WHAT THE NATION’S BANKERSTHINK ABOUT WETLAND
MITIGATION BANKS
Michael D. Kaplowitz, Michigan State University
Frank Lupi,Michigan State University
Deborah Bailey,MI Dept. of Environmental Quality
Background Wetland mitigation banks since
1995 Federal Guidance
Mitigation through purchase of credits for wetlands constructed, enhanced, or preserved
Some bio-physical studies of wetland banks’ ecology
Other studies based on gov’t agency personnel and documents
Courtesy: MI Seagrant
Study of Bank Managers
NationwideNationwide
380 mitigation banks ID’d
280 managers of those banks
Stratified by state
Over-sampled states w/<5
RR = 74%, CR = 99%
Courtesy: Ducks Unlimited
MethodMethod
Identify key informantsIdentify key informantsIn-depth, structured interviewsIn-depth, structured interviews
Interview guide; iterative designInterview guide; iterative design@ 30-60 minutes@ 30-60 minutesAudio-recordedAudio-recorded
Transcripts; > 1,800 pagesTranscripts; > 1,800 pages Data analysisData analysis
Qualitative-Atlas LI ©Qualitative-Atlas LI ©Quantitative-SPSS © Quantitative-SPSS ©
Key ThemesKey Themes Iterative coding processIterative coding process
Themes emergedThemes emerged Representative quotesRepresentative quotes
Example: Key themes forExample: Key themes for Obstacles Faced Keys to Success
Structured questions for Wetland Types in BanksWetland Types in Banks OwnershipOwnership
• Proposed Banks• Bank attributes
Bank Ownership
99 Non-profitNon-profit 6%6%
4242 PrivatePrivate 30%30%
8989 GovernmentGovernment 64%64%
Bankers’ ExperienceBankers’ Experience
7
8
9
10
11
Average time working in banking
Average Time Working in Banking
Government
Private
Educational Levels of BankersEducational Levels of Bankers
Educational History
Government
No AdvancedSchooling
Associates orBachelors
Masters
PhD
Educational History Private
No AdvancedSchoolingAssociates orBachelorsMasters
PhD
Size of Wetland Banks Size of Wetland Banks
Range: 0.50 acres to 48,000 acresRange: 0.50 acres to 48,000 acres Mean = 963 acresMean = 963 acres
Mitigation Bank Growth Mitigation Bank Growth
0
20
40
60
80
None One Two or More
Proposed Expansions or Banks
Government Private
Obstacles FacedObstacles Faced
Requirements/ Regulation
Changes
Lack of Agency
Support
Inexperience
of
Regulators
Bureaucracy
TimeIn Lieu Fee
Programs
Money
Right
Site
Public
PerceptionsLandowners
Competition
Science/ Nature
0
5
1 0
1 5
2 0
2 5
3 0
Requirements/ Regulation
Changes
Bureaucracy Money Landowners
Percentage of Managers Commenting on Particular Obstacle
Government Private
Keys to SuccessKeys to Success
Site Selection
Hydrology
Design
Technical Knowledge
Commitment/Monitoring
Agency Support
Funding
Demand
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Si te Sel ec ti on T ec hni c al K nowl edge Fundi ng
Key to Success
Percentage of Managers Commenting on Particular Key to
Success
Government Private
Extensive Data SetExtensive Data Set
What would you ask of this data?What would you ask of this data?
What comparative analyses matter?What comparative analyses matter? Is the breakdown by govt/private useful?Is the breakdown by govt/private useful? Other comparisons?Other comparisons?
AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
Thank you very much.
