As the world remembers the late President George Herbert Walker Bush this week, it has been difficult for historians and journalists to list all the many accomplishments of his one-term Administration.
The Bush legacy will include important environmental achievements for water and air.
The vital directive first adopted by George HW Bush and the U.S. Congress, instructing the U.S. Army Corps to pursue the goal of “no overall net loss” for the nation's water resources (Section 307, Water Resources Development Act 1990) remains the backbone of the permitting program under the Clean Water Act through today.
The graphic timeline below traces the origins of wetland permitting and wetland mitigation in the United States from the original 1890s River and Harbors Act and concludes with the 2008 Mitigation Rule (importantly adopted during the George W. Bush Administration).
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 •
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The 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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