm*A*Syst Office and the NRCS Material Devel - opment Team for Whole Farm and Ranch Conservation Planning. It is designed to serve as an example of whole farm and ranch worksheets that can be modified to fit individual state needs. For more information on this worksheet contact the National Farm*A*Syst Office at B 142 Steenbock Library, 550 Babcock Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1293, Phone (608) 262-0024.
July 24, 1998
Dennis Hoffman, Project Leader
Steve Dagitz, Webmaster