Louisiana Mitigation Bank Approved to Supply Credits

Resource Environmental Solutions LLC announced the approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District of a new 867.9- acre wetland and stream mitigation bank serving north and central Louisiana. The Little Eva Mitigation Bank located in Natchitoches Parish Louisiana will establish and maintain 770.5 acres of bottomland hardwood wetlands more than 13590 linear feet of stream and nearly 60 acres of riparian buffer habitat. Mitigation credits resulting from restoration efforts within the project area will be used to compensate for unavoidable wetland and stream impacts from permitted project activity in the Red River Drainage Basin.

Bottomland hardwood wetlands restoration will  enhance  a  watershed  where  aquatic  resources and functions have been impaired due to the conversion of forested wetlands to open pastureland. This conversion has altered the natural drainage patterns  vegetative composition and habitat continuity and is further attributed to intensive land management for agricultural uses resulting  in  a lack of both habitat diversity and natural interface of adjoining habitats. Restored  wetlands  deliver  ecological  benefits by the retention of surface water runoff stream flow maintenance nutrient cycling aquatic productivity and the reduction of non-point source pollution (nutrients and suspended solids) originating from agricultural activities.

Historical agricultural practices have also reduced the quality of the stream channels within the property. Restoration efforts for the riparian buffer areas will provide shade reduce erosion stabilize the restored banks of each stream reach and  improve water quality while once again linking important terrestrial corridors.

The Little Eva Mitigation Bank is within the Red River Alluvial Floodplain – a significant flyway for migratory bird species. Building on existing conservation efforts in the area including an adjacent Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) site and the Red River National Wildlife Refuge the restoration and rehabilitation activities result in large-scale contiguous wetland ecosystem. The mitigation bank also will provide the opportunity to reestablish the headwater stream reaches of Horse Bayou.

With ongoing development of the Haynesville Shale and other hydrocarbon-bearing formations associated field infrastructure and beneficial economic development the Little Eva Mitigation Bank is centrally located to supply the  mitigation  needs  of  developers  requiring permits for their projects’ compliance and one of the few mitigation banks supplying both wetland and stream offset credits.