Section 350.07. Site crediting.

 

(1)  The total number of acres of credit at a compensation site or mitigation bank site shall be calculated by the department based on information provided in the compensation site plan pursuant to s. NR 350.08 .

(2)  The location of wetland boundaries for use in calculating acreage of wetland at a compensation site shall be made consistent with s. NR 103.08 (1m) .

(3)  Credit for restoration shall be one credit acre for every one acre restored.

(4)  Credit for enhancement can range from no credit to one credit acre for every acre of wetland enhanced. The appropriate amount of credit shall be determined by the department based on a comparison of the functional values of the current condition of the site and the projected functional values of the completed compensation site. Proposed management activities on pre-existing, fully functioning wetlands will typically receive no credit. Re-establishment of historic hydrology, land contours and plant communities on substantially degraded wetland sites will typically receive higher credit. In some cases, intensive management activities based on an approved plan and backed with financial assurances that the work will be conducted, may receive credit. Proposed activities that result in conversion of one wetland type to another wetland type will generally not be given credit unless there is a demonstrated value in doing so.

(5)  Creation shall only be allowed if the department determines that the planned creation will provide significant wetland functional values. Because of the greater difficulty, poorer track record and the longer time scale involved in the development of wetland functions for wetland creation projects, any creation accepted by the department for project-specific compensation shall receive one-half credit acre for each acre of wetland created, unless the applicant can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department that the circumstances warrant greater credit.

(6)  Credit for establishment of an adequate zone of vegetated upland, as required in s. NR 350.05 (5) , shall be one credit acre for every 10 acres of adjacent vegetated upland. Restoration efforts on adjacent uplands that provide additional ecological functions to the site, beyond filtering run-off, may receive one acre of credit for every 4 acres of adjacent upland restored.

(7)  Wetland-like projects used primarily as stormwater or wastewater treatment facilities, including features covered by s. NR 103.06 (4) , will not receive credit as mitigation projects.

History: CR 00-164 : cr. Register January 2002 No. 553 , eff. 2-1-02.