The growing season is quickly approaching, and buds are already emerging on shrubs. This means it’s time to start thinking about…wetlands!
Wetland delineation in Wisconsin is a process that involves identifying and mapping the boundaries of wetlands on a property. This process is crucial for anyone planning a development project, as all wetlands in Wisconsin are protected by state and federal laws.
The wetland delineation process is particularly important during the growing season, which is the period when vegetation is actively growing and when wetland delineations can be completed. Wetland delineations should not be conducted outside of the growing season due to limitations such as frozen soil conditions, snow-covered vegetation, and low sunlight intensities. The growing season typically extends from mid-April to mid-October in Southeastern Wisconsin. Although in recent years, the warming temperatures appear to be affecting Wisconsin with warmer falls and cooler springs allowing for delineations later in the fall but also potentially delaying the start of the spring growing season. The growing season’s start is indicated by signs such as the emergence of herbaceous plants, flowers, and bud bursts on trees. Conversely, the end of the growing season is marked by woody deciduous species losing their leaves and/or the senescence of herbaceous plants, generally after a hard frost.
Contact Us
Due to a limited number of growing season months in Wisconsin, there is a high demand for wetland delineations, and our field schedules fill up quickly. So don’t hesitate! Contact one of our wetland ecologists as soon as possible so that we may determine if your project area contains wetlands. Our wetland team is highly experienced in wetland delineation and is here to assist you. We are also highly experienced with wetland and waterway permitting and can help you navigate the process.
