WETLANDS

February 7, 2007 WETLANDS REPORT GRIFFIN'S DAIRY

Sabatia, Inc. Robert M. Gray
Professional Wetlands Scientist/DEP Certified Soil Evaluator

".... Based upon the on-site review and a review of the Plan of Record (POR) dated
November 11, 2005, it is the position of Sabatia, Inc. that the wetland resource areas as depicted on the POR under-represent the extent of wetlands particularly the bordering vegetated wetlands (310 CMR 10.55). In each of the areas you marked ..... the wetlands are under-represented....."

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Mass DEP :: MA DEP BVW: Bordering Vegetated Wetland Delineation Criteria and Methodology

Bordering Vegetated Wetland Delineation Criteria and Methodology

The Wetlands Protection Act, M.G.L. c. 131 s.40, states within the definition of bogs, marshes, swamps, and wet meadows that " ... a significant part of the vegetational community is made up of, but not limited to, nor necessarily including all of the following plants or groups of plants...". The definition for BVW in the wetland regulations (310 CMR 10.55(2)(a)) states that these areas "... support a predominance of wetland indicator plants...". The regulations (at 310 CMR 10.55(2)(c)) go on to describe a BVW boundary as "... the line within which 50 percent or more of the vegetational community consists of wetland indicator plants...".

When delineating or verifying a BVW boundary it is important to record certain information about site characteristics. Any information used to determine or verify the BVW boundary should be reported on the MassDEP field data form. Site specific conditions may allow a BVW boundary to be established without detailed measurements or calculations. An example is where an abrupt change in topography results in an obvious change in vegetation. In these cases, documentation of the vegetation and general site conditions may be used to delineate a BVW boundary.

The wetland hydrology criteria can be met if hydric soils are present within the observation plot. The presence of hydric soils can be determined by recording information on the soil profile. Information on soil color, soil horizons, and indicators of soil saturation (such as oxidized rhizospheres, mottles, and concretions or nodules) are helpful in identifying hydric soils. Direct observations of the presence of water should also be noted. Information on wetland hydrology should also be reported on the MassDEP field data form.

NOTE***

**Sites where vegetation is not presumed to be adequate to delineate the boundary or sites that have been disturbed will require more detailed analysis. Certain areas have wide transition zones where the BVW boundary is not obvious. Wetland hydrology at a particular site may vary from season to season and direct observations of wetland hydrology may not always be possible. For these sites, the presence of hydric soils and/or other indicators of wetland hydrology together with vegetation will need to be evaluated and documented in more detail to establish a BVW boundary. On disturbed sites, soils may be used as the sole criterion for determining a BVW boundary.

How do you delineate a wetlands area by looking at the vegetation only, when it has been MOWED?

It take Soils, Hydrology and Vegetation (of which over 50% contains wetlands species) for the land to be classified as wetlands. If the land is left fallow and wetlands vegetation grows and supports that wetlands growth what is that called?

National Wetlands Inventory

National Wetlands Inventory Northeast Region, Region 5, contacts

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