Mitigation and Conservation Banks


Welcome to the home page for McCollum & Sweetwater . . . Your first and last stop for wetland mitigation banks and upland conservation banks.		Serving as one of the Nation's premier land banking companies, we specialize in joint venture partnerships with landowners and conservationists.

Credit Sales
Wetland Mitigation Banks
Upland Conservation Banks

Wetland mitigation banks and upland conservation banks ("land banks") are potentially profitable alternatives to traditional commercial and residential development projects. If a parcel has sensitive wildlife habitat or is located within planned wildlife corridors, its highest and best use may be as biological open space. In the past, this represented a significant down zone in terms of value. However, with the land bank option the value may be competitive with typical development strategies.	A critical benefit to creation of a land bank is the economic advantage to the landowner. The ability to sell mitigation or conservation credits provides private landowners with an incentive to develop their lands for conservation, rather than for other purposes. Land banks are important tools in achieving long-term conservation goals and objectives throughout the state. Land banks also benefit those seeking to mitigate impacts through more streamlined and affordable mitigation procedures.
	Conservation banking was formally introduced on April 7, 1995 at a ceremony for Bank of America's Carlsbad Highlands Conservation Bank. At that ceremony, the first-in-the-nation statewide policy encouraging conservation banking was incorporated into federal policy by the Secretary of the Interior.
McCollum Associates was instrumental in the development of the state and federal conservation banking program. Since that effort, in affiliation with Sweetwater Environmental Biologists, Inc., McCollum & Sweetwater has developed numerous conservation and mitigation banks in California over the past 17 years. No other team has our level of experience or regulatory understanding to create banks individually tailored to landowners' needs. While McCollum & Sweetwater creates and markets land banks in a variety of ways, our specialty is working with landowners through joint venture agreements. This approach allows the landowner to retain significant ownership and income in the bank, yet take advantage of our institutional knowledge and experience. Joseph Findaro is also active in McCollum & Sweetwater in the area of national policy development and permit assistance in the Washington D.C. office of his firm, Akerman Senterfitt. Click here for biographies for Mike McCollum, Barry Jones & Joe Findaro

Wetland Mitigation Banks

Credits for Sale

(RBV Mitigation Credits, LLC). Wetland/Vernal Pool. *Temecula. Credit Area: Western Riverside County. This bank incorporates the Skunk Hollow Vernal Pool*. With a water surface area exceeding 33 acres, this is the second largest vernal pool in the state. It provides habitat for numerous threatened and endangered species of plants and animals, including the Riverside fairy shrimp. This preservation mitigation bank has approximately 136 wetland credits, or functional units, for general wetland impacts in western Riverside County. The bank is formally permitted by the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Department of Fish and Game. The bank is fully endowed and managed by the Center for Natural Lands Management. This is a preservation bank . . . in other words, if your impacts destroy wetland habitat, mitigation for the impact must be accomplished at a wetland creation site to provide a no net loss of existing habitat. The balance of any mitigation ratio can be accomplished at the Barry Jones Bank. The bank can be used for low or high quality wetland impacts. Credits are available now for sale! Click here for a Location Map. Click here for the Bank Service Area Click here for a list of Wildlife Species Found at Skunk Hollow


(Westmark Development). Wetland and CSS. Carlsbad. Click here for the bank service area Coastal North County). The BEI was approved on May 23, 2007. Credits are available now. Send an email message to Mike McCollum for information. The Bank consists of the following habitats: Riparian forest Mule fat scrub Diegan coastal sage scrub Sage scrub chaparral Non-native grassland The property is fully endowed and managed by the Center for Natural Lands Management	. Before Restoration Efforts Click here to download: Regional Map Location Map Aerial Photo of Bank Vicinity After Restoration Efforts

(Nancy Summers). Wetland/Riparian; Salmon & Steelhead Fish. Sonoma County. Click here for the bank service area. Phase I of this National Marine Fisheries Service approved bank consists of 144 acres of fish habitat conservation credits for coho salmon and steelhead trout. Both the current phase and future Phase 2 have significant riparian and wetland restoration and enhancement opportunities consistent with traditional compensatory mitigation strategies. Vicinity Map Species Lists	The Bank property is set within a larger landscape conservation strategy known as “The Cedars” that includes protected and ecologically significant lands. The Cedars contains the Core Serpentine Zone and the Ecological Transition Zone. The serpentine soils and the serpentine transitional zones are home to species of plants found nowhere else. The property is managed by the Wildlife Heritage Foundation Download Bank Brochure PowerPoint Presentation	Restoration work is ongoing. Phase II will contain another 296 acres.
	Press Clips From Coho Releases in the Bank November 4, 2010 June 21, 2011 News 5 Channel 7 News KQED (Starts at 1:00 min mark) Press Democrat

(J.R. Watson & Associates Development Corp) Colorado River Riparian. Near Blythe, San Bernardino County, California. Wetland/Riparian mitigation is hard to find along the Colorado River. This 8.5 acre project was construction for a project in Needles that was not completed. The Department of Fish and Game agreed to allow the habitat to be sold to another entity. Call for pricing and details. Sensitive species on site include Bell's vireo and Gila woodpecker. The property is managed by The Revegetation & Wildlife Management Center.	Example Enhancement Area Click here for an annual restoration report	Colorado River

Upland Conservation Banks
Developed and Marketed by McCollum and Sweetwater

(Techbilt Construction, Inc.) Upland, Coastal Chaparral. Carlsbad. Credit Area: San Diego County.

