Wetlands are semi- or permanently flooded lands that support incredibly sensitive ecosystems. They are some of the most carefully managed natural landscapes in the world, and for good reason. Wetland construction is a precarious business because it is much more planning-intensive than your usual construction projects.
The permitting process alone is full of special considerations and procedures that you don’t often see anywhere else, such as mitigation, delineation, etc.
Our team here at Caskin understands that sensitive projects like these need careful hands to guide the way. This whole wetland construction process is lengthy, stressful, and touchy—we won’t deny it. But we also know that these properties and projects are often worth all that time and effort.
Below, we are going to walk you through the wetland construction and land development process to give you some idea of the road you’ll be walking if you decide to pull the trigger on this project.
Too often, land development and construction companies gatekeep information and make the process as confusing as possible. They press you into a corner and make you pay your way out. We don’t roll like that. Here at Caskin, we are willing to walk every step of the path with you.
We are also willing to take on as much or as little of the project as you need.
The point is we work with you, for you, and make every accommodation possible to keep this as easy as we can. But wetland construction is fundamentally more complicated than your usual project—and that cannot be ignored.
We will do everything possible to get your land to a better place than we found it, even better than you are expecting. And no matter how much (or how little) you need done, we will meet you there.
Once upon a time, wetlands were considered of poor value or low quality. They were drained and converted for more “productive” uses. These days, we understand the importance of these ecosystems.
Some of these functions include
On top of that, wetlands are uniquely beautiful and diverse. They are an incredible place to live or work. Sure, you have to be more careful to respect the fragility of these areas, but you’ll be paid back in spades by the beauty of these charming landscapes.
We are ready and willing to support your project, no matter the location.
Whether it’s simply an investment or the first step in creating your dream, Caskin’s got your back. We’ll help take whatever precautions are necessary to ensure this dream is standing for generations to come.
More than anyone, you need to protect wetlands with careful, considerate land development practices. Wetlands are a hot commodity. Our team will help make sure your town, city, village, and ecosystem gets the best care possible.
No matter how you use it, your land is an investment. Wetlands, no matter how they fit into your plans, are regulated aggressively and require a high level of planning. Let us help you support your plans and make them a reality.
Below, we walk you through the wetland development steps and what you can expect when you embark on this journey.
To work in wetland conditions, you need to know exactly what you are working with. No wetlands are created equal with the same conditions and building potential from one acre to the next. The first step we recommend in your wetland development process is finding out the following details about your property.
If you can, check on these during or before your purchase of the property. There should be information on the zoning and land usage. You can check land maps. And, if you are still unsure, have a surveyor draw official boundaries—these are especially important when it comes to construction near any type of water source.
Additionally, take the time to learn about federal, state, and local laws regarding wetlands in your area. We recommend making a checklist of every law you need to consider as you move through this process.
Because of the sensitivity of the transitional lands between upland (terrestrial) and bottomland (aquatic) systems, heavy equipment usage in these areas can easily hurt these ecosystems. You will almost always need a permit.
Your municipality will evaluate each proposal on a case-by-case basis. As long as the land is considered a wetland, you will need to have some kind of mitigation plan attached to your proposal. The type of mitigation plan you have depends on the type of wetland you have, such as
Permitting is a lengthy process that can take months and—depending on the scale and context of your project—years. Be prepared for this to be complicated and involve a lot of back and forth with your municipality.
As you get further into this process, you’ll hopefully be able to solidify plans and begin land development. But nothing is perfect—especially not permitting—so you very well might need to make changes.
Having clear documentation and organization of the necessary information is helpful here. That checklist really, really comes in handy. Be prepared to make changes in the event that your municipality wants you to avoid wetland construction altogether. You might even have to consider alternate land uses depending on the severity of regulations in your area.
Usually, at this point, you’ll be able to proceed. All your plans come to fruition. Contractors, builders, and land development companies move in to start construction.
The general rule of thumb when planning any project is the more notice, the better. That is especially true of wetland development projects. The permitting process is more complicated than usual, meaning you will need more time to not only plan but also make any necessary changes to plans if there are issues.
Ask anyone with experience in complicated permits, and they will tell you to get started researching and planning ASAP. Wetland development is no joke, and those procedures won’t go faster just because you want them to.
Also, check with your contractors and land development teams about the building season so that you are able to plan accordingly. This will differ from region to region.
Wetlands are a unique ecosystem where there is an abundance of or constant soil saturation. Water soaks the land for long enough and often enough that it supports plants reliant on that condition.
The first layer of differences between types of wetlands includes
Then, there are different classifications of wetlands, including
You can read more about proper classifications and types of wetlands here.
Wetlands are found anywhere the ground is low enough and the water is high enough to cover the surface for any amount of regular time. They can occur at shorelines, depressions, and groundwater upwellings.
The answer is generally yes, but there are more considerations when it comes to wetland development. First, it’s a heavily permitted process so as to reduce the impact of construction on these sensitive ecosystems. Some of the ways the impact is reduced include
If there are impacts that the municipality considers “unavoidable,” they have to be addressed through mitigation efforts. Overall, the permitting process tries to avoid erosion and any long-term impacts on the areas surrounding it.
Our team understands how complicated the wetland development process is. They also understand how sensitive it is, which means we are fully capable of assisting with your project.
A few ways you can tell you are working with wetlands include
Officially, the way to find out whether you have wetlands or not is with the help of a consultant, a conversation with your state’s environmental protection agency, and using a map system.
When embarking on wetland development, you have to get legal permission for just about everything. There are regulations surrounding materials that are used when dredging and filling wetlands, how safe an area is for development (based on what the land borders, how wet it is, and the potential impact on surrounding areas), etc.
Wetland delineation is the process of finding the physical limits of wetlands, specifically between wetlands and uplands. You could understand it as a mapping process.
Usually, wetland delineation is the first step in the wetland permitting process. When you submit your permit application, it should include one of the following methods for reducing the effects construction will have on the ecosystem.
Mitigation is the act of offsetting the loss of functional wetlands by restoring, enhancing, creating, or preserving wetlands. Mitigation efforts work to substitute within the same basin so that the building doesn’t actually reduce the wetland's size or functionality.
If you plan to build on wetlands and make no effort to mitigate the impacts of construction, your permit applications could be rejected—specifically if there are no plans to delineate or mitigate.
