A Non-traditional Approach to Compensatory Mitigation

While the project footprint of a wind project can be small relative to other types of renewable energy projects, compensatory mitigation requirements can be extensive, especially for projects involving multiple regulatory... [ view full abstract ]

While the project footprint of a wind project can be small relative to other types of renewable energy projects, compensatory mitigation requirements can be extensive, especially for projects involving multiple regulatory agencies. Non-traditional approaches to compensatory mitigation are a valuable alternative to traditional mitigation approaches, especially for projects requiring a large amount of mitigation. HELIX worked with Pattern Energy Group to develop a novel approach to mitigate for construction-related impacts associated with the Ocotillo Wind Energy Facility, which consisted of restoring the 318-acre Carrizo Marsh. The habitat restoration offsets the compensatory mitigation requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and County of Imperial. Although the acreage of the restoration area is less than the combined compensatory mitigation acreage, the mitigation package provided to the regulatory agencies demonstrated environmental benefits that exceeded the acreage expectations. Carrizo Marsh is a regionally significant water body in California State Parks and funding to restore the marsh had not been previously available due to the size and extent of the invasive trees in the marsh. The goal of the 6-year restoration program is to remove impenetrable stands of invasive salt cedar trees to provide baseline efforts for the long-term enhancement of the marsh and to allow natural re-establishment of native habitats; re-establish floodplain hydrology; and provide the initial efforts to restore bighorn sheep habitat. We will review the success of the various techniques used to remove the invasive trees, including prescribed burns, and the preliminary findings related to changes in wildlife usage of the marsh, native vegetation succession, and improvements in hydrology. We will also review the costs, risks, and related challenges to implementation of a large program, and the applicability of non-traditional approaches to mitigation for other wind energy sites.