Section 404 wetland mitigation and permit success criteria in Pennsylvania,USA, 1986-1999 |
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Authors: | Cole Charles Andrew Shafer Deborah |
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Institution: | (1) Penn State University, Center for Watershed Stewardship, 227 East Calder Way, University Park, Pennsylvania 16801, USA, US;(2) US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180, USA, US |
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Abstract: | Twenty-three Section 404 permits in central Pennsylvania (covering a wetland age range of 1–14 years) were examined to determine
the type of mitigation wetland permitted, how the sites were built, and what success criteria were used for evaluation. Most
permits allowed for mitigation out-of-kind, either vegetatively or through hydrogeomorphic class. The mitigation process has
resulted in a shift from impacted wetlands dominated by woody species to less vegetated mitigation wetlands, a trend that
appears to be occurring nationwide. An estimate of the percent cover of emergent vegetation was the only success criterion
specified in the majority of permits. About 60% of the mitigation wetlands were judged as meeting their originally defined
success criteria, some after more than 10 years. The permit process appears to have resulted in a net gain of almost 0.05
ha of wetlands per mitigation project. However, due to the replacement of emergent, scrub–shrub, and forested wetlands with
open water ponds or uplands, mitigation practices probably led to a net loss of vegetated wetlands. |
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Keywords: | : Mitigation Pennsylvania Permits Section 404 Success criteria Wetland creation |
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