Conservation Commission - 1071 (05/08/2025)

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MS
MAY 0 1 2025
Planning & Developme
CLA Engineers, Inc. 
boone
Civil 
© 
Structural 
© 
Survey
3417 MAIN STREET 
° 
NORWICH, CT 06360 
© 
(860) 886-1966 
© 
(860) 886-9165 FAX
April 14, 2025
Waterford Conservation Commission
Attn: Maureen FitzGerald, Environmental Planner
15 Rope Ferry Rd
Waterford, CT 06385
Re: 
Town of Waterford
18 Cinderella Lane
Waterford, CT 06385
CLA #7517
Dear Ms. FitzGerald:
On behalf of the applicant, CLA Engineers has performed a delineation and functional evaluation of
the inland wetlands at the referenced site and assessed the site to provide a basis for determining the
potential for impacts. The inland wetland boundary was delineated by Robert Russo, CSS in the spring
of 2024. The wetland boundary and proposed development are shown on the plans prepared by CLA
Engineers dated March 28, 2025. These data were augmented with additional online information from
CTDEEP, USFWS, USGS, and the Town of Waterford.
Site Setting
The site is a 2.61 acre parcel located on the south side of Cinderella Lane. Currently, the parcel is
mostly undeveloped and covered with forest, and there are some small auxiliary structures on the
property (a shed and a pad). The western side of the property contains a tract of forested wetland.
The wetland is not associated with any permanent stream channel, but it likely contributes to the
Thames River system.
The surrounding neighborhood is zoned residential (R-20 and RU-120) per 2022 update of the
Town of Waterford Zoning Map and consists of low- to medium-density single family residential
lots. Some of the abutting properties are large (>30ac) and undeveloped, giving the wetland area
a large, forested buffer on the southern and western edges.
Soils
The soils mapped on the property by NRCS are listed in the table below. Additional descriptive
details are provided in Appendix A.
1D)
ant
Town of Waterford, CT

Table 1 - Soil Types and Properties at the Cinderella Lane Site
Soil Series 
Parent Material | Drainage Class 
Texture/Characteristics
Charlton-Chatfield | Coarse-loamy 
Well drained 
Fine sandy loam to
complex 
melt-out till 
gravelly fine sandy loam
Narragansett-Hollis | Coarse-loamy 
Well drained to 
Silt loam to gravelly fine
complex 
eolian deposits 
somewhat excessively | sandy loam
over melt-out till 
| drained
*Hydric (wetland) soil type on site is Ridgebury Leicester Whitman
No wetland soils are mapped on this site by USDA’s Web Soil Survey. The four upland soils
mapped on the property include Charlton fine sandy loam, Chatfield fine sandy loam, Narragansett
silt loam, and Hollis gravelly fine sandy loam. The Charlton series consists of very deep, well
drained soils formed in loamy melt-out till. They are nearly level to very steep soils on moraines,
hills, and ridges. The Chatfield series consists of well drained soils formed in loamy melt-out till.
They are moderately deep to bedrock. The Narragansett series consists of very deep, well drained
loamy soils formed in a mantle of medium-textured deposits overlying till. The Hollis series
consists of well drained and somewhat excessively drained soils formed in a thin mantle of till.
They are shallow to bedrock.
Wetland Characteristics
Classification
The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI https ://fwsprimary.wim.usgs.gov/
wetlands/apps/wetlands-mapper/) does not document the onsite wetlands. However, based on
field observations and available aerial imagery, CLA Engineers would classify the area as a
17,372 square foot (0.40 acre) palustrine forested wetland (PFO1E). The description of that
classification is provided below.
Classification code: PFOLE
System Palustrine (P): The Palustrine System includes all nontidal wetlands dominated by trees,
shrubs, persistent emergents, emergent mosses or lichens, and all such wetlands that occur in tidal
areas where salinity due to ocean-derived salts is below 0.5 ppt. It also includes wetlands lacking
such vegetation, but with all of the following four characteristics: (1) area less than 8 ha (20 acres);
(2) active wave-formed or bedrock shoreline features lacking; (3) water depth in the deepest part
of basin less than 2.5 m (8.2 ft) at low water; and (4) salinity due to ocean-derived salts less than
0.5 ppt.
Class Forested (FO): Characterized by woody vegetation that is 6 m tall or taller.
Subclass Persistent (1): Dominated by species that normally remain standing at least until the
beginning of the next growing season. This subclass is found only in the Estuarine and Palustrine
systems.
Water Regime Seasonally Flooded/Saturated (E): Surface water is present for extended periods
(generally for more than a month) during the growing season, but is absent by the end of the season

