Michael Pennington, DEQ

Transcription

1 MDEQ s Wetland Mitigation Bank Funding (WMBF) Program Michael Pennington, DEQ

2 Presentation Outline Wetland Banking Overview Current Status of Wetland Banking in Michigan Wetland Mitigation Bank Funding Program Wetland Banking Grants Wetland Banking Loans Bear Swamp Drain Wetland Mitigation Bank

3 What is Wetland Banking? Establishment of new wetland areas in advance of anticipated losses Provides credits on a per acre basis which can be used by bank sponsors or sold to permit applicants Credits service watersheds/ecoregions Preferred method of mitigation under federal and state statutes

4 Why Wetland Banking? National Research Council recommendation Preferred method under state and federal statutes Offers many benefits over project specific mitigation - Increase in state s wetland resources before impacts occur - Larger better functioning wetlands - Reduced permit processing time - Ensures success and availability of mitigation

5 Requirements for Wetland Banks 10 acres minimum size requirement Coordination with DEQ including signed banking agreement prior to construction Conservation easement Long term management plan and appropriate funding mechanism

6 Wetland Bank Service Area Watersheds

7 Wetland Bank Service Area Ecoregions

8 Current Status of Wetland Banking in Michigan 16 approved bank sites - 6 MDOT sites On-line banking registry Increase demand for wetland banking - New legislation - Shift in internal policy - Shift in consultant community

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11 Wetland Mitigation Bank Funding (WMBF) Program Wetland Advisory Council (WAC) reform recommendation Signed into law December 7, 2012 Provides municipalities with grants and low interest loans for establishment of wetland bank sites Primary purpose is to encourage banking in areas without existing markets and available credits Provide a mechanism for municipalities to meet mitigation needs for unavoidable impacts to wetland resources

12 Municipality A city, village, county, township, authority, or other public body, including an intermunicipal agency of 2 or more municipalities, authorized or created under state law; or an Indian tribe that has jurisdiction over construction and operation of sewage treatment works or other projects qualifying under section 319 of title III of the federal water pollution control act, 33 USC 1329.

13 Wetland Mitigation Banking Grants $500,000 (all projects combined) Developing an approvable wetland banking agreement Notifying local units of government and working to resolve objections Planning and designing a wetland mitigation bank Completing a wetland bank loan application or application for other funding sources $30,000 to $100,000 per application

14 Wetland Mitigation Banking Loans $10,000,000 total Completing and executing a banking agreement Completing design and engineering Purchase of property Construction of wetland bank Monitoring and maintenance of bank $3,000,000 per year for next three years

15 Bear Swamp Drain Wetland Bank 125 ACRES PURCHASED 45 ACRES FLOODING EASEMENT

16 Goals of Bear Swamp Project Provide flood detention during periods of high flow in Bear Swamp Drain to alleviate flooding in the Village of Hopkins Wildlife habitat for resident and migratory birds, aquatic habitat for amphibians, reptiles, fish and aquatic invertebrates Water quality Provide future funding for other flood storage projects in the watershed through the sale of bank credits

17 Project Specifics 53.6 acres of wetland bank proposed acres emergent and 27.3 scrub-shrub Service Area: Kalamazoo River Watershed and Berrien Springs Ecoregion Signed banking agreement in 2007 Construction in 2007 Monitoring 2008 to 2012

18 Conceptual Design 10 X12 BOX CULVERT, STEAL SHEET PILE WEIR, LOW FLOW ORIFICE STEEL SHEET PILE WEIR, GRADE CONTROL, ROCK FORD CROSSING 170 ACRE REGIONAL DETENTION BASIN NORTH BERM 56 ACRE WETLAND MITIGATION BANK SUBMERGENT / EMERGENT WETLAND WEST BERM SCRUB SHRUB WETLAND BEAR SWAMP DRAIN, BRANCH NO. 1 BEAR SWAMP DRAIN BARNUM & ANDERSON DRAIN

19 Pre-Construction

20 Construction Fall acres native wetland seed (includes berm) 36 acres live staking 450 woody habitat structures 12 sand mounds

21 Post Construction Fall 2008

22 Current Conditions

23 Final Results 5 years of monitoring Full credit approval/release acres emergent acres scrub-shrub Site is listed on MDEQ bank registry Currently undergoing Long Term Management/Maintenance

24 Available Resources New WMBF Website Loan and Grant Applications Wetland Banking Website Single Point of Contact

25 Questions? Contact Information Michael Pennington WMBF Program Information