Wetlands....opinions please

CindyC has hit a nerve. Here in Washington state there are hard feelings between land owners and the state over wetlands. Government out here is pushing people into a corner with myriad rules concerning the usage of their own property. And be very leery of an outfit called the Nature Conservancy-they are lower than septic sludge in the minds of many out this way.

Yay ! Cut the trees, drain the land, and build all over it It's YOURS after all isn't it. And when you're dead and buried Wooo Hooo no more stinky swampy countryside left. Who needs it anyway ---- restrictions. I should be able to concrete and pollute what the hell I like if I bought it. Good on you.

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pony pictures ... www.2mosers.com

Ummm.... OK? Is that sarcasm? I can't tell, sorry. Just to be clear, I never said that I would destroy wetlands if I owned them. I just said to be sure you don't plan to use them for anything if you buy them. In fact, when we build, I was toying with the idea of BUILDING a wetlands to help recycle non-potable water we use in the house. (Kind if like what they have at Chincoteague Island nature center...). BUT, I wouldn't BUY wetlands to build on, or to farm on, and I DO believe that I should have property rights if I own something. That means not buying a property that does not suit my needs. So in answer to the original question, what do I think about buying wetlands, the answer is depends on if you WANT; a wetlands or a farm.
Sorry if I read you as being snarky if you weren't.
Cindyc.

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Mom to 5 cool kids and wife to 1 great guy. Life is good!

We live on 35 acres with a half mile of river frontage and also have a creek as one border. Our cabin is built on a small hill overlooking the river and a small flood area or wetland. In the few months that it is dry, my daughter rides her pony down there but we obviously couldn't build on it since it is wet so long. Mosquitoes aren't much of a problem, and it's exciting when we here the first peepers in the spring start croaking. It would be nice to have more pasture than we do and not have to feed hay to our horses year round, but our property has increased in value enormously (being on the river).

get it in writing from the Army Corpe of Engineers and the local Water Management group what building, driveways, etc. will be allowed, as the employee turnover can be faster than you are able to build and the first group may say it is okay, then the second group will deny that. Always get everything in writing!

I've been to the Airondacks and can attest to the beauty but keep in mind, it's right next to the great lakes which means you'll get the so-called "Great Lakes effect" meaning you'll get lots more rain and snow than the areas furthur away. NOT kidding. Also be forewarned the lakes in the Airondacks don't have fish because apparently you have to put lime in the water to make it liveable for fish..supposedly alot of acid rain is falling in that region making fishes unable to survive in the water for long. Hard to find jobs there too.

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Ted H

You may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas.
-Davy Crockett

Ok, I was thinking of the more remote regions in the Adirondacks, what you're talking about sounds awesome! It sounds like you have a decent idea of what you're looking at. Good luck, and did your relatives take any pictures? A few pictures could probably tell you more about the wetness and "brambly-ness" than just the description from someone who is as you said, used to concrete. Hopefully the wetlands legalities will be reasonable too.

Kayleigh

Nana-san, I went with a friend on a drive on the Skyline Drive and she couldn't stand it. She said there were too many trees! This land sounds like a paradise to me. I think I would want a plow on my truck though.

I spoke to the DEC and the property is not regulated wetlands but was prime farming land. I was told that if the land is not used for agricultural purposes it would be seasonlly wet.

we plan on growing veggies and such and small livestock, nothing that would require a pasture.

We would definitely need a bush hog or plow, thankfully there is a driveway(not paved) directly to the building site. The growing season is short so we are hoping that there won't be much overgrown bushes and brambles.

Next call: Dept of water and soil.

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"Ain't nothing worse than the smell of mendacity"-- Big Daddy, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Hi nana-san. We, too, have looked at several properties in St.Lawreence county and surrounding areas. One thing we didn't want and were careful to make sure of is that the property was not located within the confines of the Park itself or abutting it. Our reasoning for this was someone who we knew who owned such property said to stay clear due to AP environmental regulations and such. At one point, there was a huge tizzy because the AP wanted to stop landowners within the park from cutting trees on their own property. This, of course, did not fly but just the fact that they would try to pull something like this (and, of course, this IS NY afterall!) completely turned us off to such properties.

