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<br /> ~ , <br /> An integral part of the Plan is the establishment of a comprehensive Mitigation Banking <br /> Program for the creation of a number of sepazate wetlands mittgatton bank sites, and the <br /> certification and sale of mitigation credits from those wetlands mitigation bank sites.2 The <br /> Mitigation Banking Program includes (1) restoring, creating and enhancing wetland mitigation <br /> sites, (2) monitoring and maintenance services for those sites, (3) obtaining, selling and <br /> accounting for mitigation credits, and (4) performing other ancillary functions. The purpose <br /> of this Agreement is to establish the comprehensive mitigation banking program contemplated <br /> by the Plan. <br /> GOALS <br /> The primary goals of the Mitigation Banking Program (and of the .individual mitigation <br /> bank sites to be created through the Program) aze described in detail in Appendix B. These <br /> goals are summarized as follows: <br /> "Mitigation is the process used by federal and state agencies for determining <br /> whether wetlands may be developed (impacted) and, if so, under what <br /> conditions. The decision-making process is hierazchial where each level of <br /> criteria must be satisfied prior to proceeding to the .next. The process is <br /> structured so that priority consideration is given to avoiding wetland impact. If <br /> it can be shown there is an unavoidable need to impact wetlands, the process <br /> then attempts to minimize the extent of the impact and sets out requirements to • <br /> compensate for wetland losses in the form of enhancement, restoration or <br /> creation of wetland resources. <br /> "Compensation is targeted for azeas where the prospects. for success aze the <br /> highest, most beneficial to the ecological landscape and require little, if any, on- <br /> going maintenance. These azeas aze located on historic wetlands, disturbed <br /> agricultural wetlands and in azeas adjacent to existing waterways. Enhancement <br /> and restoration, therefore, will be the primary methods for compensating for <br /> wetland losses. Mitigation efforts will concentrate on reestablishing historic <br /> wetland types and habitats that naturally occur in the azea, while also creating <br /> opportunities for other wetland types such as marshes and ponds. . <br /> "The Plan approaches mitigation in a comprehensive manner where resulting <br /> efforts not only satisfy federal and state wetland law but achieve other <br /> The Mitigation Banking Program is a crucial part of the scheme to provide mitigation for development impacts <br /> contemplated in the Plan. This Program, however, is not the only means by which mitigation will occur in the <br /> West Eugene azea. Mitigation for some impacted sites may be performed by the developers of those sites as <br /> concurrent or advance mitigation within the context of the standazd permit process. Those efforts will not be.part <br /> of this Mitigation Banking Program, nor governed by any of the provisions contained in this Agreement. The City <br /> of Eugene also may undertake. mitigation projects on behalf of (i.e., as an agent for) developers, again as either <br /> concurrent or advance mitigation within the context of the standazd permit process. Where the City undertakes <br /> such work, and to the extent that credits are certified for that mitigation project in excess of the number needed <br /> to compensate for the loss of wetlands caused by the developer's work, the credits may be added to Mitigation <br /> Banking Program's ledger after approval by the Corps and DSL. <br /> Page 2 - MOA For West Eugene Wetlands Mitigation Banking Program <br /> <br />