Seneca Meadows Wetlands Preserve

The industry standard for wetlands mitigation projects is a 3:1 exchange ratio. In 2007, Seneca Meadows raised that standard by designating 8 times the taken acreage for permanent conservation with a 576 acre wetlands creation and enhancement project. The project involved two distinct tasks: to restore and enhance 157 acres of existing wooded wetlands, and to create 419 acres of new wetlands. With a team of experts, and the guidance of the U.S. Corp of Engineers and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, we designed our project and began construction. The restoration effort required few modifications: Vegetative management, seeding and planting would give us a healthier ecosystem, and a greater diversity of wildlife. The creation of new wetlands was much more complex. The design called for a variety of wetland types, including: emergent, wet prairie, wet-mesic prairie, forested wetlands, upland savannas and tall grass prairies. Each of these wetland types requires different elements. Some need more sunlight, some need high soil saturation, and some need to be separated from other wetland types. All wetlands need to be free of non-native, or �invasive� plant species. Invasive species wreak havoc on wetlands. They overpower native plants, destroying the food source and homes of many organisms. Removing them was a number one priority.