Carbon Prices as of 07/03/2008
CCX CFI 2003 $4.40 CCX CFI 2004 $4.40 CCX CFI 2005 $4.40 CCX CFI 2006 $4.10	CCX CFI 2007 $4.10 CCX CFI 2008 $4.10 CCX CFI 2009 $4.40 CCX CFI 2010 $4.40

Wetland Mitigation Banking

Wetland mitigation banking is a system for dealing with impacts to wetlands from changes in land use. Under this system the mitigation banker restores or creates an area of wetland to generate credits. Representatives of the US Army Corps of Engineers, along with other regulatory agencies, evaluate and certify the creation of credits that can then be utilized to mitigate the impacts of land development projects. FORECON EMS can assist buyers and sellers of wetland credits with the delineation of impacted wetlands, and then design wetland compensatory mitigation projects, or assist mitigation bankers with the permitting process with the multiple agencies involved.

Water Resources Market Services

Water has been traditionally viewed as an inexhaustible commodity that should be available to everyone at little to no cost. Recently, this view has started to change as the demand for more clean water for drinking, wildlife habitat, and pollution reduction increases. In order to bring this demand for clean water into balance with supply, water markets are evolving. Within a water market system, prices are not regulated, but are set by the free exchange of water rights. With water rights defined, water markets allow owners to make decisions about how this vital natural resource is used or protected.

Watershed Management and Nutrient Trading

The importance of watershed management and conservation of water resources, while providing for the needs of people and ecosystems, cannot be overemphasized. A conscious effort has been made across the country to coordinate government agencies and watershed stakeholders to effectively manage land use and how it relates to watershed management. Each watershed varies greatly in terms of water yield, water quality and production, wildlife habitat, and the activities they support downstream. Under an Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) strategy, watershed stakeholders can work together and ultimately demonstrate the link that exists between industry, natural resources, recreational, and cultural resources. FORECON EMS has the expertise and experience to bring together a multi-disciplinary team to manage watersheds and develop an EBM strategy.

Lake in the woods

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has supported the concept of water quality trading since 2003. Generally, water quality trading (WQT) involves a party that is facing high pollutant reduction costs compensating another party to achieve less costly pollutant reduction with the same or greater water quality benefit.¹ This policy further supports the adaptation of a market-based system for the trade of water quality improvement credits. Environmental benefits include the adoption of water quality objectives more quickly, adoption of pollution prevention practices, and engaging non-point sources in solving water quality issues.

FORECON EMS provides a means for assessing a watershed's potential to take advantage of this innovative water quality approach in order to foster compliance with the Clean Water Act.

¹ Water Quality Trading Policy (EPA, January 2004)