› What is a Mitigation Plan?

This is a document that is presented to county or city officials that outlines appropriate compensation or enhancement measures for identified areas of impact or improvement to on-site Critical Areas.

Typically this document includes volume estimates of any fill to be added or removed, recommendations for the type, number and size of native plants or seeds that are to be installed in the area of disturbance or enhancement, outlines any invasive non-native plant species that need to be removed, the length and type of a permanent buffer fence to be installed, the number of wetland or stream buffer signs to be installed along the fence, and a cost estimate for materials and labor for all of the outlined work. A detailed Mitigation Plan Map and/or Planting Schedule is included for clarity which is a graphical summary of the recommended mitigation measures.

  
Some aspects of a Mitigation Plan cannot be completed except during particular times of the year. For example, revegetation usually needs to occur in the late dormant season from mid January to early April and any in-stream work needs to be completed in the dry season.

In order for a review authority to grant development approval, they often will make it conditional upon, among other things, establishing a bond or letter of credit based on the provided cost estimate. This locked savings account will be held for use in the event that the mitigation measures are not completed by the owner or applicant and will have to be executed by the county or city of jurisdiction.

The required timeframe for this bond typically is three years following installation of the mitigation components so as to ensure that three years of monitoring, maintenance and correction are dedicated to the Mitigation Plan to help ensure its success with respect to its outlined goals.