03-23-2010 Council Work Session Packet

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1. � have discussions with local officials and staf£ Final approval of the rules this spring will allow us to accomplish the following: Wetland Protection Rule ■ Protect regional wetlands to improve water quality � Encourage wetland replacement on a project site or within the watershed district ■ If construction occurs, tie wetland replacement to quality and location o Ensure monitoring and maintenance of newly established wetland buffers • Regulate wetland excavation currently not regulated by the Wetland Conservation Act Shoreline and Stream Bai�lc Stabilization Rule • Preseive natural shorelines to prevent erosion and protect water from runoff • Limit the amount of vegetation that can Ue removed fronl shore land while providing reasonable shoreline access to property ov�nlers • Align ne�w shoreline stabilization plans with potential erosion rislcs • Ensure riprap is used only when necessary and consistent with Department of Natural Resources policies ■ Allow maintenance of e�:isting riprap. We are respondin�to input We have appreciated the various comments avout these rules, and have listened carefully to the feedback. In response, we are revising our final reconunendations to help address community concerns while remaining true to our goals. Ainong the most significant concerns addressed are: • Who is affected — The new iules are not retroactive and will only affect redevelopment or new construction. Wetland rule triggers will remain unchanged. ■ Wetland requirements foi• homeowners— The Wetland iule will provide more flexible wetland buffer widths for new single-fainily home construction/tear-down rebuilds of single-family hoines. Existing single-fainily homes will not be affected. • Mitigating wetlands during construction—The rules will allow landowners to continue to use Wetland Conservation Act exemptions and give property owners more flexiUility. Increased wetland mitigation ratios for mitigation away fi-om the site of impact will be removed. Other revisions address concerns related to transportation projects and signage requirements. • Wetland monitoring and maintenance—The new rule ouly will require monitoring and inaintenance of wetland buffers that were disturbed by �ading during constructioil. ■ Riprap along shorelines—Property owners who cuizently have riprap shorelines will be allowed to repair and maintain their riprap as they do under the cun•ent rule. However, the District will establish a grant program to help interested property owners establish natural shorelines, which have been shown to do a better job of protecting water quality. The rule also focuses on preserving existing natural shorelines and streain banlcs— consistent with DNR rules.