The Department of Environmental Management will hold a free Wetlands Open House on Wednesday, May 24 to celebrate American Wetlands Month . The open house is meant primarily for people who are building or buying a home or business, and for teachers, although anyone interested in learning more about the importance of freshwater wetlands and their protection is welcome. Those who attend will have an opportunity to meet Wetlands staff, look at maps, find their homes on aerial photos, check their wetlands applications, ask questions about wetlands rules, learn about the DEM permit process, and learn about which freshwater wetlands areas near the coast fall under the jurisdiction of the Coastal Resources Management Council. They can also bring plants for identification and see a slide show on vernal pools.
Teachers can review wetlands curricula and find out how and where to order course materials.
Light refreshments will be served. DEM is always eager to guide applicants who want to undertake work near wetlands in an environmentally sound way, and our open house is designed to further assist those who want to avoid unnecessary problems and complications associated with permitting. Wetlands, Reitsma noted, are a necessary and productive part of the ecosystem, important for flood protection, pollutant filtration, and wildlife habitat. However, more than half of America's wetlands have been lost since the late 1700s.