Why does Fort Drum have a Wetlands Management Program?
Wetlands may occupy as much as 20% of Fort Drum’s land base. Fort Drum manages existing facilities and training ranges and also builds new ones. Where and when it is not possible to avoid wetlands, Fort Drum must obtain permits from USACE and other agencies. Often, Fort Drum must build wetlands to compensate for those lost to construction. This process is called mitigation. Mitigation wetlands must be properly designed and approved by USACE, and Fort Drum’s Wetland Program oversees the design, construction, monitoring, and management of these wetlands. Fort Drum developed a wetlands management program due to the substantial workload and amount of time required for wetland permitting.
