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<br />Board Member Bentz stated that in order to monitor each year, the MNRAM database <br />would have to be updated. <br /> <br />Mr. Douglas stated that someone would have to go out each year to look for invasive <br />speCIes. <br /> <br />Mr. Javens stated that it would only require a drive by inspection. <br /> <br />Board Member Max suggested that if a group of volunteers spent a weekend and broke <br />up into teams, they could do some large fraction of the wetlands on a Saturday afternoon. <br /> <br />Environmental Coordinator Anderson concUrred that would be a great idea for the <br />wetlands on public lands. <br /> <br />Board Member Olds stated that suggestion was one way to get the public involved. The <br />idea would be to ask the landowners who are less receptive to the concept of preservation <br />of wetlands to participate. <br /> <br />Chairperson McDilda asked if invasive species would cause a degradation of the function <br />of the wetland and its ability to filter waters and things of that nature. <br /> <br />Mr. Douglas responded that the filtering capabilities are still there; it's just a monoculture <br />now. BWSR and all the people who monitor the quality of wetlands have said it's no <br />longer pristine. There is a still a high level of vegetation so it still cleans the water. <br /> <br />Chairperson McDilda stated it still is going to take a long time to change its natural <br />purpose drastically. He wondered if on the way to mono culture activity, invasive species <br />issues were noticed, what might cause a case for mitigating the wetland. He stated that <br />mitigating wetlands would definitely involve a cost. <br /> <br />Mr. Douglas stated the best argument would be that the City would be losing the wildlife. <br /> <br />Chairperson McDilda stated that taking this argument to the general populous is more <br />difficult than presenting this message to a body of EPB members. It wouldn't be looked <br />at in the same biological or preservation of the environment perspective. He suggested <br />making the argument with the City to help them understand. <br /> <br />Board Member Max stated that more diversity of wetlands is necessary and better for <br />filtration and regeneration. <br /> <br />Mr. Douglas stated that people don't understand what constitutes a wetland. Many only <br />know to call it a wetland if it has cattails, but not all wetlands have cattails. <br /> <br />Chairperson McDilda requested that Mr. Douglas pose the scenario in his report so that <br />citizens become aware of what they are losing when wetlands disappear, why wetlands <br />need to be recreated, and what the cost is to mitigate. <br /> <br />Environmental Policy Board/July 23,2007 <br />Page 5 of 16 <br />