Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 13, September 23, 2024
Subpart
1.
High-priority regions.
Parts of the state that are high-priority regions for
preservation, enhancement, restoration, and establishment of wetlands include
all major watersheds with a majority of their land area contained within
counties that have lost 50 percent or more of their presettlement wetland base,
which are those listed in part
8420.0117, subpart
1, item C. In all other major
watersheds of the state, high-priority regions are high-priority areas approved
as such by the board according to subpart
2.
Subp. 2.
High-priority areas.
A. Water management plans prepared by water
management organizations in the metropolitan area under Minnesota Statutes,
section
103B.231, by
counties outside the metropolitan area under Minnesota Statutes, section
103B.311,
and by watershed districts outside the metropolitan area under Minnesota
Statutes, sections
103D.401
and
103D.405,
may identify those areas that qualify as high-priority areas for wetland
preservation, enhancement, restoration, and establishment. To designate a
high-priority area, the preservation, enhancement, restoration, and
establishment of wetlands must have or achieve high public value based on the
functions of wetlands listed in part
8420.0522, subpart
1, and the goals of the water
management plan.
B. High-priority
areas should be designated by minor watershed or subwatershed. Strong
consideration should be given to identifying as high-priority areas minor
watersheds that have less than 50 percent of their original wetland acreages
and where restoration of previously impacted or degraded wetlands will
contribute toward achieving watershed-based goals. Consideration should also be
given to watersheds that contain high-valued wetlands that are at risk of
degradation or loss, the protection of which is integral to maintaining the
ecology and condition of the watershed. Identification of high-priority
watersheds should be consistent with part
8420.0830, subpart 5, item
A.
C. Local water plans may
identify individual wetlands, or criteria to establish individual wetlands, as
high-priority areas. Individual wetlands identified as high-priority areas
should be of high local value, at risk of degradation or loss, and consistent
with any existing wetland classification criteria established under part
8420.0830, subpart 5, items A and
B. Plans may also identify individual sites as high-priority areas for wetland
restoration and establishment. High-priority restoration sites should be
identified according to the criteria in part
8420.0830, subpart 5, items A and
C.
D. Local water plans that
identify high-priority areas and intend to accept applications for wetland
preservation areas under part
8420.0840 should include criteria
for eligibility and prioritization of applications.
E. The board shall review the inclusion of
high-priority areas in plans as part of the standard process for plan review.
High-priority areas approved by the board that are not in a high-priority
region under subpart
1 become high-priority
regions with board approval.
