HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-09-25 Public Comment - L. Reid - Comments for Proposed DRAFT City of Bozeman Wetland and Watercourse Regulations Version 7_29_25From:Loreene Reid
To:Bozeman Public Comment; Terry Cunningham; Nicholas Ross; Jennifer Madgic; Douglas Fischer;morrison.joseph.w@gmail.com
Cc:Christopher Nixon; John Edwards; Loreene Reid; Frank M. Marchak; Bill Simkins
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Comments for Proposed DRAFT City of Bozeman Wetland and Watercourse Regulations Version7/29/25
Date:Monday, September 8, 2025 12:15:06 PM
Attachments:Comments to for Wetland and Watercourse Regulations Version 7-29-25.pdf
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Please see attached comment letter from Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve for the
Proposed DRAFT City of Bozeman Wetland and Watercourse Regulations Version 7/29/25
Thank you,Loreene Reid
Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve LLC
Board of Directors
Frank Marchak Loreene Reid Robin Hompesch Bill Simkins
PO Box 1943, Bozeman, Montana 59771
Bozemanwetlands.org
To: Community Development Board and City Commission
From: Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve, LLC
Date: September 7, 2025
Re: Wetland and Watercourse Code Update
Dear Members of the Bozeman Community Development Board and the City Commission,
I am writing to thank you for prioritizing stewardship of Bozeman’s streams, riparian corridors, and wetlands as you work to improve the City’s development code. Wetlands are one of the most important natural resources in our community, providing flood protection, water quality improvements, habitat for fish and wildlife, and recreational and aesthetic benefits for residents. Your ongoing leadership is essential to ensuring that these ecological and community values are not only preserved but strengthened as Bozeman continues to grow.
What is a Wetland Mitigation Bank?
When wetlands are destroyed by development, federal and state law requires that the impacts be offset, or “mitigated.” A wetland mitigation bank is a site where wetlands have been restored, created, enhanced, or
preserved for the purpose of providing compensatory mitigation. Essentially, it is a system where a landowner or organization invests in restoring and protecting wetlands in advance, generating “credits.” Developers or municipalities that impact wetlands may then purchase these credits to meet their legal requirements.
This system ensures that when unavoidable wetland losses occur, they are compensated by creating or protecting wetlands of equal or greater ecological value. In short, mitigation banks help make sure “no net loss” of wetlands occurs while streamlining the regulatory process for developers and protecting critical habitats for the long term.
Current Challenges in the Gallatin Watershed
At present, the only approved wetland mitigation bank in the upper Missouri River basin is located in Twin Bridges, in the Jefferson River watershed—nearly 90 miles from Bozeman. This creates a disconnect. Wetlands lost here in the Gallatin Valley are being “replaced” in a different watershed, with different hydrology, wildlife, and community benefits.
For example, the City of Bozeman recently destroyed wetland at the Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve (IAWP) to install a sewer line access road and, under current requirements, paid mitigation fees to the Twin Bridges bank. While this may satisfy regulatory requirements on paper, the ecological and community services of wetlands lost within the Gallatin watershed are not replaced here, where they are most needed.
The Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve and Local Solutions
The Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve represents a unique and powerful opportunity. This 40-acre site on the east end of Bozeman is the largest urban wetland in Montana. It provides a sanctuary for birds and other wildlife while offering residents a place of tranquility and connection to nature, accessed from existing trail systems and within walking distance of downtown.
Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve, LLC Re: Wetland and Watercourse Code Update Page 2
Importantly, the IAWP serves as the critical East Main link between the recently restored riparian corridor at the Story Mill Community Park and the upper East Gallatin/Rocky Creek drainage. In doing so, it protects habitat
connectivity and water quality along one of Bozeman’s most important ecological corridors.
At the same time, efforts are in the final stages with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop the Sacajawea Wetland Bank—right here in the Gallatin watershed. Once approved, this bank will provide a locally available
mechanism for mitigation, ensuring that wetlands lost in the Gallatin are replaced with wetlands that serve the Gallatin.
Why Local Mitigation Matters
Keeping mitigation local matters for ecological, social, and economic reasons:
• Ecological Integrity: Wetlands are watershed-specific. Their hydrology, plant communities, and wildlife values cannot be replicated by replacing them in a distant watershed.
• Community Benefits: Wetlands within Bozeman provide flood storage, groundwater recharge, water quality protection, and recreational opportunities that are lost when mitigation is shifted elsewhere.
• Smart Growth: Local mitigation aligns with the City’s vision of sustainable development, reducing long-term costs and enhancing resilience to climate change and population growth.
Recommendations for Code Updates
As the City Commission considers updates to the wetland code, we respectfully recommend:
1. Require Mitigation Within the Gallatin Watershed whenever possible, ensuring that local wetland losses are offset locally. 2. Recognize and Support the Sacajawea Wetland Bank and similar efforts that strengthen local mitigation options.
3. Protect and Integrate Urban Wetlands like the IAWP into planning and development frameworks as essential natural infrastructure.
Bozeman has demonstrated vision and leadership in balancing growth with ecological stewardship. By strengthening wetland codes to ensure that mitigation stays within the Gallatin watershed, the City can protect its streams and wetlands while also providing certainty and fairness for developers and landowners.
Thank you for your leadership and for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation. I would be glad to provide additional information or participate in further discussions about how Bozeman can continue to lead in wetland stewardship.
Sincerely, Frank M. Marchak President Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve, LLC
frankm@bozemanwetlands.org