The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $5 million for eight new wetland mitigation banking projects through the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program. South Dakota is one of the states getting funded and this is their second grant. The first one awarded in 2016 was for $9.9 million to establish the program. South Dakota Farm Bureau Wetlands Specialist Wayne Smith says this new award will help them continue and complete their original program.
He says the original grant was completely federally funded and this new one for a three year time period is a matching grant.
Smith says they’ve gotten great interest in the Wetland Mitigation Banking program.
Wetland mitigation banks create credits through the restoration, creation or enhancement of wetlands to compensate for impacts on wetlands at other locations. Smith says they have some funding left from their original grant and that will be completed by December 31 for 2021.
