Wetlands serve an important role in maintaining water quality. They act as filters to clean water before it gets to the streams, creeks and rivers.
In the United States, wetlands are considered as jurisdictional like other waters of the U.S. if they meet all three criteria outlined in the 1987 U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Delineation Manual. Jurisdictional wetlands and Water of the United States (WOUS) are regulated by the USACE under authority of the Clean Water Act.
The objective of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act (CWA), is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters by preventing point and nonpoint pollution sources, providing assistance to publicly owned treatment works for the improvement of wastewater treatment, and maintaining the integrity of wetlands.
If your property contains wetlands they may or may not be jurisdictional. Soil Horizons, Inc. can conduct wetland assessments to help you find out the quantity of wetlands on your property and whether or not they are jurisdictional.
If you have plans on impacting wetlands or WOUS by dredging or filling associated with residential or commercial development, a USACE 404 permit and or a State permit may be required.
Soil Horizons can conduct preliminary wetland determinations to give you a rough idea of the quantity of jurisdictional features on your site for planning purposes. If development impacts are antidipated and permits will be likely required, Soil Horizons, Inc. can conduct detailed wetland delineations and have them reviewed and approved by the USACE. Also, Soil Horizons can work with landowners or thier engineers to obtain appropriate permits from regulatory agencies. If Soil Horizons, Inc. can provide wetland consulting services, please contact us for advice or estimates. See contact information on home page.
For more information on wetland regulations in the southeast United States see: