L. Heggemann, S. McMillin, R.Darden 1
In 1994 the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Missouri attempted a new approach in the mitigation of small farmed wetlands. The objective of the project was to group several mitigation sites into a single offsite location to increase the resulting wetland benefits. The project was located in Southeast Missouri because of continued requests to mitigate farmed wetlands to improve irrigation systems. All past wetland mitigations were limited to both the onsite location and the size of the proposed conversion sites. The restored wetlands replaced the lost biological and hydrological functions, but often because of location and size were limited in providing enhanced wetland values. The results were still small, isolated wetlands limited in potential and vulnerable to adjacent land manipulations. This project investigated whether grouping these small sites would enhance the functions and values of wetland mitigations by increasing both their size and diversity. In addition, the removal of ownership constraints in the selection of mitigation sites was explored to see if better locations offsite could be considered for restoration.
This pilot involved six farm ownerships with six different proposed conversion sites totalling 22.8 acres. Participating owners collectively provided the funds for the purchase and development of a mitigation site on a prorated basis. The Butler County Soil and Water Conservation District played a unique role by handling the transition of funds to acquire the land and implement the restoration plan. The selected mitigation site was comprised of 38.0 acres (22.8 acres of prior converted wetland and 15.2 acres of wooded wetland). Assistance in site selection and development included involvement by the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Restoration of the site was completed in October of 1994. Because this approach increases the potential benefits when mitigating small agricultural wetlands and, at the same time, addresses the needs of agricultural producers it will see increased use in future wetland mitigation projects.
