Vermont Statutes Title 10. Conservation and Development, § 902. Definitions

(1) “Board” means the Natural Resources Board.

(2) “Department” means Department of Environmental Conservation.

(3) “Waters” means any and all rivers, streams, brooks, creeks, lakes, ponds, or stored water, and groundwaters, excluding municipal and farm water supplies.

(4) “Water resources” means the waters and the values inherent or potential in waters and their uses.

(5) “Wetlands” means those areas of the State that are inundated by surface or groundwater with a frequency sufficient to support significant vegetation or aquatic life that depend on saturated or seasonally saturated soil conditions for growth and reproduction. Such areas include marshes, swamps, sloughs, potholes, fens, river and lake overflows, mud flats, bogs, and ponds, but excluding such areas as grow food or crops in connection with farming activities.

(6) “Class I wetland” means:

(7) “Class II wetland” means a wetland other than a Class I or Class III wetland that:

(8) “Class III wetland” means a wetland that is neither a Class I wetland nor a Class II wetland.

(9) “Buffer zone” means an area contiguous to a significant wetland that protects the wetland's functions and values. The buffer zone for a Class I wetland shall extend at least 100 feet from the border of the wetland, unless the Department determines otherwise under section 915 of this title. The buffer zone for a Class II wetland shall extend at least 50 feet from the border of the wetland unless the Secretary determines otherwise under section 914 of this title.

(10) “Panel” means the Water Resources Panel of the Agency of Natural Resources.

(11) “Significant wetland” means any Class I or Class II wetland.

(12) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Natural Resources or the Secretary's authorized representative.