Wetland Conservation Act Program

Fact Sheet

Recognizing the important benefits of wetlands, the Minnesota Legislature in 1991 enacted the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA), which aims for no-net-loss wetlands. The law regulates draining and filling wetlands and, if wetland loss is unavoidable, requires replacement. The law is one of the most comprehensive state wetland protection laws and has been used as a model for others states.

Because local officials generally have a good grasp of community needs and values, the WCA gives administrative authority for the act to local governments. In the Twin Cities metropolitan area, a city, town or water management organization may administer the act; in Greater Minnesota, it may be a county or city. These local governments may delegate the responsibility elsewhere (to the local SWCD, for example). The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) oversees the act at the state level.

What is a Wetland?

When most people think of wetlands, they think of swampy, marshy areas complete with ducks and cattails. While those areas are indeed wetlands, many other wetlands look quite different and may even be completely dry for the majority of the year. A wetland is defined by three criteria: 1) it must have mostly hydric soils; 2) is must be generally inundated or saturated above or below the surface; and 3) it must support a prevalence of vegetation adapted to wet soil conditions. A private consultant can help you determine if an area is a wetland

 

The consultant is referred to as a wetland delineator and the determination is referred to as a wetland delineation.

Why are Wetlands Important?

Wetlands have been considered wasted space and drained and filled for development and crop production for many years. In Minnesota, an estimated 11 million acres of wetlands have been lost over the last hundred years, leaving about 7.5 million acres. This represents a 60 percent loss.

Far from being useless, wetlands provide many important benefits, which have only become apparent as wetland numbers have dwindled. These benefits can include:

  • Wetlands reduce flooding by slowing excess water runoff during times of heavy rainfall.

  • Wetlands improve water quality by filtering sediment, nutrients and toxic substances out of water before it washes into rivers and lakes.

  • Wetlands provide habitat for many fish, wildlife and plants, some of which can only survive in wetlands.

  • Wetlands provide opportunities for recreation such as canoeing, hunting, hiking, fishing and birding.

  • Wetlands offer commercial uses like growing wild rice or cranberries and trapping animals.

  • Wetlands are important outdoor science and are classrooms and laboratories.

So what should you do if you plan to work in or near a wetland area?

  1. Contact the Scott SWCD. Our office has been designated as the "clearing-house" for wetland information.

  2. Find out if the land you want to alter is a wetland. We have a list of wetland delineators for distribution. Remember that an area can be a wetland even if it doesn't have standing water.

  3. Fill out a "Minnesota Local/State/Federal Application Form for Water/Wetland Projects". This form will be sent to all wetland regulatory agencies asking if they have jurisdiction over any wetlands in the project area. Our office can provide you with this application.

For further information contact Pete Beckius at (952)492-5425 or e-mail at pbeckius@co.scott.mn.us

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