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I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I' I Wetla!ld.~ perform essential hydrologic and water quality functiorL\ such ;c, lowering of flood peaks. providing interchange between surface water and groundwater, and tillering and absorbing pollutants. Because of these functions, wetlands are critical for reducing nonpoint source pollution to area lakes and rivers. The Metropolitan Council In September, 198.8 the Metropolitan Council adopled its Water Resources ;\-!anngeme"I WaSlelVnter Trcatmel:J and Handling Policy Plan (hereafter the policy plan). Local governments wcre notiJled of the policy plan conten~ in the April, 1989 systerm .Hatement and pursuJO( to thc I\fctropolilan Land Planning Act, hud nine months to nmend thcir comprehcnsive plans. The need to reduce nonpoinl saurce pollution, 10 especially the Minnesota River B:L\in, through regulating land development is well documented in the Council's policy plan. :However, because of the polenliallhat nonpoint pollution may impacl MWCC wastewater treatmenl p!:Jnts effluent limits in the future the Council adopled Policy 1.1 of the Council's Wastewater Trearment dnd Handling Policy Plan which states: [T]treatmcnt levels required for" wa.1tcwater trentmcnt plants in the metropolitan system shculd clearly recognize the need to control both point and nonpoinl sources of pollution from within and ouL~ide Ihe Metropolitan Area (I'. 9). The Coullcil hilS actively pursued the implementation of ils policy 10 reduce nonpoint source pollution to area water bodie.~. The Council's policy plan outlines the responsibilities for implementing policy 1-1. These include, but are nOllimited 10: I. working with wate.rshed management organizations (WMOs) and the MPCA on monitoring and manJging nonpoint source pollution programs; and, 2. evaluating the efforts of W1vfOs and local governments to control cionpoint source pollution and their impact on river waler quality and effects on treatment plant diluent Iimill. (p. 10) The Council h:L\ also lIsed its authority under the MetropoHtan wnd Planning Act of 1976 to review and comment on comprehensive plan amendments and environmental reviews 10 implement its policy on reducing nonpoint source pollution, These comments have generaily focused on the need to reduce nonpcint SOurce pollution and the possible lools that may be used 10 accomplish this task. In addition to policy )-1 of the Council's Waler Resources Managemenl Plan, Parr 1, lhc Council h;l.S two other poljcie.< addressing Ihe environmental effects of non point source polluticin and water qualify. The Council's Waler Resources Managemenr.Plan, Part] states in policy 3-4 thai: The Council,!hrough ilS numerous review and approval aut horities, \vill preserve all protected and unprotected Datural wutercourses .- including associated wetlands, channels, floodplains and shorelanQ\ -- to enhance wuter quantity ~nd quality and to preserve their ecological functioru (pag~ 3-26);