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practicable or not necessary to ensure timely completion ol'the required compensatory mitigation (see 33 CFR 332.3(k)(3)). (4) II'mitigation bank or in -lieu fee program credits are the proposed option, the mitigation plan only needs to address the baseline conditions at the impact site and the number of credits to be provided. (5) Compensatory mitigation requirements (e.g., resource type and amount to be provided as compensatory mitigation, site protection, ecological performance standards, monitoring requirements) may be addressed through conditions added to the NWP authorisation, instead of components ol'a compensatory mitigation plan. (d) For losses of streams or other open waters that require pre - construction notification, the district engineer may require compensatory mitigation, such as stream rehabilitation, enhancement, or preservation, to ensure that the activity results in minimal adverse effects on the aquatic environment. (e) Compensatory mitigation will not be used to increase the acreage losses allowed by the acreage limits of the NWPs. For example, if an NWP has an acreage limit of 1/2 -acre, it cannot be used to authorive any project resulting in the loss oi' greater than 1/2-acre of waters of the United States, even it* compensatory mitigation is provided that replaces or restores some of the lost waters. I lowevcr, compensatory mitigation can and should be used, as necessary, to ensure that a project already meeting the established acreage limits also satisfies the minimal impact requirement associated with the WIN. (t) Compensatory mitigation plans for projects in or near streams or other open waters will normally include a requirement for the restoration or establishment, maintenance, and legal protection (e.g., conservation casements) of'riparian areas next to open waters. In some cases, riparian areas may be the only compensatory mitigation required. Riparian areas should consist of native species. The width of the required riparian area will address documented water quality or aquatic habitat loss concerns. Normally, the riparian area will be 25 to 50 feet wide on each side of* the stream, but the district engineer may require slightly wider riparian areas to address documented water quality or habitat loss concerns. If it is not possible to establish a riparian area on both sides of stream, or if the waterbody is a lake or coastal waters, then restoring or establishing a riparian area along a single bank or shoreline may be sufficient. Where both wetlands and open waters exist on the project site, the district engineer will determine the appropriate compensatory mitigation (e.g., riparian areas and /or wetlands compensation) basal on what is best for the aquatic environment on a watershed basis. Iii cases where riparian rheas are determined to be the most appropriate form of compensatory mitigation, the district engineer may waive or reduce the requirement to provide wetland compensatory mitigation f'or wetland losses. (g) Permittecs may propose the use of mitigation banks, in -lieu fec programs, or separatr permittee - responsiblc mitigation. For activities resulting in the loss of marine or estuarine resources, permittee - responsiblc compensatory mitigation may be environmentally preferable if there are no mitigation banks or in -lieu fec programs in (lie area that have marine or estuarine credits available for sale or transfer to the permittee. For permittee- responsiblc mitigation, the special conditions of'the NWP verification must clearly indicate the party or parties responsible for the implementation and performance ol'the compensatory mitigation project, and, if required. its long -term management. (h) Whcrc certain functions and services of waters of the United States are permanently adversely affected, such as the conversion of forested or scrub -shrub wetland to a herbaceous 8