Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. What are wetlands? Wetlands are areas that are inundatedorsatu- Wetlands and ratedby surface orground wateratafrequen- cy andduration sufficient to support, and that undernormal circumstances do support, a Agriculture: prevalence ofvegetation typically adapted for 3" life in saturated soil conditions. Forfurther Section 404 of the^^ guidanceon whetheryourlandcontains wet- lands, contactyourlocal Natural Resources Clean Water Act rV, Conservation Service (NRCS) office, former- ly the Soil Conservation Service. Swampbuster in the What is the Swannpbuster Food Security Ad[-j provision? TheWetlandConservationprovision N3 (Swampbuster) ofthe 1985 and 1990farm bills requires all agriculturalproducers to protectthe wetlands onthefarms they own or operate ifthey wanttobe eligible forUSDA farmprogrambenefits. Producers will notbe eligibleiftheyplantanagricultural commod- ity onaconvertedwetlandthatwas convert- edbydrainage, leveling, orany othermeans afterDecember23, 1985, orconvertawet- landforthepurpose ofortomake agricultur- alcommodityproductionpossible after November28, 1990. What does Section 404 require? Section404 ofthe CleanWaterAct (CWA) requires alandownerto obtain apermitfrom theU.S.ArmyCorps ofEngineers (Corps) priortobeginning any non-exemptactivity involvingthe placement ofdredgedorfill material inwaters oftheUnited States, includingwetlands. Certainongoing, normal farmingpractices inwetlands are exempt and donotrequire apermit (see listofexempted activities). Inordertobeexempt, the activi- ties cannotbe associatedwithbringing awet- landinto agriculturalproductionorconvert- ing an agricultural wetlandto anon-wetland area. How does the Swannpbuster pro- gram relate to CWA Section 404? Generally, areas subjecttoregulation under Contact the Natural Resources SwampbusterandCWASection404 are the Conservation Service to Identify same,butthere are differences. Some activi- Wetlands on Your Farm mtiaesytrheatquairreeeaxCemWpAteSdeuctnidoenr4S0w4amppebrmuisttewrhile some Section404permittedactivities maybe subjectto Swampbuster. Beforebeginning any activityaffecting awetland, contactyour local Corps districtorNRCS office. ProgramAid 1546 Questions to Answer Before Starting a New Acti Are you a USDA Is the activity program participant?^ agrlcuitu 5^ Do you have a "certified Contact wetland determination"? wetland detl Farming Activities That Are Exempt From Section 404 Is the area prior converted cropland (PC) Is th or non-wetland (NW)? Contactthe Corps before fl re undertaking these activi- ties in wetlands and other waters ofthe United r Statesto verify applicabili- act! ty ofthe exemptions. • Established (i.e., ongoing), normal farming activities No 404 permit required- - plowing - harvesting verity that the planned activity will maintain your - seeding USDA program eligibility. - minor drainage - cultivating ^ USDAprogramparticipants arerequiredtodocumenttheirintenttomanipulatewetarei • Maintenance, but not construction, of drainage ditches Types Of Section 404 Permits Issued By The Corp • Construction and main- Individual permits are issued to a single entity (individuals tenance of irrigation or companies) to authorize specific activities. Once a ditches complete permit application received by the Corps, a is • tCoennsatnrcuectoifonfaarnmdomrain- jpeucbtl.iTchneotCiocrepsiseivssauleudatwehsicalhl cdeosmcmreibnetssthreecperiovpeodsaenddpro- stock ponds makes a final permit decision. • Construction and main- tenance offarm roods, For phone numbers of your NRCS state offh in accordance with best management practices NCRSstate offices tiaveptione nu I — Questions to Answer Before Starting a New Activity Agricultural lands are lands intensively used Are you a USDA is the activity you plan on Contact the Corps for a and managed for the program participant?^ agricultural land? wetland delineation. production of food or fiber to the extent that the natural vegetation has been removed and cannot be used to Do you have a "certified Contact NRCS for a determine whether the wetland determination"? wetland determination. area meets applicable hydrophytic vegetation criteria in making a Farming Activities wetland delineation. That Are Exempt Areas that meet this From Section 404 Is the area prior converted cropland Is the activity exempt Section 404 permit required; definition may include or non-wetland (NW)? from the permit consult with the Corps as to intensively used and CunodnetratcatkitnhgetChoerspesabcteifvoi-re mm. rCeWquAirement under whether a general or mhaaynlaangde,dpacsrtouprleanlda,nd, ties in wetlands and other 404(f)? Most individual permit applies. orchards, vineyards, waters ofthe United normal farming Consult with NRCS to assure and areas which sup- States to verify applicabili- activities are