Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Wetland Inventory Tax Bill Notification:

1. Why does my tax bill indicate that a wetland inventory has been completed?

Michigan's wetland protection law requires that the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) complete wetland inventories, and that notice be given to all property owners on the next tax bill when the inventories are done.  In other words, the State Legislature used the tax bills as a way of informing the public of completion of the wetland inventory maps.  In December of 2006, the DEQ completed wetland inventories for all of the counties in Michigan as required by the state's wetland protection law (Part 303, Wetlands Protection, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended). 

2. If I received notification on my tax bill that the wetland inventory has been completed, does that mean I have wetlands on my property?

Not necessarily.  The wetland protection law requires that all property owners be notified of the completion of the wetland inventory.  Thus, many property owners will receive notification who do not have wetlands on their property.

3. What is a wetland?

Most people are familiar with the cattail or lily pad wetlands found in areas with standing water, but wetlands can also be grassy meadows, shrubby fields, or mature forests in areas that are "wet" enough to alter the soils and plants that are present.  Many wetland areas have only a high groundwater table, and standing water may not be visible.  The wetland protection law defines a wetland as "land characterized by the presence of water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances does support, wetland vegetation or aquatic life, and is commonly referred to as a bog, swamp, or marsh."  More information on how wetlands are identified can be found on the DEQ's wetlands web page.

4. How do I know if I have wetland on my property?

The new wetland inventory maps are a good starting point by showing the general location of wetlands in your county.  However, because of the scale of these maps and the methods used to produce them, they cannot be used to accurately define the location and boundaries of wetlands on an individual parcel of land.

Wetlands are identified based on the presence of water and the types of soil and plants that are present so an on-site inspection is necessary to determine, with certainty, whether wetlands are present.  The DEQ provides a service for identification of wetland locations and boundaries through its Wetland Identification Program. 

5. How were the wetland inventory maps created and how are they to be used?

The wetland inventories were created by compiling information from several sources: 

- The National Wetland Inventory (NWI), conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through interpretation of topographic data and aerial photographs.
- Land Cover, as mapped by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources' Michigan Resource Inventory System (MIRIS), through interpretation of aerial photographs.
- Soils, as mapped by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service.

The wetland inventory maps show potential and approximate locations of wetlands and wetland conditions.  They are not intended to define the specific location and boundaries of wetland areas.  The DEQ has a Wetland Identification Program to assist property owners with identifying the location of any wetlands on their property and whether the wetlands are regulated.

6. If the inventory maps do not show the location and boundaries of wetlands on my property, what is their purpose?

Wetland maps are created for numerous purposes.  Knowledge of the general location of wetlands is useful to many agencies and organizations to support land use planning and zoning, watershed planning, wildlife and resource management planning, and similar uses.  Individuals and businesses seeking lands for particular purposes can use the wetland inventory maps as initial screening tools where known wetlands should be avoided.  The wetland maps can also be used to help highlight areas where wetland restoration can provide benefits to fish and wildlife or help to protect other water resources.  And, wetland maps can, over time, help state and federal agencies track the status and trends of wetland resources on a regional, state, or national basis. 

7. Does issuance of the wetland inventory mean that there are new wetland regulations on my property?

Wetlands have been regulated under the wetland protection law since 1979.  Any wetlands on your property were regulated in accordance with the wetland protection law prior to completion of the inventory.  However, now that the wetland inventories are complete, all non-contiguous wetlands over five acres in size are regulated regardless of county population, making permit requirements uniform in all counties, in accordance with the requirements of the wetland protection law.

8. How are wetlands regulated?

Michigan's wetland law prohibits certain activities in regulated wetlands unless a permit has been received from the DEQ before beginning the activity.  A permit is required from the DEQ to do any of the following:

- Deposit or permit the placing of fill material in a wetland.
- Dredge, remove, or permit the removal of soil or minerals from a wetland.
- Construct, operate, or maintain any use or development in a wetland.
- Drain surface water from a wetland.

The wetland protection law provides regulation of certain wetlands, resulting in the regulation of most wetlands in the state.  Wetlands are regulated by the wetland protection law, if they are: 

- Connected to or located within 1000 feet of one of the Great Lakes or Lake St. Clair.
- Connected to or located within 500 feet an inland lake, pond, river, or stream.
- Not connected to one of the Great Lakes or Lake St. Clair, or an inland lake, pond, stream, or river, but are more than 5 acres in size.
- Not connected to one of the Great Lakes or Lake St. Clair, or an inland lake, pond, stream, or river, and less than 5 acres in size, but the DEQ has determined that these wetlands are essential to the preservation of the state's natural resources and has notified the property owner.

More information on wetland regulations can be found on the DEQ's wetland web page. 

9. Why are wetlands regulated?

Wetlands are a significant factor in the health and existence of other natural resources of the state, such as inland lakes, ground water, fisheries, wildlife, and the Great Lakes.  When the legislature passed Michigan's wetland protection statute over 25 years ago, they recognized that wetlands provide the people of Michigan with a number of important benefits: 

- Flood and storm control by the hydrologic absorption and storage capacity of wetlands.
- Wildlife habitat by providing breeding, nesting, and feeding grounds and cover for many forms of wildlife, waterfowl, including migratory waterfowl, and rare, threatened, or endangered wildlife species.
- Protection of subsurface water resources for community groundwater supplies, drinking water wells, and maintaining stream flow.  
- Pollution treatment by serving as a biological and chemical oxidation basin.
- Erosion control by serving as a sedimentation area and filtering basin, absorbing silt and organic matter.
- Sources of nutrients in water food cycles and nursery grounds and sanctuaries for fish.

According to a 1991 United States Fish and Wildlife Service Wetland Status and Trends report, over 50 percent of Michigan's original wetlands have been drained or filled, thereby making the protection of remaining wetlands that much more important.

10. How do I get a copy of the wetland inventory map for my area?

Electronic copies of the wetland inventory map for your county can be reviewed on-line at no charge on the DEQ's wetlands web page.  Paper copies can also be obtained, at cost, by completing and mailing a request form.  The wetland inventory maps are also on file with the county clerk, county extension, and county register of deeds.

11. Was the public given the opportunity to review and comment on the inventory maps before they were completed?

After the inventories were drafted, public hearings were held for each county inventory map to provide an opportunity for public comment.  Twenty-eight hearings were held statewide.  Copies of the draft wetland inventory maps were also provided to the county clerk, county extension, county register of deeds, and the Legislature.