Wetlands in the Mat-Su Borough
Healthy wetlands : Hardy community
What are Wetlands?
Wetlands are a vital part of Alaska's ecology, supporting the health of the state's economy, environment, and citizen's lifestyles.
- Wetlands are an important component of the natural resources within the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
- Wetlands link land and water, and create valuable and diverse ecosystems.
- Wetlands form where the land is subject to permanent or seasonal water saturation, to the extent that characteristic soils and plants form.
Wetlands in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough
- Wetlands cover about 25% of the land area in the Mat-Su Borough.
- In the past, wetlands were considered wastelands or swamps in need of draining or filling. They are now recognized as highly specialized, valuable and functional components of our environment that need to be managed and protected.
- Wetlands and the activities they support are key to the sustainability of the Mat-Su's economy, lands, and communities.
Lime green areas shown on the map indicate known wetlands. Click the "Wetlands Mapper" button above to explore further.
Value of Wetlands
Economic Benefits
The Mat-Su depends on an economy that is tied in part to our abundant wetlands:
- Tourism
- Hunting
- Fishing*
- Outdoor recreation
- Flood Control
- Clean Water
- Stormwater management
*For example, in 2017 sport anglers spent over $57,000,000 in the Mat-Su. Quality fish habitat depends on healthy wetlands (source: 2017 Southwick Associates study).
Since 2001, the MSB has invested conservatively over $20,000,000 in fish passage culvert projects, opening up 66 stream miles and 6,200 lake acres to fish spawning to date. We invest in our fisheries here!
Environmental Benefits
Wetlands provide a number of critical ecological functions that provide economic value and help create our high quality of life here in the Mat-Su. These free services in brief include:
- Clean Water
- Flood reduction
- Erosion control
- Habitat for moose, salmon, and waterfowl
- Groundwater recharge and purification
Moose and wetlands go together
The ecological services provided by wetlands provide for "free" in detail include (besides supporting moose):
- Fish and Wildlife Habitat - notably, wetlands provide juvenile salmon habitat, as well as maintains water quality for salmon spawning.
- Water Quality - wetlands filter/clean runoff water before it enters lakes and streams.
- Flood Control - wetlands act like sponges, storing flood water and minimizing the impact from floods.
- Groundwater - wetlands help recharge groundwater, providing abundant well water for human use, as well as providing cool groundwater inputs into local streams/lakes, providing consistent flow and temperatures that support cold water fisheries.
- Erosion Protection - wetlands help buffer shorelines from excessive erosion.
- Recreation, Education, Cultural Resources, Open Space - wetlands have historically drawn human activity for the resources they provide.
How much are the services above worth to you?
Lifestyle Benefits
We enjoy our outdoor lifestyle here in the Mat-Su. Wetlands help produce the environment that makes the Mat-Su the fastest growing region in Alaska. Wetlands provide:
- Open space
- Clean water
- Recreation opportunities
- Rural character
- Abundant fish and wildlife
Risk to Wetlands
Your wetlands are at risk
Alaska has lost approximately 200,000 acres of wetlands to development activities, without proportionate mitigation.
Consider a case study:
- In 2018 a large mine project proposed building a gas pipeline that would cross through the Mat-Su Borough. 200 acres of MSB wetlands would be permanently impacted by this process.
- The project was required to obtain a wetlands development 'individual permit' by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) .
- Of the 200 acres of MSB wetlands impacted, the USACE only required the project to mitigate ~5 acres for the permit approval process.
- This decision prompted the MSB Fish and Wildlife Commission to ask for additional mitigation for large wetland projects such as this taking place in the Borough.
- Subsequently, the MSB Assembly directed the Planning Department to develop a Supplemental Wetland Mitigation Ordinance (SWMO) to address similar scenarios.
Supplemental Wetlands Mitigation Ordinance
What does the ordinance do?
- The Supplemental Wetland Mitigation Ordinance (SWMO) would necessitate large developments impacting wetlands in the Mat-Su Borough to obtain a certificate of compliance ensuring appropriate wetlands mitigation (10+ acre wetland impacted projects).
