Sheridan County, ND – Wetland Mitigation Banking

CHALLENGE

Road construction and improvement projects that impact wetlands typically require mitigation to offset these impacts. The inventory of available mitigation credits fluctuates which can lead to road improvement projects being delayed.

SOLUTION

Moore conducted a desktop review using available information in GIS to identify potentially restorable wetlands that had been drained for agricultural production in the targeted areas where NDDOT identified a need for credits. For sites that were identified to have good potential credit yield was estimated, and potential project constraints were evaluated and discussed with NDDOT staff. Moore and NDDOT staff communicated with landowners of the most favorable potential sites and eventually developed an agreement to establish a wetland bank on a site in Sheridan County, ND. Field investigations and surveys were conducted to assess existing conditions and collect information needed to prepare mitigation plans and develop construction plans to restore wetlands according to United States Army Corps (USACE) requirements. Moore completed the mitigation plan and construction plans and submitted plans for regulatory review and approval.

OUTCOME

The mitigation plan was approved by the North Dakota Interagency Review Team and USACE in July 2024. Construction is proposed to be completed to restore more than 50-acres of historic wetland and almost 20 acres of upland prairie yielding more than 55 wetland mitigation credits to be used on future NDDOT road improvement projects. The establishment of the mitigation bank site will provide wildlife habitat, flood storage, water quality improvements, and enhancement of wetland functions.