ST. PAUL, Minn. –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, reminds the public that changes to the State of Wisconsin wetland laws have no effect on federal laws regulating work in waters and wetlands.
There is still a federal requirement to obtain authorization from the Corps for discharges of dredged or fill materials into waters of the United States, which include most wetlands.
The Corps urges everyone to check with a local Corps office to see if a proposed construction project is located within a wetlands area. If you are planning to build a home, a driveway, excavate a pond or clear land, a Corps permit may be required.
Wetlands such as swamps and marshes are often obvious, but some wetlands are not easily recognized because they are dry during part of the year or have saturated soil but no surface water.
Wetlands provide many important functions, benefits and values. One of the primary functions of a wetland is to store water and slowly release it over time. This reduces the effects of flooding. They also act as filters to retain sediments and nutrients, which results in healthier streams and lakes and, ultimately, clean drinking water. Wetlands also provide wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities, such as hunting, fishing and trapping.
Joint local, state and federal applications for wetland and water projects in Minnesota and Wisconsin are available at: www.mvp.usace.army.mil/regulatory. Corps staff is available free of charge to assist landowners in completing the application, to answer general questions regarding the permit process, to determine whether a project would require a federal permit and to determine if wetlands are present at a project location.
You can contact a Corps representative toll free by leaving a message at (800) 290-5847, Ext. 5525, or by visiting us at: www.mvp.usace.army.mil/regulatory.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, serves the American public in the areas of environmental enhancement, navigation, flood damage reduction, water and wetlands regulation, recreation sites and disaster response. It contributes around $175 million to the five-state district economy. The 700 employees work at more than 40 sites in five upper-Midwest states. For more information, see www.mvp.usace.army.mil.
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Release no. 12-025