Wetland Mitigation Banking 101
Will introduces the foundational concepts of wetland mitigation banking, a market-based approach to offsetting unavoidable impacts to wetlands. He explains how mitigation banks are established, the regulatory framework that governs them—including Section 404 permitting under the Clean Water Act—and the ecological and economic benefits they provide. Attendees will gain insight into credit generation, service areas, and the role of interagency review teams. The talk also highlights recent proposed mitigation bank examples in Idaho and best practices for successful bank development and long-term management.
Will Duggins, a geologist and GIS expert, serves as the Westervelt Ecological Services (WES) Rocky Mountain Region Operations Manager, bringing over 13 years of experience in land acquisition, contracting, site due diligence, and construction/development feasibility to the Region. He has worked on a variety of projects across the Rocky Mountains, Midwest, and West Coast, including Permittee-Responsible Mitigation site development, Mitigation Bank development, and Project Development Plans for in-lieu fee programs. Currently, with Westervelt, Will is part of the Rockies team, implementing and managing projects across Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Colorado.