1. Overview of the Vermont Wetlands Program
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2. Presentation Overview
Vermont Statutory Overview
Wetlands Section Overview
Staffing and Resources
Workload and Project Distribution
Project Review
Desk Review
Field Visits
CUD Process
Recommendations

3. Brief History of the Vermont Wetland Rules
1986: 10 V.S.A Chapter 37, Section 905(a) (7-9): Established statutory framework for identifying and protecting Vermont’s wetlands
1990: Vermont Wetland Rules adopted by the Water Resources Board
2002: Vermont Wetland Rules were updated
2004: Act 115 of the Vermont General Assembly was passed: Natural Resourced Board was created to succeed the Environmental and Water Resources Boards on February 1, 2005.

4. Investigations
The Panel may open an investigation and issue such orders as it deems necessary to gather information, identify policy issues, and formulate strategies or means for addressing issues within its jurisdiction.

5. Water Resources Panel Authority 10 VSA 6025[d]
Identification & Evaluation of Significant Wetlands
The water resources panel may adopt rules, regarding
the identification of wetlands which are so significant that
they merit protection. Any determination that a particular
wetland is significant will result from an evaluation of the enumerated functions which a wetland serves (10 VSA 6025[d(5)]):

6. Identification & Evaluation of Significant Wetlands
The Vermont Wetland Rules recognize that the
“statute limits the applicability of these rules
to those wetlands which are so significant that
they merit protection in this program” (VWR§ 1.1).

7. Wetland Reclassifications
The water resources panel may adopt rules regarding the ability to reclassify wetlands, in general, or on a case-by-case basis (10 VSA § 6025[d][6]).
Section 7 of the VWR provides for the Panel, upon receipt of a petition or by its own motion, to determine whether to reclassify any wetland to a higher or lower classification.

8. Wetland Reclassifications
VWR Section 7.5 provides for temporary designation of wetland significance.
Such temporary designations shall be for a period of 60 days, unless otherwise specified by the Panel for a good cause.

9. Wetland Protection Rules
The water resources panel may adopt rules
protecting wetlands that have been determined to be significant, including rules that provide for the issuance or denial of conditional use determinations by the Department of Environmental Conservation (10 VSA § 6025[d][7]).

10. Consent of Agency of Agriculture Required
The panel shall not adopt rules that restrain agricultural activities without the consent of the Secretary of the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (10 VSA § 6025[d][7]).

11. Consent of Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation Required
The panel shall not adopt rules that restrain silvicultural activities without the consent of the Commissioner of the Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation (10 VSA § 6025[d][7]).

12. VSWI Maps
VWR § 3.2[b] provides that the VSWI maps denote the approximate location and configuration of significant wetlands.
Actual boundaries of wetlands shown on the VSWI maps shall be determined in the field.

13. VSWI Maps
VWR § 4.5[b] pertains to the “Use and Limitations of VSWI maps.” The VSWI maps should not be relied upon to provide precise information regarding the location or configuration of significant wetlands (see Section 3.2). They are intended to denote the approximate location and configuration of significant wetlands.

14. VSWI Maps
VWR § 4.5[a] provides that the Secretary shall revise the affected VSWI maps annually.

15. Options for Local Input on VSWI Map Revisions
24 VSA § 4325[4] authorizes municipal planning commissions to undertake capacity studies and make recommendations on matters of wetland protection.

16. Options for Local Input on VSWI Map Revisions
24 VSA § 4345[6] likewise authorizes regional planning commissions to do the same. A regional plan adopted pursuant to 24 VSA 4348a must include a map and statement of present and prospective land uses which require special consideration for aquifer protection, wetland protection, or for other conservation purposes (24 VSA § 4348a[a][2][A]).

17. Options for Local Input on VSWI Map Revisions
24 VSA § 4382[a][2] provides a similar requirement for a municipality to adopt a municipal development plan. Some municipalities in Vermont have already mapped the wetlands in their jurisdiction.

18. VTDEC Authority 10 VSA §§ 905[18] and 1272
Propose to the Panel specific wetlands to be designated as significant wetlands, and;
Implement through existing programs the rules adopted by the Panel governing significant wetlands, including the issuance or denial of conditional use determinations pursuant to 10 VSA § 1272 (10 VSA § 905b[18]).
Conditional Use Determinations: 10 VSA § 1272 Regulation of activities causing discharge or affecting significant wetlands.

