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Post by esshup on Feb 6, 2024 18:30:59 GMT -5
In plain english, can someone explain to me what designates a wetland either a Class I, Class II or Class III Wetland? I'm not looking for what the legal definition is, I want to know in regular everyday English.
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Post by duff on Feb 6, 2024 18:37:41 GMT -5
Nope. Never heard of class I, II or III
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Wetlands
Feb 6, 2024 20:06:36 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by freedomhunter on Feb 6, 2024 20:06:36 GMT -5
I've seen some sketch things with wetland delineation. Most work that I've done has been crop field reclaim in the flood zone next to creeks for money just plantings. There is such a thing as a wetland bank which is more involved and harder to get that actually involves grading a bank. It seems it is constantly changing, the programs anyway. I've never heard of a class though
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Post by esshup on Feb 6, 2024 20:18:25 GMT -5
If you read the wording of HB1383 they mention the different classes and somewhat explain them but I can't figure it out.
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Post by greghopper on Feb 6, 2024 20:41:52 GMT -5
If you read the wording of HB1383 they mention the different classes and somewhat explain them but I can't figure it out. Send a email to your representative and see if they can explain or direct to someone that can…
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Post by duff on Feb 6, 2024 21:41:50 GMT -5
I read epa regs for a living and those wetland regs make rcra look like "goodnight moon" books my kids learned to read before kindergarten!
Such a dumb way to regulate citizens. Make it so confusing that everyone is confused. I bet asking will only result in another convoluted response.
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Post by jman46151 on Feb 6, 2024 21:56:13 GMT -5
Indiana’s isolated wetlands are defined as being a Class I, Class II, or Class III wetland. This determination is made as part of a technical assessment by a wetland or environmental consultant. Class III wetlands are those that have been largely undisturbed by human activity or development, support more than minimal habitat or hydrologic functions, or are rare and ecologically important. The 2021 changes to the wetlands law have very little impact on Class III wetlands
Impact of the Changes on Class II and Class I Wetlands and Ephemeral Streams Class II wetlands are now defined as those that support moderate habitat or hydrological functions but are generally without threatened or endangered species or their habitats. Class II wetlands used to be exempt from permitting if they were smaller than one-quarter of an acre. The 2021 law exempts Class II wetlands from permitting if they are smaller than three-eighths of an acre.
The definition of Class I wetlands was not changed in the 2021 law. Class I wetlands are still defined as those where at least 50 percent of the wetland has been disturbed by human activity, the wetland supports minimal habitat or hydrologic function, and does not provide habitat for threatened or endangered species. This entire class of wetlands is now exempt from permitting. Previously, Class I wetlands were only exempt if they were smaller than half an acre. In addition, compensatory mitigation is no longer required for activities that impact Class I Wetlands.
From an article online
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Post by jman46151 on Feb 6, 2024 22:01:47 GMT -5
I didn't mind when the 2021 law was changed. IMO, class I shouldn't need a permit. I was in charge of maintaining a wetland for 5 years that my company was required to build due to a new building we built. The new wetland was twice the size of the old one, which only existed because a clay tile had collapsed and allowed water to pool there. It had only held water off and on for the last few years.
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Post by esshup on Feb 6, 2024 22:59:43 GMT -5
Indiana’s isolated wetlands are defined as being a Class I, Class II, or Class III wetland. This determination is made as part of a technical assessment by a wetland or environmental consultant. Class III wetlands are those that have been largely undisturbed by human activity or development, support more than minimal habitat or hydrologic functions, or are rare and ecologically important. The 2021 changes to the wetlands law have very little impact on Class III wetlands Impact of the Changes on Class II and Class I Wetlands and Ephemeral Streams Class II wetlands are now defined as those that support moderate habitat or hydrological functions but are generally without threatened or endangered species or their habitats. Class II wetlands used to be exempt from permitting if they were smaller than one-quarter of an acre. The 2021 law exempts Class II wetlands from permitting if they are smaller than three-eighths of an acre. The definition of Class I wetlands was not changed in the 2021 law. Class I wetlands are still defined as those where at least 50 percent of the wetland has been disturbed by human activity, the wetland supports minimal habitat or hydrologic function, and does not provide habitat for threatened or endangered species. This entire class of wetlands is now exempt from permitting. Previously, Class I wetlands were only exempt if they were smaller than half an acre. In addition, compensatory mitigation is no longer required for activities that impact Class I Wetlands. From an article online THANK YOU! That makes sense to me. From walking around in that area, I appears that at least 50% has been disturbed by human activity, but not in the last 20-25 years. There is minimal "wetland habitat" (I could see no difference in the plants inside the delineated area and outside the delineated area and no threatened or endangered species were noted on the scientists "boots on the ground" visit. jman46151, can you send me a link to where you found this information or post it here? I want to show it to the project manager so he can go talk to the people that marked off the wetland in November after HB1383 is signed into law. Thanks!
