ABSTRACT
Ecological investigations entail the assessment of the health of all or parts of an ecosystem. This chapter discusses the impact of contamination on ecological receptors, which include surface water, sediments, wetlands, flora, and non-human fauna. It focuses on the endangered species of flora and fauna because of the fragility of their existence. The chapter describes the investigation of the ecological receptors and mitigation methods to repair damaged receptors. The US Army Corps of Engineers usually determines the appropriate form and amount of compensatory mitigation required. There are two types of compensatory mitigation other than wetlands restoration and creation. Construction of a buffer zone can improve the odds of success for the wetland, and is, in fact, a requirement in many jurisdictions. A buffer zone can be an undeveloped, vegetated band around the wetland, or a man-made barrier such as a fence. As a rule, the wider the buffer zone, the better the protection of the wetland.