19. Challenge to Maps & VWR Rejected by Supreme Court
Sec'y, Agency of Natural Res. v. Irish, 738 A.2d 571 [1999]
Lake Bomoseen Ass'n v. Vermont Water Resources Bd., 886 A.2d 355, [2005]

20. Wetlands Section Overview

21. Wetlands Section Districts
Full Staff is 5 DWE plus Coordinator
Coordinator handles program oversight, plus AOT and Ag projects
Districts have 100+ projects/ year
District Offices located in Barre, Essex and Rutland
Districts change over time and are unique to the Wetlands Program

22. Yearly Average Workload (2000-2006)
Wetlands Section
Yearly Average Workload ( )
Regulation Enforcement Education Monitoring
Education
Presentations 30
Enforcement
Complaints 68
Violations 41
Office and Field Work
Phone Calls 7206
Field Visits
Letters
Regulatory
CUD Applications 79
CUD Issued
On average, work is split up by 5 staff members

23. 2004 Project Overview 512 New Projects 98 project carried over
88 CUDs received
84 CUDs issued
1 CUD denied
1 CUD terminated
< 20% of Projects result in a CUD

24. Wetlands Program Relationships
Collaborators
Land Owners
Realtors
Businesses
Non Profits
Department of Fish and Wildlife
Department of Forest Park and Rec
VTrans
BGS
Lakes and Ponds Section
Towns
Regional Planning Commissions
Clients
Water Resources Panel
Act 250 Coordinators
Nongame Natural Heritage Program
Fish and Wildlife Biologists
Stormwater Section
Rivers Section
BASS
Lakes and Ponds Section
ANR Planning Section
ANR Enforcement Section
Wastewater Division
Water Supply Division
Towns
Regional Planning Commissions
Department of Forest, Parks and Rec

25. Project Review

26. Project Referrals Do I have a jurisdictional wetland on my property?
General knowledge of the VT Wetlands Program
Permit Specialists
Referrals from other Regulatory Programs
Complaints
Town Referrals
Consultants and Engineers

27. Vermont Significant Wetlands Inventory Map
Aerial Photos
National Wetland
Inventory Maps
GIS Map of
VT Significant
Wetlands

28. B A

29. B A

30. How are Wetlands Identified in the Field?
Manual: Federal Manual for Identifying and Delineating Jurisdictional Wetlands.
To be a wetland, the following three parameters must be present:
Hydrology
Soils
Vegetation

31. Field Work Presence or absence of wetland
Jurisdictional determination of wetland class
General location of wetland
Options for avoiding wetland/buffer impacts
Options for minimizing wetland/buffer impacts
Verification of wetland delineations
Determination of function and value of wetland
General information on the importance of that wetland in the landscape

32. Contiguous Wetlands
Contiguous shall mean sharing a boundary or touching and shall include such situations where the water level of the wetland is directly influenced by the water level of the adjacent waterbody or wetland and where a man-made structure (e.g. roadway) divides a wetland, if surface water is able to flow over, under or through that structure.
Vermont Wetland Rules, Section 2.07, page 2

33. Interpretation of Contiguous
NOTE: The following guidelines may not pertain to every situation. ANR reserves the right to make contiguous determinations on specific projects within the parameters of the Vermont Wetland Rules and these guidelines.
(1) There is a clear continuum of the three wetland parameters between the mapped wetland and the wetland in question.
1a) b)

34. Interpretation of Contiguous
(2) A wetland is divided by a man-made structure (e.g. ditch or roadway or other fill), where surface water is able to flow over, under or through that structure.

35. Vermont Significant Wetland Inventory Maps
Limitations
Maps are not supposed to be used in lieu of a delineation
Many Class Three’s not on map but can be significant for many functions
Contiguous issue is confusing to the public
Advantages
Gives a general idea of the location of wetlands
Most of the wetlands that are mapped are significant
Creates a jurisdictional threshold

38. Conditional Use Determinations

39. Which Uses Require Conditional Use Determinations (CUD’s)?
All uses in the wetland and buffer zone
which are not allowed uses, are conditional uses

40. CUD Evaluation
Use cannot result in undue, adverse impacts on protected wetland functions and values
If there is an undue adverse impact on protected functions it must be mitigated before a CUD could be issued
Cumulative and on-going impacts must also be considered

41. CUD Evaluation

42. Cumulative and On-going Impacts
Impacts that are on-going such as stormwater, wastewater, human residence, etc.
Case law suggests “cumulative” can include impacts to a wetland that occurred prior to the Vermont Wetland Rules (February 23, 1990),
Allows a more holistic review of the wetland and previous impacts
May be more important in the future

43. Mitigation Avoidance: No practicable upland alternative
Minimization: Reduction in wetland impacts
Restoration: Restore/ replace impacted functions
Creation: Restore/ replace impacted functions through wetland creation

44. Recommendations

45. Informal Determinations by ANR become Formal Determinations
Recommendations
Informal Determinations by ANR become Formal Determinations
Whether an area is in fact a wetland
Wetland boundary determinations, delineations
Determination of wetland functions and values
Determination of size and configuration of the buffer zone
Contiguity determinations

46. Recommendations The Agency recognizes the utility of the VSWI maps
Rules could allow for ANR Process to update, correct, and improve the maps

47. Recommendations on Classification
Class One Wetlands through Rule Making
Class Two are presumed “so significant”
Class Three are wetlands found to be not significant after field evaluation
Unmapped wetlands that are significant will become Class Two through an administrative ANR process

48. Recommendations on Rule Updates
Thorough review and update of the Functions and Values section
Review and update definitions
Develop a clear standard of “Significant”
Where do we set the Bar?

49. General CUD’s and Allowed Uses
To filter out small, minimal impact projects
Routine projects, such as utility line extensions, and highway improvements
Recognize program resources vs. increased jurisdiction

50. For additional information contact the State Wetlands Program ,