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Reg. _Coastal Wetlands (Salt Marshes) <br /> The provisions of 310 CMR 10.32 are hereby incorporated under the regulations for <br /> Chapter 172, except for the definition of a Coastal Wetland (Salt Marsh): <br /> DEFINITION: a vegetated area between mean low water(where a waterbody exhibits <br /> tidal influences) to the point(upland) where less than 50% of the plant community is salt <br /> tolerant, i.e., characterized by plants that are well adapted to or prefer living in saline <br /> environments.' (Thus the upper boundary of a Coastal Wetland does not necessarily end <br /> at the line coincident with the highest spring tide of the year). <br /> In the event of a dispute, botanical survey plots/transects shall be used for measuring <br /> the abundance of salt-tolerant plants. Methodology for number and location of such plots <br /> shall be as approved by the Commission on a site-by-site basis. However, in general, <br /> plots should be located in vegetative communities that are not clearly Coastal Wetland <br /> or upland. Also, plot locations should generally be determined so that the vegetation <br /> within a plot is representative within the (studied) community as a whole. At any point <br /> in a Coastal Wetland delineation, the Commission may require, as it deems necessary, <br /> additional plots (at additional locations) and/or supplemental soils analysis. <br /> Salt-tolerant plants shall include, but are not limited to, those plants included <br /> in"A Field Guide to Coastal Wetland Plants", by Ralph W. Tiner (1987, the <br /> University of Massachusetts Press, Amherst, MA.) <br />