Learn About Wetland Regulations

Before you build on your property check with your town for regulations and permits you may need. Come along with Dave as he learns about the Wetland Regulations he needs to adhere by.

Learn About Wetland Regulations Growing Wisdom with David Epstien Dave Epstien: Hi I’m David Epstien with Growing Wisdom. I’m here today with Sue McArthur and Sue you’re a wetlands scientist and we’re actually at my property I’m doing a project. We’re putting in a pond and I live near wetlands and we want to talk today about folks knowing that there are wetlands regulations that you have to be aware. Sue McArthur: ofUnder the Federal Clean Water Act the army core does regulate under section 4 for wetlands, waters of the United States in Massachusetts there is the Department of Environmental Protection and they allow the towns in Massachusetts to basically regulate that. Dave Epstien: And lets say they want to put in everything from an addition to changing their lawn to you know just moving things around what’s blues process that they have to go through? Sue McArthur: Well I would say the first step is check with your local regulatory agency. They should be able to provide some regulations as to what they can and cannot do. Dave Epstien: Now you come out today and you flagged my wetland and what does that mean to a homeowner if their weltlands do get flagged? Sue McArthur: They should know that anything beyond the flags is wetland where they are not allowed to work and also within 100 feet of this wetland line is a buffer zone and things that occur within buffer zone are regulated. Dave Epstien: So Sue along with property here we had to put in silk fence what is that doing? Sue McArthur: The silt fence will protect the wetland resource areas from any sedimentation getting down into the wetland. Dave Epstien: So the fact that my lawn is all torn up there’s potential for that mud to get into the wetlands. This is not good for the wetlands. How do you find out that something is a Wetland? Sue McArthur: You would use 3 parameters you look at the vegetation you look at the soils and you look at the hydrology in the case here we’ve got wetland plants, we’ve got high bush blueberry, there’s cat tails behind us. There’s some willow looking at the soils you would look for hybrid soils and then hydrology is to maintain water and different things like that. David: Some folks may say alright well what’s the point it’s just land but its special land isn’t it, wetlands. Sue: Right wetlands provide a variety of functions. They provide pollutant uptakes, flood attenuation, wildlife habitat, drinking water supplies. There’s a variety of wildlife critters that utilize wetlands. David: Sue thanks a lot for your time. This is great information I hope it was helpful to you at home, wetlands are near and dear to my heart prior the Wetlands Act like in 1974 some wetlands near my house is destroyed up in Maine so ever since that time it has had a special place for me and hopefully now after watching this video it has a special place for you as well. Come back every week for all of our tips and help on Growing Wisdom.