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A Mitigation ProgramA better way forward…Presented by: Renée LaCroix, Public Works DepartmentAnaliese Burns, Northwest Ecological Services(360) 778 – 7100 rlacroix@cob.org

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Presentation Outline• Background• What is Mitigation?• Why We Need Another Tool• Benefits of Mitigation Programs• Types of Mitigation Programs• How Do We Move Forward?

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Background• Protection of wetlands, streams, and

habitat areas are central to wise land use.– flood control – ground water recharge– water quality improvements– erosion control– recreation – education– habitat for commercially important species

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These critical are protected by local, state, and federal

• laws • regulations• policies

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What is Mitigation?• “Mitigation” means to lessen the

severity of an action.

• Development projects must “mitigate” impacts to– wetlands– streams– fish and wildlife

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• Mitigation Sequencing:1) avoid2) minimize3) rectify4) reduce5) compensate6) monitor

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• Compensate for impacts:– Permittee responsible mitigation

– Mitigation Programs (another tool!)

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Why We Need Another Tool• Lets go through an example

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Example:

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Watershed processes

Land use practices

Community goals

Mitigation Program

Mitigation Plan Mitigation

Projects

Permit Recipients

funds

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Benefits of Mitigation Programs• To developers, regulators, citizens…

– Increase mitigation success rate– More efficient use of funds– Reduce staff time spent on violations– Prioritize mitigation actions– Provide funding for needed improvements– Streamline permitting– Predictable with multi-agency buy-in– Sets Bellingham apart

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What Are Mitigation Programs?• Mitigation Banks• In-Lieu Fee Programs

West Eugene Wetlands Program

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Mitigation Banks• Private or government sponsored• Build and permit a large mitigation

project, THEN sell credits• For profit, credit price based on market• 100+ acres in size (single area)• Wetlands, streams, habitat, buffers

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In-Lieu Fee (ILF) Programs• Government or natural resource entity• Collect fees from impacts, THEN build

one or several mitigation projects• Not-for-profit, credit price set by

agencies• Smaller, separate projects• Wetlands, streams, habitat, buffers

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King County Mitigation Reserves Program

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Example:

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How Do We Move Forward?• Recommending an ILF Program

– Streamlines local, state, federal permitting– For public and private developers– Improves mitigation success– Requires only moderate upfront capital– Can be implemented within City limits

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– Suited to several smaller watersheds– Flexibility in locating future mitigation

sites– Capitalizes on City inventory and

prioritization efforts– Minimizes competition and risk– Can be scaled and implemented

according to demand

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• Approx. 5 – 10 years to start a program

• Bellingham’s inventory & prioritization already underway!!

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Questions?Renée LaCroix, Public Works DepartmentAnaliese Burns, Northwest Ecological Services(360) 778 – 7900 rlacroix@cob.org