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<br />Attachment A <br /> <br />9.26 Wetland Protection. <br /> <br />9.26.01 Adoption of State Law by Reference. This Section incorporates by <br />reference the Wetlands Conservation Act of1991 (WCA) which act has been codified as <br />MN Statute Sections 103G.222-.2373 and as amended from time to time. Any activities <br />exempted from the provisions of the WCA are also exempted from the requirements of <br />this Section, insofar as they relate to the WCA (Minn. Rules 8420.0122). All wetlands, <br />including those governed by the Department of Natural Resources, are covered by the <br />other provisions of this Section. <br /> <br />9.26.02 <br /> <br />City Findings. <br />Subd. 1. Findings. The City finds that: <br /> <br />a. Wetlands are a defining. character of its natural heritage worthy of its <br />protection and preservation. Wetlands serve to maintain water quality <br />by filtering water that is discharged into ground water aquifers and by <br />retaining inorganic sediments, toxicants, and nutrients. They also <br />retain and reduce the discharge of phosphorus and transform nutrients <br />from their inorganic to organic forms, thereby, protecting downstream <br />water bodies from eutrophication and contamination. Wetlands also <br />store runoff and reduce the velocity of and magnitude of peak flood <br />stages. In addition, some wetlands receive groundwater discharge. . <br />These wetlands tend to support more stable biological communities <br />since their water temperatures and water levels tend to be more stable. <br /> <br />b. Wetland vegetation also reduces the energy of waves, currents, and <br />other erosive forces and serves to prevent the erosion of shoreline <br />areas. In addition, aquatic vegetation provides food, shelter, and <br />special habitat for wildlife. All of these wetland characteristics provide <br />valuable education and recreation resources. <br /> <br />c. Wetlands vary significantly in the degree that they have been altered. <br />Wetlal1ds within the City exhibit great variations in their floral <br />diversity, quality of wildlife and fishery habitat, degree of fluctuation <br />in response to storms, the extent to which their shorelines have been <br />altered or eroded, and their relative value in protecting water quality. <br />Therefore, the City has determined that it is necessary and beneficial to <br />classify wetlands based upon their functions and values for purposes of <br />establishing relative levels of protection. . <br /> <br />d. A substantial - amount of wetland degradation results from <br />sedimentation and nutrient loading related to construction projects. <br />Therefore, the City finds it necessary to require extraordinary <br />measures to prevent such construction-related degradation. <br /> <br />29 <br />