The Washington Department of Ecology has extended its highest honor to both Snohomish County, Wash., and Paine Field Airport Deputy Director Bill Lewallen for innovation and leadership in successfully completing the first fully accredited wetland mitigation bank in the state.

State and federal laws prohibit the loss of most wetlands due to development. A wetland bank is a pre-existing wetland restoration project. Projects that must offset wetland losses may purchase credits at a wetland bank in the same watershed—subject to regulatory approval. Wetland bank credits represent portions of completed restoration projects.

"Paine Field's wetland mitigation bank is a monumental achievement," said Ecology Northwest Regional Office Director Jeannie Summerhays. "This is the first wetland bank in Washington to be accredited at all levels—local, state and federal."

Summerhays praised Lewallen for his innovative work and leadership to bring the project to fruition.

"Bill's foresight and stewardship was instrumental to the success of the project," she said. "He knew that wetland mitigation projects only work about half the time. The Paine Field wetland bank works so well because it puts successful solutions in place before any mitigation is needed."

The Narbeck Wetland Sanctuary has an open water habitat that attracts waterfowl and is now part of the wetland mitigation bank.

Ecology's Environmental Excellence Awards are reserved for individuals, businesses and organizations that have shown leadership, innovation or extraordinary service in protecting, improving or cleaning up the environment.

The project is made up of 60 acres of restored wetland. Future county airport projects can tap into the bank's credits to offset wetland losses that cannot be avoided.

Ten years ago, Snohomish County began developing a wetland mitigation bank with the help of the Department of Ecology, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Aviation Administration.

In April, regulatory agencies determined two wetland properties had matured enough to be made available for mitigation. Officials from each agency gathered Wednesday to celebrate the final approval.

"The future of wetland mitigation will look like the Paine Field bank," said Jay Manning, director of the Department of Ecology. "We can use this project as a model, applying the lessons learned from this banking approach to future projects throughout the state."

EPA approval is a must for any wetland mitigation bank, and Washington state's program is based on federal standards.

"Our region's wetlands and small streams are not only home to salmon and other threatened and endangered wildlife, but they also prevent flooding and protect us from storm damage" said Elin Miller, EPA's regional administrator in Seattle. "Our new wetland mitigation rule will help ensure ecological success, while providing greater consistency and predictability for property owners and developers."

The mitigation bank will be needed as development comes to Paine Field. Castle & Cooke Aviation Inc. is developing the first base for corporate jets at Paine Field, with plans to open the facility in 2009 in an attempt to attract the lucrative corporate jet market.

Source: Environment News Service