Northeast Minnesota Wetland Mitigation Inventory & Assessment Dale Krystosek & Aaron Spence

1. Northeast Minnesota Wetland Mitigation Inventory & Assessment Dale Krystosek & Aaron Spence Minnesota Wetlands Conference January 18, 2012

2. Background • Local Government unit concerns over changing regulations in 2005 spurred discussions. • BWSR convened meetings in 2005 with federal, state, and local government and private interests. • Projected impacts in region – 600 acres/year • Few traditional wetland mitigation opportunities in NE Minnesota

3. NE Minn. Sector Mitigation Needs

4. 2007: Only 65 acres of Wetland bank credit available in NE • Annual Demand • ~500 acres • Annual Deficit • ~435 acres

5. NE MN Wetland Mgmt. Strategy • Completed in December 2006. • Project led by BWSR with many partner organizations. • 6 Recommendations • Conduct Inventory of wetland mitigation opportunities in NE/NC

6. 2007 Legislative Appropriation $375,000 appropriation to: • Inventory and compile known and potential wetland mitigation opportunities within NE MN. • Conduct a region-wide mitigation siting analysis based on the mitigation inventory.

7. Study Area: • 18 Counties with >80% pre-settlement wetlands • Strategy also emphasized watershed management approach

8. Project Purpose • Collect and analyze data on the wetland mitigation potential in northeast Minnesota. • Objectively evaluate this data to determine the ability of the region to accommodate wetland mitigation needs. • Develop wetland regulatory recommendations.

9. Project Development • Barr Engineering and Community GIS awarded contract in March 2008. • Project divided into two phases: • Phase I: Wetland Mitigation Inventory. • Phase II: Wetland Mitigation Siting Analysis. • Project Completed in February 2010

10. Phase I Inventory Results • 17 of 18 Counties field evaluated • 13% of sites high credit potential • 11-61% of evaluated sites expressed landowner interest or uncertainty • 50% of potential on farmed wetlands (limited credit potential) • 98% of total acres qualify for only partial credit (12.5% to 75%)

11. Phase I: Potential Wetland Credits

12. Phase II Goals & Objectives • Evaluate Phase I inventory results • Farmed wetlands • Partially drained wetlands • Develop a GIS tool • facilitate regulatory process & improve resource planning • Evaluate Sector mitigation planning implications • Evaluate the need for wetland banking • Evaluate the practical challenges with wetland mitigation planning • Identify research needs

13. Phase II Prioritization Factors • Wetland Mitigation Method • Land Ownership • Water Quality/Impaired Waters • Technical Feasibility • Watershed/County Location • Site Size

14. Potential Credits Based on GIS Analysis Farmed wetlands = 68,000 acres Drained Wetlands = 18,000 acres Partially drained wetlands = 28,000 ac. (60% on public land)

15. Credits by Mitigation Method High Potential Areas (44,950 ac)Field verification results applied – 13% High Potential Restoration of Drained Wetlands = 2,400 acres 95% of Opportunities are EXISTING WETLANDS Restoration of Farmed Wetlands = 9,000 acres Restoration of PARTIALLY DRAINED Wetlands = 27,900 acres

16. Credits by Method, High Potential & Landowner Interest

17. NE MINNES0TA WETLAND MITIGATION: PROJECT LAND AREA = 21,910,000 acres CURRENT WETLANDS = 7,239,000 acres • FINAL FILTERS: • Technical Evaluation Panel • Federal Agencies • Local Government Unit decision NE INVENTORY: TECHNICALLY FEASABLE MITIGATION CREDITS = 44,950 acres LIKELY CREDITS (factoring in landowner interest) = 4,950 – 27,400 acres (1/10th of 1% of land area)

18. Project Recommendations: • Develop Northeast Minnesota Interagency Wetland Mitigation Committee • Develop Northeast Regional Mitigation Cooperative • Promote watershed based wetland planning • Develop Northeast Wetland Mitigation Registry • Develop BWSR programs to assist wetland mitigation in northeast Minnesota

19. 1. Develop Northeast Minnesota Interagency Wetland Mitigation Committee • Establish guidelines for consistent siting requirements • Develop wetland mitigation priorities • Develop guidance documents (partially drained, technical feasibility, etc) • Evaluate mitigation opportunities on public land • Evaluate opportunities related to impaired waters

20. 2. Develop Northeast Minnesota Regional Wetland Mitigation Cooperative • Identify potential sponsors for cooperative • Seek start up funding (preliminary estimate of $750,000) • C. Develop mitigation based on priorities: • Watershed needs based on historic losses • Wetland impact types • Water quality protection and improvement needs • D. Utilize NE interagency team to guide projects funded under the cooperative

21. Next Steps • Applied for and received funding from Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for: • Northeast Minnesota White Cedar Plant Community Restoration Project • Project will develop 4 northern white cedar plant community restoration demonstration projects • Provide training on white cedar management and restoration for land managers

24. Current Status • Website is currently being upgraded to newest version of ArcGIS Server software • Users visiting the web page will currently receive an “Under Construction” message • Check back in March for updated website

25. MAPS.BWSR.STATE.MN.US

35. Add Field Checked Data Here - Contact BWSR for login info

37. Current Status • Website is currently being upgraded to newest version of ArcGIS Server software • Users visiting the web page will currently receive an “Under Construction” message • Check back in March for updated website

38. Contacts • Please contact Aaron Spence to: • Acquire a shapefile of all potential wetland mitigation sites • Get username and password to enter field checked data for a potential mitigation site • Other questions about the web map interface or GIS data • aaron.spence@state.mn.us • 651-296-0660