(a) The specific purpose and intent of this regulation is to regulate building and land use within riparian zones that would impair the ability of these areas to:
(1) Reduce flood impacts by absorbing peak flows, slowing the velocity of floodwaters and regulating base flow.
(2) Assist is stabilizing the banks of watercourses to reduce woody debris from fallen or damaged trees, stream bank erosion, and the downstream transport of sediments eroded from watercourse banks.
(3) Reduce pollutants in watercourses during periods of high flows by filtering, settling, and transforming pollutants already present in watercourses.
(4) Reduce pollutants in watercourses by filtering, settling and transforming pollutants in runoff before they enter watercourses.
(5) Provide watercourse habitats with shade and food.
(6) Reduce the presence of aquatic nuisance species to maintain a diverse aquatic system.
(7) Provide riparian habitat to a wide array of wildlife by maintaining diverse and connected riparian vegetation.
(b) This regulation has been enacted to protect these services of riparian areas by providing reasonable controls governing building and land use within a riparian zone along designated watercourses in Brunswick.
(Ord. 19-06. Passed 4-24-06.)
(Ord. 19-06. Passed 4-24-06.)