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Compensating for Wetland Losses Under the Clean Water Act (2001)

Chapter: Appendix D California Department of Fish and Game, South Coast Region; Guidelines for Wetland Mitigation

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Suggested Citation:"Appendix D California Department of Fish and Game, South Coast Region; Guidelines for Wetland Mitigation." National Research Council. 2001. Compensating for Wetland Losses Under the Clean Water Act. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10134.
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Appendix D

California Department of Fish and Game, South Coast Region; Guidelines for Wetland Mitigation

Contributed by William E.Tippets, Habitat Conservation Supervisor, California Department of Fish and Game, South Coast Region

These ratios should be considered as general guidelines for mitigation for impacts to streams and associated habitat.

1:1

Low-value habitat

E.g., isolated freshwater marsh, unvegetated streams.

2:1

Medium-value habitat

E.g., disturbed mulefat scrub, highly disturbed willow riparian.

3:1

High-value habitat

E.g., willow riparian, possibly with some exotics, rare/unique habitats.

5:1

Endangered species habitat

E.g., mature willow riparian with least Bell's vireo.

5:1

Impacts beyond permitted in the SAA/violations

This can vary, depending on the quality, temporal loss, location, etc., but should have a compensatory factor in addition to the above guidelines of 1:1 to 5:1.

Other considerations:

It is important to consider “no net loss to wetlands.” Streams should be considered under this no-net-loss policy to ensure that adequate creation is represented (rule of thumb, a minimum of 1:1 of their mitigation for permanent impacts should include creation). Creation, restoration,

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D California Department of Fish and Game, South Coast Region; Guidelines for Wetland Mitigation." National Research Council. 2001. Compensating for Wetland Losses Under the Clean Water Act. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10134.
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and/or enhancement could make up the balance of the mitigation measures. Preservation is usually looked at as a recommended avoidance measure, but preservation and protection of significant wetlands can be part of the entire project's measures to be considered. Instances involving lower-quality habitat impacts may be mitigated by nonnative exotic plant removal.

Freshwater marsh restores more successfully than a multilayered willow riparian community, which may have a significant temporal loss component in its mitigation requirements.

Temporary impacts should preferably be restored on-site and should account for mitigation for the temporal loss.

The above ratios consider acreage of impact. Individual tree ratios/ requirements can be incorporated as part of the plan to ensure sufficient mitigation. Also, guidelines for impacts to individual mature oak and sycamore trees are mitigated based on the size of tree impacted, at appropriate planting centers and with appropriate native understory. This may require the applicant to obtain additional land beyond that required for the habitat acreage requirement as described above.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D California Department of Fish and Game, South Coast Region; Guidelines for Wetland Mitigation." National Research Council. 2001. Compensating for Wetland Losses Under the Clean Water Act. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10134.
×
Page 217
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D California Department of Fish and Game, South Coast Region; Guidelines for Wetland Mitigation." National Research Council. 2001. Compensating for Wetland Losses Under the Clean Water Act. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10134.
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Page 218
Next: Appendix E Examples of Performance Standards for Wetland Creation and Restoration in Section 404 Permits and an Approach to Developing Performance Standards »
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Recognizing the importance of wetland protection, the Bush administration in 1988 endorsed the goal of “no net loss” of wetlands. Specifically, it directed that filling of wetlands should be avoided, and minimized when it cannot be avoided. When filling is permitted, compensatory mitigation must be undertaken; that is, wetlands must be restored, created, enhanced, and, in exceptional cases, preserved, to replace the permitted loss of wetland area and function, such as water quality improvement within the watershed.

After more than a dozen years, the national commitment to “no net loss” of wetlands has been evaluated. This new book explores the adequacy of science and technology for replacing wetland function and the effectiveness of the federal program of compensatory mitigation in accomplishing the nation’s goal of clean water. It examines the regulatory framework for permitting wetland filling and requiring mitigation, compares the mitigation institutions that are in use, and addresses the problems that agencies face in ensuring sustainability of mitigated wetlands over the long term.

Gleaning lessons from the mixed results of mitigation efforts to date, the book offers 10 practical guidelines for establishing and monitoring mitigated wetlands. It also recommends that federal, state, and local agencies undertake specific institutional reforms. This book will be important to anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of the “no net loss” issue: policy makers, regulators, environmental scientists, educators, and wetland advocates.

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