DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY  
LAND AND WATER MANAGEMENT  
WETLAND MITIGATION BANKING  
These rules take effect 15 days after filing with the Secretary of State (By authority  
conferred on the department of environmental quality by section 30319 of Act No. 451 of  
the Public Acts of 1994, as amended, being §324.30319 of the Michigan Compiled Laws)  
R 281.951 Mitigation banking definitions.  
Rule 1. As used in the wetland mitigation banking rules:  
(a) "Act" means Act No. 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, as amended, being §324.101 et  
seq. of the Michigan Compiled Laws.  
(b) "Bank sponsor" means a person who independently or in cooperation with another  
person is responsible for the establishment, operation, and long-term management of a  
wetland mitigation bank.  
(c) "Ecoregion" means a geographic region of relatively homogenous ecological systems.  
For the purposes of the wetland mitigation banking rules, the mapped sub-subsections  
found in the publication entitled "Regional Landscape Ecosystems of Michigan,  
Minnesota, and Wisconsin," Dennis A. Albert, 1994, north central forest experiment  
station, United States department of agriculture, shall be used to identify ecoregion  
boundaries.  
(d) "Department" means the department of environmental quality.  
(e) "In-kind mitigation" means replacement of unavoidably lost wetland resources with  
created, restored, or, in exceptional circumstances, preserved wetlands of a similar  
physical/biological type, with the goal of replacing as fully as possible the functions of the  
lost wetland.  
(f) "Mitigation bank" means a site where wetlands are restored, created, or, in exceptional  
circumstances, preserved expressly for the purpose of providing compensatory mitigation  
in accordance with the provisions of the act in advance of authorized, unavoidable impacts  
to wetlands.  
(g) "Mitigation banking" means the process of restoring or creating self-sustaining  
functioning wetlands, or, in exceptional circumstances, preserving high-quality and  
threatened wetlands, as prior replacement for wetlands that are expected to be unavoidably  
impacted by development within a watershed or ecoregion.  
(h) "Mitigation banking agreement" means a formal written agreement between the bank  
sponsor and the department of environmental quality that identifies all relevant  
establishment, operation, and management considerations of a wetland mitigation bank.  
(i) "Mitigation credit" means a unit of value generally equivalent to 1 acre of created or  
restored functioning wetland that may be bought and sold on the open market.  
(j) "Out-of-kind mitigation" means the replacement of unavoidably lost wetland resources  
with created, restored, or, in exceptional circumstances, preserved wetlands that are  
physically or biologically different than the wetlands that were lost. Out-of-kind mitigation  
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may result in the replacement of different wetland functions than the functions that were  
lost.  
(k) "Service area" means an area in which a bank can reasonably be expected to provide  
appropriate compensatory mitigation for impacts to wetlands. The service area will be  
defined on a watershed or ecoregion basis.  
(l) "Unavoidably lost" means a wetland impact which has been approved by the  
department in accordance with permit review criteria specified by the act.  
(m) "Watershed" means a drainage area within which the replacement of certain wetland  
functions, including hydrologic, water quality, and aquatic habitat functions, may be  
authorized by the use of a mitigation bank. Mitigation bank watersheds are illustrated in  
figure 1 in R 281.961.  
(n) "Wetland creation" means the physical and biological establishment of a wetland  
where a wetland did not formerly exist.  
(o) "Wetland function" means the physical, chemical, or biological processes which  
provide benefits to the public and which are recognized by the Michigan legislature in  
section 30302(1)(b) of the act.  
(p) "Wetland preservation" means the protection of an ecologically critical wetland in  
perpetuity through the implementation of appropriate legal and physical mechanisms.  
(q) "Wetland restoration" means the reestablishment of wetland characteristics and  
functions at a site where they have ceased to exist through the replacement of wetland  
hydrology, vegetation, or soils.  
History: 1997 AACS.  
R 281.952 Purpose.  
Rule 2. (1) The purpose of the wetland mitigation banking rules is to provide for the  
statewide establishment and operation of mitigation banks as an alternative wetland  
mitigation option that will protect and enhance the wetland resources of the state while  
expediting the regulatory process.  
