Conasauga Bend Mitigation Bank

The Conasauga Bend Mitigation Bank is 61.35 acres located in Whitfield County, Georgia, along the Conasauga River, one of the last free-flowing rivers in the Coosa Watershed. The bank provides compensatory mitigation credits for riverine wetland impacts, with restoration efforts encompassing 43.78 acres of riverine floodplain wetland and 20.48 acres of associated upland buffer.

Site History

Prior to restoration, the site had been used for row crop agriculture for decades, which removed native woody riparian vegetation, impaired wetland hydrology through surface drainage ditches, and contributed nutrient and sediment pollution to the river. The Conasauga River experiences regular overbank flood events, but historical drainage infrastructure caused floodwaters to exit the site rapidly, limiting the land’s capacity to filter pollutants before they reached the river.

Restoration Approach

Restoration of the CBMB delivers significant ecological benefits beyond compensatory mitigation. By filling drainage ditches, restoring native floodplain forest vegetation, and reestablishing natural hydrology, the bank improves water quality by increasing the retention time of floodwaters and reducing downstream transport of agricultural nutrients.