Evaluating Wetland Mitigation Performance Across Mitigation Mechanisms

Each year, more than 50,000 acres of wetlands are restored, established, enhanced, and preserved to compensate for losses permitted through the federal wetlands regulatory program (EPA 2011). Nationwide, an estimated $2.9 billion is spent annualy on these compensatory mitigation projects. However, it is not clear whether this significant investment in compensation is yielding projects that are effectively replacing lost wetlands (Kihslinger 2008; NRC 2001; Turner et al. 2001).