(2) Mitigation banking may benefit the state's wetland resources as follows:  
(a) By providing for the establishment of replacement wetlands in advance of wetland  
losses.  
(b) By consolidating small wetland mitigation areas at a single location in a manner that  
enhances the integrity of the wetland ecosystem.  
(c) By providing for improved design of mitigation sites through more efficient use of  
technical resources.  
(d) By providing for and encouraging the integration of wetland creation or restoration  
for purposes of compensatory mitigation with watershed, ecoregion, or community  
resource planning.  
(3) The use of mitigation banking may benefit a wetland permit applicant as follows:  
(a) By reducing the total permit processing time.  
(b) By reducing the cost of compensatory mitigation due to the economy of scale  
associated with the consolidation of individual mitigation projects.  
(c) By increasing the predictability of mitigation costs.  
(d) By providing increased certainty as to the availability of wetland mitigation sites.  
(e) By facilitating compliance with the mitigation requirements of the act.  
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History: 1997 AACS.  
R 281.953 Applicability.  
Rule 3. (1) Any person may establish a mitigation bank and may buy, sell, or use  
mitigation credits as approved by the department to meet the requirements of the act.  
(2) The department may authorize the use of credits from an approved mitigation bank to  
satisfy all or a part of the wetland mitigation requirements associated with any permit  
application in accordance with applicable statutory criteria.  
(3) The department may authorize the use of credits from an established mitigation bank  
only to offset the unavoidable loss of wetlands as approved in accordance with the act.  
Before approving the use of a mitigation bank, the department shall determine that the  
applicant has taken all feasible and prudent steps to avoid the loss of wetland resources and  
has used all practical means to minimize impacts to wetlands. The establishment of, or  
purchase of, credits from a mitigation bank does not eliminate the need to comply with the  
permit review criteria established in the act.  
(4) Site-specific functions shall be replaced on site where practical and where the  
department has determined that on-site replacement is environmentally preferable. In these  
instances, use of a mitigation bank is not appropriate.  
History: 1997 AACS.  
R 281.954 Mitigation banks generally.  
Rule 4. (1) A mitigation bank is a site where wetlands are restored, created, or, in  
exceptional circumstances, preserved expressly for the purpose of providing compensatory  
mitigation in advance of the unavoidable loss of wetlands authorized by the act. A  
mitigation bank shall be maintained in perpetuity.  
(2) The objective of mitigation banking is to provide for the replacement of chemical,  
physical, and biological wetland functions that are lost as a result of authorized impacts.  
To the extent possible, the bank shall provide multiple functions. Single function, low-  
quality wetlands, such as  
wastewater ponds, will not qualify as mitigation sites. The wetlands in a mitigation bank  
are quantified as mitigation credits that are available for use by the bank sponsor or other  
persons to compensate for adverse impacts.  
(3) The number of credits in a mitigation bank will normally be based on the acres of  
created and restored wetland in the bank after monitoring by the bank sponsor demonstrates  
that wetland functions have been established.  
(4) In exceptional circumstances, the preservation of certain existing wetlands may also  
contribute to the number of mitigation credits. Not more than 15% of the total wetland  
acreage in any mitigation bank shall be for the preservation of existing wetlands. Mitigation  
credit for preserved wetlands shall only be given if the department determines that all of  
the following provisions apply:  
(a) The preserved wetlands perform exceptional physical or biological functions that are  
essential to the preservation of the natural resources of the state or the preserved wetlands  
are an ecological type that is rare or endangered.  
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(b) The preserved wetlands are under a demonstrable threat of loss or substantial  
degradation due to human activities that are not under the control of the bank sponsor and  
that are not otherwise restricted by state law.  
(c) Inclusion of the preserved wetlands in a mitigation bank and implementation of other  
actions identified in the mitigation bank plan will serve to protect functions associated with  
the wetlands that would otherwise be lost. Mitigation credit for preserved wetlands meeting  
these criteria will be given at a rate of 0.1 (one tenth) credit for each acre of preserved  
wetland.  
(5) A mitigation bank shall generally be planned and managed in a watershed or ecoregion  
context, or both and shall include restored, created, or, in exceptional circumstances,  
preserved wetlands that will provide functions which meet the needs of the watershed or  
ecoregion, or both.  
