Do I need an Army Corps permit for my project?

This question touches many activities, from large residential and commercial developments, to stream or ditch bank repairs, to family home construction.  Generally, one requires a permit from the Corps before working in wetlands and other protected waters.

The first thing to determine is whether your project involves a “water” protected by the Clean Water Act.  This can be tricky since many protected areas are not always wet, while certain wet areas are excluded from coverage.  Recent efforts by the Corps to clarify what constitutes…