Require golf courses and other large projects to be built in stabilized 30-acre increments. Wetland Protection Act Approved in 1979, the law requires developers to acquire a permit from the state if they propose to fill or drain any wetland that is larger than five acres. The law covers smaller wetlands if they are within 500 feet of a lake, pond, stream, or river, or within 1,000 feet of a Great Lake. The act specifically recognizes that wetlands are cost-effective natural resources that purify runoff before it enters a waterway or groundwater, provide storage capacity to prevent floods, and give wildlife a place to live. State regulators have broad authority to reject applications and require developers to seek alternatives.
Local governments can enact regulations under zoning ordinances.
The DEQ regularly issues permits to fill and drain wetlands. Field personnel who seek to enforce the law are disciplined and suffer punitive transfers. County prosecutors don't file suits against violators. Organize citizen coalitions to elevate wetland destruction as a top public priority. Compel the DEQ to enforce the law.