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Coweta approves $1.88 million stream-credit purchase to allow Southwest Connector project to proceed
Summary
Commissioners authorized purchase of 5,797.8 stream mitigation credits at $325 each (total $1,884,285) so the Southwest Connector phase 1 can meet the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 404-permit mitigation requirements after the originally proposed mitigation bank delayed availability.
The Coweta County Board of Commissioners authorized the purchase of stream mitigation credits totaling $1,884,285 on March 19 to meet Clean Water Act (Section 404) permitting requirements for the county’s Southwest Connector road project.
Public works director Todd Hanley told commissioners that phase 1 of the Southwest Connector will impact intermittent and perennial streams and wetlands and requires mitigation. A mitigation bank originally consulted for the project delayed credit availability to late 2025, which would have delayed the project. County staff located another mitigation bank with credits available within 30–45 days and recommended purchasing 5,797.8 stream credits at $325 per credit.
Hanley explained the mechanics of mitigation: "Impacts to streams and wetlands must be mitigated," and described mitigation-bank credits as the typical approach. He warned commissioners that credit prices have risen quickly; an early conceptual estimate for stream credits in 2019 was roughly $300,000 for the project, but detailed environmental work and market conditions drove the current requirement and price to nearly $1.9 million. "In that 2- to 3-month time frame, we've seen those credits increase in cost by about $200,000," he said when comparing recent quotes.
Commissioners asked whether the price increase reflected higher per-credit costs or a change in the number of credits required; Hanley said it was the per-credit value that rose following finalized environmental and engineering work for the permit application. Commissioners also asked about procurement strategies and whether the county could lock prices earlier; Hanley said the credit market is driven by supply and demand and availability varies by watershed.
After brief discussion the board voted unanimously to approve the purchase so the Southwest Connector project can secure its 404 permit and proceed with phase 1. The purchase will be executed from project funding tied to the connector work.
Hanley and staff noted the county previously approved wetland credits for the project in November; the current item was for stream credits required by the Corps-level permit. Commissioners asked staff to continue tracking credit availability and pricing and to report back on schedule and budget implications as the project advances.
