Upload
others
View
12
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
US Army Corps of EngineersBUILDING STRONG®
Jurisdiction, Wetland Delineations and DatasheetsPresented by Regulatory Project Managers from the USACE Detroit District Regulatory Office and MDEQ Water Resources Division
October 26, 2016
Agenda Establishing Corps & DEQ regulatory
jurisdiction in Michigan Michigan and the Section 404 Assumption
►Corps & DEQ Ordinary High Water Mark►Jurisdiction Determinations
Wetland Delineations and Datasheets►Atypical situations►Differences in wetland boundaries
Corps Regulatory Authorities
Section 10 Rivers and Harbors
Act of 1899
Navigable waters of the U.S.
Structures and work
Section 404 Clean Water Act
Waters of the U.S., including wetlands
Discharge of dredged or fill material
Navigable Waters of the U.S.
Navigable Waters of the United States are those waters that are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide and/or
are presently used, or have been used in the past, or may be susceptible for use to transport interstate or foreign
commerce (33 CFR Part 329).
Soo Locks
Navigable Waters
Navigable waters of the United States are those waters that are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide and/or are presently used, or have been used in the past, or may be susceptible for use to transport interstate or foreign commerce. A determination of navigability, once made, applies laterally over the entire surface of the waterbody, and is not extinguished by later actions or events which impede or destroy navigable capacity.
Section 1050 years, Industry, & Landfill
1949 1999
Section 10 Limits of Navigability
Section 404Corps Waters of the U.S.
Navigable waters of the U.S.
Tributaries to Navigable Waters of the U.S.
Wetlands adjacent to waters listed above
All interstate waters including interstate wetlands.
Navigable Water of the U.S.
Tributaries(all the way upstream)
Adjacent Wetlands
Lake(as part of a
tributary)
CFR 328.3(a) a. The term "waters of the United States" means 1. All waters which are currently used, or were used in the past, or may be
susceptible to use in interstate or foreign commerce, including all waters which are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide;
2. All interstate waters including interstate wetlands; 3. All other waters such as intrastate lakes, rivers, streams (including
intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, or natural ponds, the use, degradation or destruction of which could affect interstate or foreign commerce including any such waters:
i. Which are or could be used by interstate or foreign travelers for recreational or other purposes; or
ii. From which fish or shellfish are or could be taken and sold in interstate or foreign commerce; or
iii. Which are used or could be used for industrial purpose by industries in interstate commerce
BUILDING STRONG®
Base Outline Regulatory authorities Getting a jurisdiction determination
► Corps wetland delineation and when to get a consultant
► OHWM► WAP
What a consultant should provide the landowner and send to the Corps/State for review
Common errors in data sheets
Michigan and the Section 404 Assumption
In 1984 a portion of the Corps’ regulatory responsibilities was assumed by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Unless otherwise notified, a separate
authorization from the Corps is not required
Navigable Waters and Adjacent Wetlands
When to get a Corps JD
You should request a Jurisdiction Determination any time a proposed project is in one of the Great Lakes, a tributary to a Great Lake, or in adjacent wetlands
When in doubt – give us a call
Corps Preliminary vs. Approved JDs
Preliminary JD
Advisory in nature May shorten the
processing time Not appealable
Approved JD
Official Corps determination
May take longer Appealable (33 CFR
Part 331) Valid for 5 years
The Corps Ordinary High Water Mark
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) is a jurisdictional benchmark for administering its regulatory program in navigable waterways under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The OHWM is the line on the shore coincident with the elevation contour that represents the approximate location of the line on the shore established by fluctuations of water and indicated by physical characteristics such as shelving, destruction of terrestrial vegetation, presence of litter or debris, or changes in the character of soil. The OHWM varies from lake to lake and within each of the connecting channels (e.g., St. Marys River, St. Clair River). A table of OHWMs for several locations throughout the Great Lakes region can be found below. The elevation reference system used to define Great Lakes water levels is the 1985 International Great Lakes Datum, which is commonly known by the acronym IGLD 1985.
Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM)
Jurisdictional limit for waterways Physical characteristics of the shoreline Typically determined by a site visit
OHWM by elevation on the Great Lakes Used when OHWM can not be clearly
determined by physical characteristics
Corps & DEQ OHWMs IGLD 1985
Corps
Lake Superior 603.1’
Lake Michigan/Huron 581.5’
Lake St. Clair 576.3’
Lake Erie 573.4’
DEQ
602.6’
580.5’
575.3’
572.2’
OHWMCorps OHWM (581.5’ IGLD 1985)
Corps Jurisdictional Area
Approx 1’
DEQ OHWM 580.5’
Corps & DEQ OHWM
CorpsDEQ
Corps OHWM
Corps Ordinary High Water Mark
OHWM
Current Water Elevation
Corps’ Jurisdictional Area
Corps Ordinary High Water Mark One year later…
OHWM
Last Year’s Water Elevation
Current Water Elevation
Corps’ Jurisdictional Area
ExampleCorps Ordinary High Water Mark
ExampleCorps Ordinary High Water Mark
Corps Section 10 Jurisdiction
Navigable Waterway
(Sections 10 and 404)
Corps Jurisdiction in Tributaries
Navigable Waterway
Portions of drain where bottom elevation is below OHWM of Navigable Water
(Sections 10 and 404)
(Sections 10 and 404)
Corps Jurisdiction in Tributaries
Navigable Waterway
Adjacent Wetlands
Portions of tributary where bottom elevation is below OHWM of Navigable Water
(Sections 10 and 404)
(Sections 10 and 404)
(Section 404)
ExampleCorps Ordinary High Water Mark
ExampleCorps Jurisdiction – Drain Cleanout
Water level
Top of bank
Ordinary High Water Mark Elevation of Navigable Waterway
Existing bottom alongcenterline of drain
Proposed bottom after dredging
Jurisdictional Area for Dredging
Navigable Waterway
AB
D
C
OHWM
Proposed bottom elevation for dredging
Existing bottom elevation
Waterlevel
Example Corps Jurisdiction Drain Cleanout Cross-section A
OHWM
Proposed bottom elevation for dredging
Existing bottom elevation
Waterlevel
Example Corps Jurisdiction Drain Cleanout Cross-section B
OHWM
Existing bottom elevation
Proposed bottom elevation for dredging
Waterlevel
Example Corps JurisdictionDrain Cleanout Cross-section C
OHWM
Proposed bottom elevation for dredging
Existing bottom elevation
Waterlevel
Example Corps Jurisdiction Drain Cleanout Cross-section D
OHWM Elevation
Jurisdictional Area
Corps Jurisdiction - Example
OHWM Elevation
Jurisdictional Structure
Corps Jurisdiction - Example
Structures Overhead
OHWM Elevation
Jurisdictional Structure
OHWM Elevation
Corps Jurisdiction - Example
OHWM Elevation
Jurisdictional Fill
Non-Jurisdictional Fill
Corps Jurisdiction - Example
OHWM Elevation
Corps Jurisdiction - Example
Excavation area
OHWM Elevation
Corps Jurisdiction - Example
Excavation area
OHWM Elevation
Non-Jurisdictional WorkJurisdictional
Work
Corps Jurisdiction - Example
Excavation area
OHWM Elevation
Applying Jurisdiction
Proposed Project Site
DEQ Jurisdiction Part 301
► Ordinary High Water Mark Part 303
► Vicinity to inland lake or stream or > 5 acres in size Part 325
► Elevation of 580.5 IGLD85 Part 31
► Drainage area of > 2sq miles Part 315
► Dam greater than 6ft high Part 323 and 353
► Areas designated on map
DEQ Wetlands
OHWM
DEQ OHWM Part 325 IGLD 1985
Corps
Lake Superior 603.1’
Lake Michigan/Huron 581.5’
Lake St. Clair 576.3’
Lake Erie 573.4’
DEQ
602.6’
580.5’
575.3’
572.2’
DEQ Part 323 and 353
• High Risk Erosion area
• Critical Dune area
• Interactive map at http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/wetlands/or
• PDF maps available at www.michigan.gov/criticaldunes
DEQ Part 325: Example on Lake Michigan
Corps regulates to 581.5 IGLD85
DEQ regulates to 580.5 IGLD85
Critical Dunes
DEQ Part 323 jurisdiction
GreatLake
Water Level
Erosion Hazard Line
30-Year SB
Property Line
Property Line
60-Year SB
Readily-Moveable Structures
Only
Readily Moveable or Non-Readily-
Moveable StructureAllowed
Erosion rates are parcel specific and can change over time.
DEQ Part 31 Streams and drains with a drainage area of >
2 sq. miles► Occupation► Filling► Grade changes within the floodplain
All streams and drains have a floodplain
Non-mapped floodplains may be regulated!
DEQ Part 31 We do not have a publically available map of all
regulated floodplain areas. Please call your local floodplain engineer to
determine if the drainage area for your project is > or < 2 sq. miles.
www.Michigan.gov/floodplainmanagement
DEQ Wetlands Regulated
wetlands do not stop at property lines.
