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WSDOT wetland monitoring crew |
Many wetland mitigation sites require post-construction monitoring. Below are the steps involved in the monitoring process.
Background on Wetland Monitoring at WSDOT Monitoring Approach
The WSDOT Monitoring Team measures compliance on wetland mitigation sites as required by state and federal regulatory agencies. The monitoring plan is the document of record for compliance with the permit conditions outlined in the permits and the Final Mitigation Plan. Although based out of the headquarters office, the Monitoring Team monitors mitigation sites all over the state. Most of the annual fieldwork is conducted in the summer with the help of 16 trained interns.
Initial Notification, Information, and Documentation Requirements
It is critical for mitigation specialists to work with the Monitoring Team during the planning phase to ensure that performance criteria are measurable, achievable, and ecologically meaningful. Mitigation staff should also notify the Monitoring Team during construction so that the Monitoring Team can plan monitoring activities for the following field season. This is especially important if any hydrology monitoring is required, because the best time for observations is often March/April, before the first summer monitoring. In addition, some mitigation sites require pre-construction monitoring.
As construction of mitigation sites is completed, WSDOT Regions need to provide key pieces of information to the Monitoring Team before monitoring can begin. Please complete the Monitoring Startup Form (doc 46 kb) and send it with the mitigation site documentation to the Monitoring Field Coordinator. Key information to provide to the Monitoring Team is described on the Monitoring Startup Form and includes:
- Final Mitigation Plan
- Hydrology Data
- As-Built Plans
- Permits
- Wetland / Biology Report
- Construction Dates
- Monitoring Report Distribution List
- Contact List
- Driving Directions and Fence/Gate Access
Initial Site Visit with Wetland Mitigation Site Manager(s)
WSDOT wetland mitigation site managers should coordinate with the Monitoring Team to schedule a site visit (usually in April/May) before any significant monitoring activities commence. Someone familiar with the site should be present to answer questions that the Monitoring Team may have, such as site access, site boundaries, intermediate performance measures, final success standards, and problems encountered during construction.
Monitoring Approach and Methods
WSDOT wetland monitoring methods (pdf 90 kb) are used to collect data on parameters specific to each site's performance criteria. These may include vegetation, wildlife, benthic-macroinvertebrates, soil, and water. A photographic record is compiled for each site. A specific monitoring and sampling plan is developed each year based on each site's performance criteria and current development.
Site Management Coordination
To promote adaptive site management, site managers coordinate with the Monitoring Team in the following ways.
- Coordinate Schedules: In spring, the Monitoring Team will send their summer fieldwork schedule to site managers. Site managers will coordinate other management activities so as not to interfere with these visits. For example, weed-spraying activities should not be conducted just before the Monitoring Team visit.
- Provide Management Activities: Site managers provide written records of management activities to the Monitoring Team. This information is provided for two reasons. First, the information is required by regulators for inclusion in the annual monitoring reports. Also, this communication further aids in the adaptive management cycle because the Monitoring Team can provide feedback on the effectiveness of management activities.
- Feedback: The Monitoring Team will report any emerging problems to the site manager as soon as possible. For example, if the Monitoring Team sees invasive weed species, then they will notify the site manager so that weed control can take place before the weeds proliferate.
Records of management activities given to the Monitoring Team include the month in which the activity took place and a very short description of the activity. For example, “June 2004: manual removal of nonnative Rubus armeniacus (Himalayan blackberry) in the wetland enhancement area of the site.”
Feedback and Reporting
Within one week after the Monitoring Team collects data in summer, they will send an e-mail to the site manager to convey the initial results and any noteworthy information.
The Wetland Monitoring Reports are completed annually and sent to those on the Monitoring Report Distribution List provided by the site managers.
Mitigation Compliance Study
WSDOT has prepared a study called "An Evaluation of Wetland Mitigation Compliance" (pdf 188 kb). This study included 30 mitigation sites that were permitted between 1991 and 1997, constructed in the mid to late 1990's, and monitored between 2000 and 2003. Findings from this study indicate WSDOT's mitigation efforts often minimize impacts to higher value wetlands and replace the required wetland area. These results also demonstrate WSDOT's wetland mitigation sites have not been completely effective, and as a result, offer an opportunity for improvement. Areas that are targeted for improvement based on this study include the mitigation planning process, site management procedures, and ecologically meaningful permit requirements.
The following is more specific information on work WSDOT is currently undertaking to address some problems observed during this study. This work is designed to improve our wetland mitigation program.
- Improve the mitigation planning process by developing a comprehensive set of wetland assessment and mitigation guidelines. These guidelines will address all aspects of wetland mitigation including wetland impact assessment, mitigation site selection, design, construction, monitoring, and site management.
- Improve site management procedures by instituting a new process to remediate mitigation sites. A statewide restoration crew has been established for this trial, and will provide needed resources to regional site managers in 2005. Remediation may include replanting, weed control, soil amendments, and/or modifications to the hydrological regime as necessary to assure success of the mitigation site.
- Establish a stable funding source for mitigation site management activities.
- Continue discussions with regulatory agencies to mutually establish functions-based performance measures that satisfy the goals of wetland mitigation and that can be realistically achieved within the specified monitoring duration.