§ 72-881. Purpose and intent.

It is the purpose and intent of this regulation to provide for the protection, maintenance, enhancement and utilization of wetlands within Volusia County, recognizing the rights of individual property owners to use their lands in a reasonable manner as well as the right of all citizens to protection and purity of the waters of Volusia County and their associated wetland ecosystems. It is the policy of Volusia County to minimize the disturbance of wetlands in the county and to encourage their use only for the purposes which are compatible with their natural functions and environmental benefits. Wetlands contiguous to waters of the state, noncontiguous and isolated wetlands serve the following important functions in the hydrologic cycle and ecological system:

•  Riverine wetlands and adjacent floodplain lands provide natural storage and conveyance of floodwaters.

•  Coastal wetlands and inland wetlands adjoining larger lakes and rivers act as barriers to waves and erosion.

•  Inland wetlands provide temporary storage of surface waters during times of flood, thereby regulating flood elevations and the timing, velocity and rate of flood discharges.

•  Wetlands temporarily store flood flows and reduce the velocity of floodwaters, reducing erosion and facilitating the settling of suspended sediment. Wetland vegetation filters and detains sediment which would otherwise enter lakes and streams.

•  Wetlands may protect water bodies by providing settling of suspended sediments, assimilation of nutrients and uptake of other natural and manmade pollutants. Wetland vegetation filters sediment, organic matter and chemicals. Microorganisms utilize dissolved nutrients and break down organic matter.

•  Coastal wetlands are important sources of nutrients for fish and shellfish and as spawning grounds. Inland wetlands adjacent to rivers, streams and lakes are important to freshwater fisheries as spawning grounds.

•  Both coastal and inland wetlands provide essential breeding and predator escape habitats for many forms of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and invertebrates.

•  Wetlands provide essential habitat for many rare, endangered and threatened species.

•  Wetlands provide excellent recreation opportunities, including, but not limited to, fishing, hunting, camping, photography, boating and nature observation.

•  Wetlands, especially those in karst terrain, may contribute to surface water storage and may contribute to groundwater recharge.

•  Forested wetlands provide an important source of forest products. This renewable resource provides a significant economic benefit to the forest landowners of Volusia County.

It is further the purpose and intent of this division to ensure that there be no net loss of wetlands function and acreage as defined herein. To this end, a wetland alteration permit will be required as provided herein.

(Ord. No. 89-52, § I, 12-7-89; Ord. No. 2008-25, § III, 12-4-08)