Wetland Bank Invests in Clark County Habitat

Wetland Bank Invests in Clark County Habitat

Five years in the making, about 154 acres of wetlands on Port of Vancouver property is helping balance development with restored habitat.  The port, working with Habitat Banc NW, a company that restores and prepares wetlands as mitigation for future development, identified portions of a former farm in the Vancouver lowlands that could be restored into high-quality habitat, with access to ample water. This week the first pieces or credits of habitat for wetland mitigation from the Columbia River Wetland Mitigation Bank were released for sale to developers, agencies and other customers.

Habitat Banc NW sold the first wetland credits to the City of Vancouver for wetland impacts associated with a roadway project near 192nd. BNSF Railroad has contracted to purchase credits to complete rail improvements in Longview, and the port plans to use credits to mitigate wetland impacts associated with the West Vancouver Freight Access rail project, construction of a Clark Public Utilities substation that will help power the port’s new Terminal 5 and construction of new cargo space near Terminal 3. “Wetland banks are a highly effective way to preserve valuable habitat and ensure responsible development by restoring healthy wetlands before you begin construction,” said Patty Boyden, Port of Vancouver environmental services director.

The port has worked with Habitat Banc NW to develop a pro-active approach to compensating for lost wetland habitat resulting from port and other regional development. The partnership saves both time and money to meet its mitigation requirements, while providing a funding source to maintain the wetland from sales of mitigation credits. Wetland banks are required to restore and repair wetlands before development has occurred, to ensure the habitat is functional and in place. The wetland bank at the Port of Vancouver can be used to offset development in an area which extends along the Columbia River between Bonneville Dam and the City of Longview.

Federal, state and local agencies approved the Columbia River Wetland Mitigation Bank in 2010 and oversee the release of wetland credits to compensate for specific development. Habitat Banc NW is a Washington firm that specializes in wetland mitigation bank development. Wetlands are protected by local, state and federal laws because they provide significant functions and values such as flood protection, wildlife habitat, and open space.

About the Port of Vancouver USA

The Port of Vancouver USA, created by Clark County taxpayers in 1912, is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast. Its competitive strengths include available land, versatile cargo handling capabilities, vast transportation networks, a dependable labor force and an exceptional level of service to its customers and community. For more information, please visit us at www.portvanusa.com.