Preserving Appalachian Wetlands and Offsetting Ecological Losses
CNX & EIP Offer Environmental Credits Through Blacksville Stream and Wetland Mitigation Bank
August 28, 2024
Above photo: Aerial Imagery of Blacksville mitigation bank boundary (white boundary) and surrounding land
By Dan Bitz, CNX Director of Surface Asset Strategy
Look out your window; what do you see? Unless you’re on a boat, you probably see some version of land – one of the most valuable resources the world has to offer. Whether urban, rural or something in-between, land is the key ingredient for any type of residential, commercial or industrial development. Unfortunately, what exists now is very close to what will exist 1,000 years from now. Because of the quantifiable limit of existing land and the need for it to support many uses, the market value of land continues to rise, and so does its ecological value.
As long-time land stewards in Appalachia, our commitment to this region led the CNX team to explore stream and wetland mitigation bank development opportunities across Pennsylvania, beginning with Blacksville.
Background on Mitigation Banks
In the United States, the federal government, via the Army Corp of Engineers, administers a program to offset ecological losses that occur to streams and wetlands called 'stream and wetland mitigation banking.' Developers of all types face criticism for land and water disturbance (from road and housing construction to industrial development), but relocating is not always an option. There are many places in the U.S. where water resources occupy a large percentage of the landscape, making development virtually impossible without stream and wetland mitigation banking. Stream and Wetland Mitigation Banking requires a developer who impacts a stream or wetland to offset that impact through the purchase or creation of credits. The credits are developed (often by a third party, but in some cases by the actual developer) through the re-establishment, restoration or enhancement of high-quality stream and wetland systems, and through the perpetual protection of these restored systems. The credits created should be close to, or within the same watershed or drainage area as the impacts.
Developing a stream and wetland mitigation bank was a no-brainer for CNX as it already facilitates development across all types of Appalachian industries while at the same time developing and protecting unique ecosystems.
Course of Action
In August of 2024, CNX entered into a Joint Venture with Ecosystem Investment Partners (EIP) to develop stream and wetland mitigation banks in portions of Pennsylvania. CNX has the benefit of owning tens of thousands surface acres in PA, with many being prime candidates for stream and wetland mitigation banking. EIP is a leading mitigation bank developer that specializes in large-scale ecological restoration projects across the country and has over 17 years of experience aligning economic development with high-quality environmental restoration outcomes.
By leveraging their collective mitigation banking experience and existing assets, EIP and CNX aim to provide high-quality stream and wetland mitigation credits to enable the responsible development of Pennsylvania industries while creating lasting environmental benefits. In concert with project engineer and environmental consultant Alliance Consulting, the Blacksville Mitigation Bank was brought from concept plan to credit release through thoughtful and collaborative design techniques that maximize the longevity of the rehabilitated stream system. The engineering, design, construction and implementation of the Blacksville project elevates stream and wetland mitigation banking to a higher standard thanks to close coordination with regulatory authorities.
Through the stream and wetland mitigation project, approximately 160 acres will be perpetually protected and returned to its original condition.
The Blacksville Mitigation Bank creates 21,805 linear feet (4+ miles) of stream credits and 17.94 acres of wetland credits. The credits are located within Pennsylvania service area 19 (Monongahela River basin), with primary counties including Washington, Greene, Fayette, Allegheny, Westmoreland, Somerset, Indiana, Armstrong and Cambria counties.
The Blacksville project received final permit authorizations in July of 2024, and will have first credit issuance in Q3 of 2024. The Blacksville property itself has a long history of impacts and uses, and will now be re-established as a 160-acre conservation area. From early farming that cleared the landscape, to mining activities that occurred through the end of the 20th century, the property impacts are evident, and through the stream and wetland mitigation project, approximately 160 acres will be perpetually protected and returned to its original condition.
Our Land is Your Land
Beyond the Blacksville bank, CNX is working to design and develop additional mitigation banks, as determined by market conditions. With the entry of an energy company into the stream/wetland credit creation market, the EIP-CNX partnership and associated project represent a positive change in the accepted standard of mitigation bank development in PA, enabling high-quality credits for fair prices
For information on purchasing stream and wetland mitigation credits, contact Kevin Roush, Assistant Director of Business Development at Ecosystem Investment Partners, at kevin@ecosystempartners.com.
Officially launched in 2021, CNX New Technologies develops proprietary technology and nature-based solutions for vertical and horizontal business growth, which are rooted in the company’s extensive legacy asset base, intellectual assets, and innovative tradition. The group is actively developing and marketing a plethora of nature-based projects, while creating low carbon intensity energy solutions.
Read more:
