Community Based Wetland Mitigation and

Watershed Planning Nolan Center, 10/17/11

Objectives

�  Introduce the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition and what we do

�  Compensatory Mitigation for Losses of Aquatic Resources- 2008 Final Rule

�  Our work to support Wetland Management on the local level

�  Watershed Assessments and Planning for Mitigation

Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition (SAWC)

We advocate on the local, state and federal level for Community-based Watershed Management (CBWM)

•  Focuses on the watershed

•  Uses science, local knowledge and research to inform decision-making

•  Emphasizes collaborative problem solving, and

•  Local citizens, institutions and organizations are the primary stakeholders

Why Community-Based Watershed Management?

�  The health of our communities and economies depend on the health of our watersheds.

�  The concerns of the community and the benefits derived from the opportunities within our watersheds should be central to natural resources and land management planning and decision making.

How SAWC Supports CBWM in SEAK

� Sharing knowledge and resources

� Building economies of scale

� Building a regional voice for Community Based Watershed Management

Why is wetland mitigation management on the local, state and federal level important to us?

�  Watershed practitioners on the local level are mitigators.

�  The majority of the projects these groups develop and carry-out support the development of community-based mitigation priorities and/or are forms of mitigation

Mitigation is Defined as:

� The act of restoring, enhancing, creating, stewarding/preserving prioritized and/or critical habitat in a watershed.

Compensatory Mitigation-2008 Federal Rule

� Mitigation projects were not achieving functional lift of habitat and the nation was failing to reach its goal of “no net loss”

� State to state and within states there were vast discrepancies in how wetland mitigation was being carried out

What is the Intention of the New Rule?

�  Provided a standard “outlined” process for federal, state and local agencies to utilize in developing management strategies for wetland mitigation

�  Use of best available science �  Predictability and efficient �  Improves the planning, implementation and

management of compensatory mitigation projects

�  Clarifies the Watershed Approach

SAWC’S Role in Locally Based Wetland Planning and Management

Coordinating trainings on wetland mitigation processes for community professionals: �  Wetland delineations �  Watershed Planning

�  Developing a third-party mitigation program �  Mitigation Banks �  In-lieu Fee Programs �  Ad hoc

�  Working with communities to identify mitigation opportunities �  Mitigation Programs �  Mitigation Projects

�  Working with state and federal agencies to shape policy strategies that respond to the unique characteristics of SE communities

SAWC’S Role in Locally Based Wetland Planning and Management

Who/What Benefits from Wetland Mitigation Management and Programs

Community

� Developers

� Landowners  

� Local citizens  

� Local governments  

� Tribes  

�  Subsistence users 

Economy

�  Jobs

�  Less money, resources, time wasted during permitting and constructing

�  Improve recreational/tourist sites

�   Mitigate important habitat for commercial species

�   Flood prevention

�  Water quality

�    Subsistence

Watersheds �  Sustainable development:

strategically planned

development

�  Conservation and restoration  

�  Water quality

�  Water quantity  

�  Subsistence resources 

Who/What benefits from wetland mitigation management and programs

Questions or Comments?

Juneau Watershed Partnership

�  Formed in 1998, local citizen and agency stakeholder group

�  Non-profit organization that works to promote sustainable use and community stewardship of Juneau’s watersheds

�  Raised over $1 million in grant and individual donations since 1998

Objectives

�  Community Based Wetland Mitigation and Watershed Planning in Juneau

�  Benefits of Community Based Watershed Planning

�  Case Study: Auke Lake Watershed Assessment

�  Identifying and Prioritizing Restoration and Enhancement Activities for Mitigation

Juneau’s Community Based Wetland Mitigation and Watershed Management

�  Watershed Assessments and Management Plans

�  Community Events and Community Meetings

�  Support Local Restoration, Enhancement and Mitigation Trainings

�  Evaluating Past Restoration, Enhancement and Mitigation Projects (REM Report)

�  Prioritizing and Digitizing Restoration, Enhancement and Mitigation Opportunities. (REM Part 2)

�  Partnering with SAWC on regional efforts

Benefits of Watershed Assessments

�  Engaging Community/ Stakeholders Proactively

�  Participation and Collaboration

�  Ecological/ Landscape Approach

�  Baseline “Snapshot of Time” = Documenting Existing Conditions

�  Framework for grant opportunities, planning priorities, mitigation

Case Study- Auke Lake

�  Identified Problem

�  Recommendations for Sustainable Use and Development, Restoration and Enhancement

�  Agency, Landowners and Community Collaboration

�  Compile Existing Data to Inform Development

First Steps

�  Identified Goals and Objectives

�  Key Stakeholders

�  Project Scope

�  Baseline Maps

�  Assembled an Advisory Group

�  Hosted meeting, - GIS maps, Outline, Past Research

Project Partners

� Municipalities

� US Forest Service

� AK Fish and Game

� AK DEC

� NRCS

� Tribal Governments

� Non-Profits

� University of Alaska

� Wetland Review Board

� User Groups

� Neighbors

Components of a Watershed Assessment

Hydrology/ Hydrological Function

�  Contributing Water Sources

�  Rivers, Stream, Tribs, Lakes, Wetlands

Watershed Delineation and Description

�  Land Ownership

�  Land Use Planning

Water Quality

�  Water Use Designations

�  Water Rights

�  Known Pollutants- Point Source

�  Other Pollutants- Non-Point Source

Landforms/ Geology Habitat Conditions

�  Channel Alterations

�  Bank/Riparian Disturbances

�  Fish Passage

Components of a Watershed Assessment (Cont.)

Fish and Fish Habitat

�  Species Present

�  Seasonal Distribution

�  Studies, Counts, Hatchery Stocking

Geology, Plants, Wildlife

�  Invasive Plants

�  Wildlife Corridors and Habitat

Components of a Watershed Assessment (Cont.)

Cultural, Historical and Current Human Use

�  Land Use/ Development

�  Recreational/ Commercial Use

Management, Recovery, Stewardship

�  Goals and Action Items

�  Restoration, Enhancement

Components of a Watershed Assessment (Cont.)

Community Involvement

Neighborhood Survey

�  Activities (Use), Values, Concerns, Suggestions for Change

Community Meeting

�  Feedback on draft plan and maps

�  Concerns, Uses (Past and Present), Values

Project Outcomes

�  Distributed to municipality, local agencies, community groups

�  Posted online on our Electronic Watershed Resource Library

�  Auke Lake Action Plan

�  Mitigation Planning

Other Forms of Watershed Plans

�  Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)

�  Watershed Assessments

�  Watershed Management Plans

�  Watershed Conservation Plans

�  Watershed Action Plans

�  Wetland Function and Values Analysis

�  Comprehensive Plans

Documenting and Prioritizing Potential Restoration and Enhancement Projects �  Geographic Footprint

�  Identifying Problems by Watershed

�  Landownership

�  Land Use Designations

�  Impacted/ Impaired Function

�  Expected Outcomes

�  Recommended Action

�  Agency, Landowner, Stakeholder, Tribal Entity, and Native Corporation Collaboration Opportunities

�  Constraints/ Complications

�  Budgets

�  Permits

�  Potential Partners

Documenting and Prioritizing Potential Restoration and Enhancement Projects

Questions or Comments?

alaskawatershedcoalition.org Thank you!