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    Ian T. Cole, LLC 
Professional Registered Soil Scientist / Professional Wetland Scientist 
PO BOX 619 
Middletown, CT 06457 
Itcole@gmail.com 
860-514-5642 
 
 
November 11, 2021 
 
 
Maureen FitzGerald, WEO 
Environmental Planner 
Town of Waterford Conservation Commission 
Waterford Town Hall 
15 Rope Ferry Road,  
Waterford, CT 06385 
 
RE: Annual Wetland Mitigation Inspection Report – Year 1 (2021) - Inland Wetland Permit #C-
20-14, 14B Shore Road, Waterford, Connecticut. 
 
Dear Ms. FitzGerald: 
 
On Behalf of the Applicant Mr. David Mortimer, I am providing the annual update on the success 
status of the created wetland required as mitigation for the development of the residential 
driveway to access 14B Shore Road as detailed in the Town’s Permit #C 20-14. This report 
represents Year 1 of 3 consecutive monitoring years (2021,2022 & 2023).  
 
Background Summary 
Permit #C 20-14 granted approval to conduct the filling of inland wetland for the construction of 
the residential driveway to access 14B Shore Road. To offset this impact the applicant was 
required to construct wetlands on-site and install enhancement buffer plantings to improve 
existing wetland habitat.  
 
Wetland Creation Baseline Inventory 
B & L Construction, Inc. started the excavation and the rough grading process in October 2020 to 
form the wetland creation area (Photos 1 & 2). B & L place 12” + of a rich organic topsoil 
consisting of a 1:1 mixture of clean topsoil and compost to provide the soil medium for the 
mitigation plantings (Photos 3 & 4).  Wetland plants and seed mixtures were secured from New 
England Wetland Plants, Inc. out of South Hadley Massachusetts. A total of 84 shrubs were 
planted in the wetland creation area (Photo 5). Plantings were placed randomly to simulate 
natural variability. Below is a list of quantities and sizing of installed plantings along with seed 
mixtures: 
 
 
 

 
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Zone 
Species 
Quantity  
Size 
Transition / Side Slope 
Spice Bush 
12 
2-3’ 
Transition / Side Slope 
Bay Berry 
12 
2-3’ 
Transition / Side Slope 
Conservation Mix 
3  
3 lbs 
Basin  
Silky Dogwood 
30 
2-3’ 
Basin 
Winterberry 
30 
2-3’ 
Basin 
Wetmix 
3  
3 lbs 
 
 
Photo 1: October 8, 2020 – Rough Grading Inspection 

 
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Photo 2: October 8, 2021 – Rough Grading Inspection 
 
 
 
Photo 3: October 15, 2020 – Topsoil Inspection 1:1 Mix of Clean Topsoil & Compost 
 

 
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Photo 4: October 20, 2020, Final Grading / Topsoil Inspection  
 
 
 
Photo 5: October 27, 2021 – Planting and seed installation 
 

 
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Photo 6: November 5, 2021 –Inundation of wetland mitigation, photo taken from the outlet to the 
mitigation area 
 
 
Annual Inspection Requirements  
 
Per special conditions note #7 on the approved permit #C 20-14; the created wetland mitigation 
area will be assessed for a 3-year monitoring period using the following standards: 
 
1. Inspection reports documenting the success of the wetland restoration plantings shall be 
submitted to the Conservation Commission on a yearly basis for three (3) year, with year 
1 starting in 2021.  
 
2. The inspection reports shall document a minimum 70% survivability of plantings. 
 
3. The mitigation report shall record invasive species control measures implemented, and 
soil stabilization measures needed.  
 
4. Yearly photographs of the mitigation area from established photo stations to best create 
sequential timeline photos of the development of the wetland mitigation area.  
 
5. Any corrective actions required. 
 
6. Annually reports shall be submitted to the Commission by October 30 of each of the 3 
monitoring years. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Year 1 Annual Inspection  
 
On September 21, 2021, I completed the year one inspection of the created wetland mitigation 
area.  
 
