The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) impacts more waterways than any other public institution in the state of West Virginia. They have invested considerable resources into research and programs meant to limit their impacts and explore ways to improve mitigation opportunities, yet have no programmatic approach suitable to regulatory agencies that would help streamline their planning and permitting process. Furthermore, these same regulatory agencies have also invested in many disparate research programs meant to track and improve environmental forecasting and accountability. The watershed approach to compensatory mitigation is the new mandate, approved and recognized by non-profit, research, federal, and state entities. It was established by federal agencies as part of the Final Mitigation Rule in 2008. It is intended to link compensatory mitigation projects to‘ realized’ ecological lift with regards to an overall landscape. This is analogous to improving a neighborhood by restoring dilapidated structures and brownfields, or repairing damaged infrastructure like bridges, wastewater, or water services in such a way that the entire community benefits. The goal of the research effort led by West Virginia University (WVU) is to design a ‘recipe’ that will allow WVDOH to forecast ecological impacts, avoid and minimize the most sensitive environmental resources, and achieve meaningful ecological lift in their required compensatory mitigation activities. Despite recent advances in environmental impact analysis relying on geospatial technologies, a watershed-based approach to quantifying these impacts in an ecosystem service and function context is relatively new to West Virginia. In a state with over 6,000 bridges and rugged and complex terrain, a holistic approach to highway development is needed, as impacts are unavoidable, and the resulting compensatory mitigation can meet ecological goals while promoting the mission of the WVDOH. The objective of this 14-month Strategic Highway Research Program 2 project was to evaluate current methodologies and develop new approaches as necessary. Study locations focused on the Coalfields Expressway and King Coal Highway, two highways currently planned and under construction in southern West Virginia. These highways, designed to promote economic development, decrease commuter time, and increase tourist opportunities, traverse a topographically challenging area dominated by steep slopes. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting