Grand County commissioners voted to purchase wetland mitigation credits to satisfy environmental permits tied to the long‑planned County Road 522 project.

The county manager told the board the county can buy credits from the National Forest Foundation at $85,488.80 per credit and that the purchase would cover the county’s mitigation obligations for 3.95 acres of impact. “With that per credit price, that cost is $649,714.88,” the county manager said, adding the county would not buy credits until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues a permit extension.

Why it matters: The County Road 522 corridor has required wetlands mitigation as part of permitting for right‑of‑way and construction. County leaders said purchasing credits saves time, reduces on‑the‑ground construction and permanence costs, and avoids acquiring and managing mitigation sites for many years.

In the meeting, staff described the permitting path: the county, its wetland consultant and the National Forest Foundation have worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Forest Service to make credits available. The county reported it needs a 1.9:1 mitigation ratio for the project’s wetlands impact; that ratio raised the required credits to about 7.6. A draft credit‑transfer agreement was provided to county legal staff for review.

Commissioner Stowell and other commissioners endorsed the purchase, with Stowell noting the credit purchase was “a much more cost effective and simpler way to do this project.” Commissioners directed staff to proceed and authorized the chair to execute applicable documents outside the meeting by stamp signature, contingent on legal review and an extension of the Corps permit.

Background: County staff said the alternative — on‑the‑ground mitigation sites — can require purchase or easement of acreage, building and planting mitigation cells, placing conservation easements and managing sites in perpetuity. Staff told commissioners purchasing Corps‑approved credits would avoid those long‑term tasks and likely reduce costs by an estimated amount compared with constructing and maintaining mitigation sites.

Next steps: Staff will finalize the credit purchase agreement, secure the Corps’ authorization for the mitigation approach as part of the permit extension, and return if legal or permit conditions require further board action.

Ending: County staff said construction related to right‑of‑way acquisitions is likely to proceed in 2026–2027 if permits and property transactions fall into place. The commissioners approved the purchase and authorized signatures as described.