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IL <br />Wetlands perform essential hydrologic and water quality functions such as lowenng ot flood peaks, <br />providing interchange between surface water and groundwater, and filtenng and absorbing pollutants. <br />Beca..sc of these functions, wetlands are critical for reducing nonpomt source pollution to area lakes <br />and rivers. <br />The Metropolitan Council <br />In September, 1988 the Metropolitan Council adopted its Water Resources Management Wastewtuer <br />Treatment and Handling Policy Plan (hereafter the policy plan). Local governments were notified <br />of the poUcy plan contents in the April, 1989 systems statement and pursuant to the Metropolitan <br />Land Planning Act, had nine months to amend their comprehensive plans. The need to reduce <br />nonpoint source pollution, to especially the Minnesota River Basin, through regulating and <br />development is well documented in the Council ’s policy plan. However, because of the potential that <br />nonpoint pollution may impact MWCC wastewater treatment plants effluent limits in the future the <br />Council adopted Policy M of the Council ’s Wastewater Treatment and Handling Policy Plan which <br />states: <br />[TTtreatment levels required for wastewater treatment plants in the metropolitan system <br />should clearly recognize the need to control both point and nonpoint sources of pollution <br />from within and outside the Metropolitan Area (p. 9). <br />Council has actively pursued the implementation of its policy to reduce nonpoint source <br />pollution to area water bodies. The Council ’s policy plan outlines the responsibilities for <br />implementing policy 1-1. These include, but are not limited to: <br />1. working with watershed management organizations (WMOs) and the MPCA on <br />monitoring and managing nonpoint source pollution programs; and. <br />evaluating the efforts of WMOs and local governments to control nonpoint source <br />pollution and their impact on river water quality and effects on treatment plant <br />effluent limits, (p. 10) <br />The Council has also used ite authority under the Metropolitan Land Planning Act of 1976 to reviw <br />and comment on comprehensive plan amendments and environmental reviews to implement its policy <br />___I.. •_____rnmnn#»nf< fnCtlSCd OH thC flCCd tOon reducing nonpoint source pollution. These comments have generally focused on the need to <br />reduce nonpoint source pollution and the possible tools that may be used to accomplish this task. <br />In addition to policy 1-1 of the Council ’s Water Resources Management Plan, Part 1, the Council has <br />two other policies addressing the environmental effects of nonpoint source pollution and water <br />quality. The Council ’s Water Resources Management Plan, Part 3 states in policy 3-4 that: <br />The Council, through its numerous review and approval authorities, will preserve all protected <br />and unprotected natural watercourses — including associated wetlands, channels, floodplains <br />and shorelands — to enhance water quantity and quality and to preserve their ecological <br />functions (page 3-26);