Synoptic approach to cumulative impact assessment. A proposed methodology

The report provides resource managers and technical staff with an approach for evaluating the cumulative environmental effects of individual human impacts on the environment, particularly with respect to wetlands. The document is intended to give the reader a general understanding of cumulative impacts and to describe how a synoptic assessment is produced. Although specifically designed for use in wetland permit evaluation under the Clean Water Act (CWA), the method can be applied to cumulative impact assessment in general. A second objective of the report is to encourage resource managers responsible for wetland protection to consider and view wetlands within a landscape context.