Regional Guidebook for Applying the Hydrogeomorphic Approach to Assessing Wetland Functions of Depression Wetlands in the Upper Des Plaines River Basin

摘要

This Regional Guidebook characterizes the wetlands in the Upper Des Plaines River Basin using the hydrogeomorphic (HGM) approach. The HGM approach is a collection of concepts and methods used to develop functional indices to assess the capacity of a particular wetland to perform functions relative to similar wetlands in a region. Specifically, this report describes the rationale that was used to select functions for two subclasses of herbaceous freshwater depressions, the Isolated Depression subclass and the Floodplain Depression subclass. The report also describes the process used to select model variables and metrics and to develop assessment models. Data from reference wetlands are provided and used to calibrate model variables and assessment models. Protocols for applying functional indices to the assessment of wetland functions are provided.