(6) Mitigation banks may be located on either public or private lands. However, a  
mitigation bank shall be established on public lands only if it furthers established  
management objectives that have been defined by the agency responsible for managing the  
public land, and with the approval of the agency responsible for management of that land.  
(7) A wetland mitigation bank shall provide a minimum of 10 acres of new wetland. The  
new wetland may consist of multiple sites that are a minimum size of 1 acre each and shall  
be administered under a single banking agreement.  
History: 1997 AACS.  
R 281.955 Mitigation banks; establishment.  
Rule 5. (1) The establishment and use of a mitigation bank are voluntary. The permit  
applicant has the option of providing compensatory mitigation for a single permitted action  
at the time of permit issuance. A mitigation bank shall be established in accordance with  
the wetland mitigation banking rules in order for credits from the mitigation bank to be  
authorized by the department as compensatory mitigation for wetland losses authorized  
under the act.  
(2) A person who chooses to establish and operate a mitigation bank shall enter into a  
written mitigation banking agreement with the department before construction of the  
mitigation bank or any sale or use of credits from the bank. The agreement shall define the  
size of the bank, the ecological type of wetlands to be included, wetland functions to be  
provided, the area to be served by the mitigation bank, and the requirements for  
establishment, operation, and long-term maintenance by the bank sponsor. The bank  
sponsor shall provide the department with all of the information needed to prepare the  
agreement. A mitigation banking agreement shall include all of the following elements and  
provisions:  
(a) A legal identification of the bank sponsor.  
(b) The mitigation bank’s location and size, including a legal description of the property.  
(c) Ownership of the site and documentation that the bank sponsor is authorized to use  
the property. If the owner is not the bank sponsor, then the owner shall sign the mitigation  
banking agreement.  
(d) Bank goals and objectives and the geographic area to be served. The goal statement  
shall indicate the types of wetlands to be developed and the types of wetland losses for  
which the bank is to be used.  
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(e) An analysis of the ability of the site to support a diverse wetland system.  
(f) Consistency with existing watershed or ecoregion management plans.  
(g) Long-term development trends in the area and their potential impact on the long-term  
viability of the wetland mitigation bank.  
(h) A description of baseline conditions at the proposed bank site, including delineation  
of all existing surface waters or wetlands.  
(i) The site development plan.  
(j) A long-term site management plan. If the person responsible for ongoing management  
of the site is not the bank sponsor, then the person shall sign the mitigation banking  
agreement.  
(k) The accounting procedures to be used to track the availability, sale, and use of  
mitigation credits and the procedures for notifying the department of the sale or use of  
credits.  
(l) Performance standards for determining mitigation bank success and certification of  
credits.  
(m) A monitoring plan to evaluate the achievement of performance standards and  
reporting protocol.  
(n) Provisions for financial assurances to be used to complete remedial action in the event  
of bank default or failure, and provisions for the release of financial assurances once an  
approved bank is determined by the department to be self-sustaining.  
(o) Provisions for the protection of the site in perpetuity, generally through a conservation  
easement or deed restriction.  
(p) Assumption of liability for construction and operation by the bank sponsor.  
(q) If the bank will also be used to meet mitigation requirements of other federal, state or  
local agencies, the agencies also need to sign the agreement.  
(3) Before submitting a mitigation banking proposal to the department, the bank sponsor  
shall notify all affected local units of government and adjacent property owners of the  
proposed wetland mitigation bank and shall take reasonable steps to address any objections  
to the project. The bank sponsor shall provide copies of any comments received and  
documentation of efforts to resolve local issues to the department with the mitigation  
banking proposal.  
(4) The bank sponsor shall obtain the necessary construction permits for the alteration of  
existing wetlands or surface waters and all other required federal, state, or local approvals  
before initiating wetland creation or restoration activities. The permit review criteria in the  
act will be applied in reviewing an application to construct a mitigation bank.  
(5) Nothing in these rules preempts the need to obtain local approval for construction of  
a wetland mitigation bank under local zoning ordinances or other local regulations.  
History: 1997 AACS.  
