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are on private land situated between public land sections.

• Work with private land owners to encourage wise management

practices that protect and enhance the stream corridors area.

Policy 4: Protect vernal pools

Issue

• Vernal pools in wet woods are the rarest form of wetland. Wet woodlots are scattered around the City. Both publicly and privately owned vernal pools are threatened by degradation, encroachment and development.

Strategies

• Prioritize the acquisition and management of vernal pools.

• Continue educating the public on the presence and importance of vernal pools.

• Develop goals, inventories, assessments and action plans for preserving and protecting vernal pools.

Policy 5: Develop tactics that encourage healthy pond ecosystems

Issues

• Excessive fertilizer run-off from surrounding properties adds to

excessive pond weed and algae growth.

• Most ponds are not currently designed to accommodate wetland plants and are planted with mowed-type turf up to the pond edge.

• Most Dublin ponds accommodate expanding geese populations and allow soil erosion, lessening the ability to improve water quality.

• Large amounts of vegetative growth in ponds are often deemed undesirable by the community.

• Ponds are perceived by residents as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Strategies

• Develop a policy emphasizing pond edge buffers.

• Work with developers to use native plants in the buffer areas.

• Educate the public about the benefits of buffers, native plants and storm water basins in general.

• Stop mowing and fertilizing pond buffer areas.

• Budget to replant the pond edges with native forbs, grasses, shrubs and trees.