Select a wetland score theme

Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem Services is a measure of a wetland’s ability to provide an ecosystem service. It summarizes geospatial factors that may influence provision of services, such as:

• Occurrence in a FEMA-designated 100-year floodplain.
• Proximity (100 ft) to a water body with a 303(d)-listed water quality limitation such as high temperature or high sediment loading.
• Proximity (300 ft) to a DEQ-identified, high-risk potential source of groundwater contamination.
• Proximity (300 ft) to a DEQ-identified groundwater source area for Public Water Systems.
• Occurrence in an ODFW-designated area with late-season low stream flow.
• Occurrence in a FEMA-designated 100-year floodplain.
• Occurrence in an area used for education, hunting, hiking, or other recreation.

Wetland Condition

Wetland Condition represents the current condition of the wetland using a combination of:

• Proximity (100 ft) to any road
• Proximity (100 ft) to a major road or railroad.
• Proximity (100 ft) to a permitted removal-fill site.
• Proximity (100 ft) to a stream downstream from a major dam.
• The percentage of a wetland that is farmed, drained, or impounded.
• Relative cover of native vs. exotic vegetation.
• Proximity (100 ft) to a canal or pipeline.
• Percentage of wetland that is artificially drained, impounded, or excavated.
• Percentage of wetland modified by beaver activity.

Wetlands are presumed to be in good condition (given higher scores) unless they are affected by one or more of the above-listed variables. Except for beaver activity, the variables above are scored as being detrimental to wetlands. Potential wetlands (see Learn more about the 2012 Wetland Restoration Planning Tool [link to page 2]) are slightly downgraded compared to other wetlands.

Landscape Integrity

Landscape Integrity represents the amount of landscape-scale fragmentation in proximity to a wetland complex, defined as a group of wetlands located within 300 feet of each other. Fragmentation is measured by:

• The diversity and richness of land cover classes.
• The number of patches of natural land cover types.
• The amount of edge in patches of natural land cover types.
• Patch size and density of natural land cover types.
• Euclidean nearest-neighbor distance between patches of natural land cover types.
• Density of roads.

Each of these variables is summarized for the area immediately surrounding wetland complexes greater than 5 acres in size. For wetland complexes smaller than 5 acres, the values are summarized over the watershed (HUC6) in which each wetland occurs.

Conservation Value

Conservation Value represents the wetland’s current impact in terms of conservation. It summarizes geospatial factors such as:

• Proximity (100 ft) to DSL-designated Essential Salmonid Habitat.
• Occurrence in or 100-ft proximity to USFWS-designated Critical Habitat or within known habitat of USFWS or ODFW-listed or sensitive wetland-dependent species.
• Within or adjacent to modeled habitat for USFWS or ODFW-listed species.
• Proximity (300 ft) to a spring.
• Occurrence in an ODFW-designated Conservation Opportunity Area with wetlands or riparian areas designated as a key habitat.
• Occurrence in DSL-designated Wetland of Conservation Concern (formerly Special Area of Concern, SAC).

Restoration and Management

Restoration and Mitigation Potential is a measure of a wetland’s potential to be successfully restored or used for mitigation. It combines:

• Proximity (300 ft) to a wetland with previous investment (e.g., OWEB project, USDA Wetland Reserve Program, DSL-approved wetland mitigation bank)
• Proximity (100 ft) to a wetland mitigation or restoration site.
• The size of the wetland
• The size of wetlands within 300 ft.
• Current land management status (ownership, land use)
• Distance from an airport (proximity to an airport lowers score)

For restoration purposes, larger wetlands are presumed to be of more interest than smaller wetlands. Building on previous investments in wetland restoration is desirable.