Over the past 25 years wetland mitigation banking has emerged as an increasingly
popular market-based regulatory system designed to offset wetland losses through the use
of pre-constructed, government-approved wetland mitigation banks. While research
highlighting the biophysical effectiveness of this approach is prevalent, little is known
about the spatial and social characteristics of mitigation sites when compared to sites of
permitted wetland loss.
This study used wetland mitigation banking records from four Oregon counties to
determine the extent to which wetland displacement has occurred, if social characteristics differ between sites of wetland loss and bank sites and if the density of wetlands near
permits differs from banks. Results suggest that banks have been located an average of
11 miles from the removal-fill site. Additionally, when compared to removal-fill sites,
populations living near banks were wealthier, less densely populated and less ethnically diverse.
