The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently provided nearly $5 million in grants to the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program (WMBP) for the establishment of mitigation banks aimed at compensating for negative impacts on U.S. wetlands.

WMBP, a grant program that provides funds for the development of mitigation banks that lead to the “restoration, creation or enhancement of wetlands,” is focusing 2021’s funding on states with large wetland areas and a significant amount of determination requests from producers, a Dec. 22, 2021 USDA press release said.

“The Wetland Mitigation Banking Program supports critical wetland restoration and protection while also expanding options for farmers and ranchers,” Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Terry Cosby said in the release. “Wetlands provide valuable ecosystem functions, including wildlife habitat and groundwater recharge. These projects allow us to collaborate with states, local governments and other qualified partners to restore, create and enhance wetland ecosystems.”

The funding will go towards projects located in Illinois, Wisconsin, Georgia, Nebraska, Missouri, Mississippi and North Dakota, the release said. Those selected for the awards may use the funding to support land surveys, permit and title searches, site identification and development of a mitigation banking instrument.

The funding is in addition to more than $12.4 million provided to projects in 11 states since 2016, the release said. Since its establishment, WMBP has assisted in the completion of 21 wetland bank sites nationwide, totaling 313 acres.

States with awarded projects since WMBP’s inception include Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio and South Dakota, the release said.