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Stream and Wetland Mitigation Bank (City)
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In 2004, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services successfully completed negotiations with State and Federal authorities to establish the City of Charlotte Stream and Wetland Mitigation Bank with the goal of restoration, enhancement, and preservation of stream and wetland systems.
Restoration projects constructed by Storm Water Services generate credits that can be used to offset impacts to streams and wetlands authorized by Clean Water Act permits. These credits are 'banked' for use later on City and County public projects that impact those resources.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services was the first utility to implement the mitigation banking concept for storm water utility work |
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Much of Storm Water Services' work involves customer-service-driven flood control efforts that includes unavoidable stream and wetland impacts. Projects with substantial impacts are required to mitigate the effects of those impacts by either restoring resources elsewhere or purchasing mitigation credits. Prior to the establishment of the Mitigation Bank, mitigation requirements were satisfied by purchasing credits from the State without regard for where the money will be spent. The Mitigation Bank allows mitigation dollars to remain local, so that the benefits of restoration projects are realized in Charlotte's watersheds. The Mitigation Bank also allows Charlotte to build restoration projects well in advance of impacts so public infrastructure project schedules are not affected by delays related to mitigation needs.
Recent Mitigation Bank Projects
These Storm Water Services projects have generated credits for the Mitigation Bank.
•Dairy and Sedgefield Branch Stream Restoration and Enhancement –Completed
•Edwards Branch Stream and Wetland Restoration Phase 1 & 2 – Completed
•Edwards Branch Stream and Wetland Restoration Phase 3 – Planning/Design Phase
These Storm Water Services projects have also generated mitigation credits under other agreements.
•Cyrus-Douglas Stream and Wetland Restoration – Under Construction
•Edsel Place Stream Restoration - Completed
•Hope Park Branch Stream Restoration – Completed
•Little Sugar Creek Wellingford Stream and Wetland Restoration - Completed
•Sedgefield Park Stream Restoration – Completed
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Credit Banking
For every linear foot of stream restoration or acre of restored/created wetland, credits are tallied and given a dollar value. To date the Mitigation Bank Review Team has approved approximately 2331 mitigation credits which translate to $540,792 of Mitigation Bank value at current prices.
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Wetlands created at the Hidden Valley project site on Wellingford St. mitigate unavoidable impacts to wetlands elsewhere.
Sale of Credits
In addition to utilizing banked credits to offset unavoidable Storm Water Services project impacts, the Mitigation Bank can also sell its credits to other local agencies to offset their impacts. The Mitigation Bank has provided credits to a number of City and County public projects, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Charlotte-Douglas International Airport and others.
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For more information, contact Jarrod Karl at 704-432-0966.
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