Wetland clues checklist

Use this checklist to help you identify clues wetlands may be present on a property; walk the property, including wooded areas, and answer the questions below.

A. Is there evidence of water?

1. Are there ponds, lakes, streams, springs or seeps?
   
2. Are there "low spots" where water collects or the ground is soggy for at least a week?
   
3. Are there drainage channels or has the site been ditched or tiled in spots to "dry it out?"
   
4. If the site is a farm field, are there areas where crops do not grow or the plants are stunted or yellowing during years with normal rainfall?
   
5. Are there watermarks or stains on tree trunks?
   
6. Do trees have a shallow root system?
   
7. Are there areas where water has scoured away plants and leaves, flattened vegetation or where no vegetation is growing?
   
8. Are sticks, leaves, soil and other debris deposited by water in a line on plants and trees?
   

B. Are water-loving plants present?

1. Are these plants present: cattails, reed canary grass, sedges, rushes, blue flag iris, Joe-Pye weed, New England aster, sensitive fern, skunk cabbage or sphagnum moss?
   
2. Are these shrubs present: dogwoods, willows, alder, leatherleaf, spiraea or blueberry?
   
3. Are these trees present: willows, silver maple, box elder, black or green ash, cottonwood, elm, balsam fir, tamarack or spruce?
   
4. Do plants have roots growing from their stems above the soil?
   
5. Do trees have multiple trunks or are the trunks expanded or swollen at the base?
   

C. Are there wet soils or signs of them?

Dig a hole down 20 inches:

1. Is the soil dark brown or black?
   
2. Does the soil feel moist or can you squeeze out water? [Not pictured]
3. Is the soil primarily peat (decaying plants) or muck? [Not pictured]
4. Is the soil primarily peat (decaying plants) or muck?
   
5. Is the soil gray, gray-blue or gray-green or marked with reddish or yellowish spots or dark streaks?
   
6. Are there crayfish burrows -- mounds of dirt with a hole?