Identification

The first question most people ask when they encounter the wetlands protection program is "What is a wetland?" In order to administer regulations fairly and consistently, the state and federal governments have developed definitions of wetlands and manuals describing how wetlands can be identified in the field.

Michigan's definition is: land characterized by the presence of water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances does support, wetland vegetation or aquatic life, and is commonly referred to as a bog, swamp, or marsh ...

While the state and federal methods of identifying wetland boundaries differ in some respects, application of the two methods result in very similar delineations in the field.  Michigan uses the 2001 MDEQ Wetland Identification Manual: A Technical Manual for Identifying Wetlands in Michigan.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers currently relies on a manual published in 1987. That manual and general descriptions of the methods are available at the sites below.

 USEPA: How wetlands are defined and identified

 On-site delineation of wetlands

 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual

 Cowardin Wetland Classification System

Wetland Identification in Michigan

Identification of wetlands primarily involves the determination of two factors: signs of hydrology and the predominance of wetland vegetation or aquatic life. In the absence of visual signs of hydrology at the ground surface or under abnormal circumstances, including drought conditions or recent human disturbance, wetland hydrology can be documented by the presence of hydric soils. 

The presence of water (the hydrology) is necessary for the development of a wetland. The timing, frequency, and level of saturation each year influences the type of vegetation that can grow in an area and the type of chemical and physical reactions which occur in the soil. Identification of wetlands is best during the growing season.  However, the use of soil data and a good knowledge of remnant and immature vegetation can assist in making delineations outside of the growing season. 

The following pages provide information on each of these factors that may be useful in making determinations of the presence of wetlands.

MDEQ Wetland Identification Manual:  A Technical Manual for Identifying Wetlands in Michigan

Wetland Identification Data Form

Wetland Jurisdiction Determination Form

Information on the DEQ Wetland Assessment Program

More information regarding Wetland Hydrology

More information regarding Wetland Vegetation

More information regarding Hydric Soils

Wetland Training

Several companies and organizations offer training in various wetland topics. The Department of Environmental Quality cannot endorse any of these groups, but provides these links for your assistance. Information concerning the courses offered can be found at their respective websites.

 USEPA Inventory of Wetland Training Courses

Institute of Botanical Training, LLC

 Wetland Training Institute

 Richard Chinn Environmental Training, Inc.

 Environmental Concern, Inc. Wetland Courses