1. WETLAND MITIGATION BANKING IN NORTH DAKOTA Mark Schrader Environment & Right-of-Way Engineer FHWA North Dakota Division

2. North Dakota is in the Heart of the Prairie Pothole Region

3. North Dakota Wetland Densities Commonly Reach 100- 150 Wetlands Per Square Mile

4. 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

5. 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

6. To On-Site Mitigation Changed From Banks

7. 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.

8. 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

9. Major Changes  Larger Service Area than HUC 8

10. 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

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