Removing Barriers to Wetland Restoration

1. Removing Barriers to Wetland Restoration Facilitating Wetland Restoration Permitting Gildo M. Tori – Ducks Unlimited HOW Conference 2010

2. CWA – protecting wetlands from destruction: avoidance, minimization, mitigation. Slowed wetland loss from 500,000/year pre-1970s to 80,000/year in 1990s. However, some unintended consequences in the southern Great Lakes watershed where many of our wetlands exist in intensively altered environments. Permitting – A Good Thing

3. Altered Wetlands • Many existing “wetlands” have been negatively impacted due to draining, tiling, ditching, pumping, and other watershed alterations. • Even though they make look like healthy wetlands, their hydrology has been impacted and they aren’t fully functional.

4. Restoration • Restoration seeks to restore hydrology to a close approximation of what may have occurred prior to alterations. In many cases, need structures like berms, water control structures, channels to restore hydrology.

5. Wetlands Dynamics 1991 1993 1994 1988 1995 1992 Hydrology – key to wetland productivity, diversity, form and function • Keep in mind that wetlands are highly dynamic: hydrology drives ecology: i.e. the type of wetland vegetation, productivity, wildlife benefits, other values. Annually!

6. The Problem • Current regulations treat altered wetlands as natural wetlands; so often you have to get a permit to do the hydrological restoration. NW 27 + state 401 at a minimum. Often, more complex. • This can add additional time, cost and at times can be frustrating. • Fixing this issue is recognized in the GLRC Restoration Strategy & state Great Lakes plans. • If we can improve the system, we can aid organizations/agencies in reaching lofty wetland restoration goals, save time, money and resources.

7. What To Do? • First, COE staff did a great job at the AOC conference discussing how to make current system work best. • Improve General Permits (NW 27 and state permits) to allow hydrological restoration of altered wetlands without extensive review. • Get regulators and implementers together to develop criteria to streamline the process while preventing abuse. - Project primary purpose is wetland restoration & results in a net gain of acres, function and/or quality. - Project is sponsored by federal or state agency that promotes wetland restoration as a primary mission. - Project contributes to the goals/objectives to a national, regional, state or local wetland restoration plan.

8. What’s Happening? • On a regional basis, the Great Lakes Habitat/Species Work Group, which includes the COE, FWS, EPA, NRCS, NOAA, states, NGOs, is working on providing some consistency, clarity and streamlining. • States are also working on issue: WI & MI • Need to ensure Regional efforts (NW 27 in 2012) and state efforts parallel each other.

9. Progress • WI – Led by WWA. Passed unanimously in both houses; signed by Gov in May. • Restorations sponsored by NRCS or FWS. • 15 day review period. • Currently working on administrative rules on details. • Should really speed up wetland restoration permits in the state.

10. Progress • In Michigan, new wetland law states that fixing the wetland restoration permitting issue is important. • Have tasked the Wetlands Advisory Council and Wetland Working Group to develop potential solutions. • In progress and making progress. • Again, NWP updates next year is prime opportunity to help streamline the process.

11. RESULTS!