I’ve heard complaints that the EPA quite often declares small ponds and even mud holes as “wetlands”.
.We had a ridiculo8us case in our area...they threatened a $12,000 per day fine. The project had a stream going through it. No wetland...they just said because they were NEAR a creek (buffer zone), it was a wetland and they created some false wetland boundary. The people said...you're full of baloney. The land was formerly a peach orchard with building etc..The people lost. This was shortly after the original 1972 "law". They would win today...9-0.