Using GIS to identify functionally significant wetlands in the Northeastern United States

Of the several automated wetland assessment methods currently available, no ne are comprehensive in considering all of the primary functions a wetland can pei-form. We developed a methodology particularly suited to the Northea stern United States that enumerates spatial predictors of wetland function for three primary wetland functions: flood flow alteration, surface water q uality improvement, and wildlife habitat. Predictors were derived from seve ral wetland assessment techniques and directly from the literature on wetla nd structure and function. The methodology was then automated using a Geogr aphic Information System (GIS). The resulting Automated Assessment Method f or Northeastern Wetlands (AMNEW) consists of a suite of eight Are Macro Lan guage (AML) programs that run in the ARC/INFO GRID module. Using remotely s ensed land use information and digital elevation models (DEMs), AMNEW produ ces three separate grids of wetlands that perform each function. The method was tested on four watersheds in Vermont's Lake Champlain Basin. Results a nd preliminary verification indicate that the method can successfully ident ify those wetlands in the Northeastern region that have the potential to be functionally important.