EPA Publishes Draft 2011 National Wetland Condition Assessment Report

On November 5th, EPA published a Federal Register Notice announcing the availability of its draft 2011 National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA) report for a 30-day public comment period.  The NWCA 2011 draft report is the first national assessment of the ecological condition of the nation’s wetlands and describes the results of a nationwide probabilistic survey of wetlands conducted by EPA and its state and tribal partners.

Results are based on ecological data collected at over 1,000 sites using standardized protocols and include estimates of wetland area condition, nationally and by ecoregion, for biological indicators based on plants and key wetland stressors that can impact water quality and drinking water supplies.  The report also provides information on the design and implementation of the scientific assessment, possible implications, and future actions, including the next 2016 Assessment.  This report marks the completion of the first full-cycle of assessments by EPA and its partners under EPA’s National Aquatic Resource Surveys program.  Visit EPA’s website to read the draft report.  Comments can be made vis the regulations.gov website.  Comments must be received on or before December 7, 2015.