3.11.020 Findings

The Bad River Tribal Council finds that wetlands and watercourses are fragile natural resources with significant development constraints due to flooding, erosion, and soil limitations. In their natural state, wetlands provide important tribal/public benefits and ecological functions. They provide habitat areas for fish, wildlife, and vegetation, water quality maintenance and pollution control, flood control, shoreline erosion control, natural resource education, scientific study, open space, recreation opportunities, environmental niches, and most importantly the traditional, cultural, and spiritual aspects of our heritage.

Previous construction, land development, and other impacts have displaced, polluted, or degraded many wetlands and forested flood plains. Piecemeal or cumulative losses continue to threaten the remaining wetlands. Damaging or destroying wetlands threatens the public safety, health and general welfare of the Band. Preservation of the wetlands in a natural condition is necessary to maintain hydrologic, economic, recreational, subsistence, cultural, spiritual and aesthetic assets for current and future residents of the Bad River Reservation.

It is therefore necessary for the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians (Bad River Tribe) to ensure maximum protection for wetlands by discouraging development activities in wetlands and activities at adjacent upland sites that may adversely affect wetlands,