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Any activities exempted from the provisions of the W'CA are also exempted from the <br />requirements of this Chapter, insofar as they relate to the WCA (Minn. Rules 8420.0122). <br />Ail wetlands, including those governed by the Department of Natural Resources, are <br />covered by the other provisions of this Chapter. <br /> <br /> Subd. 7. The City has also found that it is in the best interest of the general health <br />and welfare of the City to achieve no net loss of wetlands within the community. It is the <br />intent of this Chapter to avoid or minimize the alteration and destruction of wetlands <br />where possible. When wetlands are altered or destroyed, mitigation must be provided to <br />recreate the functions and values of the lost wetland. <br /> <br /> Subd. 8. It is the intent of this Chapter to develop a methodology for determining <br />the relative value of the various wetland types within the City. By use ora values and <br />measures system, various buffering scenarios will be defined dependent upon their value <br />as measured (eg. More valued wetlands will have more stringent buffering guidelines). <br /> <br /> Subd. 9. Vegetative buffer strips meliorate and filter runoff and discharge into <br />wetlands. Wetlands are instrumental in maintaining and improving both water quantity. <br />and quality tbr aquifer recharge. In. addition to the mechanical and physical function of <br />impeding sediment run off and transport, buffer strip and wetland vegetation are. <br />indicators of the biological functioning that serves to metabolize or sequester nutrients as <br />well as contaminants and sediment. The ability to support microbial life, <br />macroinvertebrates, and common wildlife is a proximate indicator of the Value and <br />quality ('health') of the wetlands and their associated buffer region. In turn, the water <br />quality desired for human use and human health is the functional result of biological <br />processes in wetlands and associated buffers. <br /> <br /> Protection and enhancement of vegetation in the buffers during establishment <br />increases their buffering capacity for the wetlands. Biotic baselines are integral to <br />maintaining and evaluating the functional health oft he inventoried wetlands. Periodic <br />monitoring and peridodic review of biologic functions can be a means-of evaluating <br />success of the technical guidelines and implementation in single wetlands, complexes or <br />stream watersheds. Review of existing data from within the City can help establish <br />baselines and expectations. <br /> <br /> Subd. 10. It is the intent of this Chapter to place a higher Ievel of priority to <br />protect and preserve larger, connected wetland complexes of high ecological integrity <br />than smaller, isolated wetlands that have already incurred substantial eutrophication and <br />contamination. <br /> <br />9.26.1)2 <br /> <br />Purpose and Implementation. <br /> <br />Ramsey Wetland Protection Ordinance - April 2005 Draft <br />Page 2 of 8 <br /> <br />81 <br /> <br /> <br />