Paired sampling points are required to show that wetlands are not connected.
Paired sampling points Orange dots =
wetland characteristics
Purple area = upland characteristics
Both sets of data need to be turned in with an application or delineation.
Inland Lake and Stream jurisdiction example
Many statues overlap. Depending on where your project area is, three or more statutes may apply.
DEQ Part 315 Dam height is > than
6ft or impoundment area is greater than 5 acres
Many regulated activities will involve more than one state law and gov’t agency
Inland Lakes and Streams and Wetlands (Part 301 and Part 303)
Corps permit if on Section 10
Critical Dune Areas
High Risk Erosion Areas
Great Lakes Submerged lands
• Critical Dunes Part 353
• High Risk Erosion Area Part 323
• Great Lakes Part 325
• Corps authorization
• Authorization under Part 301, Part 31 and Part 315 approval.
• Part 303 if wetland in the impoundment area.
• Corps permit if changing navigability and Section 10.
Floodplain regulations
Dam Safety
DEQ jurisdiction example• DEQ has the same
jurisdiction• Property lines
• DEQ has a different jurisdiction for:
• OHWM• Floodplains• Additional
Wetlands• Additional Stream
• Riparian interest area
Michigan’s Wetland Identification Program (WIP)
The DEQ offers wetland delineations to determine the regulated wetlands on the property.
Keto Gyekis, 517-243-5002, [email protected]
Benefits:► Jurisdictional determination► Wetlands are clearly identified for an application► Due diligence for propertybuy/sell agreements
WIP fee structure Level 1: DEQ Wetland inventory maps Level 2: On-site review of an identified area, up to five
acres, by DEQ staff► $500 for 1st acre, $250 per additional acre
Level 3: On-site verification of a delineation done by a wetland professional and/or consultant► $500 for 1st acre, $50 per additional wetland acre, $20 per additional upland acre
The Dirt on Wetland Delineations and Datasheets
Wetlands
Hydrology Soils Vegetation
Technical Resourceswww.lre.usace.army.mil
Wetland Delineation Resourceswww.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/RegulatoryProgramAndPermits.aspx
Wetland Verification Delineation may be required for
application completeness Considering wetlands during development
of plan helps with avoidance/minimization You may be able to avoid wetland impacts
(possibly avoiding need for permit – we can help you identify areas to avoid) Correctly quantify impacts – minimize
delays later in evaluation
Important Distinctions
The Corps and DEQ are separate regulatory authorities and cannot speak for each other’s programs, verify wetland boundaries, or determine jurisdiction. ONLY the Corps can make a jurisdictional
determination for the Corps of Engineers. A consultant can provide a wetland
delineation but cannot make a final jurisdiction determination.
Data Sheets: Common Issues Correct Data Sheets Missing Information – don’t leave blanks Data point location
► Give accurate coordinates► Provide a map
Inadequate review – if you used the fillable form double check and review Use the comments section – you should
always share your observations
Focus on probable boundaries Which tells you more about the wetland
boundary location?
Use Correct Datasheet Midwest or Northcentral/Northeast
►Most recent: Version 2.0►Hydric soil and wetland hydrology indicators
may vary►Plant indicator status may vary
• Refer to USACE National Wetland Plant List for current taxonomy and indicator status
►Datasheets that predate the regional supplements may not reflect current methodology.
Hydrology indicators Make sure these
two sections are consistent.
If a water table is present, then saturation is also present, usually a few inches above the water table.
If surface water is present, a water table is usually present (0 inches depth).
Hydric Soil Indicators
How do these sections relate?• Refer to the regional supplement
for step-by-step definitions.• Go through each indicator that may
apply for the relevant soil texture (all soils, sandy, or loamy/clayey).
• More than one indicator may apply.
Atypical Situations: Disturbed Sites
Atypical Situations:Disturbed Areas
Industrial past Covered with fill Excavated Altered by mowing, plowing, planting,
drainage, flooding, etc.
Delineation of Disturbed Areas
Delineate early in the season Use procedures in the manual – and seek
additional resources Describe the problem in the “remarks”
section of the data sheets Provide all documentation used to inform
your decisions
Regional Supplements
Automated Data Form
Microsoft Excel spreadsheet Automatically generates wetland
hydrology, hydrophytic vegetation, and hydric soil indicators
Contains the current indicator information Printed form looks like the form in the
Regional Supplement
Automated Data Form
Currently only Northcentral/Northeast Region and Midwest Region available
Other Regions under Corps HQ review
http://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory-Program-and-Permits/Automated-Wetland-Determination-Data-Form
Questions?