The US Army Corp of Engineers and the US Environmental Protection Agency define wetlands as: "Those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions." These areas along with surface waters and banks are protected by federal and/or state regulations.

On occasion construction and maintenance activities of NH DOT require impacts to wetland and/or surface water habitats. The Bureau of Environment assists department personnel in submitting the proper documentation necessary to obtain wetland permits from the appropriate federal and state organizations.

Application Materials for NHDOT Projects

Wetland Applications, Plans, and Permits

Wetlands:

• BOE Wetland Application Checklists
  • For Use By: Project Development
  • For Use By: Operations
  • DES Required Order of Application Package
• Inter-department Project Cover Memo
• Standard Dredge and Fill Wetlands Permit Application
• 20 Questions
• Army Corps Secondary Impacts Checklist (Appendix B)
• Criteria for Shoreline Stabilization (404 Rules)
• Stream Crossing Rules - Templates for Application Package:
  • New or Replacement Tier 1 Stream Crossings
  • New or Replacement Tier 2/Tier 3 Stream Crossings
  • Repair or Rehabilitation of Tier 1/Tier 2 Stream Crossings
  • In-Kind Replacement of Tier 1/Tier 2 Stream Crossings
  • Alternative Design Technical Report

• Notification of Routine Roadway & Railway Maintenance
• DRAFT V.7 2018 Routine Roadway Maintenance Notification Activity Manual
  • This DRAFT BMP Manual is being vetted for public comment with the Draft NHDES Wetland Rules. Please note that the BMP criteria and definitions are subject to changes as are the Draft rules.
  • Please check out the NHDES Rules Website for updates on public meetings.

Shoreland:

• Shoreland Permit by Notification
• Shoreland Permit Application

Documents

• Wetlands Permit Process Manual (under revision)
• Best Management Practices for Routine Roadway Maintenance (under revision)
• US Army Corps of Engineers New Hampshire Programmatic General Permit
• Wetland Classification Chart
• NH Stream Crossing Guidelines
• Request for Stream Crossing Assessment

Additional Information:

• NH DES Wetlands Bureau
• US Army Corps of Engineers - New England District
• Natural Heritage Bureau (NHB) DataCheck Tool
• NHGranit GRANITView II Web Mapping Tool
• USGS StreamStats Watershed Mapping Tool

Contact:

• Matt Urban - Wetlands Program Manager, matt.urban@dot.nh.gov
• Sarah Large - Wetlands Program Aide, sarah.large@dot.nh.gov