I read with interest the July 4 story on buffers around wetlands and comments from Sussex County Council. There were many citizens in attendance at the June 26 comprehensive plan hearing with valuable input on urgent flooding issues, overdevelopment in flood zones, new FEMA flood zone maps, including the new Sussex Hazard Mitigation Plan in the comprehensive plan, and stormwater management.
Reducing flooding was a goal of the previous plan.
Another issue presented by citizens was that Delaware wetlands maps have not been updated in many years.
I attended the same hearing and commented that I could bring a bag of water from marshland that is not classified as a wetland, as a council member said he had bag of dirt that is a wetland. Clearly, there appears to be some confusion and as Mr. Wheatley observes, one size does not fit all.
Superstorm Sandy has changed the topography of many areas of Delaware, yet maps have not been updated to track these changes.
Sussex council members have a great opportunity to take the lead and advocate strongly for new surveys of the county for wetlands.
Reliable, updated data on wetlands needs to be part of the Sussex plan so that buffers can be more properly addressed.
Melissa Golden
Mallard Lakes
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