11-25-1991 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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«1 T' ^ t II (v \ # W0llandt...continutd AitIcItFIvt: TMs article describes a program to ere- ate wedands through either establishment or re^oratlon of drained lands. As with Article Four, the wetland to be created must be In an area MentMed as a high priority area by both BWSR an^ the WMO plan. Thalandawnor li taquirod to have a perpetual conser- vation easement placed on the wedand area. In return, the enrolee wl raoelvt ooet-share funding for construc tion of the wetland plup a payment from the WMO or Courv Board In return for ihe state conservation easement. Participation In thia restoration program by WMOs and counties wM be vohjniary. AiddeSIx: This ardcie describes the new protective -----e that wB beagled to existing wetlands that "fall the crackr of ct 'i^guiatory programs. This is the most com^i! .41:^ in the WCA. Wetlands protected u ..^^r existing programs are not af fected this bM. Per exiin.ple. the'tNibiic waters" protected under the currert O^rtment of Natural Reeouroee PNA) permit program remains unchanged. WjMands regulated under the Swampbuster provision ad- mMstaredlw the U8DA are not affected. But. If a wetland b not regulated by this or any other existing p^ram, nwre than Ibely » wB fa« under the WCA. Thb article also defines wedarxls. For the purpose of the WCA a wetland has the following c^racteristi^: 1. a predomlnonce of hydric sols 2. b Inundated or saturated by surface or ground wtter M a freguency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence of hydrophytic vegetation typically ad^ed for rts a prevalence3. under normal dreumstances. supi of such vegetatioa To ptuleuiUie above described weUands, rules wli be developed by Jdy 1.1933, by BWSR to be imdemented b)^ metropolitan chy. township, or WMO. The rules for wetimd prelection wB stress tNMdisturbimce of wettarxls must be avoided tf possible: mitigation should be used only as a last resort ThelodresortinlticHaionplaiisor"re- ptacemera ptane* must be approved by me above mert- tlonad loeal governmental unit (LQU). Replaoement plans wB require hvo things. Flmtre- placemeril wB usuaHy be require^ in (tw same watershed. Second, the replaoement ratio vvB ae at a rath) of 2:1 for non^wsdandsandl:tforagw<Mands. The ratio refers to value for value and acre for acre. As Indicated earibr. thb procesa wB be developed by rub. Technical deter- minalions ra -ting to these replacement plans wB be made w Mmel wB consbt of b fCOTandand the LGU. I L l > r If the landowner and the LGU cannot arrive at an ac ceptable replacement pian. bndowner can be compen sated for not being abb to o.ain or fill the wetland. The compensation amount wB t« 50 percent of the average equalized EMV In the township. Conservation officers and peace officers wB be called upon to enforce the regulatory aspect of the WCA. Final rules for thb articb wll be develop by July 1.1993. Afticb Basren: Thb article describes the interim prohibi tion that wll be in place from Janutuy 1.1992, through July 1,1993. FBIrig. burning, or draining of wetlands b banned duringthbperiodunlessthearavitybtobeex' emfy or the wedand acreage wB be recced. During thb interim period, an SWCO or LGU may deter- mlrw wsmpllofis or csrtlfy that a watiaixi wll ba raplac^ if drained or fBed. The SWCO or LGU may charge a fee to offset aosts for adminbtering thb certification provbioa Artfob Eight: This artlde deals mainly with northern Minnesota peatlands and b also caled the "Minnesota Peatbnd Protection AcT. Scientific and natural areas wB te estabibhed in which the ONR wB develop management Articb NInr Th-' DNR b required to adopt rules to as sume the U.S. Aimy Corps of Engineers (USuOE) WeBand r ermit Program by Febriiary 1.1993. The goverrxx wfll apply to the Environmental Protection Agency to assume authority lor thb program by March 1,1993. Articb Ten: Thb article b a miscellsneous section. Some Items discussed are: -wetbnd repbeement can be Included In the cost of a ditch repafo -DNR and BWSR must report annually to the legislature on wetbnds; -wetlands under a preservation easement must be as- ed at a wetland virtue; and -potential ownafSof tax forfeit bnd must be notified of v/etbnds present and that the land b not eligible for pay ment under conservation easement programs. Af^sb 11: Thb article addresses funding of the WCA. Sbff at tiie BWSR arxl DNR will be Increased to address of Ute WCA. I hope you are stB with me. As you can see. thb b a complicated pbee of legbbtion that wB require good com Tdinication and cooperation with local unlb of govern ment to administrate. BWSR b planning c major training effort in cooperation with the RAnnesob Association of Conservation Dbtricb. Information on these sessions should be avalable In early 1992 by conbedng your WMO or SWCCv Urba*' Update/spt^'j( at/four i/mes ayearby the Astfoc/'j- ticn Metropolitm. 1 and Watat Conservation Districts ano the Board ot Hatar and Soil Besourcas. Editon Mark »'*bon. ASSOCUnON OF METROPOUTAN SOIL AND WATER CON-SiJiVATlOri DISTRICTS 2095 DeUiwarf A ve. Mettdota Heights. MN 531 IS 0 *)J ..... jlli ?ji!. L_‘J %. / rto i*" bernardson ' ORONO, CITY OP >*0 BOX 66 crystal bay, Mr, 55323 ,,, V'v ./<! USl'iJ3IAG:r 50 .2 ~ «r Bide Rat* U. S.Ro*li^ m Paw ZPmtrrnHo. 171 SLPmd,UH V i 9 1991