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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