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The creation of fish rearing and over wintering habitat on Harris Creek was part of a WSDOT wetland mitigation effort near Carnation, Washington.
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All WSDOT projects with the potential to adversely affect wetlands are evaluated by biologists who assess possible impacts and provide guidance to design teams. The evaluation includes a determination of each wetland's classification, characteristics, quality, and functions. Wetland boundaries are delineated and surveyed when they are close to or overlap with project work areas. The surveyed wetland boundaries are included on the plans for the project. Wetlands are delineated using the Washington State Wetlands Identification and Delineation Manual. The wetland delineation method uses a three-parameter approach, examining soils, hydrology and vegetation. Upon completion of the field review, a wetland report is prepared for each project, documenting the information gathered on wetlands in the project area, and summarizing the nature and extent of project impacts.
The department's design professionals follow strict protocols requiring avoidance of all wetland impacts or, where avoidance is not practicable, minimization to the greatest extent practicable. Special emphasis is placed on avoiding impacts to high-quality wetlands, including those wetlands with known or potential salmonid support functions.
When the objectives of a transportation project cannot be met without adverse impacts to wetlands, Wetland mitigation at WSDOT (pdf 151 kb) involves the preparation of a wetland mitigation plan detailing how lost wetland functions will be compensated. Subsequently, wetland mitigation plans are submitted to one or more regulatory agencies, typically the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers , Washington Department of Ecology and local governments, for their review and permit approval. Even when the impacts are so small as to fall below regulatory thresholds, the department follows a "no-net-loss" directive requiring compensatory mitigation for any wetland loss.
WSDOT provides compensation for wetland impacts by restoring, enhancing, and/or creating wetlands. These mitigation projects are monitored to ensure their successful establishment. Monitoring may involve conducting vegetation surveys, assessing wetland hydrology, soil, and/or other habitat components specified by individual mitigation plans. Compliance monitoring of these compensatory mitigation efforts, and provision of internal feedback comprise the two-fold mission of WSDOT monitoring efforts.
Compliance monitoring provides a means for tracking the development of all WSDOT mitigation projects over time, and for determining compliance with permits issued by federal, state, local, or tribal jurisdictions.
Monitoring staff also provide important internal feedback. By reporting on the development of mitigation projects, monitoring results provide an essential link in the internal adaptive management process, empowering regional WSDOT environmental managers to make sound decisions regarding present and future mitigation projects.
Monitoring begins the first year after planting of a mitigation site and continues annually for what is typically a period of 5 to 10 years. WSDOT biologists conduct monitoring activities from May to September with the help of graduate students and upper level undergraduates enrolled in an eleven week internship entitled Wetland Ecology and Monitoring Techniques. WSDOT wetland monitoring methods (pdf 90 kb) are used to collect data on vegetation, wildlife, benthic-macroinvertebrates, soil, and water, and a photographic record is kept of each site. Monitoring reports are completed annually and submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington State Department of Ecology, and other appropriate state and federal resource agencies and local governments.
In partnership with the The Evergreen State College (TESC), we offer a summer internship entitled Wetland Ecology and Monitoring Techniques. Graduate and undergraduate students from a variety of academic and experiential backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Information regarding the internship is now available. You may also contact Tony Bush (busht@wsdot.wa.gov) for information via e-mail or phone.
For more detailed information on how WSDOT adresses wetlands on projects, please visit WSDOT Wetland Guidelines, technical guidance on wetland issues for WSDOT staff and consultants. The Guidelines offers:
- A central location to access the latest technical tools, templates, and information regarding regulations, delineation and assessment, mitigation, construction, monitoring, and site management of wetlands.
- Consistency across WSDOT regions and modes.
Related Wetland Publications