Wetlands delineation report

[Wayne02]

Anybody have one of these done? How did it turn out?

I have some property that I need some definitive answers on where or if there are wetland portions of the property. It is my understanding that the engineers (soil engineers?) will not only tell you where the edges of the wetlands are, but also what grade or category the wetlands are and how far the buffer zones are per code for the area.

It is also my understanding that you will get an official report from the engineer that is used when you go to apply for a building permit or the like. The county has maps of the properties that show some wetlands but it really does not jive very closely with detailed inspections of the property.

Anybody have experience with this?

Thanks

[freeinalaska]

As the proud owner of wetlands in a wetland neighborhood I have seen the Army Corps of Engineers assessments go well and not so well. Our property came with a permit that allowed 1/2 acre of each 5 acre parcel to be filled with material for homesite building. I have stayed within these parameters.

One neighbor had an assessment done and found he actually had no restrictions while another could do anything as long as he did not impede the drainage through a natural slough. Another neighbor was told to stop his building project or get fined.

Though I have not actually seen these reports I gather they are quite detailed and give the information as you indicated. Have you called and inquired with your local Army Corps of Engineers? Their engineers up here seem to usually be reasonable.

[Metagirrl]

Here's a link to the USACE manual for wetland delineation.

http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/wlman87.pdf

There are some related links here:
http://www.wetlands.com/regs/tlpge02e.htm

The USACE page with more information about the regulatory/permit process:
http://www.usace.army.mil/cw/cecwo/reg/

USACE Page listing all of the district offices and local contacts:
http://www.usace.army.mil/cw/cecwo/reg/district.htm

Hope those help give you an idea of what they're looking for/at to make the report.

[ET1 SS]

I have wetlands.

I met with the state department that oversees such, here they are called LURC. They showed me a map where all wetlands are mapped out. Then later I found that map online. My property has two different types of wetland, whereas my SIL's property across the road has three different types of wetland.

When the soil scientist / septic design engineer was here doing the soil tests and designing my septic system. I was told that it is fairly obvious where I could build and where I could not build. Follow the embankment down into wet marsh, and standing in the water, I could not build there. Whereas to walk up the embankment, up onto dry land, I could build there.

hmm.

[RosewoodfarmVA]

Wetlands, properly ditched and drained, make OUTSTANDING cropland due to the accumulation of soil from upstream erosion! And because of the closer water table it isn't affected by drought as much.

[rambler]

Different states do things differently. In my state wetlands don't need any water at all, & you can't do much with them. They have maps they made in the 1980's, and that's that, the map says your hill is a wetland, so it is....

--->Paul

[Jan Doling]

The environmental dept. guy walked around with a hollow stick, stuck it into the ground and then studied the plant life collected therein...he said all of our land is wetlands according to the soil and plant study, even though some of it may not have been underwater for years. We were only allowed to use 1 acre (out of 20) for everything: driveway, out buildings, well, septic, and house. They tried to force us to mitigate by signing the other acreage over to them, but my ex threatened to use the back hoe to round 'em up and bury them!

[DaleK]

One of the townships here found their wetlands by flying over the township one wet spring after a big rainstorm. Anywhere they saw water was a wetland. Took over 2 years and thousands of dollars in court costs to get them to toss it out and start over.

[Pink_Carnation]

Originally Posted by RosewoodfarmVA

Wetlands, properly ditched and drained, make OUTSTANDING cropland due to the accumulation of soil from upstream erosion! And because of the closer water table it isn't affected by drought as much.

Do that in Washington and you will have huge outstanding fines. Of course with some wetlands even if you own them you aren't supposed to walk on them, or build within 100 ft.

[Gil]

I'm in northwestern Washington and have gone through a soils engineering phase. In my case, it is because I intend to short plat two acres. Even though my land is basically dry, except when it rains, and my soils engineer is not supposed to be a whack-o, I have ended up with a substantial amount of "wet lands" and have gone from wet lands delineation to wet lands mitigation. This is only the beginning of concerns. If you proceed from this point, I highly recommend hiring a professional consultant. Be on alert, once these findings are reported you now have opened up the Halls of Karma.
It is very simple, western Washington is ANTI-GROWTH. County governments will rake your ass through the hot bedded coals of bureau(crasy). My advice - VOTE! Vote for candidates on county councils that represent the true majority that live in western Washington and for freedom.
Disclaimer:This thread omits King County - it belongs to another planet.