Wetland Mitigation Banking Clean Water Act Section 404
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
In the 1960’s the Federal Government encouraged land drainage and wetland destruction
In 1970’s, increasing awareness that wetlands are valuable areas that provide important environmental functions.
In 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was implemented to govern environment protection standards
In 1972, The Clean Water Act was established to ADDRESS Water quality standards of:
WATER POLLUTION
Eliminating discharge of untreated wastewater
Section 404 of CWA
Requires a permit before impacts are made to a waterbody, including wetlands.
AVOID AND MINIMIZE THE IMPACT
& PROVIDE COMPENSATORY MITIGATION FOR UNAVOIDABLE IMPACTS
Federal effort to restore wetlands
