ORAL PRESENTATION CO-AUTHORS: Joshua Brown (Wisconsin DNR); Tyler Raeder (Wisconsin NRCS) TITLE: Wisconsin DNR and USDA agricultural mitigation banking progress and updates ABSTRACT: The Wisconsin DNR (WDNR) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) have developed Wisconsin’s first Agricultural Wetland Mitigation Bank (WAMB) for USDA participants. The NRCS WAMB Program provides financial assistance and oversight for the development and establishment of mitigation banks. Wetland banking provides a mechanism by which a USDA participant may purchase offsetting wetland “credits” from WAMB bank sponsors that have previously created or restored wetlands. The credits represent acres of wetlands that have been previously approved for wetland replacement, subsequently restored, and deposited in the bank. The WAMB provides opportunities strictly for USDA agricultural participants with wetlands subject to the compliance provisions of the 1985 Food Security Act (as amended). To date, the WAMB has completed three mitigation projects in Dane, Ozaukee, and Milwaukee Counties totaling more than 55 acres. There are currently 10.4 credits available for purchase by USDA participants, with more expected to be available later this year. I will describe these existing projects and provide information on how to get involved with this program. The WAMB has grant funding available for additional mitigation projects across Wisconsin and interested landowners or public property stewards can work with the WDNR and NRCS to become bank sponsors to help create or restore wetlands on their properties. BIO: Derrick Klimesh started with the Iowa NRCS in 2011, working in North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. He is currently the Assistant State Conservationist for Compliance in Madison. Derrick manages NRCS staff who complete certified wetland determinations for Wisconsin farm program participants. He has a bachelor's degree in Conservation Management from Upper Iowa University and a master's degree in Watershed Ecology from Louisiana State University.