(A) Purpose. The purpose of this overlay district is to conserve and protect wetlands through sound management practices that maintain and enhance the natural ecological functioning of wetlands in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of residents. The City seeks to accomplish the following purposes:
(1) To satisfy the requirements of the Wetland Conservation Act and achieve no net loss of wetlands. When wetlands are altered or destroyed, mitigation or replacement must be provided to re-create the functions and values of the lost wetland;
(2) To enhance the rural character of the City and preserve open space amenities for current and future residents;
(3) To promote water quality by maintaining the ability of wetlands to recharge ground water; and
(4) To provide wildlife habitat and support the diversity of both plant and animal species within the City.
(B) Scope, interpretation and application.
(1) This chapter incorporates by reference the Wetland Conservation Act of 1991 (M.S. § 103G.221, as it may be amended from time to time), hereinafter referred to as the WCA.
(2) This chapter shall apply to all parcels containing wetlands defined by the WCA. The City shall maintain official maps identifying all wetlands contained on the National Wetlands Inventory and other classified wetlands. The presence or absence of a wetland on the map does not represent a definitive determination as to whether a wetland covered by this chapter is or is not present.
(3) Wetlands are to be delineated prior to any development activity covered by §§ 154.040 through 154.047 and 154.185 through 154.196 of this chapter. It is the responsibility of an applicant to delineate the exact wetland boundary or to determine that no wetland exists on a subject property. Wetland delineations supplied by applicants shall be certified by a qualified wetland delineator.
(4) (a) Wetlands are lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water.
(b) Surface water features classified as wetlands in the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Circular #39 (1971 edition) are incorporated by reference.
(c) For purposes of this chapter, wetlands must have the following three attributes:
1. Have a predominance of hydric soils; (HYDRIC SOILS are saturated, flooded or ponded long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part.)
2. Are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support a prevalence of hydrophytic vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions; and (HYDROPHYTIC VEGETATION is macrophytic plant life growing in water, soil or on a substrate that is at least periodically deficient in oxygen as a result of excessive water content.)
3. Under normal circumstances support a prevalence of the vegetation.
(C) General performance standards.
(1) Storm water runoff must not be discharged directly into wetlands.
(2) The MPCA’s best management practices shall be followed to avoid erosion and sedimentation during the construction process.
(3) For lots of record created after (date ordinance adopted), a vegetative buffer strip shall be maintained abutting all wetlands. Buffer strips shall be 30 feet in depth beginning at the delineated wetland edge. The use of a meandering buffer strip to maintain a natural appearance is encouraged in areas of flat topography.
(4) Septic systems must be setback at least 150 feet from the edge of the wetland.
(5) Structures shall be setback at least 75 feet from the edge of the wetland.
(6) The lowest ground floor elevation of all structures must be at least three feet above the seasonal high water elevation.
(7) Structures intended to provide access across a wetland shall be prohibited unless a permit is obtained from the appropriate regulatory agencies.
(b) The seed mix to be used shall consist of at least 12 pounds pure live seed (PLS) per acre of native prairie grass seed and five pounds PLS per acre of native forbs. Native prairie grass and native forb mixes shall contain no fewer than four and five species respectively.
(c) The annual nurse or cover crop shall be applied at a rate of 20 pounds per acre.
(d) Native shrubs may be substituted for forbs. The shrubs may be bare root seedlings and shall be planted at a rate of 60 plants per acre. Shrubs shall be distributed so as to provide a natural appearance and shall not be planted in rows.
(e) Any ground cover or shrub plantings installed in buffer areas are independent of landscaping requirements set forth elsewhere in the City code and City policy.
(f) Native prairie grasses and forbs shall be planted by a qualified contractor using a drill designed for native prairie grass seedlings, such as a Truax or Nesbitt Native Grass Drill or a John Deere 1550 Power-Till Seeder.
(g) No fertilizer shall be used in establishing new buffer zones, except on highly disturbed sites where deemed necessary to establish acceptable buffer vegetation and then limited to amounts indicated by an accredited soil testing laboratory.
(Ord. passed 3-20-2002, § 26)