Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 05/12/2005

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All wetlands, including those governed by the Department of Natural Resources, are covered by the other provisions of this Section. Subd. 7. The City has also found that it is in the best interest of the general health and welfare of the City to achieve no net loss of wetlands within the community. It is the intent of this Section to avoid or minimize the alteration and destruction of wetlands where possible. When wetlands are altered or destroyed, mitigation must be provided to recreate the functions and values of the lost wetland. Subd. 8. It is the intent of this Section to develop a methodology for detemnJning the relative value of the various wetland types within the City. By use of a values and measm'es system, four wetland classifications will be defined. They are Preserve, Manage I, Manage 2, and Manage 3. Various buffering scenarios will be defined dependent upon the value of a wetland as measured. More valued wetlands will have more stringent buffering guidelines, Sub& 9. Vegetative buffer strips meliorkte and filter runoff and discharge into wetlands. Wetlands are instrumental in maintaining and improving both water quantity and quality for aquifer recharge. In addition to the mechanical-and physica! function of impeding sediment run off and transport, buffer strip and wetland vegetation are indicators of the biological functioning that serves to metabolize or sequester nutrients as ~vell as contaminants and sediment. The ability to support microbial life, macro/nvertebrates, and common wildlife is a proximate indicator of the value and quality ('health') of the wetlands and their associated buffer region, In turn, the water quality desired for human use and human health is the functional result of biological processes in wetlands and associated buffers. Protection and enhancement of vegetation in the buffers during establishment increases their buffeting capacity for the wetlands. Biotic baselines are integral to maintaining and evaluating the functional health of the inventoried wetlands. Periodic monitoring and peridodic review of biologic functions can be a means of evaluating success of the technical guidelines and implementation in single wetlands, complexes or stream watersheds. Review of existing data fi'om within the City can help establish baselines and expectations. Subd. 10. It is the intent oftkis Section to place a higher level of priority to protect and preserve larger, connected wetland complexes of high ecological integrity than smaller, isolated wetlands that have already incurred substantial eutrophication and contamination. 9.26.02 Purpose and Implementation. Subd. 1. Through the adoption and enforcement of this SectiOn, the City shall promote the general health, safety, and welfare of its residents by both conserving and protecting wetlands and requiring sound management practices and mitigation as Ramsey Wetland Protection Ordinance - May 5, 2005 Draft Page 2