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Post by esshup on Feb 6, 2024 23:09:36 GMT -5
What really burns me up is that we want to disturb an area that is at the most 50' wide by 20'long not including the 50'x50' wide buffer zone on each side of the wetland. We would be planting native plants along the stream, AND planting native plants in the littoral zone around a 6.5 acre pond that is currently a flat field. We would be making way more habitat than what we would be disturbing, on a huge scale. I just looked at the quote from Stantec. It is for 6,510 native plants, either bare root or plugs.
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Post by greghopper on Feb 7, 2024 6:25:56 GMT -5
HB1383 could easily be stopped by the governor……whole bunch of people are against it.
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Post by esshup on Feb 7, 2024 8:28:15 GMT -5
HB1383 could easily be stopped by the governor……whole bunch of people are against it. Yep, every Democrat except one.
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Wetlands
Feb 7, 2024 9:16:18 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by greghopper on Feb 7, 2024 9:16:18 GMT -5
HB1383 could easily be stopped by the governor……whole bunch of people are against it. Yep, every Democrat except one. Sometimes that’s all it takes… SB 246 is a favorite I believe … the IWF is pushing SB 246 We are thrilled to announce some good news coming out of the Indiana Statehouse! While HB1383 has garnered much of our attention as it continues to deregulate wetlands, SB 246 helps move Indiana in the right direction. This bill, authored by Senator Glick, incentivizes the protection of wetlands by landowners and developers, allowing wetlands, for the first time, to be enrolled in the Classified Forest & Wildlands program. This bill, in a strong showing of bipartisanship, passed the Senate 48-0, and will now crossover to the House where it will be sponsored by Representatives Baird and Abbott. We strongly encourage you to reach out to your State Representative and tell them to vote FOR this bill, and standup for wetlands in Indiana. And while you're at it, why not email your Senator and thank them for standing up for wetlands and voting in favor of SB 246! Thank you for your support of IWF and your advocacy to help advance wildlife and wild spaces in our state.
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Post by jman46151 on Feb 7, 2024 11:46:41 GMT -5
Indiana’s isolated wetlands are defined as being a Class I, Class II, or Class III wetland. This determination is made as part of a technical assessment by a wetland or environmental consultant. Class III wetlands are those that have been largely undisturbed by human activity or development, support more than minimal habitat or hydrologic functions, or are rare and ecologically important. The 2021 changes to the wetlands law have very little impact on Class III wetlands Impact of the Changes on Class II and Class I Wetlands and Ephemeral Streams Class II wetlands are now defined as those that support moderate habitat or hydrological functions but are generally without threatened or endangered species or their habitats. Class II wetlands used to be exempt from permitting if they were smaller than one-quarter of an acre. The 2021 law exempts Class II wetlands from permitting if they are smaller than three-eighths of an acre. The definition of Class I wetlands was not changed in the 2021 law. Class I wetlands are still defined as those where at least 50 percent of the wetland has been disturbed by human activity, the wetland supports minimal habitat or hydrologic function, and does not provide habitat for threatened or endangered species. This entire class of wetlands is now exempt from permitting. Previously, Class I wetlands were only exempt if they were smaller than half an acre. In addition, compensatory mitigation is no longer required for activities that impact Class I Wetlands. From an article online THANK YOU! That makes sense to me. From walking around in that area, I appears that at least 50% has been disturbed by human activity, but not in the last 20-25 years. There is minimal "wetland habitat" (I could see no difference in the plants inside the delineated area and outside the delineated area and no threatened or endangered species were noted on the scientists "boots on the ground" visit. jman46151, can you send me a link to where you found this information or post it here? I want to show it to the project manager so he can go talk to the people that marked off the wetland in November after HB1383 is signed into law. Thanks! Here's the link to the article I pulled it from. Big Changes to Indiana's State-Regulated Isolated Wetlands Program
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Post by 36fan on Feb 7, 2024 20:25:14 GMT -5
I didn't mind when the 2021 law was changed. IMO, class I shouldn't need a permit. I was in charge of maintaining a wetland for 5 years that my company was required to build due to a new building we built. The new wetland was twice the size of the old one, which only existed because a clay tile had collapsed and allowed water to pool there. It had only held water off and on for the last few years. Why was the area tiled in the first place?
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Post by esshup on Feb 7, 2024 21:50:38 GMT -5
The biggest issue I have with the whole wetland thing is that the property owner has no say in whether it will be ruled a wetland, and that is how it is different than a Classified Forest. OR CRP.
This landowner had no idea that it was now considered a wetland and that they couldn't touch it.
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Post by jman46151 on Feb 8, 2024 8:58:39 GMT -5
I didn't mind when the 2021 law was changed. IMO, class I shouldn't need a permit. I was in charge of maintaining a wetland for 5 years that my company was required to build due to a new building we built. The new wetland was twice the size of the old one, which only existed because a clay tile had collapsed and allowed water to pool there. It had only held water off and on for the last few years. Why was the area tiled in the first place? I'm guessing the farmer wanted to keep his field dry. There was no historic wetland at that location.
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