Field Trips

CLASSROOM FIELD TRIP
Pineywoods & Bunker Sands Mitigation Banks
Tuesday, May 4, 2009 — 8 to 10:30 a.m.
Clasroom Style at the Hilton Austin
hosted by PBS&J, Houston, Texas

The largest Mitigation Bank in Texas -- The Pineywoods Mitigation Bank is also one of the largest in the nation, containing approximately 13,432.08 acres of bottomland forested wetlands. These vast forested wetlands are supplemented by scrub/shrub wetlands, emergent wetlands, and open water areas that add to the diversity of the property. The property is situated along the Neches River in Angelina, Jasper, and Polk Counties, and provides a wildlife corridor that connects the Davy Crocket and Angelina National Forests. This unique area forms the eastern edge of the northern geographic extent of the Big Thicket. The restoration of the bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem will occur through the removal of exotic and undesirable species, followed by the reintroduction of desirable native tree species throughout the property. To put in perspective the Davy Crockett National Forest is 160,000 acres, and the Angelina National Forest is 153,000 acres. The land contains over 45 miles of the Neches River. And as part of the mitigation bank’s formation, the Texas Land Conservancy holds a conservation easement on the property.

With revenue from mitigation credits, the Pineywoodss Mitigation Bank will restore more than 13,000 acres of bottomland forested wetlands and an additional 6,000 acres upland to original condition as a self-sustaining forest indigenous to the Neches River Basin. That effort involves removing exotic and weedy plant species, replanting native trees and performing related restoration work. In addition, the bank will maintain and enhance scrub/shrub wetlands, emergent wetlands and areas of open water on the property. Significant private investment in the bank includes support from, among others, the Houston Endowment, TLL Temple Foundation and the Meadows Foundation. The Pineywoodss Mitigation Bank was approved to sell mitigation credits during the fourth quarter of 2008. The consulting firm PBS&J is overseeing the restoration work and administration of banking credits.

EARLY Registration: $45 (before January 25, 2010)
PRE-CONFERENCE Registration: $55 (before March 24, 2010)
LATE Registration: $80 (after March 24, 2010; if space available)
REGISTER NOW!