Wetland mitigation monitoring

We're committed to improving wetland mitigation and providing effective guidance to applicants throughout the permitting process. We are currently working to produce new guidance that will clearly outline the requirements for monitoring wetland mitigation performance in Washington.

Developing and implementing monitoring guidance is an important next step in improving permit predictability, enhancing the monitoring and management of compensation sites, and evaluating compliance and overall ecological success. This guidance will provide a solid foundation for agencies to demonstrate defensible and verifiable expectations, and will be a state standard for wetland practitioners to reference.

Project status and next steps

In 2023, we worked on the first task of the project: Identify current monitoring protocols and methods.

As of March 2024, we are seeking participation from staff in tribal governments, state and federal agencies, local governments, and practitioners who work with compensatory wetland mitigation to provide input about what you would like to see in a monitoring guidance document. Over the following year, we will send out communications to project participants designed to prompt feedback and input, and eventually we will begin to share draft versions of the guidance for your review.

Level of participation can vary and may include:

Participating in targeted surveys concerning monitoring topics.
Reviewing draft guidance content.
Attending advisory meetings.

If you have questions about the project or are interested in participating, please contact Richard Jones at the email below.

Richard Jones
Monitoring Guidance Specialist
richard.jones@ecy.wa.gov
564-669-4413

When mitigation is required to compensate for unavoidable impacts to wetlands and other aquatic resources, a monitoring plan should be included in the mitigation plan. The goals, objectives, and performance standards for a compensatory mitigation (compensation) project are the basis for the monitoring plan. It is the measure against which compliance and success are determined. The duration, frequency, and methods of monitoring depend on a project's goals, objectives, and performance standards.

In general, monitoring is required for 10 years. The monitoring period may be extended if performance standards are not being met.

Monitoring helps ensure that a compensation project achieves its stated purpose and complies with permit obligations. It also provides critical information about whether a site needs maintenance or whether the applicant needs to take corrective actions.

Washington state requirements

Federal

In Washington, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's (Corps) Seattle District refers to Regulatory Guidance Letter (RGL) 08-03 for guidance on minimum monitoring requirements for compensation projects, including the required minimum content for monitoring reports. The Corps requires submission of monitoring reports to assess the development and condition of compensation projects. The content and level of detail depends on the scale, scope, and type of compensation.

RGL 08-03 specifies that the monitoring report narrative should be concise and generally less than 10 pages. This length requirement helps to ensure that only pertinent information is submitted. This helps expedite agencies' review and determination of whether the compensation project is in compliance.

For specific projects, the Corps' Seattle District determines how frequently monitoring reports are submitted, the monitoring period length, and report content. Permit conditions will support the specified monitoring requirement and include deadlines for monitoring report submittal. The Corps will also accept monitoring reports that follow our guidelines, provided permittees also include panoramic photographs of the compensation site with the monitoring report.

State

RGL 08-03 is consistent with Washington's interagency wetland mitigation guidance. In most cases, monitoring reports are required as a condition of our certification or order.

Monitoring report contents

For specific projects, we typically list the required monitoring information in an attachment to the certification or order. For orders that do not have this attachment, refer to RGL 08-03.

Submittal requirements

The relevant conditions listed in our order will help you determine the specific submittal requirements for your project. For more recent projects, the condition will say something such as: “The applicant shall submit to Ecology one hard and one electronic copy of monitoring reports documenting mitigation site conditions for years 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 10.”

Also refer to the order for how (paper copy, electronic, or both) and to whom the report should be submitted. There should be an address listed in our order for whom to submit monitoring reports to (this is usually the wetland specialist in the region where the order was issued and the Federal Permit Coordinator).

Failure to submit completed monitoring reports in a timely manner could result in an extension of the monitoring period or additional mitigation requirements.

Contact information

Questions about monitoring or report requirements? Contact Ecology's wetland mitigation compliance staff:

Dana Mock, dana.mock@ecy.wa.gov, 360-742-2826
Patricia Johnson, patricia.johnson@ecy.wa.gov, 360-701-5558
Kate Thompson, kate.thompson@ecy.wa.gov, 360-628-3445
Devin Geiger, devin.geiger@ecy.wa.gov, 360-867-8164