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The Passing of a Legend: Les Alderman

The Passing of a Legend: Les Alderman   With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Leslie (Les) David Alderman Jr. (Fort Myers, Florida), who passed away on March 16, 2023 at the age of 78. Les was a pioneer for the protection of Panthers in Southwest Florida, and paved a way to restore thousands of acres for panther habitat. He was a sweet soul who always asked about the family! Last year, he discovered that he had a brain tumor; and the

Mitigation Banking Legislative Update – March 2023

Mitigation Banking Legislative Update – March 2023 HB 1167 has been filed; and a Senate companion to HB 1167 has been filed – SB 1702. This bill will allow FDEP or a water management district to release state credits from a mitigation bank before the banks mets the mitigation success criteria specified in the bank’s permit when   (a) mitigation credits are not available in sufficient quantities to be sold or used to offset imminent and otherwise allowable adverse impacts within a mitigation service

Mitigation Banking Made Easy: Why You Need a Credit Broker on Your Side

Mitigation Banking Made Easy: Why You Need a Credit Broker on Your Side   Mitigation credit sales brokers play a crucial role in the industry. They connect buyers and sellers, negotiate credit sales, and ensure compliance with regulations. Whether you’re a banker, a developer, or an investor, working with a sales broker can help you. They navigate the complex processes of buying and selling credits, and  buying, selling, or starting a mitigation bank. By utilizing their knowledge and expertise, you can save time

The Time it Takes for Restoration

The Time it Takes for Restoration In a new research report, the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) and the Ecological Restoration Business Association (ERBA) reveal persistent delays in the approval of a class of wetland and stream restoration projects called ‘mitigation banks.’ These delays hinder the availability of offsets for impacted waterways during the coming surge in infrastructure building.   Read the Report   Mitigation banks are large tracts of degraded lands restored under the Clean Water

Navigating Florida Land Use and Cover with FLUCCS Codes

Navigating Florida Land Use and Cover with FLUCCS Codes   The Florida Land Use and Cover Classification System (FLUCCS) is a comprehensive and standardized system for classifying and mapping the land use and cover of the state of Florida. Developed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), FLUCCS provides a framework for understanding the distribution and patterns of land use and cover across the state, and serves as an important tool for managing and conserving Florida’s natural resources.   What is

UMAM and WRAP Scoring Guidance

UMAM and WRAP Scoring Guidance What are the determining factors to find out the quality of a wetland? UMAM SCORING GUIDANCE: THE SCORING OF EACH INDICATOR IS BASED ON WHAT WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR THE TYPE OF WETLAND OR SURFACE WATER ASSESSED Optimal (10) Condition is optimal and fully supports wetland/surface water functions Moderate (7) Condition is less than optimal, but sufficient to maintain most wetland/surface water functions Minimal (4) Minimal level of support of wetland/surface water functions Not Present (0) Condition is insufficient to provide wetland/surface water functions

Get the Lowdown on Credit Types and Mitigation Credit Classifications 

Get the Lowdown on Credit Types and Mitigation Credit Classifications    Mitigation credit types refer to the type of mitigation being used, while credit classifications refer to the level of ecological value and function provided by the mitigation site. Together, these concepts help to ensure that mitigation credits are used in a way that effectively offsets the impacts of a project while also protecting and enhancing the environment. These classifications bridge the gap between the scientific and regulatory world.

A Review of Compensatory Mitigation in Estuarine and Marine Habitats

A Review of Compensatory Mitigation in Estuarine and Marine Habitats   We are excited to share that the report has been published on EPA’s website. Desk statement: EPA developed “A Review of Compensatory Mitigation in Estuarine and Marine Habitats” to inform regulators, mitigation providers and the public about compensatory mitigation in estuarine and marine settings. The report explores four habitats: shallow water, seagrass, oysters, and tidal flats (mudflats); it describes each of the habitats’ importance and provides examples of mitigation and

Mitigation Credits Ratio/Wrap Methodology

Mitigation Credits Ratio/Wrap Methodology How do I assess how many mitigation credits I need with a RATIO methodology from a mitigation bank? Prior to 2005; mitigation banks were permitted with RATIO credits from the 5 Water Management Districts and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; and E-WRAP, M-WRAP or WRAP Credits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Therefore, these mitigation banks that were permitted from 1996-2004 are assessed via RATIO; and are considered grandfathered in. Therefore, some of the new environmental consultants

Women in Conservation: Victoria Bruce!

Women in Conservation: Victoria Bruce! Clearview Geographic /clearviewgeographic.com/ — To help celebrate Women’s History Month, we wanted to highlight someone for her work in wetland mitigation for Florida: Victoria Bruce! Her company, The Mitigation Banking Group, generates conservation credits for wetland mitigation, helping to environmental efforts to reduce impacts for the past five years. We wanted to know more about Victoria, so we asked her a few questions: How did you