in most years. When surface water is absent, the substrate typically remains saturated at or near
the surface.
Wetland hydrology
The wetland appears to be seasonally flooded based on field observations such as water-stained
leaves and morphological adaptations to vegetation, particularly buttressed tree roots. The wetland
is not directly associated with a watercourse, but field observations and available GIS data indicate
that the wetland likely shares groundwater connectivity with other wetlands and watercourses in
the Thames River system. The wetland has no surface tributaries or outlets, and is densely
vegetated across all five Army Corps strata (tree, sapling, shrub, herb, and woody vine). A detailed
plant species list is included in Appendix C.
Factors important to functional assessment
The following observations are important to the functional assessment and are listed here to
provide context to the later discussion of functions and values.
1. 
Connecticut protected species are not known to be present on the site per the June 2024
update of the CTDEEP NDDB. The full NDDB map is included as Appendix B.
2. 
The wetland hydrology does not appear to support finfish or shellfish habitat, but it likely
shares groundwater connectivity with the Thames River system, which supports fish.
3. 
The local zoning is residential (R-20, RU-120) per the Town GIS, and the surrounding
parcels appear to be used for single-family residences and forested open space.
4. 
The wetlands have coarse-loamy alluvial and melt-out till soils within per available online
mapping.
5. 
The wetland does not share surface connectivity with other wetlands or watercourses.
6. 
The wetland is densely vegetated across all strata.
Principal functions
The 
functional 
assessment 
was 
conducted 
using 
the USCAE Highway 
Methodology
(https://www.nae.usace.army .mil/Portals/74/docs/regulatory/Forms/HighwaySupplement6A pr20
15.pdf). The assessment is included in Appendix C and it revealed that the wetlands have the
following principal functions:
1. 
Floodflow alteration — on a very local level
2. 
Sediment and toxicant retention
3. Nutrient removal
4. Wildlife habitat
Potential for Impacts
As shown on the project plans, no activities are planned in the wetland. However, some activities
are proposed to take place within the 100-foot upland review zone. These activities are as follows:

2.
3.
Installation of a septic system suitable for a three-bedroom home with one primary
leaching system and one reserve area.
Provision of erosion and sedimentation control measures (silt fence, hay bales) where
appropriate to prevent sediment deposition into the wetland.
Slight grading to accommodate for the septic system.
The proposed activities outlined above may impact the wetland’s principal functions in the
following ways:
lL.
Summary
Floodflow Alteration: Since the septic system is designed to be oriented parallel to
the wetland with approximately a 14’ difference in elevation, it is unlikely that the
installation and usage of such a system will influence the wetland’s ability to manage
flooding.
Sediment and Toxicant Retention: This function is considered a primary function
because of the wetland’s location relative to areas of potential sediment flow upslope
(there is a steep hill between the wetland and the proposed activity area). If the septic
system is properly maintained as outlined on the attached plan set, CLA does not
anticipate impacts to the wetland’s sediment retention function.
Nutrient Removal: Because poorly drained and very poorly drained soils are known
to exist both in and around the wetland, the wetland will remain able to remove
nutrients after septic system installation.
Wildlife Habitat: As long as proper erosion control measures are in place per the
attached site plans, there is no reason for the installation and use of a septic system of
the proposed size to interfere with the wetlands’ ability to serve as a wildlife habitat.
In short, the installation of a septic system suitable for a three-bedroom home in the upland review
area surrounding the wetland is not expected to decrease the wetland’s functionality in reducing
flooding, retaining toxicants, removing nutrients, and serving as a wildlife habitat.
Sincerely,
Robert C, Russo
CSS, CLA Engineers
Norwich, CT

Appendix A: Soil Map
Adapted from Web Soil Survey, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Agriculture

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Soll Map—State of Connecticut, Easter Part
7517 18 Cinderella Lane
Map Unit Legend
Map Unit Symbol 
Map Unit Name 
Actes in AOL 
Percent of AO!
738 
Charlton-Chatfield complex, 15 
1.4 
58.7%
to 45 percent slopes, very
rooky
746 
Narragansett-Hollis complex, 3 
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Totals for Area of Interest 
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UsD,
Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Web Soil Survey
National Cooperative Soil Survey
9/4/2024
Page 3 of 3

Appendix B: NDDB Map for Waterford, CT
Updated June 2024

CT 
Environmental
Conditions 
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Appendix C: Army Corps Wetland Assessment
Sheet and Species List
Plant Species found in Wetland on September 3, 2024
Rubus phoenicolasius
Celastrus orbiculatus
Reynotria japonica
Rosa multiflora
Acer rubrum
Parthenocissus quinquefolia
Lindera benzoin
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Thelypteris simulata
Clethra alnifolia
Toxicodendron radicans
Impatiens capensis
Onoclea sensibilis
Sphagnum sp.
Artemisia vulgaris
Kalmia latifolia
Epilobium coloratum
Vitis sp.
Eurybia divaricate
Microstegium vimineum

Appendix D: Photographs
Collected September 3, 2024 by M. Ahern
Photograph 1

Photograph 2

Photograph 3