Can I alter my wetland?

Wetlands are protected under state, federal, and local laws or ordinances. Proposed alterations might be approved, depending on what alteration is proposed, and whether local regulations address that proposal.

WETLAND CONSERVATION ACT (WCA) Fact Sheet

The Chisago Soil and Water Conservation District is the local Government Unit for the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) in Chisago County.

There are three main definitions that landowners need to know pertaining to the State of Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act on Agricultural and Non-Agricultural lands.  They are: Fill, Drainage, and Excavation.

• Fill means any solid material added to or re-deposited in a wetland that would alter its cross-section or hydrological characteristics, obstruct flow patterns, change the wetland boundary, or convert the wetland to a non-wetland.  It does not include posts and pilings for linear projects such as bridges, elevated walkways, or power line structures, or structures traditionally built on pilings, such as docks and boathouses.  It does include posts and pilings that result in bringing the wetland into a non-aquatic use or significantly altering the wetland's functions and values, such as the construction of office and industrial developments, parking structures, restaurants, stores, hotels, housing projects, and similar structures.
• Drainage means any method for removing or diverting waters from wetlands.  The methods shall include, but are not limited to, excavation of an open ditch, installation of subsurface drainage tile, filling, diking, or pumping.  (This includes the use of the moldboard plow leaving a dead furrow to drain a wetland).
• Excavation means the displacement or removal of substrate, sediment of other materials by any method.

Environmental benefits of wetlands include:

• Wetlands can reduce flooding by slowing excess water runoff during times of heavy rainfall or snowmelt.
• Wetlands can improve water quality by filtering sediments, nutrients, and other pollutants out of water before it enters rivers or lakes.
• Wetlands provide habitat for many fish, wildlife, and plant species, some of which can only survive in wetlands.
• Wetlands can provide areas for public recreation and education.

When most people think of wetlands, they picture swampy, marshy areas complete with ducks and cattails.  While those areas are indeed wetlands, others might look quite different and may not even have surface water for much of the year.  Not all wetlands are readily identifiable by people without specialized training.  The following are suggestions for anyone who has a project that might impact a wetland:

• Find out if land you want to alter is a wetland.  Contact the Chisago SWCD at 651/674-2333, before breaking ground on any project. 
• Before you purchase property for development, consider the existence of any wetlands and weigh the environmental impact and financial cost of disturbing those areas against the projects benefits.
• Consider the possible concerns of the community and the project's neighbors.
• Design your project accordingly after you have received proper determination of where the wetlands are located.