Wildlands News

SWS Supports Mitigation Banking - January, 2005
Society of Wetland Scientists
issues paper supporting mitigation banking

The Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS), a non-profit membership organization of over 4,000 university professors, governmental regulators and environmental advocates, environmental engineers, and restoration consultants, has released a position paper supporting mitigation banking to improve mitigation success and contribute to the goal of no net loss of wetlands.

In the 2004 paper, titled "Wetland Mitigation Banking," the SWS recognized that the large-scale wetland restoration projects typical of mitigation banks provide ecological and regulatory benefits. Larger projects provide a more diverse variety of habitat types and their more extensive seed banks can make them more ecologically robust. They are also easier for regulatory agencies to monitor and verify.

The SWS also noted that the market value created by mitigation banking can motivate property owners and others to consider participating in wetland restoration activities.

The position paper is available on the SWS website. Additonal scientific studies supporting the high standards of mitigation banking are discussed in the National Academy of Sciences report "Compensating for Wetland Losses Under the Clean Water Act (2001)."

Central California Office Opens - December 2004
Wildlands opens regional office
in Visalia, California

Craig Bailey, regional manager of Wildlands' Central California Region, announces Wildlands' new office in the San Joaquin Valley.

The office is located at 208 W. Main Street, Suite U2, in Visalia, California, 93291. You may reach Craig and his staff at 559-625-7077.

Wildlands' Central California region includes properties in Tulare, San Luis Obispo, and Fresno Counties. Call for availability of mitigation for San Joaquin kit fox, valley elderberry longhorn beetle, vernal pool species, wetlands, and much more.

Archives:

Sacramento River Ranch - August 2004
Wildlands plans 3,600-acre habitat and
agricultural preserve in Yolo County, California

Sacramento River Ranch occupies over 3,600 acres at the confluence of the Sacramento and Feather Rivers. This expanse of cropland, orchards and riparian habitat is at the geographic center of the most productive agricultural areas and important wildlife corridors in the Sacramento Valley.

Wildlands, Inc. is dedicating the property to the preservation of agriculture and habitat. Poorly producing soils will be converted to wetlands and wildlife habitat, while the majority of the site will be preserved in agriculture.

"We're initiating crop upgrades and operational improvements on over two-thirds of the farmland," says Steve Morgan, Wildlands CEO. Wildlands emphasizes integrated agriculture and wildlife management and will make approximately 700 acres available for crops that provide high-quality foraging habitat for the threatened Swainson's hawk.

Other species to benefit from the Sacramento River Ranch preserve will include giant garter snakes, migratory waterfowl, valley elderberry longhorn beetles, and migratory fish such as Chinook salmon.

Wildlands in the news:
Placer firm plans mitigation venture in Yolo
July 26, 2004  Celia Lamb, Sacramento Business Journal

Washington Office Relocates - August 2004
Wildlands of Washington moves into
new office in Marysville, WA

Sky Miller, regional manager of Wildlands' Pacific Northwest Region, announces that Wildlands of Washington is moving into new offices in Marysville, about 30 miles north of Seattle.

The new office is located at 1800 4th Street, Suite A, Marysville, WA 98270. You can reach Sky and his staff at (360) 652-0247.

Wildlands of Washington's inaugural project, Nookachamps Wetland Mitigation Bank, is located adjacent to the Skagit River. The 267-acre bank provides compensatory mitigation credits for local impacts to stream and wetland habitats for projects in the lower Skagit Valley.