Wetland Replacement Created In Advance

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Created Before Getting Paid

Wetland Creation Video

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Wildlife Photo Documentation

Before and After Documentation

Purchasing Mitigation Credits

If you need to fill or impact wetland, purchase of wetland credits is a simple transaction between the buyer and Valencia Wetlands Trust

1. Buyer applies to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a permit to purchase credits.  A wetland scientist or other qualified consultant can assist in determining the number of credits needed, and filling out the application.  Depending on the size and scope of the impact, this can be relatively easy, or may require extra documentation of the plan which can be done by your consultant.  The assessment method to use is the Montana Wetland Assessment Method, 1999 version.  The Corps will review the application and either issue a permit for the number of credits required, or make recommendations for changes.  The permit is the go-ahead to purchase the credits.


2. Valencia Wetlands Trust has a fill-in-the-blank contract that can be executed via email in a single day.  Funds are wired to our escrow agency.


3. Upon receipt of funds, Valencia will provide a receipt for buyer to submit to the Corps of Engineers as evidence that the obligation is fulfilled.

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Valencia Wetland Mitigation Bank Servie Area

  Valencia is certified to provide mitigation credits in the following counties in Northern Idaho and Western Montana (scroll down for Montana info):

Credit Ratio for Primary Service Area:

Bonner County - 1:1
Kootenai County - 1:1 

Credit Ratio for Secondary Service Area:

Boundary County - 1.5:1 
Shoshone County - 1.5:1
Benewah County - 1.5:1 

Credit Ratio for Additional Service Area:

Latah County - 2:1 
Clearwater County - 2:1

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Western Montana

Valencia Wetland Bank was created in the HUC 170102 watershed region. Most of this region is in Western Montana. For this reason, the Army Corps Of Engineers directed us to value our wetland bank using the Montana Wetland Assesment Method. Wetland impact projects in Western Montana may purchase credits from Valencia Wetland Trust to replace wetland impacts in this watershed region. Contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for permiting and ratios.

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Here are some of our Past Clients

Federal Highway Administration

EPA Seattle

Bonneville Power Administration

Idaho Dept. of Environmental Quality

Idaho Transportation Dept.

Sandpoint Idaho Airport

Wetland Mitigation Banking

According to the EPA a mitigation bank is a wetland, stream, or other aquatic resource area that has been restored, established, enhanced, or (in certain circumstances) preserved for the purpose of providing compensation for unavoidable impacts to aquatic resources permitted under Section 404 or a similar state or local wetland regulation. A mitigation bank may be created when a government agency, corporation, nonprofit organization, or other entity undertakes these activities under a formal agreement with a regulatory agency. Mitigation banks have four distinct components:

The bank site: the physical acreage restored, established, enhanced, or preserved.

The bank instrument: the formal agreement between the bank owners and regulators establishing liability, performance standards, management and monitoring requirements, and the terms of bank credit approval.

The Interagency Review Team (IRT): the interagency team that provides regulatory review, approval, and oversight of the bank.

The service area: the geographic area in which permitted impacts can be compensated for at a given bank.

The Banking Instrument describes the work to be done and the assessment method to be used to add certified credits to the bank. The Corps of Engineers tracks the available credits at each bank through their RIBITS website, which can be found here.

Valencia Wetlands Trust is based on the Montana Wetland Assessment Method, 1999 version. This is a functional unit based method that measures twelve different values being credited. There is no requirement for "in-kind" mitigation, as long as the functions being impacted are included at the site.

Mitigation banks are authorized by the Federal Government to assume the legal liability from the permit holder for the long term success of the mitigation. Once credits are purchased, the legal responsibilities lie with the bank. This transfer of liability is a very attractive feature for Section 404 permit holders, who would otherwise be responsible for the design, construction, monitoring, ecological success, and long-term protection of the site. Mitigation sites must be monitored annually by qualified wetland scientists for a minimum of five years, and as much as ten years. Financial guarantees are required, and reserve accounts must be created and be made available in case of failures. Wetland banks do all of this for you.

Facts about Valencia Wetland Bank:

• Valencia Wetland Bank is governed by an inter-agency Review Team which consists of: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, Idaho Fish and Game, and Idaho Dept. of Environmental quality.

• These agencies conduct regular inspections to insure that the quality and sustainability of the replacement wetlands we provide to clients is above reproach.

• Valencia is certified to assume the legal responsibility for wetland mitigation for permitted impacts.

• The Army Corps of Engineers has an established procedure for issuing permits to buy wetland credits from Valencia Wetland Bank.

• The use of wetland banks expedites permit and review processing.

• All of these benefits results in lower cost to clients and taxpayers.