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Community BasedWetland Mitigation and Watershed Planning Nolan Center, 10/17/11

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Objectives— Introduce the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition and what we do— Compensatory Mitigation for Losses of Aquatic Resources- 2008 Final Rule— Our work to support Wetland Management on the local level— Watershed Assessments and Planning for Mitigation

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Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition(SAWC) • Focuses on the watershedWe advocate on the local, state and • Uses science, local federal level for knowledge and research Community-based to inform decision-making Watershed • Emphasizes collaborative Management problem solving, and (CBWM) • Local citizens, institutions and organizations are the primary stakeholders

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Why Community-Based WatershedManagement? — The health of our communities and economies depend on the health of our watersheds. — The concerns of the community and the benefits derived from the opportunities within our watersheds should be central to natural resources and land management planning and decision making.

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How SAWC Supports CBWM in SEAK— Sharing knowledge and resources— Building economies of scale— Building a regional voice for Community Based Watershed Management

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Why is wetland mitigation management on the local, state and federal level important to us?— Watershed practitioners on the local level are mitigators.— The majority of the projects these groups develop and carry-out support the development of community-based mitigation priorities and/or are forms of mitigation

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Mitigation is Defined as: — The act of restoring, enhancing, creating, stewarding/ preserving prioritized and/or critical habitat in a watershed.

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Compensatory Mitigation-2008Federal Rule— Mitigation projects were not achieving functional lift of habitat and the nation was failing to reach its goal of “no net loss”— State to state and within states there were vast discrepancies in how wetland mitigation was being carried out

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What is the Intention of the New Rule? — Provided a standard “outlined” process for federal, state and local agencies to utilize in developing management strategies for wetland mitigation — Use of best available science — Predictability and efficient — Improves the planning, implementation and management of compensatory mitigation projects — Clarifies the Watershed Approach

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SAWC’S Role in Locally Based WetlandPlanning and ManagementCoordinating trainings on wetland mitigation processes for community professionals: — Wetland delineations — Watershed Planning— Developing a third-party mitigation program — Mitigation Banks — In-lieu Fee Programs — Ad hoc

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SAWC’S Role in Locally Based WetlandPlanning and Management— Working with communities to identify mitigation opportunities — Mitigation Programs — Mitigation Projects— Working with state and federal agencies to shape policy strategies that respond to the unique characteristics of SE communities

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Who/What Benefits from Wetland MitigationManagement and ProgramsCommunity Economy — Jobs— Developers — Less money, resources, time wasted— Landowners during permitting and constructing — Improve recreational/tourist sites— Local citizens — Mitigate important habitat for— Local governments commercial species — Flood prevention— Tribes — Water quality— Subsistence users — Subsistence

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Who/What benefits from wetland mitigationmanagement and programsWatersheds— Sustainable development: strategically planned development— Conservation and restoration — Water quality— Water quantity — Subsistence resources

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Questions or Comments?

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Juneau Watershed Partnership— Formed in 1998, local citizen and agency stakeholder group— Non-profit organization that works to promote sustainable use and community stewardship of Juneau’s watersheds— Raised over $1 million in grant and individual donations since 1998

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Objectives— Community Based Wetland Mitigation and Watershed Planning in Juneau— Benefits of Community Based Watershed Planning— Case Study: Auke Lake Watershed Assessment— Identifying and Prioritizing Restoration and Enhancement Activities for Mitigation

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Juneau’s Community Based WetlandMitigation and Watershed Management— Watershed Assessments and Management Plans— Community Events and Community Meetings— Support Local Restoration, Enhancement and Mitigation Trainings— Evaluating Past Restoration, Enhancement and Mitigation Projects (REM Report)— Prioritizing and Digitizing Restoration, Enhancement and Mitigation Opportunities. (REM Part 2)— Partnering with SAWC on regional efforts

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Benefits of Watershed Assessments— Engaging Community/ Stakeholders Proactively— Participation and Collaboration— Ecological/ Landscape Approach— Baseline “Snapshot of Time” = Documenting Existing Conditions— Framework for grant opportunities, planning priorities, mitigation

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Case Study- Auke Lake— Identified Problem— Recommendations for Sustainable Use and Development, Restoration and Enhancement— Agency, Landowners and Community Collaboration— Compile Existing Data to Inform Development

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First Steps— Identified Goals and — Assembled an Advisory Objectives Group— Key Stakeholders — Hosted meeting, - GIS maps, Outline, Past— Project Scope Research— Baseline Maps

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Project Partners— Municipalities — Non-Profits— US Forest Service — University of Alaska— AK Fish and Game — Wetland Review— AK DEC Board— NRCS — User Groups— Tribal Governments — Neighbors

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Components of a Watershed AssessmentWatershed Delineation Hydrology/ Hydrological and Description Function— Land Ownership — Contributing Water Sources— Land Use Planning — Rivers, Stream, Tribs, Lakes, Wetlands

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Components of a Watershed Assessment (Cont.)Water Quality Landforms/ Geology Habitat Conditions— Water Use Designations — Channel Alterations— Water Rights — Bank/Riparian Disturbances— Known Pollutants- Point Source — Fish Passage— Other Pollutants- Non-Point Source

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Components of a Watershed Assessment(Cont.)Fish and Fish Habitat Geology, Plants, Wildlife— Species Present — Invasive Plants— Seasonal Distribution — Wildlife Corridors and— Studies, Counts, Habitat Hatchery Stocking

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Components of a Watershed Assessment(Cont.)Cultural, Historical and Management, Recovery, Current Human Use Stewardship— Land Use/ — Goals and Action Development Items— Recreational/ — Restoration, Commercial Use Enhancement

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Community InvolvementNeighborhood Survey— Activities (Use), Values, Concerns, Suggestions for ChangeCommunity Meeting— Feedback on draft plan and maps— Concerns, Uses (Past and Present), Values

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Project Outcomes— Distributed to municipality, local agencies, community groups— Posted online on our Electronic Watershed Resource Library— Auke Lake Action Plan— Mitigation Planning

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Other Forms of Watershed Plans— Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)— Watershed Assessments— Watershed Management Plans— Watershed Conservation Plans— Watershed Action Plans— Wetland Function and Values Analysis— Comprehensive Plans

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Documenting and Prioritizing PotentialRestoration and Enhancement Projects— Geographic Footprint— Identifying Problems by Watershed— Landownership— Land Use Designations— Impacted/ Impaired Function— Expected Outcomes— Recommended Action

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Documenting and Prioritizing PotentialRestoration and Enhancement Projects— Agency, Landowner, Stakeholder, Tribal Entity, and Native Corporation Collaboration Opportunities— Constraints/ Complications— Budgets— Permits— Potential Partners

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Questions or Comments?alaskawatershedcoalition.org Thank you!