Produces looking to maintain eligibility for USDA funding when they convert wetlands for agricultural purposes have a mitigation alternative through the NRCS Wetland Mitigation Banking Program (WMBP). The program awarded its first grants in 2016 and, to date, has funded 25 projects supporting the creation or expansion of wetland mitigation banks in 13 states. Wetland mitigation banks may include restored, enhanced, or newly created wetlands.
Wetlands on a producer’s site may be small, fragmented, and poorly functioning, and bank sites can often leverage larger acreage and significant subject matter expertise to create wetlands of significant value. Missouri NRCS State Conservationist Scott Edwards says, “Many of the wetlands being mitigated are significantly degraded. It can be time-consuming, burdensome, and costly when a farmer decides to mitigate onsite rather than going to a bank.” Allowing a producer to purchase credits can provide enhanced environmental benefits and easier management.
Davis and Bradley Minton, owners of Minton Environmental Consultants (MEC), have been establishing and maintaining wetland mitigation banks to assist agricultural producers with their wetland mitigation needs for over 20 years and were among the first bankers to receive a WMBP award. They established the Missouri Agricultural Wetland Mitigation Bank, which was the nation’s first agriculture wetland mitigation bank, in partnership with NRCS in 1999.
To date, their NRCS-assisted Missouri projects have restored 168 acres of wetlands and have completely sold out of credits.
Davis Minton credits this success to several factors. First, local producers “know that we’re farmers first, and bankers second. We understand [producers’] angst about buying credits and can explain the advantages because we have walked in their shoes.” Second, NRCS funding helps offset the costs of bank development, allowing MEC to sell credits to producers at a reasonable and affordable price. MEC also invests considerable time in outreach and marketing, including historically underserved and socially disadvantaged producers, to ensure that all Missouri producers have fair and equal access to the program.
The Mintons have their eye on an even bigger goal, however. “We own all of the land known as the Glades Swamp,” says Davis. “Our hope is that at some point in time, we can restore the entirety. It’s a slow restoration effort, but it’s ongoing.”
Interested producers and bankers should contact their local NRCS office for more information about the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program.
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