Wetland Delineation Cost Calculator

Wetlands require study, permitting, and mitigation credits.

Total site acres

Wetland acres impacted

Delineation cost per acre

Mitigation credit per acre

Mitigation ratio

Total wetland cost

$511,000

Delineation cost

$11,000

Mitigation cost

$500,000

How the math works

Delineation = $5k base + acres × rate. Mitigation = wetland × ratio × credit cost.

$5k + 12 × $500 = $11k delineation + 2.5 × 2 × $100k = $500k mitigation = $511k total.

How to Use

Enter total site acres.
Enter wetland acres impacted.
Enter delineation cost per acre.
Enter mitigation credit cost per acre.
Enter mitigation ratio.
Read total wetland cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Delineation process?

Professional wetlands biologist conducts field survey (soils, vegetation, hydrology). Produces delineation map. Army Corps jurisdictional determination. 2-6 month process. Delineation cost: $3-15k base + $200-600/acre surveyed.

Mitigation options?

Purchase mitigation bank credits: $50k-250k/acre. On-site mitigation (create new wetland): $75k-200k/acre. Mitigation ratio typically 1.5:1 to 3:1 (must mitigate more than you impact).

Permitting timeline?

Nationwide permit (NWP): 60-120 days for small impacts. Individual permit (large impacts): 6-18 months. Public notice. Agency review. Design revisions. Expensive, time-consuming, uncertain. Avoid wetlands in site selection when possible.

How often should I rerun this?

Rerun this calculator whenever inputs change materially — new rent roll data, rate moves, loan balance updates, or quarterly operating data. For active deals, monthly refresh is typical. For stabilized assets under monitoring, quarterly is fine. Treat the output as a decision tool, not a one-time answer — market conditions evolve and so should your analysis.