Mitigation bank credits are effective for offsetting impacts under the Clean Water Act (CWA) because they offer pre-approved, ecologically sound, and legally recognized compensation for unavoidable environmental impacts to waters and wetlands. Here’s why they work so well:
Credits are only released once the mitigation bank meets certain performance standards (e.g., restored wetland functions), ensuring ecological gains are real and measurable before they’re used to offset impacts.
Banks go through a rigorous review and approval process by an Inter-Agency Review Team (IRT), including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This reduces uncertainty for both regulators and permit applicants.
Permittees buy credits rather than designing, permitting, and maintaining their own mitigation projects. This speeds up the approval process and shifts long-term responsibility to the bank sponsor.
Banks often consolidate small, fragmented efforts into larger, more ecologically valuable sites—creating better outcomes for species, hydrology, and water quality.
Credits can only be used within a specific service area, ensuring mitigation occurs in proximity to the impact, preserving watershed integrity.
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We invite you to submit a nomination for NEBA's 2025 Awards for Excellence in mitigation banking and public service. The awards recognize those who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the mitigation banking and the regulatory community.
Mitigation banking is often discussed in terms of credits—wetland credits, stream credits, or other units used to compensate for unavoidable environmental impacts. But the value of a mitigation bank extends far beyond the regulatory credit itself. Well-designed mitigation banks can provide a broad range of ecosystem services that benefit watersheds, wildlife, communities, and taxpayers.Cleaner Water •
Read MoreThe National Environmental Banking Association is proud to honor this year’s award recipients—leaders who exemplify innovation, integrity, and excellence in advancing mitigation banking and ecological restoration. These individuals and organizations are setting new standards for environmental outcomes, strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors, and inspiring the next generation of restoration professionals.2026 Award WinnersAward for
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