Wetland Restoration Projects

by John E. Vavroch, Civil Engineering Technician
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Colby, Kansas

What is wetland restoration? Wetland restoration can be defined as the rehabilitation of a drained or degraded wetland where the soils, hydrology, vegetation, and biological habitat are returned to their natural condition.

The purpose for wetland restoration is to restore hydric soil conditions, hydrologic conditions, hydrophytic vegetation, and wetland functions that occurred on the wetland site prior to modification or degradation. Normally, the wetland is restored by excavating the silt from the normal pool area and seeding the spoils area back to suitable vegetation. The playas of the High Plains are usually restored in this fashion.

Two Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) restoration contracts have been awarded in the western half of northwest Kansas. One is located in northern Wallace County and has been completed. The other is in east-central Thomas County and will be started shortly. The acres within these WRP contracts have lifetime easements. Landowners are paid the appraised value of the land, and the acres are placed in an easement. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) accomplishes wetland restoration on the easement area following federal contracting procedures.  So, unlike the building of a terrace or waterway where the landowner hires the contractor, NRCS “hires” the contractor for easement restorations.

First, a “Request for Quotes” is sent to all contractors in that area. The bid package is reviewed by the contracting officer’s technical representative (COTR). Necessary forms, excavated quantities, and spoils placement are discussed along with any other questions or concerns the contractors may have. Next, the contractors are requested to attend a site showing at the project location to help them determine their bid for that job. The bids are due by a specified time. Upon opening the bids, a contractor is selected (usually the lowest bid) and shortly after is notified they have been awarded the contract. If the job site is dry enough to begin, the COTR issues the contractor a “Notice to Proceed.” Depending on the size of the project, the contractor has a specified amount of time to begin construction and a specific timeframe to complete the project.

The inspector monitors compliance with the contract requirements. A daily visit to the construction site is made to answer questions the contractor may have and assist in troubleshooting problems that may arise. The inspector maintains a complete record of construction activities in the job diary. A final inspection and check of the completed work is done. The work is certified complete and payment to the contractor is initiated.

When the equipment is gone, the grass seeded, and the high and dry plains look normal, all we can do is wait for the big storm to bring life to the wetland once again.

For more information about wetland restoration, go to your local U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Service Center and talk to the NRCS or conservation district staff.

For more information about NRCS programs, visit the Kansas NRCS Web site at www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov.

This article is also available in Microsoft Word format.

Wetland Restoration Projects (DOC; 39 KB)

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Last Modified: 08/22/2008