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
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Fish Habitat
Bird habitat
Rare Species habitat
Amphibian habitat
Community Benefits
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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
Photo by Mac Stone
Land Development Regulations
Wetland Protection Standards
Enforcement of Protection Standards
History of Wetland Protection
in Alachua County
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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 Protection
County’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 Protection
County’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 Act
Agriculture 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
Staff Recommendation
The Board of County Commissioners reaffirm
Alachua County’s current wetland policies and
protection practices.