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Alachua County Wetland Protection Regulations
Alachua County Board of County Commissioners
October 22, 2013
Why Protect Wetlands?
• They provide numerous valuable functions to society.
• 44% of Wetland acreage lost in Florida from 1780s – 1996
Source: Dahl, T.E. 2005. Wetland losses in the United States 1780s to 1980s. US Dept of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. 80 pp.
Wetland Functions• Water Quality Functions
– Flood Water Storage– Streamflow Maintenance– Sediment control– Nutrient and pollution uptake– Shoreline stabilization– Ground Water recharge– Carbon Sequestration– Pathogen Retention
Habitat Functions Fish Habitat Bird habitat Rare Species habitat Amphibian habitat
Community Benefits
• Tourism• Active recreation • Passive recreation• Commercially valuable• Flood control• Water quality • Aquifer recharge• Wildlife habitat• Drought resilience• Sense of Place• And many others…
How are Wetlands Protected Locally?
County Vision
Comprehensive Plan
Land Development Regulations
Wetland Protection Standards
Enforcement of Protection Standards
Photo by Mac Stone
History of Wetland Protection in Alachua County
• 1980’s wetland loss from land development• 1992 First wetland protection ordinance• 1994 Uniform State wetland delineation• 2005 Comp Plan – increased buffer standards• 2006 Code – added increased buffer standards
as required by 2005 Comp Plan
County Wetland Policies and Practices
• All wetlands are regulated• Protect wetlands and buffers in natural
condition• Strong wetland avoidance policies• Impacts allowed for minimal impact activities• If allowed, mitigation per State rules
Wetland ProtectionCounty’s Relationship with Other Agencies
• State- Water Management Districts - Dept of Environmental Protection - Dept of Ag and Consumer Services
• Federal - US Army Corp of Engineers- US Environmental Protection Agency
Wetland ProtectionCounty’s Relationship with Other Agencies
• Why local protection?- Only one with Land Use authority - Local perspective - Higher standards- Local enforcement presence
State Legislation
The Florida Right to Farm ActAgriculture Lands and Practices Act• Applies to bona fide farm operations on land
classified as agricultural land following certain Best Management Practices (BMPs) or regulated by certain Federal agencies.
• Retains local government home rule authority for wetland policies and codes adopted prior to 2003.
• Preempts local government upland policies and codes.
Bona Fide Agriculture
• Exempt from County upland protection requirements.
• Must comply with applicable 1992 County wetland code provisions that are still in effect today.
• County Regulations exempt:– Silvicultural activities in accordance with Best
Management Practices (BMPs)– Existing bona fide agricultural activities that have been
in existence prior to Oct. 29, 1992.
Alachua County Wetland Policy & Practices
• Wetlands are valued• Strong avoidance and protection policies and
codes• Recognizes and respects for State Statutes
support for agriculture• Exemptions for bona fide Ag that has been in
existence prior to 1992 and for silviculture following BMPs