National Wetland Plant List

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), as part of an interagency effort with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced the latest changes and the availability of the final 2020 National Wetland Plant List (NWPL). Starting from November 2, 2021, the 2020 NWPL is becoming applicable and will be used in any wetland delineations performed after the previously mentioned date. 

Regarding the delineations and determinations completed before November 2, those may still use the 2018 NWPL.  

The NWPL list is consisted of plant species indicator status ratings and is used to determine the hydrophytic vegetation factor. Namely, when conducting wetland delineations under the Clean Water Act and wetland determinations under the Wetland Conservation Provisions of the Food Security Act and wetland restoration, establishment, and enhancement projects, it is crucial to check the NWPL factor.    

In 2006, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) transferred the responsibility to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to administer the National Wetland Plant List (NWPL) for the United States (U.S.) and its territories. Since its inception in 1988, the NWPL has encountered manifold revisions referring to additions or deletions of new records, range extensions, nomenclatural and taxonomic changes, and newly proposed species.  

The latest review process began in 2020, and in the joint discussion, Regional Panels (RPs), the National Panel (NP), and the public have reviewed and provided input on proposed wetland rating changes or additions for 27 species and 48 regional ratings (some species were reviewed for multiple regions) submitted by the public.  

On the NWPL, there are five categories of wetland indicator status ratings used to indicate the plant’s likelihood for occurrence in wetlands versus non-wetlands. Also, these rating categories are defined by the NP: 

• Obligate Wetland (OBL) – almost always occur in wetlands, 
• Facultative Wetland (FACW) – usually occur in wetlands but may occur in non-wetlands, 
• Facultative (FAC) – occur in wetlands and non-wetlands, 
• Facultative Upland (FACU) – typically occur in non-wetlands, and 
• Upland (UPL) – almost always occur in non-wetlands. 

After discussing public comments and reviewing the submitted information by NP and RPs, the proposed 2020 ratings for these species were determined. There were numerous comments on the overall NWPL process regarding soliciting input on the species being evaluated. The information was detailed in the Federal Register Notice, 86 FR 15656, March 24, 2021, and is provided in the table below.

Species Reviewed for NWPL 2020 Update

In compliance with the Memorandum of Agreement signed in 2006 (2006 MOA), USACE, endorsed by the EPA, FWS, and NRCS, has published the final wetland indicator statuses for the 2020 NWPL. The final NWPL is available at https://wetland-plants.sec.usace.army.mil/​