The Seven Branches Farm Mitigation Bank (SBFMB) is a commercial stream mitigation bank providing mitigation credits for sale to public and private permittees that receive a Section 404 permit and Section 401 certification from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GEPD), respectively.  The SBFMB is approximately 38.5 acres in size and is accessed from Bethelview Road in Forsyth County, Georgia.  Its primary service area is the Upper Chattahoochee Watershed (03130001) and the secondary service area is the Middle Chattahoochee Watershed (03130002). To date the USACE Interagency Review Team has approved 57,429.5 compensatory stream mitigation credits for the site. Please see the CREDITS page for the current credit availability and the associated release schedule.

 

Originally, the SBFMB was comprised of improved pasture within the 100-year floodplain of Big Creek.  The bank site includes two unnamed tributaries to Big Creek, which had been previously channelized.  The primary mitigation actions within the SBFMB include the restoration of these tributaries to their former natural and sinuous stream channels.  Additionally, bottomland tree seedlings have been planted within the riparian zones of Big Creek and both restored channels, which will reestablish functional and forested riparian zones.  The success of the mitigation effort will be monitored, and contingency plans are in place should a site fail to meet the success criteria.

 

The SBFMB Banking Instrument has been prepared in accordance with USACE, Savannah District’s Guidelines on the Establishment & Operation of Wetland Mitigation Banks in Georgia, updated in March 2006.

 

The SBFMB is owned by Seven Branches Farm, LLC of Cumming, GA, which is also the bank sponsor. Please see the CONTACT US page for particulars.