As for the river/wetlands, we did notice that quite a few properties up that way seemed "seasonally wet." You definitely did the right thing by checking with the proper agencies. We were told same thing as you, can't build within 100 ft of "where the wetlands begin." This, we found, is not hte same thing as "where the water is." LOL. They told us they designate such "wet areas" by coming out and looking at the plants, soils, etc. to determine how far from the actual water the wetlands extend. This really turned us off, too. Heck, they could end up "designating" much of the land "wetlands" if the proper "plants" grew there or it was "seasonally wet." Also, this could be a potential problem when putting in a septic system.

Good luck with your search! The Adirondacks are very beautiful.

30 miles from Montreal border, or Canadian border? If you are close to Montreal, then that's northern Clinton County where I spent 16 years (Mooers, NY). Very pretty country, black flies are bad in the spring, you get a couple weeks of 20 to 40 below temps every Feb. but land prices are very reasonable.

Canadian border. land is in St. Lawerence County

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"Ain't nothing worse than the smell of mendacity"-- Big Daddy, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

We are in NY but some further south.

Looked at St Lawrence County and all the west to Watertown.

What a great part of the world.

We decided that it was a bit too cold a bit too long up there.

But loved it just the same.

Actually placed an offer on 160 acres of waterfront property in Chateugay.

I'm glad/not glad that they didn't accept the offer.

Excuse me for asking a dumb question, but whats the difference between a river and a creek?
never did understand that one
kinda like boats and ships

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Babies so far in 2009,
9 Tamworth piggies, 8 dorset lambs

http://dundasheritagefarm.com

not a dumb question.

a creek is a small body of water that empties into a larger one, think inlet.

a river is flows in a drection with points that converge.

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"Ain't nothing worse than the smell of mendacity"-- Big Daddy, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Beavers made wetlands of part of our family farm, and while trying to clear some dams to harvest timber, my brother got a cease and desist order from the Army Corp of Engineers. To some extent, you lose control of your property if wetlands/beavers are present. However, if it's where you want to live and there is enough high and dry land to do the homesteading activities you want, you should certainly consider the property (which is what you're doing). The earlier note about perking the land to insure a septic system can be installed is certainly prudent, as is getting good title assurance. If you're not on a municipal water supply, well placement (and the quality of the water) is critical. Best wishes and happy homecoming from Japan...when it happens.

We've been up that area a few times. A friend has a camp in star lake that we go to, which I think is a somewhat south of what land you are looking at. The area is absolutely beautiful. Temperatures/weather can get very drastic in the winter.
Black flies are a menace in May/June. Some soil is sand not much topsoil. But that does vary. Somewhat of a short growing season.
I wish we were going up for a visit soon (not going to happen, too many animals) or we'd go for a walk about for you.
Fort Drum Army base in Watertown is hugely expanding and that is carrying over in the surrounding counties.

Not to cause too much thread drift but.
Last year the courts struck down much of the "clean water act" as it was being implemented by the army corps. They said that the waters must be navigable or in direct flow to navigable waters. So as of late most of the what used to be wetlands are now regulated by the states only.

One judge on the panel even said in his brief that under the old system a puddle in the road could be considered "protected".

Wow. Nobody even mentioned anything about the fishes...there are NO fishes in the waters in that area due to acid rain! You have to put lime in the water for them to be able to live somewhat in it.

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Ted H

You may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas.
-Davy Crockett

Thanks RW,

There is a small protion of the creek that is federally regulated which would require a permit if we wanted to fill but the other areas are not state nor federally regulated. perk test was done and septic approved. We are waiting on the soil and water reports.

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"Ain't nothing worse than the smell of mendacity"-- Big Daddy, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof