Compensatory Mitigation Services

Ducks Unlimited is an accredited land trust with a bio-engineering staff skilled at implementing wetland restoration projects in even the most complex regulatory settings. When landowners, developers, or agencies plan projects that impact wetlands, streams, or aquatic resources, they’re required to offset those impacts through compensatory mitigation. In simple terms, this means creating or protecting new wetlands to make up for what’s lost, ensuring both regulatory compliance and meaningful conservation benefits. Ducks Unlimited helps clients navigate this process, secure credits, and restore critical habitats nationwide.

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What is Compensatory Mitigation?

Compensatory mitigation means restoring, enhancing, or creating wetlands and other aquatic resources to offset unavoidable impacts from development or infrastructure projects. This ensures that when negative impacts affect our natural resources, new healthy wetlands are created or protected, so communities and wildlife continue to benefit.

In the U.S., compensatory mitigation is required by federal and state laws, such as Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, to achieve “no net loss” of wetlands. Ducks Unlimited offers trusted mitigation banking, in-lieu fee programs, and permittee-responsible solutions to help clients meet these requirements and keep projects moving forward.

Our Mitigation Services

With a legacy of wetlands conservation since 1937, Ducks Unlimited provides proven compensatory mitigation solutions that help project sponsors and developers meet federal, state, and local requirements, while investing in high-priority habitat restoration.

Our mitigation options include:

Mitigation Banking

Pre-approved banks with available credits that offset impacts before they occur, streamlining permitting and reducing risk.

In-Lieu Fee Programs

Programs where permittees pay a fee to transfer their mitigation obligation to DU, which then delivers approved restoration projects.

Permittee-Responsible Mitigation

For unique projects where credits are unavailable, DU plans, implements, and monitors custom site-specific offsets.

Environmental Compliance Mitigation

DU also provides conservation banking for species, migratory bird offsets, and other measures required under environmental policies like EO 11990 and NEPA.

Benefits of Compensatory Mitigation with Ducks Unlimited

Ducks Unlimited’s mitigation services don’t just help you check a regulatory box — they help you deliver real conservation outcomes while keeping your project moving forward. Benefits include:

  • Meet federal, and state, and local permit requirements with confidence
  • Reduce project risk and avoid unexpected delays
  • Reserve pre-approved credits in advance to simplify planning
  • Protect water quality and local communities
  • Reinforce your organization’s sustainability commitments
  • Support durable, large-scale conservation that benefits wildlife and people

Why Choose Ducks Unlimited?

Since 1937, Ducks Unlimited has restored, enhanced, and protected tens of millions of acres of wetlands and associated habitats across North America. As the world’s largest nonprofit dedicated to wetlands conservation, DU stands apart through: 

Proven Expertise

Decades of bioengineering, science, and restoration success in diverse landscapes.

Trusted Partnerships

Strong working relationships with federal and state regulators to help projects stay compliant.

Real Impact

Revenue from mitigation projects is reinvested in high-priority conservation, benefiting wetlands, waterfowl, and local communities.

Mitigation Programs by Region

Select your region to learn more about mitigation programs near you

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Recent Mitigation Success Stories

Contact Our Team

Ready to discuss your mitigation needs? Contact with our regional experts below.

Great Lakes/Atlantic Region

Patrick A. Raney, Ph.D.

Email: praney@ducks.org

Phone: (315) 708-9614

Great Plains Region

Justin Williams

Email: juwilliams@ducks.org

Phone: (701) 202-7132

Southern Region

Eric Held

Email: eheld@ducks.org

Phone: (601) 956-1936

Western Region

April Zohn

Email: azohn@ducks.org

Phone: (360) 885-2011

Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Compensatory Mitigation?

    Compensatory mitigation restores, enhances, or creates wetlands to offset unavoidable development impacts, ensuring no net loss of vital habitats and helping communities and wildlife continue to thrive, all in compliance with federal and state regulations like the Clean Water Act.

    Who needs compensatory mitigation services?

    These services are typically required by individuals, companies, or organizations involved in development activities that impact wetlands, streams, or other aquatic resources, such as land developers and builders, energy companies, state and federal agencies, transportation, real estate and investment firms, and more.

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