Testing the use of best professional judgment to create biological benchmarks for habitat assessment of wetlands and oak savannas in northwestern Indiana

•Vegetative composition was assessed in oak savannas and riverine and swale wetlands.•Surveys were conducted in the dune and swale topography of Gary, IN.•Experts used 22 and 19 metrics to determine vegetative quality in the two systems.•Expert agreement varied among the vegetative community types.•Best professional judgment should be used with caution as a quality reference.