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Accession Number
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PB2012-114851
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Title
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Calculating Credits and Debits for Compensatory Mitigation in Wetlands of Eastern Washington.
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Publication Date
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Aug 2012
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Media Count
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171p
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Personal Author
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T. Hruby
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Abstract
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This document is one of a series of guidance documents developed by the Department of Ecology to improve wetland mitigation in the State of Washington. It describes a tool (called the Credit-Debit Method) for estimating whether a plan for compensatory mitigation will adequately replace the functions and values lost when a wetland is altered. The tool is designed to provide guidance for both regulators and applicants during two stages of the mitigation process (1) estimating the functions and values lost when a wetland is altered, and (2) estimating the gain in functions and values that result from the mitigation. The Department of Ecology, however, does not require the use of this method. The adequacy of a mitigation project can also be determined by using any other method that addresses the no-net-loss policy. The Credit-Debit Method is based on the Washington State Wetland Rating System for Eastern Washington (Ecology publication no. 04-06-15). It also incorporates some refinements in characterizing functions and values that have been developed since then, and that have been summarized in (Hruby (2009). Developing rapid methods for analyzing upland riparian functions and values. Environmental Management 43:1219-1243.) The ecological functions of wetlands that provide value to society fall into three major groups: (1) hydrologic (2) improving water quality, and (3) habitat and maintaining food webs. Functions are first scored based on: (1) the potential of the site to provide each of three functions, (2) the potential the landscape has to maintain each function at the site scale, and (3) the value each function may have for society. Each aspect of the function is then transformed to a qualitative rating of high, medium, or low. The scores for each of the three functions at the wetland being altered (impact site) are used as the basis for calculating how much mitigation is needed. The gains in functions and values at a mitigation site are compared to the losses at the impact site to determine if the no-net-loss policy is being met.
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Keywords
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Adequacy estimating
Boundary identification
Calibrations
Compensatory credits
Compensatory debits
Compensatory method
Credit-Debit Method
Guidances
Metrics
Scoring forms
Washington(State)
Wetland mitigation
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Source Agency
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State of Washington Department of Ecology Library
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NTIS Subject Category
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48B - Natural Resource Management
57H - Ecology
91A - Environmental Management & Planning
43F - Environment
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Corporate Author
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Washington State Dept. of Ecology, Olympia. Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program.
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Document Type
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Technical report
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Title Note
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Final rept.
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NTIS Issue Number
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1226
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Contract Number
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N/A
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