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Center for Coastal Resources Management

Wetland Condition Assessment Tool (WetCAT)

Person bending in a grassy marsh placing a container on the ground near field gear.
National Wetland Assessment
Two people working in a muddy marsh, one lying on a board while collecting a water sample from a pipe with tools and a bucket.
Obtaining soil samples during National Wetland Assessment
Three people standing in shallow marsh water using a long-handled net to collect a sample.
Obtaining water samples during National Wetland Assessment
Person standing on a large culvert pipe near a wooded stream, inspecting the bank and water below.
Wetland stressor assessment
Person in safety vest using a handheld device while examining vegetation in a wooded area.
Wetland vegetative survey
Map labeled “Virginia Wetland Condition Assessment Tool (WetCAT)” showing Virginia outlined with surrounding states and major cities.
Wetland Condition Assessment Tool (WetCAT)

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), developed the service capacity impairment model that is scalable from the individual wetland to the entire state.

The Wetland Condition Assessment Tool (WetCAT) is a spatially-specific, interactive, online tool that provides a water quality and habitat condition assessment for each individually mapped nontidal wetland in Virginia (approximately 196,000 polygons and over 1.2 million acres).  WetCAT also includes some tidal marsh and shoreline condition information. It provides VA DEQ staff and others a scientifically-based GIS process for evaluating projects that could impact wetlands. The goal of WetCAT is to support decision-making, allow reporting of wetland condition, and provide information for policy development.

Why are Wetlands Important? Wetlands provide a number of societal benefits and ecological functions and services. WetCAT focuses on two of those, the ability to enhance or protect water quality and the provision of habitat for a number of species. Stressors within the landscape can impact the ability of wetlands to provide those functions. The more stressed a wetland is the more likely it will have a reduced ability to protect water quality or provide habitat services. This is important to communities and important to natural resource managers as they decide whether or not to permit certain activities on the landscape that could further stress wetlands systems.