1. WHAT THE NATIONS BANKERS THINK ABOUT WETLAND MITIGATION BANKS Michael D. Kaplowitz, Michigan State University Frank Lupi, Michigan State University Deborah Bailey, MI Dept. of Environmental Quality

2. 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 govt agency personnel and documents Courtesy: MI Seagrant

3. Study of Bank Managers Nationwide Nationwide 380 mitigation banks IDd 280 managers of those banks Stratified by state Over-sampled states w/<5 RR = 74%, CR = 99% Courtesy: Ducks Unlimited

4. Method Identify key informants Identify key informants In-depth, structured interviews In-depth, structured interviews Interview guide; iterative design Interview guide; iterative design @ 30-60 minutes @ 30-60 minutes Audio-recorded Audio-recorded Transcripts; > 1,800 pages Transcripts; > 1,800 pages Data analysis Data analysis Qualitative-Atlas LI © Qualitative-Atlas LI © Quantitative-SPSS © Quantitative-SPSS ©

5. Key Themes Iterative coding process Iterative coding process Themes emerged Themes emerged Representative quotes Representative quotes Example: Key themes for Example: Key themes for Obstacles Faced Keys to Success Structured questions for Wetland Types in Banks Wetland Types in Banks Ownership Ownership Proposed Banks Bank attributes

6. Bank Ownership 9Non-profit6% 42Private30% 89Government64%

7. Bankers Experience 7 8 9 10 11 Average time working in banking in banking Average Time Working in Banking Government Private

8. Educational Levels of Bankers

9. Size of Wetland Banks Range: 0.50 acres to 48,000 acres Range: 0.50 acres to 48,000 acres Mean = 963 acres Mean = 963 acres

10. Mitigation Bank Growth

11. Obstacles Faced

12. Keys to Success

13. Extensive 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?

14. Acknowledgements Thank you very much.