This site, part of a larger biological open space, is adjacent to Palomar Airport.
There are approximately 43 acres of habitat available for purchase and is managed by the Center for Natural Lands Management.

Habitat Types Available for Purchase
Coastal sage/coyote brush 5.95 Southern Maritime 0.17 Live Oak Woodland 0.03 Valley Needlegrass 0.18 Oak Riparian Forest 16.31 Fresh Water Marsh 0.32 Cismontane Alkali Marsh 0.29 Southern Willow Scrub 0.39	Southern Mixed Chaparral 16.25 CWF willow riparian forest 2.23 Fresh water seed 0.21 Mule fat scrub 0.03 Disturbed habitat 0.18 Agricultural 0.14 Unclassified 0.37 Exotic vegetation 0.44

Total 43.49 acres

Download Bank Brochure

(Tech-Bilt, Inc.). Upland/Maritime Chaparral/Coastal Sage Scrub. Encinitas. Credit Area: San Diego County.

BACK ON THE MARKET
This bank is selling conservation credits for both coastal sage scrub/multispecies and maritime chaparral habitats. Listed plant species abound on this 150-acre bank along the San Diego County coast. If you need mitigation for state or federally listed plants, this may be the place.

Habitat Types Available for Purchase
Occupied Coastal Sage Scrub Southern Maritime Chaparral Scrub Oak Chaparral Native Grassland Non Native Grassland Riparian/Freshwater Marsh

Whelan Ranch Conservation Bank

(MVV, LLC). Upland/Coastal Sage Scrub. Oceanside. Credit Area: San Diego County.

This 150-acre bank sold conservation credits for mitigation of multispecies impact within the San Diego County NCCP, including coastal properties. It is sold out, but there are 9.2 unassigned credits of CSS available for resale. Contact us for more information. Map

2008-2009 Survey

Carlsbad Highlands Conservation Bank (Techbilt Construction, Inc.) SOLD OUT. Upland/Coastal Sage Scrub. Carlsbad. Credit Area: San Diego County. This is an approximately 180-acre upland bank in Carlsbad, California consisting of coastal sage scrub habitat. Multispecies credits are sold to mitigate for most upland impacts throughout the NCCP plan area of San Diego County, including coastal areas. Phase I of the bank is sold out, but Phase II and Phase III, owned by Tech-Bilt, Inc., are being marketed now.

Crestridge Conservation Bank (Gatlin Development). Upland/Coastal Sage Scrub/Chaparral, Oak. Lakeside. Credit Area: San Diego County. Bank credits are marketed by another firm. Please call or email for information.

McCollum & Sweetwater will happily provide information on any of its wetland mitigation or conservation bank projects. Please contact Mike McCollum for availability and pricing.

Other Projects Accomplished by McCollum Associates

McCollum Associates and Sweetwater Environmental Biologists represent clients to design and implement economically feasible solutions to conflicts with environmental and habitat issues. While development impacts can negatively impact habitat and sensitive species, we help facilitate ways to make those impacts provide a net benefit to the ecosystem. The following are examples of other McCollum Associates & Sweetwater have accomplished, individually or collectively::

Habitat Conservation Plans: Villages of La Costa in the City of Carlsbad, California; prepared for the City of Carlsbad and The Fieldstone Company. Mission View Estates, facilitated for The Fieldstone Company. Rancho Bella Vista; prepared for Pacific Bay Homes. HCP Outline and land use permits for Ocean Trails project on Rancho Palos Verdes Peninsula, California. San Diego Gas & Electric NCCP sub regional plan.

Section 7 Consultations for endangered species take: Lennar, Stonegate Development, H.G. Fenton, Superior Ready Mix, RCP Block, Wal-Mart; The Fieldstone Company; Collins Development; Aradi, Inc.; Bank of America; CalMat; Catellus; Shapell Industries; and Pacific Bay Homes; Rutter Development; Techbilt, Inc.

Army Corps of Engineers 404 Permits and 1600 Agreements: Lennar, Wal-Mart, The Fieldstone Company; SDG&E; Larwin Company; Collins Development; Allred Company; Bank of America; Hon/Zuckerman Properties; Aradi, Inc.; Pacific Bay Homes; Shapell Industries; Bixby Ranch Company; Catellus.

General environmental documentation: Land use consulting in Gulfport, Mississippi, and eastern Texas; Represent clients in negotiations with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Fish and Game, Army Corps of Engineers, EPA, State Water Resources Control Board, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Coastal Commission, CalEPA, Resources Agency, and local governments. Lennar, The Fieldstone Company; SDG&E; Larwin Company; Collins Development; Allred Company; Bank of America; Hon/Zuckerman Properties; Aradi, Inc.; Shapell Industries; Lewis Homes; Altamira, First Nationwide Bank; Carlsbad Ranch Verde, Centex Homes; Gauer Ranch, Chevron.

Memorandum of Understanding Negotiation for Regional HCP in San Bernardino County. Representing landowners in San Bernardino County on a County Technical Committee to develop MOU that will ensure planning efforts for a regional, multi-species conservation plan will be approached without undue regulatory constraints. Baldy View BIA and San Bernardino landowners.

Medford Island Conservation Area: Negotiated with state and federal agencies and private landowners sales of conservation easements for wetland impacts in the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta.

For more information on Conservation Banks, use the following links to the California Resources Agency.
Lady Bug Picnic