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Sec. 78-1604 Interpretation of Wetlands Boundaries. <br />Whenever a wetland boundary is disputed or uncertain, the Planning Director may <br />require the submission of a registered survey of the property and field staking showing <br />the city-designated wetland contour or a delineation of the wetland, and such other <br />information as the director may require in order to resolve the dispute or uncertainty. No <br />boundary change may be authorized on the basis of fill that was placed on the site after <br />the City designated the area as part of the wetland overlay district. Persons aggrieved by <br />a decision of the Planning Director may appeal such decision in accordance with the <br />provisions of Section 78-99 of this ordinance and the WCA rules. <br />DIVISION 3. <br />BUFFER AREAS <br />Sec. 78-1605 Wetland Buffer Areas. <br />(a) This subsection establishes requirements for wetland buffer areas around <br />protected wetlands. Buffer areas are necessary and beneficial to maintain the health of <br />wetlands. BufTcr areas protect the edge of wetlands from erosion while filtering sediment, <br />chemicals and other nutrients from runoff that drains into wetlands. Buffer areas can <br />improve the biological diversity and health of a wetland environment while reducing the <br />adverse impacts of human activities. <br />(b) Buffer areas regulated by this section arc areas of vegetative cover that are <br />upland of the wetland edge, and that occur in a natural condition or through restoration. <br />Buffer areas consist of shrubbery and trees, native grasses and/or forbs that arc not <br />mowed, fertilized or manicured in any manner. Mowing, fertilizing, manicuring, or <br />vegetation removal within a buffer area is not allowed unless the City has issued a permit <br />for such activity in conjunction with an approved buffer management plan. <br />(1) Acceptable buffer areas shall have the following qualities: <br />a.A continuous dense layer of perennial grasses that have been <br />uncultivated or unbroken for at least ten (10) consecutive years, or <br />b.An over story of trees and'or shrubs with at least eighty (80"/b) <br />percent canopy closure that have been uncultivated or unbroken for <br />at least ten (10) consecutive years, or <br />c.A mixture of the plant communities described in a. and b. above, <br />which hav e been uncultivated or unbroken for at least ten (10) <br />consecutive years. <br />(2) Unacceptable buffer areas have the following qualities, including but not <br />limited to: <br />i