ECONOMIC ANALYSES OF WETLANDS MITIGATION PROJECTS
IN THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S.
Bart Baca and Steve Florey
Coastal Science Associates, Inc.
328 Second Avenue North
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250
Dennis King and Curtis Bohlen
Maryland International Institute for Ecological Economics
1 Williams Street
Solomons, Maryland 20688
ABSTRACT
Economic analyses were conducted of numerous wetlands mitigation projects
to
determine the real costs of successful projects. The work was part of a study
conducted by the Maryland Intemational Institute for Ecological Economics.
Private
consultants were contacted who provided itemized cost data on their projects
in
spreadsheets or hard copy. The present paper is an analysis of the data relating
to
various wetlands within the U.S., emphasizing the southeastern U.S. Analyses
included preconstruction, construction, and postconstruction costs.
As expected, there was much variation between project costs in the U.S.,
with a
range of between $77,900 per acre and $18,000 per acre (Mean $38,275; S.D.
$13,456). Freshwater wetlands were generally much more costly than saltwater
wetlands, and construction costs far exceeded pre- and postconstruction costs.
Complex or mixed wetlands also showed generally higher costs.
Southeastern wetland types analyzed were predominantly freshwater, but they
provide accurate guidelines for the region. In the southeastern U.S., the
average
wetland cost $23,874 (S.D. $11,410) to construct and succeed. Land costs
doubled
the mitigation costs. For longer term, successful projects, the cost of maintenance
was the major component of postconstruction costs.


16