Wash. wetlands banks aim to help economy, environment
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — A new way to stop construction from overwhelming the state's wetlands is benefiting both the environment and the economy.
The Columbian reports wetlands mitigation banks are a way to make up for natural habitat that's buried or destroyed by construction.
Many large construction projects need to navigate a complicated regulatory maze when building in areas where wetlands are near. They often end up building and maintaining man-made wetlands nearby. But wetlands banks offer another alternative.
But they're gaining favor among state regulators, builders and public agencies as new projects continue to encroach on sensitive natural areas.
Builders like wetland banks for the added flexibility they offer new projects. State ecology officials like them for their natural benefit, often showing more success than a smaller wetland squeezed into a construction site somewhere.
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Information from: The Columbian, http://www.columbian.com
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
I read this 'news item' primarily for the purpose of finding out exactly what a "wetland bank" is and how their utilization will " . . . help economy, environment."Â I'm still wondering!Â
**Thanks**, KATU.
I think it is a place where people deposit such things as un-used fence post holes, old swimming pool holes, vacated wells, ditches, etc. When the need arises they may be withdrawn from the bank and put it where they need a big void in the ground which will create a pond or wetlands.Â