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HomeMy WebLinkAbout26IWC7 - Wetlands Report rec'd 5-20-26 ● Ecology ● Soil & Wetland Studies ● Water Quality Monitoring ● GPS ● Environmental Planning & Management ● Ecological Restoration & Habitat Mitigation ● Aquatic, Wildlife and Listed Species Surveys ● Application Reviews ● Permitting & Compliance Rema Ecological Services, LLC ● 43 Blue Ridge Drive, Vernon, CT 06066 ● 860.649-7362 / 860.883.8690 May 19, 2026 VIA E-MAIL Mr. Gregg Fedus, P.E. Fedus Engineering, LLC 70 Essex Street Mystic, CT 06355 RE: SITE INVESTIGATION 695 Route 32, Montville, CT REMA Job #: 26-2876-MNT6 Dear Mr. Fedus: At your request, REMA Ecological Services, LLC (REMA) conducted a site inspection on May 19, 2026 at the above-referenced property to evaluate the resource area associated with the eastern portion of the site adjacent to Horton Cove / the Thames River tidal system (see Figure A, attached). The inspection included review of the site conditions, shoreline characteristics, soils information, topography, and available historical aerial photography. Relevant plans and mapping reviewed included the Site Plan and Survey prepared by your firm. Based on our observations, the resource associated with the subject site is tidal in nature and not an inland wetland or watercourse under the jurisdiction of the Montville Inland Wetlands Commission. The shoreline directly interfaces with a tidal embayment connected to the Thames River estuarine system, and field evidence demonstrates regular tidal influence. At the time of the inspection, the tide was approaching its higher daily stage, estimated at approximately 2.5 feet based on the published Uncasville tidal chart. Field observations included a partially armored shoreline consisting of large boulders and riprap, interspersed with sections of exposed rocky and sandy beach. These shoreline conditions, including the depositional beach materials and evident tidal fluctuation zone, are consistent with a tidal coastal resource rather than an inland wetland system (see Photos 1 and 2, attached). Mr. Gregg Fedus, P.E. RE: 695 Route 32, Montville, CT May 19, 2026 Page 2 The terrain descending toward the shoreline is moderately steep to very steep in many locations. The upland portion of the site is forested and consists of both relatively open and denser understory conditions. Dominant canopy species include oaks and birch, with scattered maple. The understory is occupied in substantial part by invasive shrubs, including multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) and Morrow’s honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii). Large patches of Vinca minor are also present, suggesting a history of prior clearing or landscape disturbance. Review of archival aerial photography, including imagery dating to at least 1965, similarly indicates that portions of the site were historically more open than present conditions. Published soil mapping indicates that the upland portions of the site are predominately associated with the Hinckley and Merrimac soil series (see Web Soil Survey, attached). However, field conditions also indicate evidence of historical disturbance and reworking of soils within portions of the property, likely dating back several decades, as corroborated by historical aerial photograph review. The NRCS mapping further identifies the adjacent aquatic resource as Gales Ferry silt loam, subtidal. The submitted site plans similarly depict the eastern property boundary as following mean high water associated with Horton Cove. Based on the above, it is our professional opinion that the resource area adjacent to the subject property constitutes a tidal/coastal resource area rather than a regulated inland wetland or watercourse under the authority of the Montville Inland Wetlands Commission. Please feel free to contact our office with any questions. Respectfully submitted, REMA ECOLOGICAL SERVICES, LLC George T. Logan, MS, PWS, CSE Registered Soil Scientist Professional Wetland Scientist, Certified Senior Ecologist Attachments: Figure A; Photos 1 and 2, Web Soil Survey CT ECO Map Sources: Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community, Sources: Esri, Vantor, Airbus DS, USGS, NGA, NASA, CGIAR, N Robinson, NCEAS, NLS, OS, NMA, Geodatastyrelsen, Rijkswaterstaat, GSA, Geoland, Parcels with CAMA 2023 Spring 3 inch Red: Band_1 Green: Band_2 Blue: Band_3 World_Hillshade 5/18/2026, 9:56:04 PM 0 70 14035 ft 0 20 4010 m 1:700 Map created with the CT ECO Advanced Viewer. Visit CT ECO at