Wetland and Stream Replacement Fund

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

What is WSRF and how does it work?

The Wetland and Stream Replacement Fund (WSRF) is a program enacted by the Virginia General Assembly to operate as a state-administered in-lieu fee program for compensatory mitigation. In-Lieu Fee (ILF) mitigation programs like WSRF are programs operated by a non-profit or governmental organization to assist permittees facing unavoidable impacts to wetlands and/or streams, by providing them with an additional source of mitigation credits.

The WSRF was established to provide both ecological benefits and a public service to the Commonwealth. Ecologically, it helps ensure no net loss of wetland acreage and function of state waters within Virginia’s river watersheds. As a public service to the Commonwealth, the WSRF is approved to sell mitigation credits that permittees may reserve for their active applications and permits, in the absence of other sources of third-party mitigation bank credits and other ILF credits. For more information on advanced credits, navigate to the following link: WSRF Advance Credits

After avoidance and minimization, compensation may be completed off-site by third-party mitigation sponsors, like WSRF, who establish mitigation credits through standard crediting ratios for creation, restoration, enhancement, and/or preservation of wetlands, streams, and associated adjacent buffers.

For more information, please visit the program instrument section below.

Who Is Eligible?

WSRF acts as a safety net for prospective purchasers who need to buy credits where they are not available from mitigation banks or other ILF programs. DEQ decides if someone is eligible when they ask to reserve or buy credits for an aquatic impact.

To be eligible, prospective purchasers must demonstrate that:

Their use of WSRF credits is for a permit, court order, enforcement action or any other government-approved reason for buying mitigation credits.
No other credits are available from mitigation banks or similar ILF programs in the area where the impact is proposed.

How Do I Purchase Credits?

1. Please review the following, at a minimum, prior to contacting DEQ:

2. Please feel free to email questions to vwp.applications@deq.virginia.gov.

3. To begin a request to reserve or purchase credits, please fill out the complete Credit Eligibility Checklist, and submit the completed checklist and all supporting information using subject line “WSRF Credit Request - Project Name” to vwp.applications@deq.virginia.gov. If you are a user on SWaN, submit a SWaN request to reserve WSRF Credits. WSRF will process requests for credit purchases in the order that they are submitted.

How Will WSRF Implement Restoration?

The WSRF plans to meet its mitigation obligations by purchasing released mitigation bank credits or other ILF credits, as they become available, or contracting for mitigation sites from established mitigation sponsors and providers. By partnering with experienced mitigation bankers, ILF program sponsors, and environmental consultants, the program reinvests funds directly into the local mitigation industry to support ongoing environmental restoration efforts.

For more information, please visit the following:

Program Instrument with Exhibits

WSRF Program Instrument (signed 2/19/2026)