Deficiencies in wetland project planning, review and implementation

Abstract

General dissatisfaction with the outcome of many wetland mitigation projects pursuant to Clean Water Act §404 permitting has caused environmentalists, regulators, and proponents of development to press for better information to guide project planning, technical design, regulation, and construction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the priorities and practices of different participants in wetland creation and restoration in the Pacific Northwest. The research instrument was a survey, developed and conducted in 1988-89. The analysis focused on planners of wetland projects (usually, but not always, mitigation projects) and reviewers of wetland permit applications and mitigation plans, and resulted in four types of major findings: areas where particular participants are sometimes under-informed, new information not included in the literature, areas where different participants have conflicting ideas, and directions for further research. Several policy recommendations are aimed at improving the chances of achievement of wetland mitigation goals.