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) enforced by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources;
(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), enforced by the Wayne County Health Department.
C. Compliance with the Michigan Environmental Protection
Act (Act 127, Public Acts of 1970) 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.
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.