ABSTRACT 7th International Symposium on Environmental Concerns in Rights-of-Way Management
TITLE:	Design, Construction and Cost Implications Associated with Wetland Mitigation for Corridor Projects in the Mid-Western U.S.
AUTHOR(S):	Paul Evanoff - pevanoff@aa.smithgroup.com JJR Incorporated Ann Arbor, MI, USA Andrea Kline JJR Incorporated Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Highway projects, and to a lesser degree, pipeline and electric transmission projects often result in unavoidable permanent impacts to jurisdictional wetlands. Federal and State permitting agencies typically require detailed mitigation plans prior to the issuance of the permits to impact wetlands within the project corridor. Wetland mitigation is a costly endeavor and permit conditions often require the applicant to create ‘in-kind’ habitat replacement of impacted wetlands. In southern Michigan, several large (20+ acre) and small wetlands have been successfully created in response to wetland impacts initiated by both private and public sector projects. This paper identifies issues associated with design and construction of four types of wetland communities as part of this permitting process. Plans and specifications associated with site hydrology, earthwork, overflow structures, planting and seeding of forested, meadow, emergent and submergent wetlands will be presented. Specific experiences associated with successes and failures, cost implications and contractor issues are included. Ref#: Abs-1-112