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Michigan and "wetlands"

 
Posts: 1670
Location: Fennville MI
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I am still looking for a viable parcel in SE Mi. Have come across some recent listings in Jackson county that are intriguing, but am running into some questions regarding "wetlands".

Found one map that shows what it calls a "wetlands inventory", but I cannot tell whether what it shows are areas that are restricted/protected/conserved wetlands, or if it just indicates areas where the ground might be marshy at least part of the year.

I could really use some guidance on how one determines whether a given parcel of land contains wetlands that are legally protected such that I would not be allowed to graze my ducks/geese/pigs/goats over them, or plant rice or paw paw or whatever other water loving plant I might want to grow.

I am fine with their being wet land on the property - not just fine, look forward to working with it! But I would not want to get my heart set on a piece of land only to find that half of it was off limits for me to do anything with...

So, anyone know where to find information about the location of protected wetlands in Michigan?

Thank you.
 
pollinator
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Here are a couple possibilities of the restrictions that may be on the land:

First, there could be county zoning ordinances based on the designation of a wetland or a floodplain. Where I am in Indiana, floodplain land is treated similarly to ag land, but with a bunch more restrictions on what you can build.

Second, the state water department may place restrictions on the land. In my experience, these primarily focus on making sure you have "compensatory water storage" if you do any filling/digging on your property. They don't want you to fill in your flooded property and cause the people downstream to flood.

Third, the property might be in the federal wetlands reserve program. In that case there might be a permanent or 30 year easement on the property that limits what you are able to do with it.
 
Peter Ellis
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Location: Fennville MI
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Thanks John. It isn't so much what the restrictions may be (I was trained years ago as a real estate paralegal and have worked as a real estate appraiser), as it is where to find the information on a given parcel. I have found zoning maps for some municipalities on line (their own set of frustrations, one, for example, has the map on a PDF that is cropped so the legend is cut off).

And thank you for the federal wetland link. Off to explore!
 
pollinator
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Since FEMA does most flood insurance, they keep maps on flood risk and severity


https://msc.fema.gov/portal

 
Peter Ellis
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Thing I am chasing is legally protected wetlands. It is a different category from flood plains. Found maps that show floodplains, that don't touch the properties I am looking at, but also show wetlands all over the properties.
Trying to determine if these are legally protected wetlands, or not.
 
I agree. Here's the link: http://stoves2.com
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