Michigan Department of Environment. Great Lakes, and Energy
Pamela Rice’s favorite professional “go-to” resource is the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Wetlands Map Viewer.
“This tool allows our ecological team to better understand ecological features that have been previously identified through remote sensing within a given project/assessment area and the potential EGLE jurisdictional, or regulatory, status. Not only is the Wetlands Map Viewer good for reviewing previously identified wetlands, streams, and hydric soils, but it also provides valuable information regarding the site location coordinates, watershed, eco-region, historic land cover, and previously recorded conservation easements within an assessment area in one easy-to-use map interface.”
How did you find this resource?
“I found this resource while reading EGLE’s Water Resources Wetland web page years ago. EGLE created the Wetlands Map Viewer as a tool for ecological professionals to use while reviewing assessment areas for previously identified wetlands, watercourses, and hydric soils.”
How do you apply this resource?
“The ecological team utilizes EGLE’s Wetland Map Viewer to review assessment areas in order to help gain an understanding of previously identified features, such as hydric soils, wetlands, and watercourses, as well as the potential regulatory status of identified wetlands before conducting field assessments.
We also use it while creating ecological desktop reviews and as a tool while preparing client proposals to help assess preliminary site conditions.”
How has this resource impacted on your work?
“EGLE’s Wetlands Map Viewer has allowed us to get a good understanding of the potential site conditions before conducting wetland assessments and has greatly increased the ecological team’s ability to create more accurate proposals to secure new clients.”
Who would you recommend this resource to and why?
“In addition to ecological professionals and engineers, EGLE’s Wetland Map Viewer is a great resource for anyone considering purchasing and/or developing a piece of property. Companies or even individuals can use the Wetland Map Viewer to research a piece of property to learn more about it and determine the possibility of needing a permit for any future site development before beginning the purchasing process. It is also a great tool for any local governmental unit or officials.”
Any additional considerations?
“EGLE is constantly updating and improving the platform to make it an even more useful tool. Whether you’re researching a piece of property for developing a battery energy storage system (BESS) or a single-family residential home, this is an easy and useful resource to expedite the research process.”
