WETLAND RESOURCE LLC Soil Evaluation & Environmental Consulting About Wetlands

WETLAND RESOURCE LLC P.O. Box 7520 Greenwich, CT 06836 Phone:203 661-3220 Email:info@wetlandresource.com

What is an inland wetland?
Wetlands are generally defined as land that is wet or at least saturated for long periods of time. Some wetlands may be dry at the surface seasonally, making them difficult to recognize. Inland wetlands and watercourses are regulated by most states. In New England, local towns adopt and enforce wetland and watercourse regulations based on state wetland statutes.

Remarkably, states have different technical definitions for inland wetlands. Connecticut defines inland wetlands based on soils alone. Massachusetts mostly uses wetland vegetation to define wetlands. New York state bases its wetland criteria on hydrophytic vegetation first, with hydric soils and hydrology as supporting evidence. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers defines federal wetlands using hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils and hydrology.

Why are wetlands important?
Wetlands provide a diverse wildlife habitat and food source. They attenuate flooding by absorbing rain water during storms. Erosion is lessened by wetland vegetation which slows the velocity of water. Wetlands are also an important education and recreation resource as a place to learn first hand about ecology.

What is a watercourse?
According to Connecticut statues, "watercourses" mean rivers, streams, brooks, waterways, lakes, ponds, marshes, swamps, bogs and all other bodies of water, natural or artificial, vernal or intermittent, public or private.