1. All 47 shrub plantings were accounted for in various conditions, ranging from stressed 
too healthy. This ratio equates to a 55% survivability, which is below the target of 70% 
survivorship. Unaccounted prolonged hydrology has affected the long-term survivability 
and success of the planted shrub vegetation. To resolve the issue would require 
modifying the outlet structure to the created wetland to lower the standing water. 
However, the ability to do so is limited because the control to this structure is situated on 
the adjacent CTDEEP State owned property. Other engineering solutions would likely 
require introducing counterproductive new ground and wetland disturbance to the newly 
created wetland. 
 
Within the next growing season, it is anticipated that the created area will transition to a 
cattail dominated wetland. Once Cattails take root, they can be a challenge to remove due 
to the robust fast growing underground rhizomes. This issue is compounded by the 
prolonged hydrology which attracts waterfowl which will continue the cycle of 
propagating the cattail seeds as the birds fly across the landscape landing in various 
waterbodies. The transition of the created wetland vegetation community to a cattail 
persistent emergent marsh, will have the unintended added improvement of water quality 
renovation as the thickly vegetated cattails retain sediments and nutrients at a higher 
function than the planned scrub-shrub wooded wetland. Because of these factors I do not 
recommend corrective shrub plantings to bring the count back to 84 shrubs but would 
alternatively suggest continued monitoring to ensure that no undesirable emergent species 
take root in the absence of the proposed shrub cover.  The vegetated cover would be re-
evaluated in the 2022 growing season.   
 
2. No invasive species control measures were implemented or recommended for the wetland 
creation area.  
 
3. No soil stabilization measures are needed, the site is stabilized. 
 
4. My recommendation is the Town considers the natural recruitment of the Cattails to be 
satisfactory in replacement of additional shrub plantings and to continue to monitor and 
evaluate the vegetative community for compliance with the permit conditions of Inland 
Wetland Permit #C 20-14 in the 2022 growing season.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
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Photo 7: Wetland Creation Area September 2021 (north end) 
 
 
Photo 8: Wetland Creation Area September 2021 (south end) 
 
 

 
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Buffer Enhancement Planting Area – Year 1 Inspection  
 
The invasive vegetation and hazard trees around the wetland “former skating pond” were 
removed and the ground was scarified, and debris removed offsite. Coconut core logs were then 
installed around the ponds perimeter to stabilize the slopes.  
 
During the long lead time securing plant stock during the pandemic and waiting for seasonal 
plugs stocks to grow large enough to be available for purchase; the site naturally revegetated, and 
all bare soil was sufficiently covered. This natural recruitment of vegetation was sufficient to 
stabilize the area and therefore negated the addition of seed and plugs.  
 
60 Shrubs were planted around the upper perimeter to wetland: 
Zone 
Species 
Quantity  
Size 
Top of bank  
Butterfly Bush 
12 
2-3’ 
Top of bank  
Bay Berry 
12 
2-3’ 
Top of bank  
Ninebark 
12 
2-3’ 
Top of bank 
Hydrangeas 
12 
2-3’ 
Top of bank  
Silky Dogwood 
12 
2-3’ 
 
1. As of September 21, 2021, all 60 shrubs were installed and in good health.  
2. A small patch of Mug wort was removed in the northwest corner of the pond. The area 
will be continued to be monitored and will actively remove this invasive weed. Because 
of the small discrete patch, the vegetation was removed by and bagged for disposal.  
3. No corrective actions are required. 
4. Site will be monitored during the 2022 growing season. 
 
 

 
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Photo 9:  Wetland Upgradient of driveway crossing – area of proposed Buffer 
Enhancement Planting area pre-enhancement activities – November 2020 
 
 
Photo 10:  Vegetation Cleared and Core Logs installed May 2021 
 
 
 

 
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Photo 11: Example of Buffer Enhancement Plantings – September 2021 
 
 
Photo 12: Wetland Placard September 2021 
 
 

 
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Photo 12: Final Vegetated Cover – September 2021 
 
 
Photo 13: Wetland Prior to Enhancement Activities – November 2020 
 
 

 
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Year 2’s annual report will be submitted to the Commission by October 30, 2022. Please do not 
hesitate to contact me at itcole@gmail.com; (860) 514-5642 if you have any questions or need 
any additional information. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sincerely,  
 
 
 
 
                                      
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ian T. Cole 
Professional Registered Soil Scientist 
Professional Wetland Scientist #2006