rapid assessment procedure for determining the functionality of wetlands in South Florida

The Wetland Rapid Assessment Procedure (WRAP) is a process developed to assist the regulatory evaluation of mitigation sites (created, restored, enhanced or preserved). These areas are permitted through the South Florida Water Management District's Management and Storage of Surface Waters or Environmental Resource Permit Process. WRAP evaluation is designed for the limited timeframes of the regulatory process. The objectives of WRAP are: (1) to establish an accurate, consistent, and timely regulatory tool; (2) to track changes in wetland sites over time (i.e., baseline data); and (3) to offer guidance for environmental site plan development. Test results of the WRAP procedure showed it to be a repeatable and effective training tool for biologists. Although some general trends were observed regarding land use and variable scores, additional data will need to be collected to establish more conclusive relationships between land use and wetland function.