Grand County staff updated the Board of County Commissioners on July 22 about plans to buy wetland credits for mitigation tied to County Road 522 and said they plan to ask the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to approve a 2:1 credit ratio because Corps-approved wetland construction is not likely to be completed before the road project begins.

Staff described the situation as follows: the original permit contemplated mitigation and enhancements roughly equal to the impacted area (approximately a 1:1 ratio covering just under four acres), but because a partner project run by the National Forest Foundation (NFF) will not be in design until late fall and construction may not begin until 2026–2027, the county’s consultants and the Corps are likely to require a higher up-front ratio to compensate for temporal loss (the lag between impact and newly created wetlands). Staff said they would propose a 2:1 ratio and purchase more credits than the original permit required; the county’s consultant prefers that approach because buying established credits is less costly than constructing and permanently protecting new mitigation sites.

Commissioners and staff stressed the county will seek written confirmation from the Corps of Engineers specifying the acceptable ratio before purchasing credits. Staff also reported follow-up contact with a private landowner west of Fraser who had earlier negotiated on a possible private mitigation or land acquisition; that negotiation may resume if needed, but staff said they currently expect credit purchase to be less expensive than land acquisition and construction. Commissioners asked staff to include the Corps’ required ratio in the county’s wetland mitigation plan and to obtain Corps confirmation before releasing funds for any credit purchase.

The board did not take a vote; staff are continuing Corps coordination and will return with documentation prior to any purchase decision.