Snohomish Basin Mitigation Bank
Project Background
Prior to European settlement, the Snohomish Basin Mitigation Bank (SBMB) was part of a large wetland complex along the Snoqualmie River that drained through what is called now called Pearson Eddy. In the early 1900′s the property was cleared, drained, and diked to allow for agriculture and more recently dairy farming. Because of the naturally high water table, and constant back-watering from the river, farming operations could not successfully operate, as constant pumping and draining of the property had to occur. As a result, the natural connection to the river and presence of historic wetlands made it a prime candidate for large scale restoration.
A variety of wetland and upland habitats have been reestablished throughout the site including riparian stream habitat, aquatic, emergent, shrub and forested wetland habitats as well as floodplain upland areas. The SBMB offers wetland, stream, and buffer credits for Local, State and Federal permits for impacts to critical areas. As part of the restoration work, off-channel rearing and refuge areas for salmon have been restored and reconnected to Pearson Eddy. Credits for improvement to salmon habitat will be requested in the future based upon the documentation of success in providing off channel rearing and refuge habitat for salmon.
In the Summer of 2011, phase three construction work at the SBMB project was completed. This phase of the project created a mixture of aquatic bed and emergent wetland habitat, remeandered agricultural drainage ditches and reconnected a series of small creeks and seeps that drain into project site.
For more information on the SBMB including credit availability and pricing, please visit the bank’s sales and marketing representative:
SBMB customers include:
Washington State Department of Transportation
Snohomish County Parks
Snohomish County PUD
King County Parks
Lake Stevens School District
City of Marysville
City of Monroe
City of Duvall
Public Utilities
Private Developers
Residential Lot Owners