other lands; 



b. increasing water pollution through location of domestic waste 

 disposal systems in wetlands; unauthorized application of 

 pesticides and herbicides; disposal of solid waste at 

 inappropriate sites; creation of unstable fills; or the 

 destruction of wetland soils and vegetation; 



c. increasing erosion; 



d. decreasing breeding, nesting, and feeding areas for many 

 species of waterfowl and shorebirds, including those rare and 

 endangered ; 



e. interfering with the exchange of nutrients needed by fish and 

 other forms of wildlife; 



f. decreasing habitat for fish and other forms of wildlife; 



g. adversely altering the recharge or discharge functions of 

 wetlands, thereby impacting groundwater or surface water 

 supplies; 



h. significantly altering wetland hydrology and thereby causing 

 either short-or long-term changes in vegetational composition, 

 soils characteristics, nutrient cycling, or water chemistry; 



i. destroying sites needed for education and scientific research, 

 such as outdoor biophysical laboratories, living classrooms, 

 and training areas; 



j. interfering with public rights in navigable waters and the 

 recreation opportunities provided by wetlands for fishing, 

 boating, hiking, birdwatching, photography and other passive 

 uses; or 



k. destroying or damaging aesthetic and property values, 

 including significant public viewsheds. 



The purposes of this chapter are to protect the public health, 

 safety and welfare by preventing the adverse environmental impacts 

 of development enumerated in Section 1 of this chapter, and by: 



a. Preserving, protecting and restoring wetlands by regulating 

 development within them and their buffers; 



b. Protecting the public against losses from: 



1. unnecessary maintenance and replacement of public 

 facilities, including the dredging of ports and navigation 

 channels; 



