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PROPOSED ORDINANCE #05- <br /> <br />CITY OF RAMSEY <br />ANOKA COUNTY <br />STATE OF MINNESOTA <br /> <br />AN AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 9 WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE ZONING AND <br />SUBDIVISION OF LAND CHAPTER OF THE CITY CODE OF RAMSEY, <br />MINNESOTA. <br /> <br />AN ORDINANCE ADDING SECTION 9.26 "WETLAND PROTECTION" <br />CHAPTER 9 OF THE CITY CODE OF RAMSEY, MINNESOTA. <br /> <br />Thc City of Ramsey ordains: <br /> <br />TO <br /> <br />SECTION l. AMENDMENT <br /> <br />Section 9.26 "Wetland Protection" is added to Chapter 9 to read as follows: <br /> <br />9.26 <br /> <br />Wetland Protection <br /> <br />9.26.01 <br /> <br />Adoption of State Law by Reference <br /> <br /> This Section hereby incorporates by reference the Wetlands Conservation Act of <br />! 991 (WCA) and any future amendments adopted by the legislature. Any activities exempted <br />[rom thc provisions o[' the WCA are also exempted from the requirements of this Section, insofar <br />as they relate to the WCA (Minn. Rules 8420.0122). All wetlands, including those governed by <br />thc Department of Natural Resources, are covered by the other provisions of this Section. <br /> <br />9.26.02 Findings <br /> <br />Subd. 1. The City finds that: <br /> <br />Wetlands are a defining character of its natural heritage worthy of its <br />protection and preservation. Wetlands serve to maintain water quality by <br />filtering water that is discharged into ground water aquifers and by retaining <br />inorganic sediments, toxicants, and nutrients. They also retain and reduce the <br />discharge of phosphorus and transform nutrients from their inorganic to <br />organic forms, thereby, protecting downstream water bodies from <br />eutrophication and contamination. Wetlands also store runoff and reduce the <br />velocity of and magnitude of peak flood stages. In addition~ some wetlands <br />receive groundwater discharge. These wetlands tend to support more stable <br />biological communities since their water temperatures and water levels tend to <br />be more stable. <br /> <br />Wetland vegetation also reduces the energy of waves, currents, and other <br />erosive forces and serves to prevent the erosion of shoreline areas. In addition, <br />aquatic vegetation provides food, shelter, and special habitat for wildlife. All <br /> <br /> <br />