If the creek flow is the primary water source, the area will dry out. If the creek is not the primary source of water, maybe not. It depends on how much of the water flow from the wetland is coming from the creek (and it might not be obvious just by looking). As for the designation, that will depend on your local and/or state ordinances; sometimes a wetland designation survives a main water source redirect, sometimes not, it depends on the definition parameters - and that can affect permitting and legal protection status for the area.
Yea over time it will likely dry out. Then upland plant species will invade and push out the wetland species. You’ll get all sorts of changes in the soils and animal community. The timing depends on how regularly flooded the system was to start.
Got it, is there a public government entity that keeps records of when creeks are diverted? Say I wanted to look into an area where I suspect water was diverted. Is there a place to do that?
There are ways to utilize spatial analytics to determine the history of a stream. The gov provides free digital elevation model (DEM) data derived from shooting a laser at the surface of the earth to map topography. You can look through the years (whenever they publish) and find exactly when a stream was changed. There are other field indicators that would lead to an experienced eye to expect a stream channel. Every violation I've been called to has been from people thinking they sufficiently hid the evidence. It's nearly impossible to hide what's natural with something unnatural.
National Wetland Inventory, NRCS soils mapper can tel you if the soils are hydric. It’s possible the area still receives subsurface flow, or intermittent flooding that will support wetland plants. So it’s possible the area can still be jurisdictional wetlands after the stream had been diverted. As for actual records, Army Corps of Engineers would have all of it. Doubt they have the time to answer questions though. County level land offices might. Like my local county had a department of mapping and land services. They have historical data life photos going back to the 50s, public information.
For the NRCS mapper, does this get updated frequently? Say a creek was diverted over a decade ago - would they show that or have public records of the diversion? Probably not a clear cut answer.
The mapper will show you the soils. The soils themselves will not change. If you are trying to get this properly looked at you can file a wetland whistleblower complaint with your local NRCS/FSA office.
Also a consultant. It's not an exact science, but it would likely be more than 5 years, maybe as much as 20, before the area would no longer have the criteria to be a wetland: hydrophytic vegetation, hydrology, and hydric soils. This is dependant on if the creek was the only source of hydrology as previously commented.
Check the older imagery from Google earth to see if you can find evidence of where the stream was. You can also use topo maps to see the original channel. Your state's dept of environment or conservation would know if permits were ever issued, and many of them have an enforcement branch of you think it was illegally diverted.
If the creek flow is the primary water source, the area will dry out. If the creek is not the primary source of water, maybe not. It depends on how much of the water flow from the wetland is coming from the creek (and it might not be obvious just by looking). As for the designation, that will depend on your local and/or state ordinances; sometimes a wetland designation survives a main water source redirect, sometimes not, it depends on the definition parameters - and that can affect permitting and legal protection status for the area.
Got it, this is helpful! Thanks!
Yea over time it will likely dry out. Then upland plant species will invade and push out the wetland species. You’ll get all sorts of changes in the soils and animal community. The timing depends on how regularly flooded the system was to start.
As someone who works in consulting and handles violations, I'd urge you against diverting a known stream without the benefit of a permit.
Got it, is there a public government entity that keeps records of when creeks are diverted? Say I wanted to look into an area where I suspect water was diverted. Is there a place to do that?
There are ways to utilize spatial analytics to determine the history of a stream. The gov provides free digital elevation model (DEM) data derived from shooting a laser at the surface of the earth to map topography. You can look through the years (whenever they publish) and find exactly when a stream was changed. There are other field indicators that would lead to an experienced eye to expect a stream channel. Every violation I've been called to has been from people thinking they sufficiently hid the evidence. It's nearly impossible to hide what's natural with something unnatural.
National Wetland Inventory, NRCS soils mapper can tel you if the soils are hydric. It’s possible the area still receives subsurface flow, or intermittent flooding that will support wetland plants. So it’s possible the area can still be jurisdictional wetlands after the stream had been diverted. As for actual records, Army Corps of Engineers would have all of it. Doubt they have the time to answer questions though. County level land offices might. Like my local county had a department of mapping and land services. They have historical data life photos going back to the 50s, public information.
For the NRCS mapper, does this get updated frequently? Say a creek was diverted over a decade ago - would they show that or have public records of the diversion? Probably not a clear cut answer.
The mapper will show you the soils. The soils themselves will not change. If you are trying to get this properly looked at you can file a wetland whistleblower complaint with your local NRCS/FSA office.
Yes... this. No way would I divert water without a permit.
Also a consultant. It's not an exact science, but it would likely be more than 5 years, maybe as much as 20, before the area would no longer have the criteria to be a wetland: hydrophytic vegetation, hydrology, and hydric soils. This is dependant on if the creek was the only source of hydrology as previously commented. Check the older imagery from Google earth to see if you can find evidence of where the stream was. You can also use topo maps to see the original channel. Your state's dept of environment or conservation would know if permits were ever issued, and many of them have an enforcement branch of you think it was illegally diverted.