On April 5th of this year, the Army Corps of Engineers released its new ENG Forms 6116 (1-9), Automated Wetland Determination Data Sheet (ADS), and the associated “User Guide for Automated Wetland Determination Data Sheets.” This form originated in the Detroit district but is now supported in all 10 Regional supplements. It does not replace the PDF versions of the data forms but is another option with additional features that were designed to save time and cut down on errors.
According to the news release:
The Excel-based ADS increases technical accuracy by reducing errors and increases efficiency by automatically populating many of the field indicators of wetland hydrology, hydrophytic vegetation, and hydric soils. The ADS incorporates or includes the following:
- Similar layout as the Regional Supplement wetland determination data forms,
- Application of the most up-to-date plant species wetland indicator status ratings from the National Wetland Plant List (currently the 2020 National Wetland Plant List, version 3.5),
- Automated calculation of hydrophytic vegetation indicators,
- Automated interpretation of most hydric soil indicators and certain wetland hydrology indicators,
- Automated features prompting users to complete, or review required information,
- Exportable to PDF or other electronic format, and the ability to print formatted hard copies, and
- Application of the most up-to-date field indicators of hydric soils (currently version 8.2).
Clicking on the ADS form brings up an Excel spreadsheet of the form with either 3 or 4 individual pages depending on whether you are using a 4 or a 5 strata vegetation page.
My review is based on the Eastern Mountains and Piedmont Region Data sheet. Starting with the Project Information at the top of the Hydrology work sheet, you are presented with an exact copy of the PDF data sheets available in the regional supplements. You can tab through each entry, use arrow keys, or select an entry with your mouse. Several of the entries have pull-down lists such as STATE and LRR, which is convenient. Some of the entries are auto filled depending on the data entered on your form such as “Wetland Hydrology Present? Yes ____ No ____.” The default is NO until you prove you have a wetland. The same is true for the individual pages Hydrology, Vegetation, and Soils.
Moving to the HYDROLOGY section, most of the indicators have a red triangle in the upper right corner of the data entry area as indicated here by a red asterisk. (___* Surface Water (A1)). If you run your cursor over the triangle, you will get a description of the indicator, “This indicator consists of the direct, visual observation of surface water (flooding or ponding) during a site visit.” These indicators must be entered manually depending on the conditions of your site.
Under Field Observations, you can indicate the presence of surface water, water table, and saturation. It will not automatically remove a √ or an X if you change your mind so remember to remove the unwanted symbols.
Accidental entries with any letter/symbol other than an “x” or “X” will appear on the form but will not count as an indicator. Entering remarks is a straightforward text entry.
Under VEGETATION, you have the option to choose either a 4 or a 5-strata vegetation form depending on your region. Each stratum requires you to enter a Plot size. The entry area for any missing data will appear hi-lighted to alert you of a problem. To choose an indicator status for your region, you must first make sure that you have selected a state and an LRR/MLRA on page one.
You are instructed to use proper scientific names, and if you do, the program will give you the indicator status for your region. If, however, you enter the common name, it will allow this, but you must enter the indicator status manually. Once the absolute cover % is entered, the sheet will fill in whether the species is dominant or not based on the 50/20 rule. As you enter new species, the number of dominants may change as the 50/20 rule values change. The Dominance Test and Prevalence Index worksheets are automatically computed unless you elect to NOT have them done by checking a box in the right margin of the sheet. The Rapid Test did not automatically check a box when a sole FACW species was entered. I had to enter it manually. The ADS form will automatically go back to your hydrology page and fill in FAC neutral as a secondary hydrology indicator if the vegetation passes this test.
If incorrect information or information that the sheet does not expect in a box is entered, it can get a little quirky. As with all automation including commercially available programs, it pays to check your work carefully so that the program accurately reflects the information you want presented.
I always like to show a “with and without” sheet when using Morphological Adaptations to adjust of indicator status of FACU species that show these adaptations. However, I did not see a way of adding a second vegetation data sheet using ADS. For this purpose, you could always go back and use the PDF version.
In calculating A, S, and F indicators on the SOILS page, I found that you again, must be careful and thoroughly check the results you are given. For example, the form allowed me to choose an indicator that was only available in a specific LRR/MLRA combination even though I had purposely chosen an incorrect LRR.
The form will populate indicators based on the Munsell information given and often suggests other related indicators that may or may not be applicable in your situation. You can also add your own indicators. An error notice will pop up if you do not enter the layer information correctly such as gaps in the measurements between layers. One other potential issue is when there are combinations of indicators such as with an F6 and A11.
In conclusion, the ADS is a normal Wetland Determination Data Form presented as an Excel spreadsheet with automated features designed to save you time and help eliminate errors. It requires an electronic device to enter the data and therefore also has the associated issues of using electronics in the field.
It may not have all of the bells and whistles of commercially available programs designed to help you complete data forms, but the ADS is a good alternative, and it is free. Personally, nothing beats a pencil and a Data Form printed neatly!
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