Feasibility of Cooperative Development of Wetland Mitigation Projects in Iowa

We investigate the feasibility of cooperative development of wetlands mitigation projects in Iowa. To assess the need and other issues associated with wetland mitigation, we held a focus group, conducted a survey, and examined permit applications from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Participants in the focus group identified a need for a clearinghouse to match needs and resources. The survey showed that the costs for mitigation varied considerably, but funding was ranked relatively low in the list of difficulties in mitigation when compared to location, assessment, administrative time, regulatory requirements, procedures, and site monitoring and reporting requirements. The review of permit applications suggested that the level of mitigation activity in Iowa does not warrant the expense and effort of establishing a wetland bank. We propose a framework for cooperative mitigation in Iowa that includes—after avoidance and minimization—all of the main mitigation strategies.