This map is intended for general planning, management, education, and research purposes only. Data shown on this map may not be complete or current. The data shown may have been compiled at different times and at different map scales, which may not match the scale at which the data is shown on this map. SITE/LOCATION:695 Route 32 REMA Montville, CT JOB NO.: INVESTIGATOR(S):George T. Logan, MS, PWS, CSE ANNOTATED PHOTO LOG26-2876-MNT6 2 Comments: Shoreline and tidal influence Comments: Shoreline; sandy beach in foreground; note armoring of shore in background 1DATE: May 19, 2026 FACING: (see photo) DATE: May 19, 2026 FACING: (see photo)PHOTO NO.: Rema Ecological Services, LLC 5/19/2026 Soil Map—State of Connecticut, Eastern Part (695 Route 32, Montville, CT) Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey National Cooperative Soil Survey 5/19/2026 Page 1 of 3 45 9 1 8 0 0 45 9 1 9 0 0 45 9 2 0 0 0 45 9 2 1 0 0 45 9 2 2 0 0 45 9 2 3 0 0 45 9 2 4 0 0 45 9 2 5 0 0 45 9 1 8 0 0 45 9 1 9 0 0 45 9 2 0 0 0 45 9 2 1 0 0 45 9 2 2 0 0 45 9 2 3 0 0 45 9 2 4 0 0 45 9 2 5 0 0 741700 741800 741900 742000 742100 742200 741800 741900 742000 742100 742200 742300 41° 26' 54'' N 72 ° 6 ' 2 4 ' ' W 41° 26' 54'' N 72 ° 5 ' 5 8 ' ' W 41° 26' 28'' N 72 ° 6 ' 2 4 ' ' W 41° 26' 28'' N 72 ° 5 ' 5 8 ' ' W N Map projection: Web Mercator Corner coordinates: WGS84 Edge tics: UTM Zone 18N WGS84 0 150 300 600 900 Feet 0 50 100 200 300 Meters Map Scale: 1:3,910 if printed on A portrait (8.5" x 11") sheet. Soil Map may not be valid at this scale. MAP LEGEND MAP INFORMATION Area of Interest (AOI) Area of Interest (AOI) Soils Soil Map Unit Polygons Soil Map Unit Lines Soil Map Unit Points Special Point Features Blowout Borrow Pit Clay Spot Closed Depression Gravel Pit Gravelly Spot Landfill Lava Flow Marsh or swamp Mine or Quarry Miscellaneous Water Perennial Water Rock Outcrop Saline Spot Sandy Spot Severely Eroded Spot Sinkhole Slide or Slip Sodic Spot Spoil Area Stony Spot Very Stony Spot Wet Spot Other Special Line Features Water Features Streams and Canals Transportation Rails Interstate Highways US Routes Major Roads Local Roads Background Aerial Photography The soil surveys that comprise your AOI were mapped at 1:12,000. Warning: Soil Map may not be valid at this scale. Enlargement of maps beyond the scale of mapping can cause misunderstanding of the detail of mapping and accuracy of soil line placement. The maps do not show the small areas of contrasting soils that could have been shown at a more detailed scale. Please rely on the bar scale on each map sheet for map measurements. Source of Map: Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey URL: Coordinate System: Web Mercator (EPSG:3857) Maps from the Web Soil Survey are based on the Web Mercator projection, which preserves direction and shape but distorts distance and area. A projection that preserves area, such as the Albers equal-area conic projection, should be used if more accurate calculations of distance or area are required. This product is generated from the USDA-NRCS certified data as of the version date(s) listed below. Soil Survey Area: State of Connecticut, Eastern Part Survey Area Data: Version 6, Sep 16, 2025 Soil map units are labeled (as space allows) for map scales 1:50,000 or larger. Date(s) aerial images were photographed: Jun 14, 2022—Oct 6, 2022 The orthophoto or other base map on which the soil lines were compiled and digitized probably differs from the background imagery displayed on these maps. As a result, some minor shifting of map unit boundaries may be evident. Soil Map—State of Connecticut, Eastern Part (695 Route 32, Montville, CT) Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey National Cooperative Soil Survey 5/19/2026 Page 2 of 3 Map Unit Legend Map Unit Symbol Map Unit Name Acres in AOI Percent of AOI 34B Merrimac fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes 4.5 6.1% 38C Hinckley loamy sand, 3 to 15 percent slopes 2.6 3.5% 38E Hinckley loamy sand, 15 to 45 percent slopes 12.7 17.0% 62C Canton and Charlton fine sandy loams, 3 to 15 percent slopes, extremely stony 0.3 0.4% 73E Charlton-Chatfield complex, 15 to 45 percent slopes, very rocky 22.9 30.7% 305 Udorthents-Pits complex, gravelly 6.5 8.7% 307 Urban land 1.7 2.3% 918 Gales Ferry silt loam, subtidal 19.5 26.1% W Water 4.0 5.3% Totals for Area of Interest 74.8 100.0% Soil Map—State of Connecticut, Eastern Part 695 Route 32, Montville, CT Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey National Cooperative Soil Survey 5/19/2026 Page 3 of 3