exempt. compliance ^ith port wetland crops ty of the exemptions, \ Swampbust (e.g„ cranberries, taro, er. • Established (i.e., watercress, rice). ongoing), normal Agricultural lands do farming activities — not include range - plowing No 404 permit required No 404 permit required verify with the Corps. lands, forest lands, - harvesting verify that the planned activity will maintain your Consult with NRCS to assure compliance with wood lots, or tree - seeding USDA program eligibility. Swampbuster. farms. - minor drainage - cultivating ' USDA program participants are required to document their intent to manipulate wet areas on FormAD-1026 at the local USDA Consolidated Farm ServiceAgpncy office. • IVIaintenance, but not construction, of drainage ditches Types Of Section 404 Permits Issued By Thie Corps • Construction and main- Individual permits are issued to a single entity (individuals General permits are issued to the public-at-large to autho- tenance of irrigation or companies) to authorize specitic activities. Once a rize specific activities that hove minimal envirorimental ditches complete permit application received by the Corps, a impacts such as bank stabilization activities or construction is public notice issued which describes the proposed pro- of farm buildings, A general permit can be issued on a • tCoennsatnrcuectoifonfaarnmdomrain- ject. The Corpsis evaluates all comments received and State, regional, or nationwide basis. Activities authorized stock ponds makes a final permit decision. by a general permit require less review than an individual permit would require. • Construction and main- tineancacncoerdoafnfcaermwirtohadbse,st For phone numbers of your NRCS state office and Corps district, call 1-800-832-7828. management practices NCRS State offices tiave phione numbers for local NRCS field offices. What is prior converted CO cropland? Priorconvertedcroplands (PC) arewetlands thatwere drained, dredged, filled, leveled, or USDANatural Resources Conservation Service otherwisemanipulated, including theremoval ofwoodyvegetation, before December23, 1985, tomakeproductionofan agricultural commoditypossible, andthat(1) donotmeet 5 specifichydrologiccriteria, (2)havehadan agriculturalcommodityplantedorproduced U.S.ArmyCorps ofEngineers atleastoncepriortoDecember23, 1985, and (3)havenotsincebeen abandoned.Activities CO inpriorconvertedcroplandarenotregulated underSwampbusterorCWASection404. Wtiat happens don't farm my if I prior converted cropland and U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency wetland conditions return? < Ifpriorconvertedcroplandisnotplantedto v>EPA anagriculturalcommodityformorethan5 consecutiveyears andwetlandcharacteristics return, thecroplandisconsideredabandoned andthenbecomes awetland subjecttoregu- lationunderSwampbusterandCWASection U.S. Fish andWildlife Service! 404. What are farmed wetlands? Farmedwetlands (FW) are similartoprior convertedcroplandinthatthey weredrained, dredged, filled, leveled, orotherwisemanipu- latedbeforeDecember23, 1985, tomake productionofanagricultural commoditypos- For additional information on wetlands, sible, butareoftenwetenoughto stillbe call ERA'S valuable wetlandhabitatsubjectto Wetlands Information Hotline SwampbusterandCWASection404. Farmed 1-800-832-7828 wetlands includepotholes, playas, pocosins, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (EST) andothermanipulatedandcroppedareasthat meetspecific hydrologic criteria. The Hotline is contractor operated and How do I know if I have wetlands, provides confidential referrals and prior converted croplands, or information regarding wetlands. farmed wetlands on my property? Tobe sureaboutthe status ofwetlandson May 1995 yourfarm, contactyourlocal NRCS office. NRCS is theleadFederal agencyresponsible forwetlanddelineations on agricultural land TheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture(USDA)prohibitsdiscrimina- forboth SwampbusterandCWASection404. tioninitsprogramsonthebasisofrace,color,nationalorigin,sex,reli- NRCS conservationistscan also advise you gpiroonh,ibaigtee,ddbiassabeisliatpyp,lpyoltiotiaclallpbreolgireafsmsa.n)dPmearrsiotnaslwoirtfhamdiilsiaablilisttaiteuss.wh(oNotall onhow tocomply with Swampbuster. The requirealternativemeansforcommunicationofprograminformation Corps is the leadFederal agency responsible (Braille,largeprint,audiotape,etc.)shouldcontacttheUSDAOfficeof forwetlanddelineations on now-agricultural Communicationsat(202)720-5881 (voice)or(202)720-7808(TDD). UlaSndDfAorpraongyroanmes.whFoordqoueesstniootnsparretigcairpdaitnegin TAgorifcilueltaurceo,mpWlaasihnitn,gwtroint,eDthCe,S2e0c2re5t0a,ryorocfalAlgr(i2c0u2l)tu7re2,0-U7.3S2.7D(evpoaircte)meonrtof CWASection404provisions, contactyour (202)720-1127(TDD).USDAisanequalemploymentopportunity local Corpsoffice. employer. PrinleclonRecycledPaper