Wetlands and How to Value Them
Do you know the value of wetlands in our area? These areas act as filters to remove toxins that might otherwise ruin our environment and water supply or harm the critters who live in the area. If you’re wondering what kind of toxins, realize that most of us are overfertilizing our lawns and those chemicals have to go somewhere. When they hit wetlands, the filtering effect kicks in as if by magic.
Of course, magic has nothing to do with it and we need to make sure our wetlands not only stay where they are (no more filling them in like would happen decades ago) but stay healthy, too. If you’re planning any kind of work on your yard, it’s worth a trip to the land use office of your town or city to identify any wetlands and make sure you’re not disturbing that area.
A good arborist will work with you to make sure you’re not taking any trees down when they’re needed to do their thing in a wetlands area. There are several reasons why your tree guys will do this.
If you remove material from a wetlands area, your Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer may require you to replace those plants and do so at one and a half times the damage done. That means, for every tree you shouldn’t have removed, you will need to add one and a half trees. Checking with a land use office before cutting begins can save a lot of money.
Trees do an amazing job of cleaning up after us, providing us with oxygen after we breath out carbon monoxide and, yes, filtering materials that we may not even realize are environmentally unhealthy. Even a slight increase in temperature can kill fish in nearby waterways. Trees cooling rainwater runoff can make a huge difference, whether you like to take a fishing pole to your local stream or just want to hear the happy sounds of peepers as they herald the return of spring.
Pruning ornamental bushes may seem like a small chore with little impact but every change makes a difference and town employees are at work to help residents live a happy life in town. They’re trained to describe negative impacts before they happen and can answer your questions.
Some of us live with enough plants or trees around our property that we think a little yardwork will go unnoticed and might mow a little closer to a pond or brook. A good storm might wash away soil that had once been held tight with plants killed in favor of grass. Or, a diligent land use office will use the advancing technology available, including drones, to mark those changes.
Gerry and Brian have made it a point to establish a good working relationship with the land use offices in the towns where they work, making sure they save their customers time, money, headaches, and serious property issues. Wetlands are beneficial and, with a little proactive action, not only easy to care for but fun to learn about!