R 281.956 Mitigation bank credits; use standards.  
Rule 6. (1) In determining whether credits from a particular mitigation bank may be used  
to meet the requirements of the act, the department shall consider all of the following  
factors:  
(a) The location of the mitigation bank relative to the permitted wetland impact.  
(b) The wetland types represented in the bank.  
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(c) The sustainable wetland functions provided by the bank.  
(d) The area of wetland provided as mitigation relative to the impact.  
(2) In-kind mitigation is required unless the department determines that it is not practical  
or that in-kind mitigation is not essential and that out-of-kind wetland mitigation provides  
a greater benefit to the wetland resources of the state. The department may consider the use  
of an out-of-kind wetland mitigation bank based on 1 or more of the following criteria:  
(a) The types of wetlands restored or created in the wetland mitigation bank help to restore  
the historic balance of wetland types within the watershed or ecoregion.  
(b) The mitigation bank provides particular wetland functions that meet defined resource  
management needs and goals articulated in an established watershed or ecosystem plan and  
will contribute to the overall health of the ecosystem.  
(c) The mitigation bank supports a diverse wetland complex that offsets cumulative  
primary and secondary impacts within the watershed.  
(d) The mitigation credits will be used to offset the loss of wetland types that cannot  
readily be recreated in a manner that is consistent with the permit review criteria of the act.  
(3) The service area of a mitigation bank shall be appropriate to the functions provided.  
The department shall use all of the following criteria in defining the service area of a  
mitigation bank:  
(a) Functions that are dependent upon the location of the wetland in the subwatershed  
shall be replaced by mitigation credits from a bank or other site within the same  
subwatershed.  
(b) Wetland functions which are watershed dependent, but which are not specific to a  
subwatershed, will be replaced in the same watershed as the impact.  
(c) Wetland functions, such as migratory bird habitat, that are not dependent upon location  
in the watershed shall be replaced either within the same watershed or within the same  
ecoregion.  
(d) The mitigation required by an individual permit may be split so that location-specific  
wetland functions are replaced on site or within the same subwatershed area, while other  
functions are replaced through a bank that has a larger defined service area.  
(4) When credits from a mitigation bank are used, the mitigation ratio shall be determined  
based on the nature of the permitted wetland loss in accordance with R 281.925.  
History: 1997 AACS.  
R 281.957 Certification and approval of mitigation credits.  
Rule 7. (1) Before use of mitigation credits, the bank sponsor shall assess the  
establishment of wetlands in accordance with a monitoring program defined in the  
mitigation banking agreement and shall certify the extent to which performance standards  
defined in the mitigation banking agreement have been met. The design of the monitoring  
program shall measure the achievement of performance standards associated with the  
targeted wetland functions. Monitoring shall begin at least 1 year before use of credits.  
Once credits in the bank are used, monitoring shall continue on an annual basis until  
performance standards for the full establishment of the bank are met. Monitoring  
parameters shall include all of the following:  
(a) Hydrology.  
(b) Plant community structure.  
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(c) Animal community structure.  
(d) Design acreage.  
(e) Other measures as defined in the mitigation banking agreement.  
(2) The bank sponsor shall certify that appropriate wetland functions have been  
established in the mitigation bank pursuant to the banking agreement by submitting a report  
to the department that includes all of the following information:  
(a) All data collected during the monitoring program.  
(b) An evaluation of the status of wetlands in the mitigation bank as compared to design  
criteria.  
(c) A list of the number and type of credits for which approval is requested.  
(3) The department shall approve or disapprove the certification of the bank sponsor  
within 60 days of receipt of the sponsor's report. The department may determine that  
mitigation credits cannot be approved because the wetlands have not achieved design  
wetland functions or because of a lack of adequate information to document wetland  
functions. The department's evaluation may include an on-site inspection of the mitigation  
bank site if deemed necessary. If the department determines that wetland conditions have  
been established in accordance with the mitigation banking agreement, then the department  
shall issue a letter to the bank sponsor approving the number and type of wetland credits  
that are available for use and shall list the approved credits in a mitigation bank registry as  
required in R 281.958.  
