d. Buffer areas surrounding wetlands are essential to maintenance 

 and protection of wetland functions and values. Buffer areas 

 protect wetlands from degradation by: 



1) stabilizing soil and preventing erosion; 



2) filtering suspended solids, nutrients and harmful or toxic 

 substances ; 



3) moderating impacts of stormwater runoff; 



4) moderating system microclimate; 



5) protecting wetland wildlife habitat from adverse impacts; 



6) maintaining and enhancing habitat diversity and/or 

 integrity; 



7) supporting and protecting wetlands plant and animal species 

 and biotic communities; and 



8) reducing disturbances to wetland resources caused by 

 intrusion of humans and domestic animals. 



e. The loss of the social and ecological services provided by 

 wetlands results in a detriment to public safety and welfare; 

 replacement of such services, if possible at all, can require 

 considerable public expenditure. 



f. A considerable acreage of these important natural resources 

 has been lost or degraded by draining, dredging, filling, 

 excavating, building polluting, and other acts inconsistent 

 with the natural uses of such areas. Remaining wetlands are in 

 jeopardy of being lost, despoiled, or impaired by such acts. 



It is therefore necessary for the [local unit of government] to 

 ensure maximum protection for wetland areas by discouraging 

 development activities in wetlands and those activities at adjacent 

 sites that may adversely affect wetland functions and values, to 

 encourage restoration and enhancement of already degraded wetland 

 systems, and to encourage creation of new wetland areas. 



1.2 Purpose 



It is the policy of the [local unit of government] to require site 

 planning to avoid or minimize damage to wetlands wherever possible; 

 to require that activities not dependent upon a wetland location be 

 located at upland sites; and to achieve no net loss of wetlands by 

 requiring restoration or enhancement of degraded wetlands or 

 creation of new wetlands to offset losses that are unavoideible. 



In addition, it is the intent of the [local unit of government] 

 that activities in or affecting wetlands not threaten public 

 safety, cause nuisances, or destroy or degrade natural wetland 

 functions and values by: 



a. Impeding flood flows, reducing flood storage capacity, or 

 impairing natural flood control functions, thereby resulting 

 in increased flood heights, frequencies, or velocities on 



