TES is proud of the fact that we have designed and
monitored the successful creation of high-quality mitigation wetlands.
We are clearly one of the leaders in the field of wetland creation and
restoration. Sometimes, however, outside factors can have a negative
impact on any well-designed and constructed wetland. Having the
opportunity to recognize and correct minor problems before they become
severe is crucial for a successful wetland mitigation project.
Wetland permitting agencies often require that
wetland creation projects be monitored during a 5-year period following
construction, to determine if mitigation goals have been achieved.
However, the agencies often only require detailed vegetation and
hydrology monitoring during 3 of the 5 years (for example, in Years 1, 2
and 5).
Developers can spend a great deal of money
constructing compensatory wetlands. If at the end of the 5-year
monitoring period the agencies feel the creation effort was not
successful, additional work may be required to meet mitigation goals.
Brief field reviews during intermediate years are
recommended by TES. One or two site visits during skip years can serve
to identify potential problems, so that corrective measures can be taken
to avoid more serious problems. The result is a created wetland that
meets the goals of the mitigation plan and satisfies agency
requirements.
