Wetlands Workshop
On Tuesday, February 10th, 2009, the Busseron Creek Watershed Partnership hosted a Wetlands Workshop. The audience of over 80 people were able to ask their own questions regarding wetlands, waterways, programs, design, and regulation. Questions ranged from methods to mitigate beaver damage to creation of vernal pools to repair and restoration of flood damaged property.
The Panel:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Newburgh, IN Office
Mike Ricketts, Section Chief
Rob Brown, Regulatory Project Manager
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into all Waters of the United States. Waters of the United States includes:
- Navigable waters
- Wetlands
- Tributaries to navigable waters, including adjacent wetlands, lakes, and ponds
- Interstate watersa and their tributaries, including adjacent wetlands
- All other Waters of the United States not identified above, such as isolated wetlands, intermittent streams, and other waters that are not part of a tributary system to interstate waters or to navigable waters of the U.S., where the use, degradation, or destruction of these waters could affect interstate or foreign commerce.
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Office of Water Quality
Jason Randolph, Wetlands Project Manager
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) regulates projects that have a discharge to the Waters of the State,
including those that require a federal permit. If you need to obtain a federal permit from USACE, you may be required to obtain authorization
from IDEM as part of the permitting process. Since 2004, IDEM has regulated isolated wetlands.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Eddy Adams, District Conservationist
The Natural Resouces Conservation Service (NRCS) frequently assists private landowners with wetland activities that do not involve any proposed adverse manipulation of wetland
hydrology and do not make commodity crop production possible. They may, in fact, involve restoration and improvement of wetland functions
and values. Examples include planning for WRP and WHIP contracts which involve wetland restoration, enhancement and creation.
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Division of Water
George Bowman, Assitant Director
The Indiana Department of Natural Resouces (IDNR) regulates various construction activities within, over, and/or under the State's waterways. IDNR Review includes (but is not limited to) a project's effects on:
- The natural resources and scenic beauty of lakes
- Lake water levels
- Fish, wildlife, and botanical resouces
- Efficiency and capcity of floodways
- Safety of life or property
Center for Earth and Environmental Sciences
Bob Barr, Research Scientist
The Center for Earth and Environmental Sciences (CEES) is a research center working to solve complex environmental problems. Their programs seek to translate environmental issues and solutions to legislators, environmental professionals, students, and citizens. CEES research includes:
- Wetland Ecosystem Restoration
- Water Resource Evaluation
- Environmental Data Management and Visualizatino
- The Fate and Transport of Environmental Contaminants
Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.
Stephen Hall, Senior Associate
Stantec is a national company that provides professional consulting services in planning, engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying, environmental sciences, project management, and project economics for infrastructure and facilities projects. Continually striving to balance economic, environmental, and social responsibilities, they are recognized as a world-class leader and innovator in the delivery of sustainable solutions.