The City of Coralville has created a model for integrating stream mitigation banking within its greenway park system, showing how cities can boost ecological resilience while funding local greenway management. Under the Clean Water Act, projects impacting streams must offset those impacts by purchasing credits from certified mitigation banks. Coralville has embedded this process into its greenway parks to support habitat restoration, water quality improvement, and recreation. Funds from mitigation credits enable the restoration and preservation of stream corridors, accompanied by paved, single-track, and water trails. This approach prioritizes ecological health while enhancing public access to natural spaces. Revenue from these credits is directed toward forest management, invasive species control, native vegetation, and biodiversity, all within the urban landscape. Coralville’s strategy shows how mitigation banking can support green space planning and provide financial resources for conservation. Key insights include regulatory compliance, revenue use for ecological and flood resilience, and green infrastructure benefits. Coralville’s approach offers a replicable framework for cities aiming to expand urban green spaces, support conservation, and create recreational areas that connect residents with nature. “After this session, participants will be better able to:
• Identify how cities can meet Clean Water Act requirements while enhancing public green spaces. This model highlights an innovative approach to balancing regulatory compliance with community benefits.
• Assess the approach of using funds generated from mitigation credits to support forest management, create sustainable funding for stream restoration and ecological stewardship, address invasive species, promote native vegetation, and enhance biodiversity.
• Plan for inclusion of concrete and single-track trails within mitigation banking to underscore how environmental restoration can coincide with recreational development, offering the community direct access to restored natural areas and promoting a deeper connection with local ecosystems.”
Contributor/Source
Adrian Holmes, Judith Joyce-Environmental Director, Sherri Proud-Director of Parks and Recreation
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