(4) The department shall not authorize the use of credits from a mitigation bank in advance  
of initial restoration or creation of wetlands in the bank except as provided in R 281.960.  
The department may authorize the use of approved credits from the mitigation bank in  
accordance with the following schedule:  
(a) The use of 50% of approved mitigation bank credits will be allowed after the  
department determines that construction has been completed in accordance with plans and  
specifications included in the banking agreement and design hydrology has been achieved  
and maintained for at least 1 calendar year.  
(b) The use of an additional 25% of total credits will be allowed when the mitigation bank  
wetland plant community achieves 50% of design cover based on performance standards  
defined in the mitigation banking agreement.  
(c) The use of the final 25% of credits will be allowed when the created and restored  
wetlands in the bank are fully functional and meet performance standards defined in the  
mitigation banking agreement.  
(5) If the department agrees to inclusion of preserved wetlands in a mitigation bank in  
accordance with R 281.954, then the bank sponsor shall provide documentation of  
permanent protection of the wetlands through appropriate legal instruments and shall  
complete and document all other steps defined in the mitigation banking agreement needed  
to permanently protect the preserved wetland area before department approval of the use  
of the credits.  
(6) The department may audit a mitigation bank at any time to evaluate the status of the  
wetlands in the bank and to confirm the number of mitigation credits available. The  
department may inspect the physical premises of the bank at all reasonable times.  
History: 1997 AACS.  
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R 281.958 Registry of mitigation bank credits.  
Rule 8. (1) The department shall maintain a registry of established wetland mitigation  
banks and approved mitigation credits to track the generation and use of credits and to  
provide information to the public regarding the availability of credits. The mitigation bank  
registry shall include all of the following information:  
(a) A general description of the bank.  
(b) The total number of credits (acres) in the bank, the number previously used to meet  
mitigation requirements, the number offered for sale by the bank sponsor, and the number  
sold.  
(c) The number of acres of each major ecological type of wetland.  
(d) The defined service area of the bank.  
(e) The name and address of the bank sponsor.  
(f) The date of bank establishment by mitigation banking agreement, and the date of  
approval of mitigation credits.  
(g) An identification code for each approved mitigation bank.  
(2) Within 60 days of the sale of approved mitigation bank credits, the bank sponsor shall  
report the sale and the per credit sale price to the department. The sale price shall not be  
included in the registry.  
(3) The department shall list approved mitigation credits in the mitigation bank registry.  
Inclusion of uplands in mitigation bank plans is encouraged and may be essential to fully  
meet functional goals, however, uplands will not be included in the mitigation credits  
available in the bank, except as provided in R 281.960.  
(4) All information contained in the registry shall be readily available to the public.  
History: 1997 AACS.  
R 281.959 Long-term management and protection of wetland mitigation banks.  
Rule 9. (1) The bank sponsor shall assure, through legally binding instruments, including  
leases, contracts, deed restrictions, or conservation easements, that the mitigation bank  
shall be maintained in perpetuity. Restrictive covenants that provide for long-term  
management shall be included in any lease, sale, or other conversion and shall run with the  
property.  
(2) Long-term management is the responsibility of the mitigation bank sponsor and shall  
include site maintenance, monitoring of wetland conditions, remedial action needed to fully  
establish and maintain wetland characteristics in accordance with permit requirements, and  
notification of subsequent owners of limitations on the property. The bank sponsor shall  
submit a long term management plan as part of the mitigation banking agreement.  
Responsibility for the long-term management of a wetland mitigation bank may be  
transferred through the sale or lease of the property or through an agreement with another  
person if the department approves of the transfer and if the mitigation banking agreement  
is amended accordingly.  
(3) The bank sponsor may enter into a legal agreement with a state or local agency or a  
nonprofit resource management organization to manage the mitigation bank for a particular  
purpose as defined in the banking agreement. In this instance, the long-term management  
entity shall sign the banking agreement.  
