Wetland Mitigation Michigan
Wetland Mitigation Banking
Administrative rules, issued under the Part 303 took effect on December 25, 1997. These rules allow for the use of credits from established mitigation banks to fulfill permit requirements associated with wetland permits. The DEQ emphasizes that these rules do not modify existing legal criteria which govern the review and issuance of wetland permits. Moreover, the availability of mitigation bank credits will not ensure permit issuance. Mitigation banking does offer an alternative, and potentially more effective means of complying with wetland permit conditions. ... [Read More]
Wetland Mitigation
The permittee must provide wetland mitigation to assure that, upon completion, there will be no net loss of wetlands. Wetland mitigation must be of a similar ecological type as the impacted wetland wherever feasible and practical. If the replacement wetland is of a similar ecological type as the impacted wetland, then the following ratio of acres of wetland mitigation for each acre of permitted wetland loss must be provided: ... Under Part 303, Wetlands Protection, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) may impose conditions on a permit for a use or development if the conditions are designed to remove an impairment to the wetland benefits, to mitigate the impact of a discharge of fill material, or to otherwise improve the water quality. The purpose of compensatory wetland mitigation, commonly referred to as wetland mitigation, is the replacement of unavoidably lost wetland resources with created or restored wetlands, with the goal of replacing as fully as possible the functions and public benefits of the lost wetland. ... [Read More]
Wetlands Protection
Michigan's wetland statute, Part 303, Wetlands Protection, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended, defines a wetland as "land characterized by the presence of water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances does support, wetland vegetation or aquatic life, and is commonly referred to as a bog, swamp, or marsh." The definition applies to public and private lands regardless of zoning or ownership. ... [Read More]
Wetland Assessment Program
Level 2: The LWMD staff will conduct an on-site assessment of an identified area of land of up to five acres to determine the presence and approximate location of wetland and upland areas. This service does not include a wetland delineation, and the exact boundary between wetland and upland areas will not be identified. Rather, the LWMD staff will clearly flag and map upland areas where any activity can occur without regulation under Part 303. Areas identified as wetland may include small upland areas. If a precise delineation between upland and wetland is needed, a Level 3 assessment (described below) is recommended. A written report of findings will be provided, including a map showing the approximate location of land containing wetland and not containing wetland (upland) areas, and information regarding the regulatory process. The report will include a statement that the DEQ lacks jurisdiction, under Part 303, over those areas not identified ... [Read More]
Wetland Permits
Decisions on wetland permit applications are based on the DEQ's review of the proposed project in light of the criteria in Part 303 and associated administrative rules. In general, the applicant must show avoidance of wetland resources to the greatest extent possible and minimization of unavoidable wetland impacts. The DEQ also considers any public comments that have been received prior to making a permit decision. ... Wetlands Protection ... [Read More]
State, Federal and Local Wetland Regulations
Wetland Program Staff 517-241-1515 ... Wetlands Protection ... State and federal authorities overlap in coastal and certain other waters according to Section 10 of the federal Rivers and Harbors Act. Activities in these waters require a joint permit application which minimizes time and effort for applicants. In accordance with the Clean Water Act, Section 404(g), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers retains federal jurisdiction over traditionally navigable waters including the Great Lakes, connecting channels, other waters connected to the Great Lakes where navigational conditions are maintained, and wetlands directly adjacent to these waters. ... [Read More]
Wetland Restoration
In 1997, the DEQ obtained a grant from the USEPA to become more involved in wetland restoration. DEQ staff quickly realized that the DEQ’s efforts could be most effective by assisting agencies and organizations with established wetland restoration programs. After conducting joint inspections with the USFWS and NRCS biologists, it became increasingly clear to DEQ officials that many wetland restoration projects did in fact require state permits. It also became evident that most private landowners and many government and non-profit biologists were shying away from good wetland restoration opportunities because they needed to obtain a permit. ... [Read More]
Education & Stewardship
Michigan Wetlands: Yours to Protect Citizens have an important role to play in wetland management, protection, and restoration in Michigan. This document, originally published in the late eighties (first edition) then in 1992 (second edition), is a comprehensive resource for citizens working to protect wetlands in their neighborhood and provides solid information to help citizens become involved in state and federal wetland policy. ... Preserving Michigan’s Wetlands: Options for Local Governments Local governments frequently struggle with growth issues and subsequent loss of open space and wetlands. The purpose of this guidebook is to aid local officials in understanding the benefits wetlands provide communities and offer effective tools to promote wetland stewardship. ... [Read More]
Wetland Assessment | NRCS WLI
Wetland Assessment Information Series, Number 4: Evaluation of the Baumer and Rice (MUUF) Procedures used by NRCS for Estimation of Soil Hydraulic Parameters Used in the Scope and Effect Equations and the Program DRAINMOD ... State Interim Functional Assessment Procedures The following are procedures for interim functional assessment are intended as examples for those in the process of developing their own procedures and to help bring about needed consistency between states and regions for interim functional assessment. Most of the procedures are draft or in early stages of development and should not be referred to or cited as final. Other examples are invited at this web site simply by contacting any one of the Wetland Science Team (WLI) staff. ... [Read More]
WDNR - Wisconsin Wetlands - Wetland Compensatory Mitigation: The NR 103 Decision Process
Wetlands of special natural resource interest includes those wetlands both within the boundary of designated areas of special natural resource interest and those wetlands which are in proximity to or have a direct hydrologic connection to such designated areas including: cold water communities including all trout streams and their tributaries and trout lakes; Lakes Michigan and Superior and the Mississippi River; state and federal designated wild and scenic rivers, designated state riverways and state designated scenic urban waterways; unique and significant wetlands identified in special area management plans (SAMP), special wetland inventory studies (SWIS), advanced delineation and identification studies (ADID); calcareous fens; habitat used by state or federally designated threatened or endangered species; state parks, forests, trails and recreation areas; state and federal fish and wildlife refuges and fish and wildlife management areas; state and federal designated wilderness area ... [Read More]
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