When is a permit required to deposit material in a wetland?
A permit is required under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act to deposit dredged or fill material into the nation’s waters, including wetlands. Activities in wetlands for which permits may be required include: placement of fill material; ditching; levee and dike construction; mechanized land clearing; land leveling; most road construction; dam construction; and conversion of wetlands to uplands for farming and forestry. Before beginning any of these projects, a landowner should determine whether the land contains a wetland, and if it does, apply to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a permit. The permit application process includes public notice and comment requirements. Some activities are exempted from the permit requirement, including many ongoing farming, ranching, and silviculture (forestry) practices. The Section 404 program provides that no discharge of dredged or fill material into a wetland can be permitted if a practicable alternative exists, or if significant water quality
