Partnerships

Southeast Alaska Land Trust is the
Army Corps In-Lieu Fee Program Participant

Development in wetland areas is general prohibited by law. However, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can approve projects that affect wetlands if the projects benefits the public and the wetland impacts are mitigated. When practical mitigation methods are not available, the Corps may require the developer to pay a "fee in-lieu" of mitigation. These fees collected by the Army Corps of Engineers are transferred to a designated wetland trust fund or similar organization to be used in other conservation projects in the same locality. Under an agreement with the Army Corps, the Southeast Alaska Land Trust is authorized to receive fees-in-lieu of mitigation.

The Southeast Alaska Land Trust places all mitigation funds we receive into a separate account used only for acquisition, restoration, enhancement, or preservation of wetlands, other aquatic habitat, or important upland habitats adjacent to wetlands. Before we invest these funds in a project, the Trust consults with the Army Corps to ensure that the proposed project advances their program goals.

To date the Southeast Alaska Land Trust has used these "in-lieu fees" to secure a conservation easement on wetlands bordering the Mendenhall State Game Refuge. We are currently partnering with other organizations and agencies in pursuit of the Lunch Creek and the Leask Lakes projects near Ketchikan, Alaska. We hope to leverage "in-lieu fees" with grant funds sought by our partners to complete these Southern Southeast projects.