Center for Environmental Restoration

The Northern Kentucky University Center for Environmental Restoration (CER), in partnership with NKU Research Foundation, operates the Northern Kentucky Stream and Wetland Restoration Program (NKSWRP), an in-lieu-fee program providing compensatory mitigation for the loss of stream and wetland resources due to land development in northern Kentucky. The program was established in 1999, and operates under an Agreementwith the Louisville District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). The program is informally known as the NKU Stream Restoration Program.

The NKSWRP is fully funded from the sale of mitigation credits to entities that impact (fill) streams or wetlands for land development under permit from the Corps. NKSWRP receives in-lieu-fee (ILF) payments from permittees, and the CER uses these funds to operate the program and implement mitigation projects. The CER identifies stream and
wetland restoration and preservation opportunities, then undertakes projects to protect, enhance, restore, and monitor projects. Project sites, plans, and compliance reports are subject to approval by the Corps, in consultation with the Interagency Review Team (IRT). The Compensation Planning Framework, which describes how the CER selects and prioritizes mitigation projects, may be viewed at nku.edu/cer. Refer to the annual report for specific details about past and current restoration projects.

A key component of CER’s mission is to train and employ NKU student interns in the field of environmental restoration. CER additionally provides employment to non-students seeking vocational training and experience in environmental restoration, either directly or by contracting partner organizations. Refer to the annual report for specific employment statistics.

The CER and NKSWRP are fully funded by mitigation credit sales, receiving no financial support from NKU or any outside source.

For student and non-student internship inquiries contact:

Kimberly Tromm at:  trommk@nku.edu