Subject: Providing Guidance on Making Wetland Determinations for Program Eligibility

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) policy does not require a certified wetland determination for participation in the CRP wetland practices. Specifically, CP23, Wetland Restoration; CP23A, Wetland Restoration Non-Floodplain; and CP27, Farmable Wetlands with Associated Buffer, CP28. In order to facilitate program eligibility and enable a quick turnaround of participant applications, the following guidance should be followed when making CRP wetland eligibility determinations for these programs.

If time and staffing permits, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) Reg. 4 certified individual should assist the local district conservationist (DC) with the determination. If the local DC is Reg. 4 certified, they may make the determination independently of further assistance. For those DCs who are not Reg. 4 certified, an adjoining Reg. 4 certified DC, the area soil scientist, or other Reg. 4 certified individual may be the assisting individual.

When a DC needing a determination is not Reg. 4 certified and workload will not allow for assistance in a timely manner, the DC may proceed with the determination on their own. If this course is pursued, the first three CRP wetland eligibility determinations should be completed with the oversight of a Reg. 4 certified individual. If there are no concerns with these three determinations, the assistant state conservationist for field operations may then allow the DC to make future CRP wetland eligibility determinations and complete the required documentation without area office oversight.

Regardless of who makes the determination, the following documentation is required:

• For CRP wetland eligibility, a field review shall be completed. The following information should be documented and recorded from this field review.
  1. Soils characteristics observed and considered in the final determination.
  2. Notes documenting any on-site vegetation or vegetation on any adjacent relic or similar sites, if available.
  3. Notes documenting hydrology.

Under no circumstances should a determination be made without a field review. For purposes of program eligibility, every effort should be made to complete program eligibility determinations in a maximum of 30 days from the participant's application.

/s/

HAROLD L. KLAEGE
State Conservationist

DIST: A, F, S, FSA (3), Krueger, Benfer, Ungerer (SCC), Aslin (KFS), Schroeder (KDWP)