Overalls Creek Wetland Mitigation Project

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, Bullitt County, KY

The Overalls Creek Wetland Mitigation Project was a requirement of a Department of the Army Permit for filling jurisdictional wetlands. Off-site mitigation at the Overalls Creek Wetland Mitigation Area consisted of a total of 6 acres of bottomland and wetland habitats: 3.0 acres of wetland restoration, 1.0 acre of wetland creation, and 2.0 acres of riparian forest restoration. The Center for Applied Ecology assisted Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in modifying an existing wetland mitigation plan for the Overalls Creek site. The Center initiated construction in August 2000 and completed it in December 2000. The area was planted in the winter and spring of 2001.

After five years of vegetation monitoring, a total of 90 species of plants were identified. Native plants made up 76% of the sampled species and more than 74% of the plant cover was provided by hydrophytes. Invasive exotic plants made up an average of 2.4% of the cover. These data indicate that native wetland species have become well established and are self-perpetuating. In July 2006 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inspected the project and issued a notification of success.

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