What Can Local Governments do to Protect and Restore Wetlands?

Through comprehensive planning, zoning, subdivision regulations, codes and ordinances, local governments can have an enormous influence on the fate of wetlands in their communities. However, the extent to which a community realizes the public benefits wetlands provide depends largely upon whether or how these tools are applied. Opportunities to apply land use policy and planning tools to improve local wetland protection and restoration policies include:

>> 1. Establish "Avoid and Minimize" Standards for Project Review
>> 2. Implement Wetland Protection Land Use Controls
>> 3. Help Landowners Avoid Unauthorized Wetland Impacts
>> 4. Encourage Wetland Restoration

The links above provide Wisconsin-specific information about why and how to apply these important wetland conservation land use policy and planning tools. For more in-depth information about these and other opportunities to improve local wetland protection and restoration click here.

Questions about how to encourage better consideration of wetland concerns in local land use decision making should be directed to WWA’s Wetland Policy Specialist, Kyle Magyera at kyle.magyera[at]wisconsinwetlands.org / 608.250.9971.

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