Wetlands

Explore your options

If wetlands are present on a property, there are options available to you:

Wetland mitigation banking

Approved Wetland Mitigation Banks

This page provides a list of wetland mitigation banks approved for business in Wisconsin that are actively generating mitigation credits. There are currently 29 open banks with credits for sale. Use the table to determine available credits in each…

Wetland compensatory mitigation

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District Regulatory Division (Corps), and the Wisconsin DNR are announcing the release of the draft Wisconsin Mitigation Guidelines, Version 2 (Wisconsin Guidelines). The agencies have developed the…

Map review

The first step in locating wetlands is reviewing maps. Video Guide - Step 1 In the "Waking up to Wetlands" video guide, the "Step 1: Reviewing Maps" module shows what maps to look at, where to find them and how to use them. Maps Using the…

Locating Wetlands

Wetlands are not always obvious. Wisconsin has more than a dozen different types and some may be dry for most or all of the year. But all wetlands are protected by law and permits are required before you build on wetlands or otherwise affect them.…

Wetland mapping

Wisconsin Wetland Inventory maps show graphic representations of the type, size and location of wetlands in Wisconsin. These maps have been prepared from the analysis of high altitude imagery in conjunction with soil surveys, topographic maps,…

Wetland Identification Program

The Wetland Identification Program assists landowners to determine if wetlands are present on their property. Please contact DNR Wetland ID staff to determine if the Identification Service or Confirmation Service are necessary for your project. How…

Wetland Restoration Handbook for Wisconsin landowners

This new edition of the Wetland Restoration Handbook for Wisconsin Landowners (Second Edition), published by the Wisconsin DNR, continues to encourage responsible and effective restoration of wetlands. Cover of the Wetland Restoration Handbook for…

Wetland functional values

Before the 1980s, wetlands were often viewed as wastelands, useful only when drained or filled. We now know that wetlands benefit people and the natural world in remarkable ways. They provide critical habitat for wildlife, water storage to prevent…