Wetland inventory and mapping report: Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

Sharpe, Peter

The objective of this inventory was to delineate and map all palustrine wetlands subject to jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and all wetlands subject to National Park Service (NPS) procedures for implementing Director’s Order #77–1: Wetland Protection at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (HOFU). This investigation adhered to the U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Interim Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual: Eastern Mountains and Piedmont as the primary methodology for making wetland determinations in the field. Under National Park Service D.O. #77.1 guidelines the USACE methodology is appropriate for wetland features possessing vegetation and soils. This inventory only provides data for land-based (palustrine) wetland features, no attempts were made to delineate waterway (riverine systems). A total of 31 unique palustrine wetland features totaling 77.53 ac (31.38 ha) of land were identified and delineated from August-October 2014 and October 2015. All of the identified and mapped palustrine wetland systems meet both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers criteria and the Cowardin et al. (1979) definitions. No new riverine systems were identified and mapped over the course of this investigation within the park boundary. The majority of the larger wetland systems were located in areas previously identified by park staff and USGS/NPS vegetation mapping (i.e. French Creek floodplain); however, a significant number of previously unmapped smaller wetland areas were identified over the course of this investigation including the identification and verification of several vernal pool habitats. The improved boundary information and field delineated wetland mapping will significantly improve the park’s ability to effectively manage, protect, and monitor these unique resources.

Wetland inventory and mapping report: Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

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