Habitat restoration incentives for major infrastructure projects

ABSTRACT Incentives for early consideration of habitat restoration measures for major infrastructure projects include public support, streamlined regulatory review, cost savings, and opportunities for innovation. Three case study projects in Washington State are used to demonstrate the benefits of these incentives: the Seattle Department of Transportation Elliott Bay Seawall Project in Seattle; the Washington State Department of Transportation State Route 520 Bridge Replacement and High-occupancy Vehicle Program between Seattle and Bellevue; and the Washington State Department of Ecology/U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan in the Yakima River Basin. In all case studies, project proponents considered habitat restoration early in the design phase, and in some cases, incorporated habitat restoration into the design of the project, allowing them to develop innovative design approaches and partnerships to accommodate multiple stakeholder interests and provide lasting and beneficial ecosystem improvements.