Ducks Unlimited Offers Wetland Mitigation Services
Mississippi Delta In-Lieu Fee Program Kicks Off.
RIDGELAND, Miss. –-(Ammoland.com)- Ducks Unlimited has received approval to operate the Mississippi Delta In-Lieu Fee Program to fulfill wetland mitigation requirements for parties authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to impact wetlands within the Mississippi Delta.
“DU has more than 70 years experience in wetland enhancement and restoration work and is recognized as the leading wetland conservation organization,” Eric Held, manager of mitigation programs for DU’s Southern Region, said. “Operating the MSD-ILFP allows us to apply this institutional knowledge and experience to deliver quality wetland restoration projects to provide compensation for the authorized wetland impacts.”
DU is not involved in the decision making process on whether to allow impacts to wetlands. The Corps and other regulatory agencies will continue to make all decisions regarding whether to grant authorization to impact wetlands.
Parties required to provide mitigation will be able to purchase wetland credits from DU’s MSD-ILFP. This allows public and private developers to realize economic advantages over implementing their own mitigation projects. These advantages include reduced permitting time and costs and transfer of all mitigation obligations.
“In-lieu fee programs allow for targeted restoration projects that address specific needs within certain watersheds,” Held said. “By using available conservation planning tools, MSD-ILFP restoration projects will be located to maximize benefits to multiple species of fish and wildlife.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mississippi Departments of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality approved the program.
For additional information on DU’s MSD-ILF Program, please contact Eric Held, manager of mitigation programs for DU’s Southern Region, at 601-206-5446 or at eheld@ducks.org.
Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever.
Ducks Unlimited Wetland Mitigation Services
About:
Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 12 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. Visit www.ducks.org