Page 8  
(4) Before the use of any credits from an approved wetland mitigation bank, the bank  
sponsor shall provide financial assurances in the form of a performance bond, irrevocable  
letter of credit, or equivalent legal instrument that is sufficient to guarantee that mitigation  
bank establishment, monitoring, and, if necessary, remedial action will be carried out in  
accordance with the mitigation banking agreement. The mitigation banking agreement  
shall define the form and amount of the financial assurance to be provided and shall also  
define the temporal limits on the financial assurances tied to the achievement of  
performance standards that define the establishment of a fully functional, self-sustaining  
wetland. If the wetland by design is not self-sustaining, that is, if maintenance is required  
for dikes, dams, water control structures, or other components essential to the preservation  
of functional wetlands on the site, then the bank sponsor shall make financial provisions  
for perpetual management and maintenance. A state agency that sponsors a mitigation bank  
may enter into a formal interagency agreement with the department to guarantee long-term  
protection and management of the mitigation bank instead of providing financial  
assurances.  
History: 1997 AACS.  
R 281.960 State priority wetland restoration areas.  
Rule 10. (1) The department may, in cooperation with the department of natural resources,  
designate priority wetland restoration areas in large former wetland complexes which have  
been impacted by significant historic loss or degradation of wetlands and which have a  
high potential for successful wetland restoration. Areas so designated may include either  
public or private lands, but must have the potential to provide the public with vital wetland  
functions after ecologically sensitive restoration of wetland areas.  
(2) The department shall develop a management plan for each designated priority wetland  
restoration area and shall consider the concerns of the department of natural resources and  
the potential of the area to provide critical wetland for any of the following:  
(a) Habitat.  
(b) Wildlife and fish production.  
(c) Flood control.  
(d) Water quality protection.  
(e) Groundwater recharge.  
(f) Recreation. Management plans which impact lands administered by the department of  
natural resources are subject to their approval.  
(3) The department may enter into partnerships with other state agencies, local units of  
government, or private parties to promote the restoration and protection of wetlands within  
a priority wetland restoration area in accordance with the management plan. The  
department may provide funding or in-kind services to the partnership to support the  
management plan.  
(4) Any person may establish a wetland mitigation bank within a priority wetland  
restoration area. All of the general requirements that apply to mitigation banks apply to  
mitigation banks established in priority areas, except for the special provisions specified in  
subrules (5) and (6) of this rule. The department may assist in the establishment of a  
wetland mitigation bank by identifying state lands suitable for use in the bank or by  
providing technical assistance.  
Page 9  
(5) The department may establish a mitigation bank within a priority wetland restoration  
area if a mitigation bank is not established by other parties within 1 year after designation  
of the priority wetland restoration area or if existing banks do not provide adequate capacity  
or wetland functions.  
(6) A wetland mitigation bank established within a priority wetland restoration area may  
utilize any or all of the following incentives if approved by the department in the mitigation  
banking agreement:  
(a) Up to 15% of planned wetland credits may be used before the establishment of wetland  
conditions if the department has approved the site plan and signed the mitigation banking  
agreement, the bank sponsor has obtained all state and local permits and approvals required  
for construction  
of the mitigation bank, and the bank sponsor has provided adequate financial assurances to  
ensure the timely establishment of wetland functions.  
(b) The department may approve partial mitigation credit for uplands within the priority  
wetland restoration area mitigation bank that are vital to the successful functioning of  
wetlands in the mitigation bank. The condition of these uplands shall be protected under a  
conservation easement or equivalent instrument. The mitigation banking agreement shall  
specify the credit received for uplands based on the extent to which the uplands directly  
enhance or maintain the integrity of the aquatic ecosystem, but in no case shall more than  
0.5 credits be authorized for each acre of upland. Not more than 10% of the total acreage  
for which mitigation credit is given in a mitigation bank shall be upland.  
(c) The department may approve mitigation credit for the preservation of certain existing  
wetlands which provide exceptional functions or which represent rare wetland types, such  
as lakeplain wet prairie. Not more than 25% of the wetland acreage approved in a priority  
wetland restoration area mitigation bank shall be for the preservation of existing wetlands.  
The incentives specified in this subrule do not apply to any other mitigation bank.  
History: 1997 AACS.  
R 281.961 Figure 1; Michigan wetland mitigation banking watersheds.  
Rule 11. Figure 1 reads as follows:  
**** See "Figure below" ****  
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History: 1997 AACS.  
Page 11  
;