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community needs and objectives such as providing additional flood control <br /> storage, water quality enhancement features, improved wildlife habitat and <br /> education and recreation needs. <br /> "The Plan utilizes the wetland mitigation bank concept as the primary means for <br /> implementing the mitigation program. With this approach, mitigation efforts aze <br /> planned as a whole where the most suitable sites are identified, acquired and <br /> restored in advance of wetland impact. This concept not only benefits the <br /> natural resource system by planning for the restoration of the Amazon Creek <br /> basin, but it also benefits .the users of the bank the development community. <br /> The bank system performs the mitigation requirements for individual users <br /> where the details of compensation are preplanned, constructed and maintained <br /> by a public or private nonprofit . agency. To satisfy individual impact <br /> requirements, users simply have to buy mitigation credits from the bank, thus <br /> eliminating uncertainty and saving valuable time and resources. Because the <br /> bank is planned and developed as a whole, the details of mitigation can ~be <br /> incorporated into the existing environment, resulting in a more logical 'and <br /> natural system. The bank is .proposed to have sufficient capacity to serve the <br /> mitigation needs of the West Eugene Wetland Study Area and the community <br /> as a whole." <br /> DEFINITIONS <br /> Certified Credits. Wetlands mitigation credits which are available for sale after the <br /> Corps and DSL certify the credits following the completion of the hydrological and vegetative <br /> work at a mitigation bank site. <br /> Creation. Conversion of anon-wetland site into a wetland site by excavation, diking <br /> and flooding, or conversion of a deepwater site by filling. <br /> Credit Certifcation, A formal determination by the Corps and DSL that mitigation <br /> bank credits are available for compensatory mitigation purposes. Credits may be certified <br /> when mitigation site improvements, including hydrologic and vegetative work, have been <br /> completed. . <br /> Enhancement. Altering. the physical characteristics of an existing wetland such that <br /> it permanently improves one or more specific wetland functions and values. The improvements <br /> may be to soils, water, or plants. Enhancement may improve. a particular wetland value at the <br /> expense of other values. For example, diking an azea to create a marsh environment for <br /> waterfowl nesting may flood a grassy wetland and reduce habitat for small rodents such as <br /> mice and voles. Because impacts associated with individual projects that propose to use bank <br /> credits will, in virtually all cases, be permanent, only enhancement that results in permanent <br /> improvement of a wetland's functions values will generate credits. <br /> Financial Guarantee Funds. Monies set aside by the Program in order to ensure that <br /> <br /> t _ - .adequate funds will be available to monitor and maintain individual mitigation bank sites, and <br /> to perform necessary remedial measures, during the monitoring period. The monies set aside <br /> Page 3 - MOA For West Eugene Wetlands Mitigation Banking Program - <br /> <br />