WETLAND MITIGATION BANKING IN NORTH 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 Wetlands Per Square Mile

Wetland Bank Service Area  Past Service Area was the Entire State  Impacts Anywhere in the State were Mitigated Anywhere in the State.  Most Wetland Impacts were Mitigated in Restored Wetland Complexes

Wetland Bank Service Area  August 2005 USACE Omaha District Wetland Mitigation Guidance recommended Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 8 Service Area  One Service Area in ND to over 50 didn’t work for NDDOT

To On-Site Mitigation Changed From Banks

Problem  Wetlands in the ROW attract animals to the roadway ditch.  Mitigating in ROW prevents large complexes from being restored.  Monitoring is easier with large complexes.  Resource Agencies, NDDOT, and FHWA wanted to find a way to continue the very successful wetland banking process.

Wetland Mitigation Banking in North Dakota  (DRAFT) Interagency Guidance for Mitigation bank sponsors USACE USACE NRCS NRCS USF&WS USF&WS FHWA FHWA NDG&FD NDG&FD Helping People Help the Land

Major Changes  Larger Service Area than HUC 8

Major Changes  Credit Ratio specific for North Dakota Restoration of a completely drained wetland is given 1:1 credit Restoration of a completely drained wetland is given 1:1 credit Preservation of existing wetland is given a 10:1 credit Preservation of existing wetland is given a 10:1 credit  Credit Availability Dependent on Track Record Track Record Mitigation Technique Mitigation Technique

Next Step  Complete Revisions  Have Agency Leadership Approve  Implement  QUESTIONS?