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