Environmental
Because environmental issues are important in the Clear Creek watershed, the Corps of Engineers (Corps) formed an Interagency Coordination Team (ICT) early on in the planning process. The ICT consists of members of several state and federal environmental resource agencies and representatives from the Corps and local sponsors who provide assistance and advice to the Project Team by helping them understand the environmental consequences of flood risk management measures under consideration. The ICT also helps the Project Team recognize opportunities to improve deteriorated environmental conditions along Clear Creek through ecosystem restoration activities.
One of the ICT's primary roles on the Clear Creek Flood Risk Management Project has been the creation of the Habitat
Evaluation Procedure (HEP). The HEP was developed to assess the value of fish and wildlife resources in the project
area. It is being used as a scientific basis to determine the value of restoring habitats measured in Habitat Units. The value
of a Habitat Unit is established by comparing the habitat quantity (acreage) weighted by the habitat quality. By determining the value
of restoring specific habitats, the ICT and Project Team can determine environmental benefits associated with each measure. The
ICT also plays a large role in evaluating the potential impacts of flood risk management measures under consideration.
What's Next for the ICT?
The ICT continues to provide insight and guidance to the Project Team as flood risk management measures are
developed. In the coming months, the ICT will meet again to address measures that are currently being evaluated. The Clear
Creek Project Team will provide the ICT with a list of the most beneficial and cost-effective measures.
The ICT will then project the potential environmental impacts of these measures as well as brainstorm potential sites for mitigation and
ecosystem restoration. Once this has been established, the ICT will use HEP to establish the Habitat Units
lost as a result of proposed measures and the Habitat Units gained as a result of mitigation and ecosystem restoration. The ICT
will present their results to the Clear Creek Project Team upon completion of this process. The Project Team will then carefully weigh these
results before recommending a federal project.
What is the difference between Mitigation and Ecosystem Restoration?
Mitigation is a process designed to offset the impacts of one action by implementing another. State and federal laws protect certain wetlands and
habitats. In the case of the Clear Creek Project, impacts to the environment caused by the implementation of any flood risk management
measure require the Project Team to recreate the habitat or 'environment' that was initially affected.
Ecosystem Restoration is the restoration of a habitat that existed at one time. In this process, plant communities and wildlife habitats that have been degraded by such
things as agricultural practices, invasive species or subsidence can be restored or enhanced. Examples include replanting a forest that has been
cleared or restoring a salt marsh lost to subsidence. Ecosystem restoration can be included in flood risk management projects like Clear Creek, enabling
some federal funding to be available for restoration within the study area. The Clear Creek Project Team is still seeking potential organizations to participate in Ecosystem Restoration
opportunities related to this project.
Click for a PDF file illustrating examples of ecosystem restoration measures.
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