Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 02/22/2016

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Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization Wetland Protection Standards Rationale and Overview Wetlands serve a variety of beneficial functions. Wetlands within the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (LRRWMO) maintain water quality, recharge groundwater, provide wildlife habitat, control rates and volumes of stormwater discharge, reduce flooding, provide open space, and contribute to the area's desirable aesthetics. The roles of greatest interest to the LRRWMO include protecting water quality in downstream recreational water bodies, groundwater recharge, and wildlife habitat. Major land use changes during development can have a detrimental effect on these functions. Therefore, regulating wetlands and the land uses around them are in the public interest. Applying these standards during major land use changes is in line with other local and state regulatory systems. The LRRWMO Wetland Protection Standards apply only to projects with land disturbance more than one acre. They focus on the area 16.5 -feet upland of the wetland boundary. This area must be protected from disturbance and erosion during the construction process. After construction, restrictions within this area are similar to restrictions cities impose within drainage and utility easements. This area is usually within the drainage and utility easement so in most cases this imposes no new restrictions after construction. These wetland standards also require that vegetation establishment at the conclusion of construction use native plant seeding in certain common spaces (outlots, city -owned property, etc.) near wetlands and developed ponding areas (stormwater management areas). Vegetation establishment is already required by cities; the LRRWMO is requiring the use of native plants in certain areas because of the benefits to water quality and wildlife. It applies only to common spaces that are disturbed during the construction process. The extent of native plant seeding should follow the guidance in these wetland protection standards. Native plant seeding is not required in all areas. There are no restrictions on modifying or removing it at a later date. These standards were developed by a Technical Advisory Committee including representation from each LRRWMO community, MN Department of Natural Resources, MN Pollution Control Agency, MN Board of Water and Soil Resources, Metropolitan Council, US Army Corps of Engineers, MN Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization October 2011 G-1