As noted previously, once the preferred alternative is identified and habitat fragmentation impacts are quantified then the evaluation of mitigation solutions that compensate for those impacts can be completed. Identifying mitigation opportunities should be initiated as early in the project planning phase as possible. Advanced planning and agency coordination to identify opportunities is encouraged as part of the Ecological Approach (Brown, 2006). Mitigation projects themselves have been evaluated within EIS and EA documents as a part of the transportation project such that the entire action is comprehensively addressed. The process is presented here simply for the ease of review and discussion. Once mitigation is identified, evaluated as feasible and deemed appropriate by the project sponsor and agency partners, the elements of the mitigation plan can be incorporated into the commitments of the Record of Decision (ROD) and permit documents.
The process generally includes the following steps:
Step 1: Identification of mitigation opportunities
Mitigation opportunities can be identified as early as the Scoping Meeting and should include a robust list of sites and actions that can each be evaluated independently. Mitigation could include preservation, enhancement, restoration or creation of habitat. Incorporating structures designed to facilitate wildlife passage and habitat connectivity could also serve as mitigation. This effort typically occurs once the approximate extent of and nature of impacts is known and a screening study can be conducted around the anticipated mitigation needs.
Step 2: Evaluation of mitigation options
Once the mitigation opportunities are identified, each option can be evaluated to determine if it is physically feasible, has impacts to other resources (T&E habitat, cultural resources, etc.), is cost effective, and is acceptable to agency partners and other stakeholders. As the number of options is reduced through the evaluation process, ongoing coordination with agency partners is critical to assure that the remaining options are considered suitable for the meeting the project needs, or if additional options need to be considered.
Step 3: Evaluation of mitigation efforts - do they result in a net gain in habitat function
The preferred mitigation options should be further evaluated to determine if the proposed action will result in a net gain in habitat function (i.e., improved connectivity or increase in patch size) for the target species. Comparisons of the mitigation options with proposed impacts are made to assess suitability of the proposed mitigation to offset or compensate for impacts.
Step 4: Selection of mitigation and defining of monitoring and maintenance requirements
Once mitigation for the project is defined and advanced for further study, monitoring and maintenance requirements should be also be defined. These latter steps are important as they become part of the mitigation plan and incorporated into the ROD and permit documents. These measures also define long term budgetary commitments for the project sponsor, as well as serve as the means to determine if the mitigation goals and objectives for the project are being satisfied or if remedial action is necessary.
go to Conceptual Habitat Fragmentation Decision Guide Flow Chart