CORE Environmental Consultants, Inc. was retained by an architecture and engineering client to perform a wetland delineation and jurisdictional determination for a 12.37-acre parcel located in the Springville area of Erie County, New York. The work supported site development planning for a proposed single-family residence with on-site septic and potable water systems. The delineation was required to determine whether wetlands or other waters on-site were subject to jurisdiction by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).
Wetland Delineation
Fieldwork was conducted in August 2025 following the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual (1987) and the Northcentral and Northeast Regional Supplement (2012). Seven sample points were established across upland and wetland communities consisting of maintained lawn, forested uplands, and a low-lying floodplain traversed by Spooner Creek, a tributary to Cattaraugus Creek. Soils within the floodplain were identified as hydric Fluvaquents and Udifluvents, supporting both hydrophytic vegetation and wetland hydrology indicators.
Findings and Determinations
CORE identified a palustrine emergent wetland system totaling approximately 1.48 acres along Spooner Creek.
- At the state level, the wetland did not meet the 12.4-acre threshold for NYSDEC jurisdiction and did not satisfy any of the eleven Unusual Importance criteria under 6 NYCRR Part 664.6. Accordingly, it was determined to be non-jurisdictional by NYSDEC.
- At the federal level, the wetland was determined to be jurisdictional under USACE due to its adjacency and hydrologic connection to Spooner Creek, which drains to Cattaraugus Creek and ultimately Lake Erie. Any proposed disturbance within this area would require authorization under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
CORE’s field delineation and reporting established a transparent regulatory pathway that allowed the design team to balance development goals with environmental protection requirements.”
Deliverables
CORE prepared a Parcel Jurisdictional Determination Report with detailed mapping, data forms, and site photographs. The findings provided the client with a clear regulatory basis for design and permitting, ensuring that the project could move forward in full compliance with both state and federal wetland regulations.
Project Services Performed
- Desktop Review
- Field Investigation
- GIS Mapping
- Wetland Delineation Report
- Parcel JD Submission
- Project JD Submission
