News Release
| Release Number: | 08-131 |
| Dated: | 8/22/2008 |
| Contact: | Scott Clemans, 503-808-4510 |
PORTLAND, Ore. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Oregon Department of State Lands have approved a new wetland mitigation bank to serve parts of Benton, Lane, Linn and Polk counties.
The Long Tom Wetland Mitigation Bank near Junction City, Ore., will create 23.39 acres, restore 3.41 acres and enhance 77.77 acres of wetlands, and restore or preserve 30.66 acres of other habitat within the bank area. The bank will generate up to 60 wetland credits.
Maps of the bank service area and contact information for the sponsors are available on the DSL Web site at http://oregon.gov/dsl/permits/mitbank_status.shtml.
Mitigation banks are large sites on which corporations, individuals, and public and private organizations work with regulatory agencies to create, enhance, protect or restore wetlands and other aquatic resources as mitigation for the impacts of future development.
Developers whose projects will impact wetlands can buy credits from the bank commensurate to the impacts rather than independently create smaller, scattered restoration projects.
Consolidating mitigation projects in wetlands mitigation banks is a way to encourage greater diversity of habitat and wetland functions and create more sustainable ecological systems.
The U.S Army Corps of Engineers protects wetlands under authority of Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.