neosho river wetland and stream mitigation bank

The Neosho River Wetland and Stream Mitigation Bank is a 157-acre restoration site situated along the Neosho River that compensates for authorized impacts to wetlands and streams across much of southeastern Kansas.

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Before conversion to agriculture, the location of the Bank would have comprised of bottomland and riparian forest along nearly 4,000 feet of the Neosho River. Those habitats would have provided both stream bank stability and floodplain area for the Neosho River, which would help to control sediment deposition and erosion, reduce flood-stress downstream, and create habitat for a variety of plants and animals.

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Many of the site’s tree were cleared as the area was converted to agricultural and commercial uses such as open pasture and pecan groves. A riparian forested existed on the outer bend of the Neosho River and made up the western boundary of the site. That riparian area was almost entirely thinned-out in the past so that the river bank is now susceptible to erosion. Furthermore, an ephemeral stream flowing into Neosho River was channelized and converted to a straight ditch along the abandoned ballast.

Swallowtail is addressing these impairments through the following activities:

 

• Restoring 29 acres of riparian buffer along the Neosho River

• Restoring and enhancing 60 acres of forested wetlands

• Restoring and enhancing 38 acres of emergent wetlands

• Restoring 17 acres of wetland buffers

• Preserving a 1-acre pond on the site

• Restoring the channelized ephemeral stream that feeds into the Neosho River

 

The results of the mitigation efforts will be compatible with adjacent rural land use and the water quality improvements will help address the needs of downstream bodies of water such as the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees and the Arkansas River.  The initial restoration activities were completed in 2022.