The Grosse Ile Township Board finds that the wetlands and drainageways of Grosse Ile Township are indispensable and fragile natural resources which serve numerous, beneficial functions by providing breeding, nesting and feeding grounds for fish and wildlife, maintenance of water quality through nutrient cycling and sediment trapping, flood and storm water runoff control through hydrologic absorption and storage capacity, pollution treatment by serving as a biological and chemical oxidation basin, open space, greenways, outdoor recreation areas, and aesthetics. Important types of wetlands on Grosse Ile include emergent marshes, forested wetlands, shrub/scrub wetlands, and aquatic beds. The preservation of wetlands and drainageways in an undisturbed and natural condition is necessary to maintain important physical, aesthetic, recreational and economic assets for existing and future residents of Grosse Ile Township and the State of Michigan.
The purposes of this chapter are to provide for:
A. 
The protection, preservation, proper use of wetlands and drainageways in Grosse Ile Township in order to minimize disturbance to them as to prevent damage from erosion, turbidity or siltation; loss of natural filtration or pollution reduction capability; loss of fish or other beneficial aquatic organisms; loss of wildlife or the destruction of the natural habitat thereof; or a loss of water quality supporting the abundant fishery and waterfowl use of the Detroit River and Lake Erie.
B. 
The coordination of and support for the enforcement of applicable federal, state, and county ordinances and statutes including but not limited to:
(1) 
Goemaere-Anderson Wetland Protection Act (Act 203, Public Acts of 1979, as amended)[1] enforced by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources;
[1]
Editor's Note: Said Act was repealed by the Public Acts of 1995, No. 59. See MCLA § 324.30101 et seq.
(2) 
Section 404 of the Federal Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Federal River and Harbor Act of 1899, enforced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
(3) 
Inland Lakes and Streams Act (Act 346, Public Acts of 1972, as amended), enforced by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources; and
(4) 
Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act (Act 347, Public Acts of 1972, as amended),[2] enforced by the Wayne County Health Department.
[2]
Editor's Note: Said Act was repealed by the Public Acts of 1994, No. 451. See MCLA § 324.30101 et seq.
C. 
Compliance with the Michigan Environmental Protection Act (Act 127, Public Acts of 1970)[3] which imposes a duty on government agencies and private individuals and organizations to prevent or minimize degradation of the environment which is likely to be caused by their activities.
[3]
Editor's Note: See now Public Acts of 1994, No. 451 (MCLA § 324.101 et seq.)
D. 
Regulation of the use of wetlands and drainageways.
E. 
Procedures for appealing decisions and requesting variances.
F. 
Penalties for violation of this chapter.
The Township Board declares that this chapter is essential to the health, safety, economic and general welfare of the people of the Township, and to the furtherance of the policy set forth in Article 4, Section 52, of the Constitution of the State of Michigan, the Michigan Environmental Protection Act (Act 127, Public Acts of 1970) and the Goemaere-Anderson Wetland Protection Act (Act 203, Public Acts of 1979, as amended).
The following rules of construction apply in the interpretation and application of this chapter:
A. 
In the case of a difference of meaning or implication between the text of this chapter and any caption or illustration, the text shall control.
B. 
Particulars provided by way of illustration or enumeration shall not control general language.
C. 
Ambiguities, if any, shall be construed liberally in favor of the protection and preservation of natural resources.