Review of Rapid Assessment Methods for Assessing Wetland Condition

This report provides an analysis of existing wetland rapid assessment methods that have been developed for use in state and tribal programs. There is an increasing number of wetland assessment procedures available. In this analysis we set out to identify the rapid methods that are most suitable for assessing the ecological condition of wetlands, whether it be for regulatory purposes, to assess the ambient condition of wetlands on a watershed basis, or to determine mitigation project success. The methods reviewed here were developed for a variety of purposes including use in regulatory decision making, local land use planning, and the assessment of ambient ecosystem condition.