The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District has issued a public notice of a proposal to establish a wetlands mitigation bank and site in the Cape Fear River Basin.
The Northeast Cape Fear Umbrella Mitigation Bank – Quinn Farm Site in Duplin County would be used to offset unavoidable environmental damage to natural wetlands associated with Department of the Army permit authorizations.
Supporter Spotlight
The Quinn Farm site consists of historically farmed land with an extensive ditch network that has effectively removed characteristic wetland hydrology across much of the site, according to the notice. The network of ditches directly discharge into the Northeast Cape Fear River.
According to the applicant, Cal Miller of Shaw Highway Properties, LLC, the proposed project would restore 59.7 acres of riverine wetland habitat and 3,380 linear feet of zero-order stream valley.
“Restoration activities will involve the backfilling and/or plugging of the existing drainage network, re-contouring of a zero-order stream valley, and planting of characteristic wetland trees and shrubs in select areas of the tract,” according to the notice.
The project will reestablish natural wetland hydroperiods associated with headwater forest, bottomland hardwood and riverine swamp forest communities, the notice states.
The nonprofit Broad Water Innovations will serve as a long-term steward for the mitigation property, which will be placed under conservation easement in perpetuity.
Supporter Spotlight
The proposed project initially went out to public notice in March 2025, but was withdrawn due to processing delays. It was resubmitted March 31 of this year.
