Aerial Surveillance Catches Wetland Violators Red-Handed

A new Massachusetts aerial surveillance program has already discovered over 1,500 illegally filled wetlands.

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and transportation department officials jointly funded a $500,000 initiative in 2001 to improve enforcement using aerial infrared images to detect wet areas. Analysts then used a computer program to compare the 2001 images to earlier versions. They found that in many cases, the destruction of ecologically fragile wetlands could not be seen from the road, but were very apparent from the air. Officials have begun levying fines against two violators of wetland regulations, with more alleged violations under investigation. The aerial mapping of the Eastern third of the state showed that 700 to 800 acres of wetlands in 3,000 locations were filled between 1991 and 2001, at least half of those illegally. By the end of 2004, the surveys are expected to be complete for the entire state. Massachusetts is the first state to search for wetland violations from the sky, with aerial photos so detailed that even the violators are impressed. “People shouldn’t think that just because [the wetlands were filled] seven to eight years ago, they’re not going to get caught,” says MA DEP Assistant Commissioner Cynthia Giles. “Guess again.”

Boston Globe, 12/11/2003