What are the regulations for wetland protection?

Washington has some of the strongest wetland protection regulations in the country. Wetlands are crucial for preserving water quality and protecting healthy environments for fish and wildlife, as well as providing recreational opportunities for people. The Washington State Department of Ecology regulates the protection of wetlands and is responsible for issuing permits for activities that may impact them. These permits evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed activities on the wetland and must be approved before any activity can be undertaken. The general rule of the Wetlands Conservation Rule is that no activities can be conducted that would cause substantial conversion of a wetland. Substantial conversion is defined as the draining, excavating, filling, dredging, planting, or diking of a wetland. The rule also requires that a 100-foot buffer of undisturbed land is preserved around the wetland. All development activities within 100 feet of a wetland must follow the procedures of the Shoreline Development Permit Program. This program requires that environmental assessments be made and mitigations plans developed in order to minimize the impacts of the proposed activities. In Washington, legislation and regulations have been put in place to protect wetlands. These regulations provide an important safeguard for supporting healthy ecosystems and need to be respected and followed.

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What are the regulations for wetland protection?

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