Section 404 and Wetland Alterations in the Platte River Basin of Colorado.

摘要

A study of Section 404 permitting activities in the Platte River Basin of Colorado was conducted for the period 1985-89. Agency files were examined to determine the magnitude of wetland alterations authorized under Nationwide Permit 26 (NWP 26; <1 acre), NWP 26 (1-10 acres), and Individual Permits; the types of wetlands in which these alterations occurred; the types of projects involved in these alterations; and the amount of replacement habitat requested through mitigation in the form of wetland restoration or creation. Alterations permitted under Section 404 were stated in terms of area or volume. Those stated in terms of area accounted for 415 acres; most of these occurred in palustrine wetlands, which have high value to wildlife. Alterations stated in terms of volume accounted for discharge of an additional 202,000 cubic yards of material, mostly in riverine wetlands. Many different types of projects were authorized under both NWP 26 and Individual Permits. Mitigation was recommended most often for Individual Permits, less commonly for NWP 26 (1-10 acres), and rarely for NWP 26 (<1 acre). Projects authorized under NWP 26 did not seem to meet certain regulatory requirements, for example, that they be similar in nature and have minimal individual and cumulative effects.