Section 3-810 Purpose and Intent
The purpose and intent of the Wetland Regulations is to 1) protect and enhance the natural environment; 2) ensure the safe and healthy existence of the present population and future generations; 3) ensure that the wetlands in the Town are identified and protected; and 4) protect the vital, beneficial functions and values of wetland areas and the associated riparian areas within the Town of Telluride. Protecting riparian and wetland areas helps prevent degradation of valuable habitat that is vital to proper ecological function of the San Miguel Watershed, the San Miguel River, and its tributaries. Telluride considers these sensitive, natural features to be important resources because they give the community a special, natural character that it depends on for economic, environmental, aesthetic, and open space benefits. Therefore, the intent of the Wetland Regulations is to protect wetland areas and the associated riparian areas so that such areas will continue to:
3-810.A. Retain and slow flood waters thereby decreasing flooding impacts downstream;
3-810.B. Provide sediment and storm water mitigation by reducing peak runoff volumes and velocities, which increase as impervious surfaces in the watershed increase;
3-810.C. Recharge groundwater;
3-810.D. Provide a temporary refuge for riparian and wetland fauna during high water episodes;
3-810.E. Provide robust habitat for migrating, threatened, endangered, and/or commercially and recreationally important wildlife;
3-810.F. Provide an area to accommodate variations in riparian and wetland boundaries over time due to hydrologic and climatic change;
3-810.G. Act as a remediation and filtration area to remove and store nutrients, sediments, petrochemicals, pesticides, debris and other pollutants as they move from uplands toward riparian and wetland areas;
3-810.H. Keep disturbances at a distance, thereby reducing the impact of noise, traffic and other direct and indirect adverse human impacts; and
3-810.I. Provide a corridor that facilitates wildlife movement from upland and down valley habitats to and from riparian and wetland areas.
These regulations are intended to provide wetland protection and for buffers adjacent to wetlands to protect these critical functions and values.