Wetland mitigation banking
Wisconsin DNR Seeks Public Comment on Credit Methodology for Cultivated Field Restorations
The DNR is holding a training meeting and inviting comments on a methodology for determining wetland mitigation credit potential for hydrologic restorations on cultivated fields, based on a methodology in use in Minnesota for these site circumstances. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Pual District and DNR will host a virtual training session on May 29, 2025, to answer questions, outline lessons learned and implemented in Minnesota since its issuance there and collect feedback. If you are on the Corps’ email distribution list for mitigation-related announcements, you have received an invitation from Leslie Day. If you are not currently on the email distribution list, please contact Leslie Day at Leslie.E.Day@usace.army.mil to receive a calendar invite.
Mitigate permitted wetland impacts with mitigation bank credits.
Mitigation News
Service Areas
Mitigation banking is divided into 12 watersheds that serve as the areas within which banks may sell credits and be considered "in service area". If mitigation bank credits are not available in the service area, further guidance on how to determine credit ratios can be found in the 2013 Guidelines for Wetland Compensatory Mitigation in Wisconsin (Version 1), under Chapter 3.
Wetland mitigation bank service area map
Prospective Mitigation Bank Sponsors
Any individual or entity may establish and operate a wetland mitigation bank in Wisconsin. Wetland Mitigation banks are regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the DNR.
Listed below are links to statutes, code, guidance, and map tools that may be helpful to a prospective bank sponsor.
Historic Credit Sales
Resources for site guidance
- Starting a Wetland Mitigation Bank: What You Need to Know
- Wetland Mitigation Bank Review Payment Verification
- USACE St. Paul District Site Selection Criteria for Compensatory Mitigation Proposals
- USACE St. Paul District Mitigation Site Prospectus Requirements
- USACE St. Paul District Mitigation Site Compensation Site Plan Requirements
- Surface Water Data Viewer - use to identify sites with wetland mitigation potential
Resources for regulations
- USACE St. Paul District Mitigation Web Page - search for guidance documents, public notices, and regulatory updates
- 2013 Guidelines for Wetland Compensatory Mitigation in Wisconsin (Version 1) Chapter 6
- Draft Outline for Mitigation Guidelines Update
- 281.36, Wis. Stats. - wetland permitting and mitigation statutes in Wisconsin
- Chapter NR 350, Wis. Adm. Code - compensatory mitigation process and requirements
- USACE 33 CFR part 332 - the 2008 Army Corps and EPA federal compensatory mitigation rule
