Post on 29-May-2020
Identifying Potential Wetland Mitigation Sites
Presented by:Stu Kogge, Cardno JFNew
Purpose of Presentation
Know the difference between wetland creation, restoration, enhancement, mitigation, reclamation
Provide sources of readily available information Go over key features/parameters that need to be
assessed Know methods for creation,
restoration & enhancement Provide examples
Before Getting Started..Definitions
Purpose for your mitigation• DEQ Permit condition• Executive Order 11990
What are you mitigating• Stream impacts• Plant/animal impacts• Wetland impacts
Type of “mitigation” you’re looking for• Creation, restoration, enhancement
What is a wetland
Wetlands: “lands characterized by the presence of water at a frequency or duration sufficient to, and that under normal circumstances, does support a predominance of wetland vegetation or aquatic life”.
Definitions
Creation: “wetland from upland” Example: Excavate
upland field to create wetland
Definitions Enhancement: “improve upon existing wetland
functions, values, benefits and/or uses” Changing an existing wetland and/or impacted site
to a more desirable state Increase the quality/value of existing functions Includes/involves increasing native species
Modifying [invasive] species or parameters that are otherwise hindering or limiting wetland from fully establishing into a more optimal/functioning system
Definitions Reclamation: “return to wetland”
Changing an impacted site to a more desirable state
May include native and non-native species –whichever will best meet the goals of the site Example: Sand mining - use of native and non-
invasive introduced species to stabilize or vegetate siteExample: Planting a site that had once been
forested to prairie
Reclamation
Restoration: “return to exact pre-disturbance conditions” Changing a site to a pre-determined natural
ecological condition. Use only native species indigenous to areaExample: Remove invasive species from an
otherwise intact systemExample: Re-establish hydrology, plants, soils,
water quality
Definitions
Restoration
Summary of Definitions
Creation – creating wetlands from uplands
Restoration – restoring effectively drained historical wetlands
Enhancement –improving habitat quality of existing wetlands
Preservation –preserving existing wetlands
Why Wetland Restoration ?
Higher level of success Typically have suitable soils Typically have suitable or
restorable sources to hydrology
Can have native seed bed More stable system Greater economic return
<$ Wetland Creation Satisfy mitigation
requirements
Give Me Another Reason
No available approved DEQ Wetland Mitigation banks within watershed
No available General Permit Category Wetland Mitigation Banks [MDOT non-federally funded projects]
2nd on MDEQ list of preferred means of mitigating wetland impacts
Before Getting Started...Office
Set goals for your wetland Appearance vs. Function Plant communities Wildlife Human resources
Have a long-term goal - restoration and management plan
Sources of Information
DEQ Wetlands Map Viewer http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/wetlands/
USDA NRCS Soil Survey – Web Soil Survey http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm
USFWS National Wetlands Inventory - Wetlands Mapper http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/Data/Mapper.html
MDNR Michigan Resource Inventory System (MIRIS) Pre-Settlement Vegetative Maps
Local Unit of Government Planning Offices Survey Department
Now Lets Head to the Field
A hard working MDOT person “in action”
What is limiting the site from sustaining itself as wetland ?
Source of Hydrology Soil Type or Attributes Plant Competition/Succession Human Disturbances
Can we fix and sustain ?
Limiting Wetland Parameters
Hydrology
Useful Data Watershed maps Well or pumping data Precipitation NRCS soil survey
maps Water quality data Local DPW (where
do all those pipes go?)
Limiting Factors Too much or not
enough water Water quality
Soils
Useful Data NRCS soil survey
maps Aerial photographs Site assessments
• Examine the soil profile
Limiting Factors Physical features
• Composition• Density
Chemical features• pH• Chlorides
Seed bank
Vegetation
Useful Data Pre-settlement
vegetation maps (MIRIS)
NRCS soil survey maps
Aerial photographs Site assessments
• Adjacent properties
Limiting Factors Seed bank Invasive species Insufficient hydrology Poor water quality
Hydrology Soils Vegetation Human Disturbances
Fixing Limiting Parameters
***Creation – establishing the right parameters/ medium for successful wetlands ***
Hydrologic Restoration Techniques
Re-establish hydrology to wetland Limit water loss or increase detention
• Turn off pumps, break tiles, construct berms, control structures
• Stream meanders• Vegetative controls
Direct hydrology into wetland • Waterways, pipes, runoff
Constructing Berms
Removing drain tiles
Before
After
Hydrology in Urban Areas
Removing pipes Diverting water flow; Retaining, re-
circulating waters Paying close attention to water quality
inputs Monitor/maintain your inputs water
quality
Carrier Creek DrainChannel Redesign
Before After
Courtesy Eaton County Drain Commissioner
Carrier Creek DrainBerm Removal-Channel Redesign
Before After
Courtesy Eaton County Drain Commissioner
Soil Restoration Techniques
Supplement/alter soil profile Re-establish pre-existing soil conditions for
plant communities• Addition of organic, loam or sandy soils• Adjust pH of soils (Lime)
Re-establish hydrologic regime• Raising or lowering of existing grade• Flooding to promote rebounding of soils
Replace Soils; Address Water Quality
chlorides
Roadside salts - pollutants
Vegetative Restoration Techniques
If you have appropriate hydrology and soils
First: Utilize existing seed bank Re-establish conditions
favorable for native vegetation
Fire Mowing Flooding Herbicides
Vegetative Restoration Techniques
Fire Very effective Space limited Local ordinances
Mowing Easiest – Least expensive
Herbicides Easiest Most practical in smaller areas
Control Invasive Species
Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) Burns
Spring and fall Mowing
Summer and fall • control seed production • space for native species
Excavation of surface profile Flooding
Controlling Invasive Species
Giant reed grass (Phragmites australis)
Imazapyr (Habitat, Arsenal)
Glyphosate (Rodeo, Aquastar)
• Wicking• Broadcast spraying
• Tilling Hand Removal• Herbicides
• Mowing • Burning
Selecting Appropriate Plantings
Goal – Long-term sustainability Native plant species
Plant community type
Plant associates Nursery stock
Regional genotypes
Benefits of Using Natives in the Landscape
Reduce Soil Erosion/Air Pollution Habitat Restoration Recreation (birdwatching, hiking) Aesthetic Enhancement Economic Benefits Stormwater Benefits Natural/intrinsic values
Limiting Human Impacts
Blocking access to site Planting of human-nuisance
plant species (“exclusionary vegetation”)
• Poison ivy• Hawthorns• Wild raspberries
Educational signage
Monitoring and Maintenance
Monitor to assure short-term goals are being met Implement restoration techniques – perform required
maintenance to address short-term goals Supplement (with plantings, burns, herbicides) where
necessary Re-assess short-term and long-term goals
Essentials for SuccessfulWetland Restoration
Assess the project and adjacent areas Assess your goals, resources, and timeframe Determine limiting parameters Change how those parameters function Monitoring and maintenance
BE FLEXIBLE !!!
Stu Koggeskogge@jfnew.com
Indianapolis, IN Walkerton, IN Cincinnati, OH Chicago, ILGrand Haven, MI Ann Arbor, MI Madison, WI Lansing, MI