Online maps can help people identify potential wetlands on property
Weekly News Article Published: March 31, 2009 by the Central Office
WAUSAU – Online maps showing wetlands and potential wetlands helped keep Rod and Staci Zastrow from making a big mistake when buying land for their dream home.
“The map actually prevented us from making a bad decision and buying something we couldn’t build on in the way that we wanted,” says Staci Zastrow.
The Marathon County couple had been looking to buy a larger acreage to build a new house and last fall stumbled on a 25-acre parcel close to their home and just northeast of Wausau.
“It was a really good price and it raised some flags on why the price was so good. So we decided to do some research,” Zastrow says. “We looked it up on the DNR Web site to find out if there were wetlands there.”
There were potential wetlands and the property had seasonal streams that would have made it difficult to build the home where they wanted it. The couple decided against buying the property.
“We are still looking and at this point have not found anything,” Staci Zastrow says. “If we do find land and the question of wetlands comes up, we will definitely use the online maps again.”
The online maps, available since last fall, are among the informational materials DNR and partners created last fall and that are being promoted statewide now in radio and TV announcements. All materials are available online on Locating Wetlands pages of the DNR Web site and those promotional announcements are available through the Wetlands media kit. The materials are also available at DNR Service Centers and limited quantities are available through county zoning offices. They were developed under grant funding from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, the Great Lakes Protection Fund and the Natural Resources Foundation.
Other components include a video showing the physical clues people can look for to know whether there are wetlands on a site, a checklist of those clues and photos to consult; and a real estate addendum that DNR developed with the Wisconsin Realtors Association and the Wisconsin Wetlands Association. The addendum is a legal document that allows buyers an opportunity to verify that wetlands are present on a property and to negotiate a mutual remedy with the seller, which might include the ability to rescind or modify the offer terms, if wetlands are confirmed.
The online wetland indicator maps in particular have been popular, according to Lois Simon, the DNR wetland specialist who coordinates DNR’s wetland mapping program.
“The maps are an easy hands-on tool that allow people to sit at home, take their time, and do their homework before making the investment in buying a piece of property. It’s something they can do at home by themselves,” Simon said.
The interactive online maps indicate wetlands and potential wetlands. The maps essentially bring together and display online two different kinds of information overlaid against an aerial photo: wetlands formally mapped and officially recorded through the Wisconsin Wetland Inventory, and wet soil types referenced on federal Natural Resources Conservation Service maps.
“In the past, people typically would have had to go to a DNR office or county zoning office and physically look at a paper map of the Wetland Inventory, and then go to NRCS to look at a paper version of soil survey maps. This is much more convenient and it can help people make sure they buy land that meets their needs while protecting wetlands.”
Simon cautions that the maps are to be used only as a guide.
“The final determination of whether there is a wetland has to be made on the ground, using the other pieces of the toolkit,” she said.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Lois Simon (608) 266-8852 or Pat Trochlell (608) 267-2453
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