What is a nontidal wetland?

Nontidal wetlands are freshwater areas inland, which are not subject to tidal effects. Typically, these areas are where land is covered by shallow water, or where the water table is at or near the the surface. Nontidal wetlands include a variety of habitats such as marshes and swamps, hardwood forests, wet meadows, inland bogs, and shallow areas of ponds and lakes.

What is mitigation?

Mitigation is the creation, restoration, or enhancement of nontidal wetlands that were, or will be lost due to regulated or agricultural activities.

Creation is the establishment of a nontidal wetland on an upland site.

Restoration is the establishment of nontidal wetlands on former nontidal wetlands sites.

Enhancement is the providing of additional protection to, or improving the functions of, an existing nontidal wetland.

Maryland adopted a goal of achieving no net loss of its nontidal wetland resources. This means that any loss of nontidal wetlands after December 31, 1990, regulated under state law must be offset by mitigation. If it is determined that mitigation is not an alternative, then the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) may accept monetary compensation.

 

 

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