Utah Wetland Functional Classification Version 1

The National Wetland Inventory (NWI) is the most comprehensive wetland classification system for the state of Utah. While the NWI is the most complete and accessible classification system, the 366 unique wetland type identifiers in the state are often difficult to interpret and have little relevance to natural resource managers. This report describes the Utah Geological Survey reclassification of the NWI data to provide the users with the most current data with a universal database schema across the state.

This study indicates that wetlands in Tooele Valley are endangered. The threats posed are from drought and increased development due to population growth, which could dramatically affect the amount of water the wetlands receive. -- sticker on back of disc cover.

The Utah Geological Survey surveyed 28 sites in 2014 to quantify the location and condition of wetlands on the north slope of the Uinta Mountains in the Upper Blacks Fork and Smiths Fork watersheds. The three project goals were to compare accuracy of different wetland mapping techniques, assess wetland condition at randomly selected field sites, and develop a landscape model to predict wetland condition. Field mapping resulted in 6.2% and 13.1% less wetland area than mapping conducted by the National Wetland Inventory and the U.S. Forest Service, respectively. Sites were at or near pristine condition based on most field measures, though sites did show evidence of disturbance from grazing and non-native plant species. Landscape model results indicate that sites further from roads, closer to trails, and within the wilderness boundary generally had healthier plant community composition measures. While wetlands in the study area are overall in good condition, we recommend follow-up work to better quantify the impact of livestock grazing on wetlands in the area using study sites with well-understood levels of grazing intensity.

Wetlands and riparian areas between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada are incredibly diverse and valuable habitats. More than 80 percent of the wildlife species in this intermountain region depend on these wetlands—which account for less than 2 percent of the land area—for their survival. At the same time, the wetlands also serve the water needs of ranchers and farmers, recreationists, vacation communities, and cities. It is no exaggeration to call water the “liquid gold” of the West, and the burgeoning human demands on this scarce resource make it imperative to understand and properly manage the wetlands and riverine areas of the Intermountain West. This book offers land managers, biologists, and research scientists a state-of-the-art survey of the ecology and management practices of wetland and riparian areas in the Intermountain West. Twelve articles examine such diverse issues as laws and regulations affecting these habitats, the unique physiographic features of the region, the importance of wetlands and riparian areas to fish, wildlife, and livestock, the ecological function of these areas, their value to humans, and the methods to evaluate these habitats. The authors also address the human impacts on the land from urban and suburban development, mining, grazing, energy extraction, recreation, water diversions, and timber harvesting and suggest ways to mitigate such impacts.In addition to the editors, the contributors to this volume are:Paul Adamus, Oregon State University, CorvallisMichael A. Bozek, University of Wisconsin, Stevens PointRobert C. Ehrhart, Oregon State University, BendJames H. Gammonley, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Fort CollinsPaul L. Hansen, Bitterroot Restoration, Corvallis, MontanaE. Andrew Hart, University of Wyoming, LaramieMurray K. Laubhan, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, ColoradoKirk Lohman, University of Idaho, MoscowJames R. Lovvorn, University of Wyoming, LaramieNeal D. Niemuth, University of Wisconsin, Stevens PointRichard A. Olson, University of Wyoming, LaramieNeil F. Payne, University of Wisconsin, Stevens PointMark A. Rumble, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Rapid City, South DakotaMaureen Ryan, University of Toledo (Ohio) College of LawBrian E. Smith, U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Jamestown, North DakotaMark Squillace, University of Toledo (Ohio) College of LawStephen A. Tessmann, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, CheyenneDavid W. Willis, South Dakota State University, Brookings