BCWF Watershed Team

Wetland Ecosystem Services Protocol (WESP)

The WESP tool, created by Dr. Paul Adamus is currently being used in various adaptations in Atlantic Canada, Alberta, Alaska, and the State of Oregon. This tool has been regionally adapted in neighboring jurisdictions based on the same principles and using regionally available data for each jurisdiction. Similarly, the version of WESP adapted for B.C. is sometimes referred to as WESP-B.C.  

WESP aims to provide a standardized method for assessing the important function and value of wetlands. In British Columbia, the WESP tool is being developed by the BCWF’s Watershed Team in partnership with First Nations, non-profits, and the provincial government. 

Currently, land managers and decision makers have no standardized tools in B.C. to measure the relative functional attributes of wetlands which leads to discrepancies and subjectivity in decisions related to protection and mitigation measures. Functional assessment tools are becoming a standardized practice in many other jurisdictions in North America. 

Although the WESP model itself is not a regulatory tool, it can support individuals involved in decision making processes, by providing information on the functions and values of a wetland. WESP could also be utilized as a supporting tool in regulated processes should B.C. develop stronger regulations around wetland conservation. This tool has the potential to improve the conservation of wetlands by better understanding their distribution on the landscape and support land managers to better care for them. 

In order to use WESP on a site of interest a reference set of 100 wetlands is necessary. We are currently working on building a calibration dataset for each ecoprovince in B.C. in order to make the WESP tool available. While creating calibration datasets, field data collected is also supporting the Canadian National Wetland Inventory.  

The WESP tool utilizes over 60 field questions and over 40 office/GIS questions to determine 17 functions and attributes of a wetland complex relative to other wetlands in the region. 

At this time, WESP is only being calibrated for non-tidal wetlands in B.C.

WESP Benefits

Through the use of the WESP tool, we can rapidly assess the following ecosystem functions and attributes:

• Hydrologic functions (water storage and delay, soil stabilization, sediment retention, nutrient removal and retention);
• Water purification functions (soil stabilization, sediment retention, nutrient removal and retention);
• Aquatic life support (aquatic primary productivity, nutrient export, stream flow and temperature support);
• Climate support (carbon accretion capacity, carbon stock);
• Wildlife habitat (fish habitat, waterbird habitat, other wetland bird habitat, keystone mammal habitat, pollinator habitat, native plant habitat); and
• Social and cultural attributes (fire resistance, cultural values).

The benefits of having a WESP model available in B.C. are numerous, including:   

• Rapid assessment of wetland ecosystem services for use by conservation organizations and decision makers in compensatory mitigation;  
• Assessing effectiveness of wetland restoration and enhancement projects, and;
• Allowing for comparative assessments of wetlands to target conservation and restoration efforts.

WESP Progress

WESP Field Assessment Form

This form for completing the Wetland Ecosystem Services Protocol (WESP) only includes the field assessment questions. This form does not include the corresponding office analysis and GIS calculations or regional model that must be completed to finish the assessment of a site. It is recommended that users complete training on this protocol with a qualified trainer before completing WESP independently, please contact BCWF for more information or to connect with a trainer. 

Contact Kyla Rushton at kyla.rushton@bcwf.bc.ca to be added to the list for future public training opportunities.

Completing this ambitious project requires sustained long-term investment. Without it, the potential of this transformative tool may remain unrealized, risking inconsistencies in wetland conservation across the province. Thank you to the Province of BC’s Watershed Security Fund, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, and the British Columbia Conservation Fund (BC Parks Foundation) for supporting this work to date.

For questions about the Wetland Ecosystem Services Protocol, please contact Kyla Rushton at kyla.rushton@bcwf.bc.ca.

WESP Updates