Wetland Mitigation Bank

Atlantic County’s development of the first government sponsored and approved government wetland mitigation bank in New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania started in 2006. Prior to this the county relied on site by site mitigation to replace wetlands that had been inadvertently impacted by transportation improvements. Having a wetland bank allows Atlantic County to receive wetland credits it can bank to be debited as needed.

After reviewing 15 potential sites, Atlantic County purchased the 37-acre tract adjacent to Lakes Creek along Somers Point-Mays Landing Road in Egg Harbor Township. A $1.37 million contract was awarded to convert former fallow farm fields into wetland areas through excavation, planting and the introduction of a tidal source of water.

Construction of the Lakes Creek Wetland Mitigation Bank begin in the spring of 2013 and involved lowering the elevation of the agricultural field adjacent to Lakes Creek and increasing the tidal flushing by creating a channel connected to the creek to enhance coastal wetlands. Additional brackish and freshwater areas were also developed. The bank includes planted species of grass, bushes and trees. It was completed by the summer of 2014.

An Osprey platform was erected in the summer of 2015 on the saltwater side of the site by Egg Harbor Township students, teachers and volunteer members of the Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association to further preserve and enhance our natural environment.

To date, the Lakes Creek Wetland Mitigation Bank has satisfied mitigation requirements for four infrastructure improvement projects with many credits still available for use by the County.

Lakes Creek Mitigation Bank Aerial Video