SWS West comment to SWRCB - General WDRs - 26 Mar 04

¾¾¾¾¾Society of Wetland Scientists ~ Western Chapter P.O. Box 1802 · Davis, CA 95617-1802 530-758-3000 · 530-758-3008 (FAX) 26 March 2004 California State Water Resources Control Board 1001 I Street P.O. Box 100 Sacramento, CA 95812 Subject: General WDRs for “Isolated” Wetlands (agenda item 12, 30 March 2004 meeting) Dear Board Members and Staff: The Western Chapter of the Society of Wetland Scientists is a professional organization representing scientists working on wetland ecology in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii. In April 2003 the Chapter sent comments (attached) to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding the importance of isolated wetlands for aquatic ecosystems and water quality. Many of our comments to the EPA incorporated elements of the Porter-Cologne Act and the state’s regulation of water quality and aquatic ecosystems pursuant to the Act’s requirements. “Isolated” wetlands provide important benefits for aquatic ecosystems. In the terms most often used by wetland scientists, these wetlands provide at least five functions, which are related to the benefits that these wetlands provide: Water storage Slow water release Nutrient retention and cycling Sediment retention Substrate for plants and animals “Isolated” wetlands and ephemeral/intermittent streams play important roles in maintaining the physical, biological, and chemical ...