Primary purpose
WRAP: To provide a consistent, timely regulatory tool for evaluating freshwater wetlands that have been created, enhanced, preserved, or restored through the regulatory programs of the South Florida Water Management District and the Environmental Resource permit process.
M-WRAP is a modified version of WRAP designed for use in reviewing mitigation banks and to aid in determining the number of credits. E-WRAP (draft) is a modified version of WRAP designed for use in the assessing estuarine systems.
Expertise needed
Professional with an understanding of functions in Florida freshwater wetland ecosystems and familiar with flora and fauna with respect to specific ecosystems.
Applicable habitat types
Freshwater wetlands in Florida.
Categories assessed
Six variables: wildlife utilization; overstory/shrub canopy of desirable species; wetland vegetative ground cover of desirable species; adjacent upland/wetland buffer; field indicators of wetland hydrology; and water quality input and treatment.
Procedure
The user(s) reviews existing information (e.g., identify landuses adjacent to the site, on-site hydrology), visits the wetland area, and completes data sheets that (a) identify the variables, (b) list three or more calibration descriptors for each variable, and (c) assign a score (range 0 to 3) to each description. Scores for each variable are summed and divided by the maximum possible score to derive a WRAP score (scale 0.0-1.0) for the wetland.
Key Terminology
Functionality: degree to which wetland provides specific functions.
Wetland condition: overall site characteristics of wetland at the time of assessment.
Output
Measure of functionality based on anthropogenic activities for a site.
Estimated time to assess 1 acre site
Time variable: Office evaluation (step 1). Includes identifying project site and adjacent land uses.
1 hour: Field evaluation (step 2) and score wetland (step 3).
Comparison of habitat types
A particular system is evaluated on its own attributes and is not to be compared to a different type of system (i.e., wetland prairie should not be compared to a cypress slough).
Use as guide to design
WRAP should not be used as a guide to design. To attain a high score for wildlife utilization, the wetland should be designed with a strong evidence of wildlife utilization, abundant aquatic macroinvertebrates, amphibians and forage fishes; abundant upland food sources, negligible evidence of human disturbance, and abundant cover and habitat for wildlife. Some variables cannot be controlled by design (e.g., strong evidence of wildlife utilization, presence of macroinvertebrates). Also, explicit measurements for design criteria cannot be obtained from many variables (e.g., design for abundant cover for wildlife). Scoring of many variables involves a high degree of subjective judgement which generally cannot be integrated into design criteria. WRAP contains some information that can be used for site plan development (e.g., buffer sizes, maximizing water quality treatment prior to discharge).
Contact persons
WRAP: Ray Miller or Boyd E. Gunsalus, South Florida Water Management District, Martin St. Lucy Branch Office, 218 Atlanta Avenue, Stewart, FL 34994. phone: 1-800-250-4100 ext. 3606; fax: (561) 223-2698; e-mail: bgunsalu@sfwmd.gov
M-WRAP: Ann Ertman, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399 phone: (850) 487-2231; fax: (850) 922-5380; e-mail: ertman_a@epic6.dep.state.fl.us
E-WRAP: Dave Ferrell, U.S. fish and Wildlife Service, 1360 U.S. highway 1, Vero Beach, FL 32961 phone: (561) 778-0896 ext.14; fax: (561) 564-7393; e-mail: dave_ferrell@fws.gov
Related procedures
M-WRAP is used for the review mitigation banks in Florida and it is considered one of the tools for determining the number of credits. There are minor differences between WRAP and the current version of M-WRAP (Pers. comm.: Ann Ertman, FL DEP, July 10, 1998). E-WRAP contains different descriptors in the models for the estuarine environment and policy guidance for the assessment of sites in mosquito impoundments.
Extent of use/field testing
WRAP has been used for mitigation bank reviews and by the US Army Corps of Engineers for the review of permit actions (e.g., highways, residential, agriculture, and commercial projects). Some consultants have submitted WRAP assessments to the South Florida Water Management District as part of permit applications. Over 200 sites were visited during WRAPs development, and the current report is the 15th version in five years. Statistical analysis of the data indicated that WRAP is highly repeatable and that there is no multicollinearity and correlation among variables (Pers. comm.: R. Miller and B. Gunsalus, SFWMD, May 28, 1998). To date, E-WRAP has not been field tested (Pers. comm.: D. Ferrell, USFWS, August 17, 1998).
Proposed future revisions
There will be further revisions within the next five years.
Key Reference
Miller, R.E., and B.E. Gunsalus. 1997. Wetland Rapid Assessment Procedure (WRAP) Technical Publication REG-001. South Florida Water Management District, Natural Resource Management Division, West Palm Beach, FL.