The Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) recently published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the final 2022 National Wetland Plant List (2022 NWPL). The 2022 NWPL went into effect Feb. 13, 2024.

The 2022 NWPL update includes two listed species: Isocoma menziesii (Menzies’ goldenbush) and Populus fremontii (Frémont’s cottonwood). According to the Corps, these species are typically found in the Arid West. In total, the 2022 NWPL includes 8,115 species.

The NWPL contains wetland indicator status ratings for individual plant species. The ratings are used in determining whether the hydrophytic vegetation factor is met when conducting wetland delineations under the Clean Water Act and wetland determinations under the Wetland Conservation Provisions of the Food Security Act (Farm Bill).

Other applications of the NWPL include wetland research, the development of restoration and compensatory mitigation goals, and the provision of general botanical information about wetland plants.

The NWPL is an interagency effort led by the Corps and supported by the Environmental Protection Agency, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Dept. of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service.