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THE HYDROGEOMORPHIC APPROACH TO FUNCTIONAL
ASSESSMENT FOR PIEDMONT SLOPE WETLANDS
B. Vasilas, UD; L. Vasilas, NRCS; M. Wilson, NRCS
HGM Approach
Procedure designed to assess the capacity of a wetland to perform functions.
Functions: biological, chemical, and physical processes (e.g. water storage)
HGM Approach
• Wetland classification
• Site selection
• Model development– Identification/selection of functions– Data collection– Generate variables– Calibrate
Basic Assumption to HGM
“…the highest, sustainable functional capacity is achieved in wetland ecosystems and landscapes that have not been subject to long-term anthropogenic disturbance.”
Reference Wetlands
• Data collection sites for model development
• Represent a range in anthropogenic disturbance
Reference Standard Wetlands
• Subset of reference wetlands
• Exhibit the least anthropogenic disturbance
• Represent the highest functional capacity
Model Development Variables
• Simple variables-presence of a surface flow outlet
• Complex variables-water chemistry
• Temporal variables-soil Eh
“User Friendly” Variables
• Visual or easily measured
• No temporal restrictions
• Correlated to a quantitative measure of an
attribute
HGM Approach
• Function• Process• Attribute• Variable
• Nutrient cycling• Denitrification• Organic carbon• Leaf litter
Hydrologic Characteristics
• Hydrologic Source: Groundwater discharge– Toeslope seeps– Sideslope seeps
• Hydrodynamics– One directional (downslope)– Low-medium energy
Piedmont Slope Functions
• Provide characteristic wildlife habitat
• Carbon export
• Temporary water storage
• Particulate retention
• Removal of pollutants
• Nutrient cycling
Function: Nutrient Cycling
• Process: Microbial transformation
• Wetland attributes:– Hydrologic source condition– Organic carbon (energy)– Aerobic/anaerobic fluctuations
Function: Nutrient Cycling
• Variables:– Carbon (available vs. unavailable)
• Soil organic matter• Woody debris• Leaf litter• Herbaceous groundcover (roots)
– Aerobic/Anaerobic fluctuations• Hydroperiod (temporal)• Microtopography (spatial)
Hydroperiod Variables
• Soil– Presence/thickness of O horizons– Color/thickness of A horizons– Depth to redox features
• Plants– Species– Strata
Summary
• Piedmont slope wetlands show sig. variability in hydroperiods.
• Variability due to position of groundwater discharge sites; as opposed to disturbance.
• Variability sig. impacts functional capacity
(esp. nutrient cycling).
Function: Temporary Water Storage
• Processes: Hydrologic inputs/outputs
• Attributes:– Hydrologic source condition– Slope– Surface area– Microtopography– Connectivity
Function: Removal of Pollutants
• Process: Sequestration
• Attributes:– SOM accretion– Plant biomass
Function: Removal of Pollutants
• Process: Sorption to soil particles
• Attributes:– Hydrologic source condition– Retention time– Infiltration– High cation exchange capacity
Funtion: Removal of Pollutants
• Variable:– Infiltration
• Slope• Microtopography• Herbaceous cover• Soil porosity (texture)
– CEC• Organic matter content• Clay content (texture)
Functional Assessment
• Quantify the functional capacity of individual wetlands.
• Functional capacity: the degree to which a function is performed.
• Functional capacity is judged relative to a reference standard.
Functional Assessment-Why?
• Evaluation of wetland quality for Federal mandates
• Evaluation of anthropogenic impacts
• Evaluation for mitigation purposes (compensation “in kind”)
• Site selection for wetland enhancement
• Identification of environmentally-sensitive areas
Wetland Functions
• Definition: biological, chemical, and physical processes that occur in wetlands
• Examples– N removal through denitrification– Surface water storage– Soil organic matter accretion
Limitations
• Model development is labor intensive.
• Maximum index value limited by “pristine sites”.
Strengths
• Regionalized
• Specific to a subclass
• Attributes easily and quickly measured
• Surrounding land use considered
Surrounding Land Use
• Connectivity to other wetlands-wildlife
• Agricultural-sediment and nutrient loading
• Development-hydrologic inputs
Function: Carbon Export
• Processes:– Organic carbon production– Carbon transport (surface flow)
• Attributes:– Carbon production– Carbon transport
Function: Carbon Export
• Variables:– Carbon production
• Woody debris• Leaf litter• Herbaceous cover• Soil organic matter
– Carbon transport• Slope• Channelization• Connectivity