How Do I Know If There Is a Wetland Where I Want To Build?

James Robb, ChiefWetlands & Storm Water Section

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Who Regulates What?Public Freshwater Lake:

IDNR, USACE &IDEM

Navigable Water: USACE, IDEM, IDNR

Non-wetland floodway: IDNR

Floodway wetland: USACE, IDEM &

IDNR

Adjacent wetland: USACE & IDEM

<1 sq mile contrib. area: USACE & IDEM

Isolated wetland: IDEM

Tributary: IDNR, USACE & IDEM

How Do I Know If There’s a Wetland Where I Want to Build?

How to know if a professional should look at the site?Professional Recon – An inexpensive but cursory evaluation of a siteProfessional Delineation – A detailed evaluation of a site in which the boundary of any wetland is markedAgency Verification – Evaluation of a delineation by the US Army Corps of Engineers

How can I tell if a professional should look at my site?

Step 1 – walk the site in springStep 2 – look at the plantsStep 3 – look at a soils mapStep 4 – look at the National Wetland InventoryStep 5 – look at aerial photography

Step 1: Walk the Site in the Spring

Walk the site in the Spring preferably a day or two after a heavy rain.

Are there areas with standing water?Are there areas where water squishes out of the ground when you step on it?

If you answer yes to either of these questions then hire a professional to determine if there are wetlands.

Step 2: Look at the Plants

Walk the site between May and October and look for wetland plants.If you see an area with these plants then a professional should look at the site.

Very Wet Wetland Plants

If you see any of these then contact a professional

Arrowhead

Cattail

Buttonbush

Bulrush

Willow

Common Wetland TreesPin Oak

Silver Maple

Am. Elm

Green Ash

Cottonwood

Common Wetland Plants

Some dogwoods

Common Wetland Plants

Reed Canary Grass

Common Wetland Plants

Sedges

Common Wetland Plants

Common Reed (aka Phragmites)

Common Wetland Plants

Rushes

Common Wetland Plants

Spikerush

Common Wetland Plants

Smartweeds

Common Wetland Plants

Beggarticks

Common Wetland Plants

Bugleweeds/horehounds

Step 3 – Look at a Soil Map

The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has maps on their websiteUnfortunately these maps are often difficult to interpretWe recommend that you go to your County NRCS or Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) office and ask to use a book called a Soil Survey. The extension agent, NRCS staff or Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff should all be able to help you identify the soils on your property.If any of these soils are a type that the NRCS has determined is “hydric” or containing hydric inclusions then have a professional look at the site. Note that wetlands are sometimes found in areas that are not mapped as “hydric.”You can find out more information at http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/

Step 4 – Look at the National Wetland Inventory (NWI)

Many of Indiana’s wetlands were mapped in the 1980’s by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.You can find these maps at http://wetlandsfws.er.usgs.gov/wtlnds/launch.html If USFWS mapped a wetland on or near the site then a professional should look at it Many wetlands are not mapped

USFWS. 2006. The Wetlands Master Geodatabase Annual Report 2006

Step 5 – Look at Aerial Photos

If you see dark spots on aerial photos contact a professional to look at the siteYou can access the latest aerial photography at http://www.indiana.edu/~gisdata/ Local FSA offices often have aerial photography available as well

Wetland

Professional Recon

Desktop reviewNWI mapsSoil mapsAerial photosTopographic maps

Walk the siteCost ranges from $500 to $2000 depending on the consulting firm and site conditions.

Many environmental consultants offer a service in which they do a cursory review of the site before conducting a more thorough (and costly) delineation. This is sometimes called a “determination” or an “evaluation.”

Professional Delineation

Marking the boundaries of the wetland on your property is called a “delineation.Regulated wetlands must meet three conditions:

More wetland plants than upland plants

Indicators that water has been at or just below the surface of the soilWetland soil

Professional Delineation cont.

The professional will document the plants that grow in the area

Professional Delineation cont.

The professional will dig a hole and describe the soil

Professional Delineation cont.

The professional will look for signs that water was at or just below the surface

USACE

Agency Verification

The US Army Corps of Engineers

Verifies determinations and delineations for wetlands, streams, lakes and other waters in Indiana.Determines if a wetland is isolated.

Indiana Dept. of Environmental Management

Verifies determinations, delineations and exemptions for isolated wetlands.USACE determines which wetlands are isolated.

A delineation is not “official” until verified by the regulatory agencies

Need more help?

Give IDEM a call!(800) 451-6027More contact info at http://www.in.gov/idem/programs/water/401/staff.html

Call the CorpsLouisville: (502) 315-6733Indianapolis: (317) 532-4198South Bend: (574) 232-1952