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I I I I I I I . I I I I I I I Wetland., perform essential hydrologic and watcr quality functions such n., lowering of IIood peaks, providing interchange between surrace water and groundwater, and liltering and absorbing pOllutants. Because of thest; functions, wetlands are critical for reducing nOn point source pollution to area lakes and rivers. The Metropolitan Council In September, 1988 the Metropolitan Council adopted it.<; Water Resources .HallngCnlWI Wastelvater Treatmwt and Handling Policy Plan (hereafter the policy pIon). Local governments wcre notified of the policy plan conteot.<; in the April, 1989 systems statement and pursuant to thc Metropolitan Land Planning Act, had nine months to amend their comprehensive plan.,. The need to reduce non point source pollution, to espccinlIy the Minnesota River Basin, through regulating land development is well documented in the Council's policy plan. However, because of the potential that nonpoint pollution m~y impact MWCC wastewater treatment plants effluent limits in the future the Council adopted Policy 1.1 of the Council's Wastewaler Treatment and Handling Policy Plan which stntes: (T]trealmel1l levels required for. wa.ltcwaler trentment plants in the metropolitan system should dearly recognize the need to control both point and nonpoint SOurces of pollution from within and oUL~ide the Metropolitan Area (p. 9). The Council has activc::ly pursued the implementation of its policy to reduce nonpoint source pollution to area w~ter bodie.~, The Couneil's policy plan outlines the responsibilities for implementing policy 1-1. These include, but are not limited to: 1. working with watershed management organization~ (WMOs) and the MPCA on monitoring and managing non point source pollution programs; and, 2. evaluating the efforts of WMOs and local governments to eontroloonpoint souree pollution and their impnct on river water quality and effects on treatment plant effluent limitl. (p. 10) The Council ha, also used it., authority under the Metropolitan Land Planning Act of 1976 to review and comment on comprehensive plan amendments and environmental reviews to implement its policy on reducing nonpoinr source pollution. These comments have generally focused on the need to reduce nonpoinr SOurce pollution and the possible tools that may be used to accomplish this task. In addition to policy 1.1 of the Council's Waler Resources Managemem Plan, Part 1. the Council has two other policies addressing the environmental effects of nonpoint source: pollution and water quality. The Council's Wafer Resource! Managemenr.Plah, Part 3 states in policy 3-4 that: The Council,through its numerous review and approval authorities, \vill preserve all protected and unprotected natural watercourses .. including associated wetlands, channcls, floodplains and shorelands '. to enhance waler quantity and quality and to prese[\'c their ecological functioflj (pag~ 3.26);