- This ordinance is not an additional regulation, rather it is a formal recognition that the USACE 2008 federal rule for 1 to 1 compensatory mitigation required nationally, is the standard the MSB also agrees with.
- The SWMO is intended only for large, 10+ acre wetland fill projects where generally more than an acre of wetland is being impacted. These types of projects already require a U.S. Army Corp of Engineers 'wetlands development individual permit' under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act .
- This ordinance would not affect small landowner property projects covered by the USACE "nationwide permit", or smaller wetland impact individual permits for projects impacting less than 10 acres.
Benefits of the Supplemental Wetlands Mitigation Ordinance:
- This ordinance will ensure that as the Mat-Su Borough grows and develops, wetlands impacted by development and wetlands conserved will occur in equal measures.
- This approach will minimize the loss of all the functions and services that wetlands provide Mat-Su Borough citizens, while still allowing development to continue.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
1. I'm a small land owner who wants to develop my property, some of which is covered by wetlands - how does the SWMO affect me?
ANSWER: The SWMO is designed to address only larger, 10+ acre wetland development projects, those that require a USACE 'individual' permit. For the five years from 2015-2019, the USACE only processed one individual permit for wetland development in the Mat-Su under section 404 of the Clean Water Act, that the SWMO would have affected. Most small wetland development permits are covered by the USACE "nationwide" permit, and the SWMO does not involve/impact these smaller projects. You can learn more about USACE wetland development permitting HERE .
2. For the larger wetland development projects that are covered by this ordinance, what does it cost to fully mitigate wetland losses due to development?
ANSWER: This varies, depending upon the size of the project, the types of wetlands impacted, and the mitigation option chosen. The SWMO utilizes USACE paperwork and calculations for mitigation. The SWMO requires these large developments certify that they have fully mitigated the unavoidable impacts of their projects on wetlands using one of the three USACE approved mitigation strategies before development commences (and all legally required development permits are acquired). Often the USACE permit permits full mitigation, and the SWMO incurs additional cost for mitigation only in those situations when the USACE does not require full mitigation for wetland impacts.
3. How much time does the SWMO add to the permitting process?
ANSWER: The SWMO utilizes required USACE paperwork and calculations, so it is expected that utilizing this common paperwork will minimize review time and decision making on the part of the borough.
4. What are my wetland mitigation options for wetland impacts?
ANSWER: The USACE accepts three methods for wetland impact mitigation, which the SWMO also mirrors. You can learn more about the USACE wetland mitigation options HERE .
5. Who will administer the SWMO if approved?
ANSWER: The MSB Planning Department. The SWMO utilizes the paperwork the developer already has to do for obtaining a USACE individual wetland development permit for larger projects not covered by the nationwide permit. We anticipate processing about two permits for the MSB each year.
Public Comment
The SWMO is open for comment!
- The MSB Planning Division encourages your comments on the draft Wetland Mitigation Ordinance.
- The period for Public Comment will close May 1, 2021.
Resources
Additional Information Resources:
- Wetlands Fact Sheet 1 : wetlands defined, how to identify, and wetland types.
- Wetlands Fact Sheet 2 : wetland functions and economic values explained.
- Wetlands Fact Sheet 3 : permitting, and mitigation of wetland impacts.
- USACE Mitigation in Alaska : explains mitigation types and strategies.
- MSB Wetland Management Plan: 2012 plan that will make you knowledgeable about MSB wetlands.
- Draft Wetland Mitigation Ordinance : the draft ordinance for your review.
- Alaska's Wetlands: wetlands information provided by the AK Dept. of Environmental Conservation.
- Wetlands Loss Assessment in the MSB: 2018 study documenting significant wetland loss in four MSB watersheds.
- MSB Wetlands Mapper : Interactive map showing wetlands in the MSB.
- MSB Supplemental Wetlands Mitigation Ordinance: Project Page.
Contact Us
Ted Eischeid, Planner II
ted.eischeid@matsugov.us
Ph. 861-8606
Kim Sollien, Planning Division Manager
kim.sollien@matsugov.us
Ph. 861-8514
Alex Strawn, Planning Dept. Director
alex.strawn@matsugov.us
Ph. 861-7851
