Regulations require that development projects in wetland areas restore or replace lost wetland functions and values. Completely updated to reflect recent legal developments, this practical reference explains those regulations and provides a current, comprehensive look at wetland mitigation options that comply with the regulations, minimize expenses, and avoid repeated delays.

Recognizing the importance of wetland protection, the Bush administration in 1988 endorsed the goal of "no net loss" of wetlands. Specifically, it directed that filling of wetlands should be avoided, and minimized when it cannot be avoided. When filling is permitted, compensatory mitigation must be undertaken; that is, wetlands must be restored, created, enhanced, and, in exceptional cases, preserved, to replace the permitted loss of wetland area and function, such as water quality improvement within the watershed. After more than a dozen years, the national commitment to "no net loss" of wetlands has been evaluated. This new book explores the adequacy of science and technology for replacing wetland function and the effectiveness of the federal program of compensatory mitigation in accomplishing the nation's goal of clean water. It examines the regulatory framework for permitting wetland filling and requiring mitigation, compares the mitigation institutions that are in use, and addresses the problems that agencies face in ensuring sustainability of mitigated wetlands over the long term. Gleaning lessons from the mixed results of mitigation efforts to date, the book offers 10 practical guidelines for establishing and monitoring mitigated wetlands. It also recommends that federal, state, and local agencies undertake specific institutional reforms. This book will be important to anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of the "no net loss" issue: policy makers, regulators, environmental scientists, educators, and wetland advocates.

An Approach to Improving Decision-Making in Wetland Restoration and Creation succinctly compares populations of natural and created wetlands to determine whether restored wetlands successfully replace wetlands lost to development or other pressures. The book also presents strategies for mitigation of wetland losses, site selection for wetland restoration projects, and assessment of the level of attainable function for restored wetlands. The book is a significant resource for helping wetland professionals, planners, and ecologists formulate decisions affecting the creation and restoration of wetlands.