Report: Measuring outcomes of wetland restoration, enhancement, and creation in Idaho—Assessing potential functions, values, and condition in a watershed context This dataset is a compilation of results of various wetland assessment projects conducted in Idaho since 2006. It includes spatial and tabular information from 211 wetland assessment areas, of which 64 were rapidly assessed for function, ecosystem services, and condition (primarily in restored, enhanced, and created wetlands), and 147 rapidly assessed for condition only.The Wetland Ecosystem Services Protocol for the United States (WESPUS) (Adamus 2011) was used to rapidly assess the potential hydrologic, water quality, carbon sequestration, and habitat (fish, aquatic, terrestrial) functions and ecosystem services of 51 wetlands. This method also addresses wetland stressors and integrity. It is logic-based, incorporating wetland ecologic principles of hydrology, biogeochemistry, ecology, and hydrogeomorphic (HGM) assessment. It is transparent, providing explanations of the assumptions and algorithms used in models that score wetland functions and ecosystem services for a site. The models incorporate 140 indicators observable during the field assessment. WESPUS estimates the value of a wetland function (ecosystem service) according to the opportunity and relative importance that a particular wetland has in providing that function. This rapid (Level II) method that is repeatable and relatively easily applied by wetland specialists and field ecologists (Adamus 2011). A limited number of wetlands were rapidly assessed for function and condition using alternative methods explained in the cited documents (13 wetlands using Wetland Rating System for Eastern Washington (Hruby 2004); 6 wetlands usiong Montana Department of Transportation Wetland Assessment Method (Berglund and McEldowney 2008). The condition of was rapidly assessed using the “Idaho Wetland Condition Rapid Assessment Method” (Idaho RAM) (described in Murphy and Schmidt 2010). This method was modeled after similar land use and stressor checklists. Idaho RAM is based on field observation of disturbance and stress indicators. It consists of both land use and stressor checklists. The Land-use Checklist is applied by estimating the percent of the assessment area and percent of the 100 m buffer occupied by each land-use on the checklist. The Stressor Checklist is applied by marking the presence of each stressor on the checklist that is observed in the AA and in the surrounding 50 m wide buffer. High stressor and human land use scores mean that a greater number of indicators of stress and impairments to wetland condition and integrity were observed. The condition of vernal pools and playas was assessed using a modified Idaho RAM focused on indicators specific to these unique wetland habitats.
