Wetland mapping now covers ~45% of Vermont
New wetland mapping improvements now cover about 45% of Vermont and state organizers are inviting public comment to shape how the maps will be used in planning and protection. (x.com)
The DEC’s draft Vermont Significant Wetlands Inventory edits cover 150 towns and map wetlands across major parts of Caledonia, Windham, Windsor, Grand Isle and Essex counties. (vermontbiz.com (vermontbiz.com)) Two public meetings were scheduled for March 18, 2026 (Shelburne Town Hall) and March 23, 2026 (Hartford Town Hall) with virtual registration available, and the agency posted materials and the draft edits on the Environmental Notice Bulletin for formal review. (vermontbiz.com (vermontbiz.com)) (enb.vermont.gov (enb.vermont.gov)) The mapping push is tied to the Flood Safety Act (Act 121 of 2024), which added 10 V.S.A. § 916 and requires the Agency to update VSWI maps and complete a High‑Quality Wetlands Inventory using NWI Plus by statute and associated deadlines. (law.justia.com (law.justia.com)) (dec.vermont.gov (dec.vermont.gov)) DEC and project fact sheets say the updates use high‑resolution aerial imagery, photographic interpretation and on‑screen digitizing, and that field reviews tested mapped wetlands with 862 review points reported for the Winooski update and 1,729 review points for the Otter Creek update. (legislature.vermont.gov (legislature.vermont.gov)) (legislature.vermont.gov (legislature.vermont.gov)) The University of Vermont Spatial Analysis Lab and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota processed updated National Wetlands Inventory data that DEC will screen for significance before transferring accepted polygons into the VSWI. (dec.vermont.gov (dec.vermont.gov)) (vermont-dcdev.hub.arcgis.com (vermont-dcdev.hub.arcgis.com)) DEC stresses that VSWI polygons show approximate wetland locations and do not replace a field delineation by a qualified wetland scientist, and that mapped additions become regulatory only after formal wetland determinations are issued and noticed on the ENB for 14–30 days. (dec.vermont.gov (dec.vermont.gov)) (enb.vermont.gov (enb.vermont.gov)) Agency messaging and recent coverage say these edits, combined with prior updates, will bring roughly 80% of Vermont’s wetland maps up to date with the remaining areas slated for notice this year, and the draft shapefiles and interactive map layers are available on the ANR ArcGIS hub and ENB for public comment. (vermontbiz.com (vermontbiz.com)) (vermont-dcdev.hub.arcgis.com (vermont-dcdev.hub.arcgis.com))
