Wetland clues checklist
Use this checklist to help you identify clues wetlands may be present on a property; walk the property, including wooded areas, and answer the questions below.
A. Is there evidence of water?
- Are there ponds, lakes, streams, springs or seeps?
- Are there "low spots" where water collects or the ground is soggy for at least a week?
- Are there drainage channels or has the site been ditched or tiled in spots to "dry it out?"
- If the site is a farm field, are there areas where crops do not grow or the plants are stunted or yellowing during years with normal rainfall?
- Are there watermarks or stains on tree trunks?
- Do trees have a shallow root system?
- Are there areas where water has scoured away plants and leaves, flattened vegetation or where no vegetation is growing?
- Are sticks, leaves, soil and other debris deposited by water in a line on plants and trees?
B. Are water-loving plants present?
- Are these plants present: cattails, reed canary grass, sedges, rushes, blue flag iris, Joe-Pye weed, New England aster, sensitive fern, skunk cabbage or sphagnum moss?
- Are these shrubs present: dogwoods, willows, alder, leatherleaf, spiraea or blueberry?
- Are these trees present: willows, silver maple, box elder, black or green ash, cottonwood, elm, balsam fir, tamarack or spruce?
- Do plants have roots growing from their stems above the soil?
- Do trees have multiple trunks or are the trunks expanded or swollen at the base?
C. Are there wet soils or signs of them?
Dig a hole down 20 inches:
- Is the soil dark brown or black?
- Does the soil feel moist or can you squeeze out water? [Not pictured]
- Is the soil primarily peat (decaying plants) or muck? [Not pictured]
- Is the soil primarily peat (decaying plants) or muck?
- Is the soil gray, gray-blue or gray-green or marked with reddish or yellowish spots or dark streaks?
- Are there crayfish burrows -- mounds of dirt with a hole?
