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18 <br /> WETLANDS <br /> Wetlands and "Waters of the United States" on the University Station site were identified in the <br /> Preliminary Evaluation of Ecological and Archaeological Resources at the University Station Site <br /> using the January, 1989 Federal Manual for Identifying and Delineating Wetlands. Such areas <br /> occur over many portions of the site. The majority of the wetland areas, however, occur along <br /> the floodplain of Stoney Creek, running from southwest to northwest through the site [see <br /> accompanying map]. Smaller areas of wetlands as well as Waters of the U.S. [occurring along <br /> stream channels and ponds] are found across the remainder of the site. <br /> Much of the wetland area along Stoney Creek is a result of ponding by beavers. There is <br /> frequent evidence of contemporary and historic beaver activity along much of the floodplain. <br /> Evidence of an older beaver dam [no longer functional] occurs along the northeast reaches of <br /> Stoney Creek. That particular area is no longer impounded but much of the area would qualify <br /> as jurisdictional wetland. <br /> Moving upstream [southwest], there are a series of beaver ponds of varying age. All of these <br /> areas would qualify as wetlands whether the impoundment was in place or not. Some of the <br /> newer ponds have flooded a few area of formerly non-ponded, non-hydric soils. <br /> There are 46.9 acres of wetlands within the project boundaries. <br />