MIDDLE SOUTH PLATTE RIVER WETLANDS MITIGATION BANK

About the Middle South Platte River
Wetlands Mitigation Bank

In 1999, local landowners and their partner created a wetland and prairie park located 2 miles west of Interstate 25, on Colorado Highway 52, on David and Nicole Yardley’s property. Many local residents know this property as the previous RainBaa Farm sheep operation. The Yardleys’ partner in the project is Land and Water Resources, Inc., of Chicago, whose principal is John Ryan. Mr. Ryan is the past president of the National Mitigation Banking Association, was among the very first in the nation to create wetland mitigation banks, and has constructed more wetland mitigation banks than any other banker.

The intent of the project was to restore to wetlands and prairies lands that were historically there, converted and used for agricultural crop production for 100 years or more. The motivation was driven by the vision of the landowners to restore wildlife habitat, and to improve downstream water quality of water from the Lower Boulder Ditch (which draws water from and returns water to Boulder Creek) used for restoration and support of the native vegetation. The restoration was permitted as a wetland mitigation bank, wherein developers, highway departments and others who received permits to impact wetlands in other locations, are allowed to purchase what are known as “wetland mitigation credits” from the bank. The 85+ acre project site includes nearly 56 acres of various wetland types and more than 26 acres of upland prairies, providing approximately 63 acres of wetland mitigation credit.

The bank was constructed and planted in 1999 with a variety of native species and a number of other native species have appeared through naturally occurring seed banks. The site now contains more than 120 species of native rushes, grasses, wildflowers and other plants that would have been present on the land prior to the conversion to agricultural uses. A list of native species found at the bank during the 2001 growing season is displayed elsewhere in this site.

Applied Ecological Services, Inc. (AES), an ecological consulting and contracting firm, was a subcontractor to LAWR on this and several other wetland banking projects. AES assisted the partnership with site design and permitting. AES also performed seeding, planting, monitoring and maintenance services for the bank.

The water rights used to support the Middle South Platte River Wetlands include the senior-most rights on the Front Range, dating from 1859 and 1870. This seniority is especially important in dry periods, such as we experienced in recent years.

The property has become a wildlife haven. Ducks, geese, shorebirds, and a myriad of other life, such as frogs, dragonflies and muskrats are regularly viewable. Bird surveys identified more than 85 different species and the concentration and diversity have only increased, with many using the site as a breeding ground. The bird species sighted include those in the list that is displayed elsewhere in this site.

As the first commercial wetland mitigation bank in the Omaha district of the Corps of Engineers, the Middle South Platte River Wetland Mitigation Bank provides a significant asset to meet the environmental needs of a rapidly growing metropolitan area. As development continues to expand, so does demand for infrastructure, transportation, drainage, and community development. Unavoidable wetland impacts frequently are a necessary consequence of growth. Our wetland mitigation bank facilitates the needs of the development community by offering wetland mitigation credits to assist in meeting project objectives expeditiously, cost effectively, and with absolute confidence in meeting the requirements of the permitting process.

Prior to construction, the plans for the Middle South Platte River Wetland Mitigation Bank underwent extensive review by federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and the Colorado State Engineer. In May 1999, the Bank was approved by the regulatory agencies to sell wetland mitigation credits. In early 2003, the agencies awarded full certification to the Bank, based on monitoring reports filed after each of the first three full growing seasons and a final delineation over-seen by the Corps of Engineers in the fall of 2002.

At the present, the Bank is privately owned and operated. Currently, there are no constructed overlooks or trails, but uplands around the wetland have been designed to integrate these in the future, if desired. Prior to construction of their project, the Bank's owners approached the Town of Erie about the Town's interest in eventually owning and assuming responsibility for the park. Erie expressed an affirmative desire to become involved in this project at that time and became a signatory to the project's charter with Federal agencies. Since the site's development, another nearby town that is in the process of annexing to the banks border has become interested in owning and managing the park.

The towns' interests include the following considerations:

• Creation of educational opportunities concerning the functions and ecological values of wetlands for the community's citizens, especially school children;
• Acquisition of public open space;
• Providing publicly accessible passive recreational opportunities; and
• Possible integration of the park into water management programs.

All photos were taken at the Middle South Platte River Mitigation Bank. All text and photos, except where noted, © 2008 Middle South Platte River Mitigation Bank.