Laserfiche WebLink
Chapter 919: Definitions <br />Page 919-18 <br />Water-Oriented Accessory Structure: A small, above ground building or other improvement, <br />except stairways, fences, docks, and retaining walls, which, because of the relationship of its use <br />to a surface water feature, reasonably needs to be located closer to public waters than the normal <br />structure setback. Examples of such structures and facilities include boathouses, gazebos, screen <br />houses, fish houses, pump houses, and detached decks. <br />Water Course: A channel or depression through which water flows such as rivers, streams, or <br />creeks and may flow year-round or intermittently. Same as “waterway.” <br />Watershed: The area drained by the natural and artificial drainage system bounded peripherally <br />by a bridge or stretch of high land dividing drainage areas. <br />Wetlands: <br />(A) Lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at <br />or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water. For purposes of this ordinance, <br />wetlands must: <br />(1) Have a predominance of hydric soils; <br />(2) Be inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater at a frequency and duration <br />sufficient to support a prevalence of hydrophytic vegetation typically adapted for life in <br />saturated soil conditions; and <br />(3) Under normal circumstances, support a prevalence of hydrophytic vegetation. <br />(B) "A wetland" or "the wetland" means a distinct hydrologic feature with characteristics of <br />item A, surrounded by non-wetland and including all contiguous wetland types, except <br />those connected solely by riverine wetlands. "Wetland area" means a portion of a wetland <br />or the wetland. <br />(C) Wetlands does not include public waters wetlands and public waters unless reclassified as <br />wetlands by the commissioner under Minnesota Statutes, section 103G.201. <br />(D) The wetland size is the area within its boundary. The boundary must be determined <br />according to the United States Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual <br />(January 1987). The wetland type must be determined according to Wetlands of the United <br />States, (1971 edition). Both documents are incorporated by reference under part 8420.0112, <br />items A and B. The local government unit may seek the advice of the technical evaluation <br />panel as to the wetland size and type. <br />Wetlands, Exceptional Quality; Exceptional quality wetlands contain an abundance of different <br />plant species with dominance evenly spread among several species. Such wetlands may support <br />some rare or unusual plant species. Invasive or exotic plant species are either absent or limited to <br />small areas where some disturbance has occurred. This higher level of plant species variety <br />generally provides high wildlife habitat value and may also support rare wildlife species. The <br />shorelines of exceptional quality wetlands are natural and unaffected by erosion. These <br />we tla nds e xhi bit no evidence o f significant ma n induced water le ve l fluctuation . <br />Exceptional quality wetlands provide excellent water quality protection, high aesthetic quality, <br />a n d pr ovide e x cell ent opport u nities f o r e ducational a n d scientific ac tivit ies with i n the <br />community.