April News: Updates to Mitigation Ratio Determination and Mitigation Endowments
Two significant updates have been made to the Army Corps of Engineers’ mitigation program: one governing mitigation ratios, and the other affecting mitigation endowments. The most notable change strengthens the emphasis on mitigation and impact quality, which will be the greatest determining factor in your project mitigation ratio. How the mitigation requirements change on particular projects is dependent upon the unique characteristics of impacts and mitigation – in some cases mitigation ratios will go down, in other cases ratios may go up. Some updates to the language of the mitigation endowment policy have also been made. Click a link below to read our full posts.
Also in this edition: Upcoming Events; Biofiltering and Water Quality, Pollinator Garden; New “Phase II” MS4 Stormwater Permit
Blog Post: SWRCB Adopts New Phase II MS4 Permit
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) adopted a new stormwater permit on February 5, 2013 regulating small entities that own or operate their own storm drain systems.
Blog Post: Biofilter at Boeing Santa Susana Site Improves Water Quality and Showcases Pollinator Garden
The biofilter system was developed in collaboration with a team of experts including Geosyntec Engineers, Wright Water Engineering, WRA and leaders in water quality from UCLA and other universities.
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 3: Bay Planning Coaliton Decision Makers Conference
The Bay Planning Coalition’s Decision Makers Conference brings together groups around the Bay Area to discuss Bay management, planning and permitting. It’s a great place to network in the industry and we are excited to attend. Click here to view details.
May 7-10: Nation Mitigation Ecosystem Banking Conference, New Orleans, LA
Visit our booth at the conference! Join WRA and other key supporters at the only national conference that brings together key players in the mitigation banking industry and offers quality hands-on sessions and important regulatory updates. Click here to view the conference agenda.
May 15-16: SERCAL Annual Conference, Santa Barbara, CA
SERCAL is an organization dedicated to the recovery of damaged California ecosystems through educational and networking activities, and WRA’s own Ingrid Morken will be speaking about our work on the Breuner Marsh restoration project. The talk will be on May 16th and will cover planning for sea rise in tidal marsh restoration projects.
May 16: Open Space Council Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA
The 14th annual Open Space Conference – Breaking Boundaries, Working Together – is coming up on May 16, 2013 in San Francisco’s Presidio. Visit WRA and Studio Renovo at our booth highlighting our open space and restoration projects. The keynote speaker will be Major General Anthony Jackson, the new Director of California State Parks. Registration is now open.
