The Wolf King Mitigation Bank is located within the Neuse River Basin in Wayne County. The project restored 8.75 acres of riparian habitat that had been extensively used for agricultural production for over 50 years. Water quality stressors affecting the site included pollution from crop production, a lack of forested riparian buffer, and manipulation of stream features within the project area. The buffer conditions were significantly degrading, with the loss of stabilizing vegetation because of continued crop production.

The project’s goal was to restore and preserve the ecological function of the existing stream and ditch features and their associated riparian buffer areas by establishing appropriate plant communities while minimizing temporal and land disturbing impacts and permanently protecting the newly restored buffer in perpetuity through a conservation easement. Buffer and surrounding riparian area improvements will filter runoff from agricultural fields, thereby reducing nutrient and sediment loads to the side channels and providing water quality benefits to the overall watershed. The bank generates riparian buffer mitigation credits and nutrient offset credits.