National Wetland Condition Assessment 2011 Draft Report

This notice announces the availability of EPA's draft report on the National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA 2011) and opens a 30-day public review and comment period on the draft report. The NWCA 2011 is the first national assessment of the ecological condition of the nation's wetlands. The NWCA 2011 draft report describes the results of a nationwide probabilistic survey of wetlands conducted in the spring and summer of 2011 by EPA and its state and tribal partners. Results are based on ecological data collected at over 1,000 sites using standardized protocols and include estimates of wetland area in ``good,'' ``fair,'' and ``poor'' condition, nationally and by ecoregion, for a biological indicator based on plants and key wetland stressors. The report also provides information on the design and implementation of the scientific assessment, possible implications, and future actions. This report completes the first series of probability-based surveys conducted under EPA's National Aquatic Resource Surveys program.