WETLAND MITIGATION WETLAND MITIGATION BANKING IN BANKING IN

NORTH DAKOTANORTH DAKOTA

Mark Schrader

Environment & Right-of-Way Engineer

FHWA North Dakota Division

North Dakota is in the Heart of the Prairie Pothole Region

North Dakota Wetland Densities Commonly Reach 100- 150 Wetlands

Per Square Mile

Wetland Bank Service AreaWetland Bank Service Area

Past Service Area was the Entire Past Service Area was the Entire StateState

Impacts Anywhere in the State Impacts Anywhere in the State were Mitigated Anywhere in the were Mitigated Anywhere in the State.State.

Most Wetland Impacts were Most Wetland Impacts were Mitigated in Restored Wetland Mitigated in Restored Wetland ComplexesComplexes

Wetland Bank Service AreaWetland Bank Service Area

August 2005 USACE Omaha District August 2005 USACE Omaha District Wetland Mitigation Guidance Wetland Mitigation Guidance recommended Hydrologic Unit Code recommended Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 8 Service Area(HUC) 8 Service Area

One Service Area One Service Area in ND to over 50 in ND to over 50 didn’t work for didn’t work for NDDOTNDDOT

To On-SiteTo On-Site

Mitigation Changed From BanksMitigation Changed From Banks

ProblemProblem

Wetlands in the ROW attract animals to Wetlands in the ROW attract animals to the roadway ditch.the roadway ditch.

Mitigating in ROW prevents large Mitigating in ROW prevents large complexes from being restored.complexes from being restored.

Monitoring is easier with large complexes.Monitoring is easier with large complexes. Resource Agencies, NDDOT, and FHWA Resource Agencies, NDDOT, and FHWA

wanted to find a way to continue the very wanted to find a way to continue the very successful wetland banking process.successful wetland banking process.

Wetland Mitigation Banking in Wetland Mitigation Banking in North DakotaNorth Dakota

(DRAFT) Interagency Guidance for (DRAFT) Interagency Guidance for Mitigation bank sponsorsMitigation bank sponsors USACEUSACE NRCSNRCS USF&WSUSF&WS FHWAFHWA NDG&FDNDG&FD

Helping People Help the Land

Major ChangesMajor Changes

Larger Service Area than HUC 8Larger Service Area than HUC 8

Major ChangesMajor Changes

Credit Ratio specific for North DakotaCredit Ratio specific for North Dakota Restoration of a completely drained wetland is Restoration of a completely drained wetland is

given 1:1 creditgiven 1:1 credit Preservation of existing wetland is given a Preservation of existing wetland is given a

10:1 credit10:1 credit Credit Availability Dependent onCredit Availability Dependent on

Track RecordTrack Record Mitigation TechniqueMitigation Technique

Next StepNext Step

Complete RevisionsComplete Revisions Have Agency Leadership ApproveHave Agency Leadership Approve ImplementImplement

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?