I was requesting to impound or flood about 1300' of stream (the ACoE considered wetlands) so I was offering to buffer through a conservation easement about 1000' of stream. The difference in their calculations in credit for the buffer vs the flooding was 670 favorable vs 7800 unfavorable. So I'm 7130 "credits" short. I got in touch with an area mitigation bank, and they said stream mitigation credits are selling for $100 each. ($713,000), I really had no idea a permit was this difficult. I also had to run an add in the local paper announcing my plan, and the ACoE sent a letter to everyone that owned property that touched mine for them to comment. The DNR also sent in a comment that I didn't have a management plan for the waterfowl impoundment. So I have been trying to deal with 4 agencies. ACoE, SCDNR, SCDHEC, and the NRCS. The NRCS guy really went above and beyond to try to help. So I met with the ACoE last week to try to find a new path, that's when I came up with the off stream plan, they are coming on Nov. 14 to make judgement on the drainage area to see if they have jurisdiction. Really makes you see how some people just build the pond, you would think the agencies would try to help people that are trying to do it the correct way. But I don't think that's the government way!
