Inland Wetlands Commission

It is the charter of the Inland Wetlands Commission to protect the inland wetlands and watercourses by:

  • minimizing their disturbance and pollution;

  • maintaining and improving water quality in accordance with the highest standards set by federal, state or local authority;

  • preventing damage from erosion, turbidity or siltation;

  • preventing loss of fish and other beneficial aquatic organisms, wildlife and vegetation and the destruction of the natural habitats thereof;

  • deterring and inhibiting the danger of flood and pollution;

  • protecting the quality of wetlands and watercourses for their conservation, economic, aesthetic, recreational and other public and private uses and values;

  • protecting potable fresh water supplies from the dangers of drought, overdraft, pollution, misuse and mismanagement

Members

Alexandra Breslin, Chairman

Brian Smith

Lisa Gaw

Roger Hathaway

Kristine Sullivan, Vice Chairman

Contact

Inland Wetlands

Bethany Town Hall

40 Peck Road

Bethany, CT 06524-3338

203-393-2100 x115

203-393-0821 (fax)

Clerk, 203-393-2100 x115,

FAQs

When are meetings?

What are wetlands, and how do I know if they exist on my property?

Why are natural wetlands beneficial?

What is a wetlands buffer?

What do Buffers Do?

Why are Buffers necessary?

How do wetlands help improve water quality?

Why are wetlands being protected and created?

The Inland Wetlands Commission's Agent has determined that regulated areas appear to exist on my site. What is next?



Image Inland Wetlands Enforcement
Image e-Papers


When are meetings? Back Image

Regular meetings are generally scheduled on the fourth Monday of each month commencing at 7:30 p.m. Check with the clerk or IWC Clerk (Toni Marek) for any special meetings or changes and for agenda items.

What are wetlands, and how do I know if they exist on my property? Back Image

Wetlands in the State of Connecticut are defined as areas consisting of poorly drained, very poorly drained, alluvial, and floodplain soils. These areas as subject to prolonged ponding, often days,weeks, or months beyond the last storm event. While natural undisturbed wetland areas are easily identified, areas such as lawns are not. To determine whether regulated areas exist on your property, you may look to identify vegetation to determine its optimum field conditions. However, it is always safer to have Commission's Agent come and inspect your site for a more accurate determination.

Why are natural wetlands beneficial? Back Image

Wetlands provide a variety of ecological, social and aesthetic benefits such as:

  • Protecting water quality by removing nutrients and chemical contaminants

  • Controlling flood waters

  • Serving as essential plant, fish and wildlife habitats

  • Recharging ground and surface waters

  • Providing open space and recreational opportunities

What is a wetlands buffer? Back Image

The Bethany Inland Wetlands Commission is consistent in establishing a 50 ft. wide area of "no disturbance" from the edge of all wetlands and watercourses whenever practicable. Any activity in this buffer is highly restricted.

What do Buffers Do? Back Image

Buffers filter surface and subsurface stormwater flows before they enter a wetland, watercourse or body of water, reducing the amount of pollutants entering these systems. Naturally vegetated buffers can significantly reduce the water quality impacts of development. These buffers, around watercourses and wetlands, are one of the most practical and cost effective pollution prevention and ecosystem protection measures.

Why are Buffers necessary? Back Image

Riparian (streamside) and wetland buffers do the following:

  • Naturally vegetated buffers filter out excessive nutrients and other nonpoint source pollutants in runoff, before they reach streams, lakes, wetlands and embankments.

  • Moderate runoff and stream temperatures

  • Control the velocity, quantity and quality of stream flows

  • Enhance wildlife habitat and diversity

  • Stabilize stream banks and reduce channel erosion

  • Provide leaf litter as food for animals at the base of the food chain

  • Reduce nitrogen from shallow groundwater flows to streams

  • Reduce potential formation of fish migration barriers

  • Enhance recreational opportunities

  • Increase property values

How do wetlands help improve water quality? Back Image

Pollutants entering natural wetlands are treated by a variety of physical, chemical and biological processes. The following processes filter out pollutants before they reach other water bodies:

  • Settling of sediment and other pollutants

  • Breakdown of pollutants into harmless substances

  • Plant uptake

Why are wetlands being protected and created? Back Image

As a means of mitigating wetland losses. It is hoped that these practices can offset the annual loss of natural wetlands due to development activities.

The Inland Wetlands Commission's Agent has determined that regulated areas appear to exist on my site. What is next? Back Image

Once the Commission's Agent believes a regulated wetland or watercourse (stream, lake, bog, or intermittent water channel) area exists on site, the owner is required to consult a licensed soils scientist to determine the actual regulated boundary on site. A land surveyor will then locate and plot this boundary on a survey plan. This information must accompany any permit application made to this Agency for proposed activities on site. The Wetland Agency will then make a finding on your activity based on this information. All applicants should be advised that due to the high volume of applications, review periods are currently running from 2-3 months. Therefore, you are advised to plan accordingly.

 

  
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