Crossing a wet land

[Pallet_Man]

Hi ,looking for some advice,Ihave a 39 acer lot that has a wet spot  crossing it about 7 acers back witch leaves me alot of ground that is only good for hunting,Thats not all bad but I would like to get some timber off the property.Im thinking about a log arch and my 500 sportsmen but i think i am still going to need a little fill and some drane pipes put across.Some people tell me dont even try it with the
D.E.P. and everything like that .But it buges me to have my land locked by wet lands.

[Jeff]

I tell you what, if you are in Michigan you would be asking for more trouble then you would ever care to think about if you started messing with your wet lands with out the impossble to get permits. I know of guys that got multi thousand dollar fines for simply putting a tube in a creek and filling over it to access all of thier club property.

[Kevin]

I assume you don`t get a freeze up?

[Fla._Deadheader]

DanG, Kevin. That was going to be my question!!!  :D :D :D
Harold

[ADfields]

Me 3 on the freeze up.   If it's just a "wet spot" why not go around it?
Andy

[Kevin]

Logging companies get a temporary permit here.
They put  bridges in but they must be removed and the area restored to its original condition after the logs are removed.

[Ron Wenrich]

If I'm not mistaken, forest management is allowed on wet lands.  Is it that we can grow them, but not cut them???  Or is it more on the state level than on the federal level?

[Ron Scott]

There are different types of wetlands and each should be evaluated for their specific ecosystem values, most of which are non monitary but can be priceless.

It's best to go around them or access them during freeze up if you have land ownership and terrain and a freeze-up season that permits this.

Federal and state permits are usually required to work in or road across a wetland. One needs to evaluate the economics of working in or through a wetlands as the cost of a permit, plan of access, drainage structures, and timing may outweigh the cost of the timber to be accessed and harvested.

One also needs to determine if the access will be temporary or permanent for future management needs.

[Bro. Noble]

We have a couple of creeks on our place and some springs that create wet spots.  Some of the low ground stays wet part of the year.  While it is illegal in Mo to drive in streams, land owners are not barred from crossing creeks.  Every once in a while someone tells me I'm going to get in trouble for irrigating out of the waterways or from getting gravel from them.  As far as I know that's not the case.

There are Govt. programs where they make farm plans for you and you have to agree to do or not to do certain things in order to recieve various loans or payments.  We don't participate in their programs and as far as I know don't have any land that is 'wetland' .  

Has your property been declared a wetland by the Govt.  or is it just as you say----"a wet spot"

What are the rules on what is a 'wetland' where someone can determine what you can do on your own property?

I don't mean to sound like I'm against erosion control, water quality etc.  We have been protective of our land long before it became popular with the 'do-gooders'.  I just resent being told what we can do on land we worked so hard for.  We pay taxes on the creekbeds but can't fence them or regulate who uses them.

Noble

[Ron Scott]

If the soil is classed as a Hydric Soil it will probably be classed as a wetland is probably on the National Wetland Inventory. Check with your local Natural Resource Conservation Service for a copy of your County Soil Survey.

Here, if you simply get your shoes wet it is a wetland and one better have a DEQ wetland permit to do anything in it. To just harvest timber, a permit isn't needed (not yet anyway), but if a "road" is placed in the wetland or across a stream or drainage a DEQ permit is needed.

[Pallet_Man]

Hi ,The key word to my question is ACROSS that would mean going onto some elses land. And the thing about a WET SPOT was putting it litely.  For the FREEZE UP responce it is spring fed . Thanks for the advice but im shure that any permits would have all them land do gooders  all ove my place. Then there would be a problem with some old saw dust  on the ground and the noise from  my 671detroit running my gang saw .And i know 671 on a single arber gang is a little much but she dont run out of power! So any way I guess the timber will be standing till nature takes it corse                                                                                    Thanks