ERDC Releases New Data Sheet for Identifying Ordinary High Watermarks

CRREL
Published Jan. 27, 2023
Updated: Jan. 28, 2023
Researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, alongside the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulators, have been developing the National Ordinary High Watermark Field Delineation Manual for Rivers and Streams for 10 years. According to the manual, one method of determining the ordinary high watermark in a stream is by identifying moss growth on stones.

Researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, alongside the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulators, have been developing the National Ordinary High Watermark Field Delineation Manual for Rivers and Streams for 10 years. According to the manual, one method of determining the ordinary high watermark in a stream is by identifying moss growth on stones.

The National Technical Committee for Ordinary High Watermarks (OHWM), made up of researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), the Environmental Protection Agency, regulators from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other academic institutions, stand in front of a waterfall following a field test of an interim OHWM identification data sheet.

The National Technical Committee for Ordinary High Watermarks (OHWM), made up of researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), the Environmental Protection Agency, regulators from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other academic institutions, stand in front of a waterfall following a field test of an interim OHWM identification data sheet. The data sheet is part of a recently released National Ordinary High Water Mark Field Delineation Manual for Rivers and Streams, which has been in development for 10 years.

Daniel Vasconcelos, a regulator from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New England District and member of the National Technical Committee for Ordinary High Watermarks (OHWM), stands along a river in Vermont while field testing an interim OHWM identification data sheet.

Daniel Vasconcelos, a regulator from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New England District and member of the National Technical Committee for Ordinary High Watermarks (OHWM), stands along a river in Vermont while field testing an interim OHWM identification data sheet. The data sheet is part of a recently released National Ordinary High Water Mark Field Delineation Manual for Rivers and Streams, which researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory have been developing for 10 years alongside the Environmental Protection Agency and USACE districts.

Taylor Bell, a regulator from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New England District and member of the National Technical Committee for Ordinary High Watermarks (OHWM), stands along a river in Vermont while field testing an interim OHWM identification data sheet.

Taylor Bell, a regulator from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New England District and member of the National Technical Committee for Ordinary High Watermarks (OHWM), stands along a river in Vermont while field testing an interim OHWM identification data sheet. The data sheet is part of a recently released National Ordinary High Water Mark Field Delineation Manual for Rivers and Streams, which researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory have been developing for 10 years alongside the Environmental Protection Agency and USACE districts.

Taylor Bell, a regulator from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New England District stands along a river in Vermont while field testing an interim OHWM identification data sheet.

Taylor Bell, a regulator from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New England District stands along a river in Vermont while field testing an interim OHWM identification data sheet. The data sheet is part of a recently released National Ordinary High Water Mark Field Delineation Manual for Rivers and Streams, which researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory have been developing for 10 years alongside the Environmental Protection Agency and USACE districts.

Two members of the National Technical Committee for Ordinary High Watermarks (OHWM) examine sediment from along a river in Vermont to field test an interim OHWM identification data sheet, sediment can be used as one part of proper identification OHWMs.

Two members of the National Technical Committee for Ordinary High Watermarks (OHWM) examine sediment from along a river in Vermont to field test an interim OHWM identification data sheet, sediment can be used as one part of proper identification OHWMs. The data sheet is part of a recently released National Ordinary High Water Mark Field Delineation Manual for Rivers and Streams, which researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory have been developing for 10 years alongside the Environmental Protection Agency and USACE districts.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regulators from districts across the United States, part of the National Technical Committee for Ordinary High Watermarks (OHWM), walk in a brushy shoreline along a Vermont river to field test an interim OHWM identification data sheet.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regulators from districts across the United States, part of the National Technical Committee for Ordinary High Watermarks (OHWM), walk in a brushy shoreline along a Vermont river to field test an interim OHWM identification data sheet. The data sheet is part of a recently released National Ordinary High Water Mark Field Delineation Manual for Rivers and Streams, which researchers from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory have been developing for 10 years alongside the Environmental Protection Agency and USACE districts.

HANOVER, N.H. – For 10 years, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s (ERDC) Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) has  led research on the development of a national manual and data sheet to identify the Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) across the United States.

The national manual was released as an interim draft and describes the OHWM, which is used to define the boundaries of aquatic features for a variety of federal, state and local regulatory purposes.

Dr. Gabrielle David, a CRREL research physical scientist, began working on the manual at its inception, and is the chair of the National Technical Committee for OHWM, a group formed with representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), regulators from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and academia. Recently, members of the committee took the manual’s data sheet into the field, going to several rivers and streams in Vermont to take another critical look at their work prior to releasing the manual.

“This is the first time that we're publishing something nationally to help improve consistency throughout the nation,” said David. “We've built a data sheet because we want to help regulators be more rapid in their decision making, be consistent, and have technical defensibility nationwide.”

David also said that even though the OHWM concept has been in regulation for awhile, there has never been a national technical manual published.

“We’re releasing it for a one-year period and asking for public comments so that we can then incorporate that into the final version,” said David. “We want to make sure that we have a data sheet and manual that is as helpful as it can be for regulators and for the public.”

Dr. Tracie Nadeau, an EPA environmental scientist, was also in the field with David and USACE regulators using the data sheet to identify OHWM features. Nadeau said the data sheet and manual will be a major asset to the EPA as they work to enforce the Clean Water Act.

“The data sheet is critical for a lot of reasons,” said Nadeau. “When our folks get out in the field and have to make these decisions about how we're regulating the waters that are under the protection of the Clean Water Act, the data sheets and user manual help assure that we get really consistent decisions in the field across the country.”

The Clean Water Act establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters. The basis of the Clean Water Act was enacted in 1948 and was called the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, but it was significantly reorganized and expanded in 1972. "Clean Water Act" became the Act's common name with amendments in 1972.

Under the Clean Water Act, the EPA has implemented pollution control programs, such as setting wastewater standards for industry. The EPA has also developed national water quality criteria recommendations for pollutants in surface waters. Section 404 of the CWA establishes a permitting program implemented by USACE, which regulates the discharge of dredged and fill material into the water of the United States.

Nadeau said the national manual and data sheet are important for good government, for consistency, and for the defensibility of the decisions that the EPA or USACE makes. She added that the data sheets are a quick “how-to roadmap” of applying the information from the manual.

“So, for us at EPA, we co-administer the Clean Water Act with the Army Corps of Engineers,” said Nadeau. “But EPA actually has to administer all these other programs under the Clean Water Act in its entirety. So, for EPA in particular, we will definitely use these data sheets in the larger manual of how we go out and do a determination of ordinary high-water mark to support lots of programs under the Clean Water Act, because we have to know where the federal government actually has authorities or jurisdiction, so it's really helpful for the decisions we make around permitting, around national pollution discharge.”

ERDC works with the USACE Regulatory Program, other federal agencies and the academic community to develop regional and national OHWM delineation standards and procedures, as well as to improve OHWM delineation practices across the country. Research scientists test and validate the field indicators and methods used in OHWM delineations and explore new tools, techniques and resources to improve the accuracy, consistency and efficiency of OHWM delineation practices. These efforts have resulted in OHWM delineation manuals, such as the newly released national manual and data sheet, and other technical resources that support both the Corps Regulatory Program and the regulated public.

The national manual and data sheet have been released as a one-year interim draft so that the National Technical Committee for OHWM can continue to test these versions and receive public feedback throughout that interim period. Once the interim period has been completed, the manual and data sheet will be revised and released in their final version.

Click here to watch the video!