The wetland bank project resulted in 24 acres of restored wetland and adjacent upland to offset impacts and generate revenue.
Wetlands are vital for flood management, water quality, and wildlife. To offset impacts when these environments are drained or filled for agriculture, development, or roadway projects, regulators established a banking process. Credits can be purchased from someone who has already restored or created a wetland and then deposited those credits into the bank.
Robert Engstrom Companies, a nationally recognized leader in conservation development, asked our team to assess a 40-acre property for wetland banking. The issue? Drainage. A drain tile hidden in the low spot of the existing sod field was continually draining the site while several other drainages diverted flows from the wetland to a ditch. Despite the drainage, frequent flooding resulted in the loss of sod, crops, and income.
We designed and implemented a restoration plan that returned water to the wetland. We also helped with vegetation management and monitoring to meet performance standards. There were a lot of stakeholders involved, so our team also acted as a liaison between the client and the regulatory agencies to keep the project on track.
Not only was more than 24 acres of wetland and adjacent upland restored, credit was also deposited into the State Banking System to be sold by our client, resulting in more than $1.9 million in estimated revenue.
At a Glance
- Offices
- Client
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- Robert Engstrom Companies
- Partners
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- US Army Corps of Engineers
- Board of Water and Soil Resources
- Hennepin Conservation District
John Smyth, Associate
My job is to help communities protect and restore their water resources, so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.
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