The Wilkinson-Oconee Mitigation Bank set new precedents in Georgia with its innovative and creative wetland and stream restoration design that required over two years of intensive hydrologic and vegetation baseline studies. During this time Acer conducted extensive ground water and surface water modeling and monitoring, watershed assessment and hydraulic studies, HydroGeoMorphic (HGM) assessment of wetland functions, fish and benthic macroinvertbrate surveys and water quality analysis, bird, reptile, amphibian, and mammalian studies, and over 15 miles of geomorphic stream surveys and riparian assessments. Acer also incorporated land management and recreational uses into the bank including a wildlife management program, forest management and timber stand improvement plan, and recreational opportunities that will add overall value and practical use purposes into the protected property.