The Copperwood Project has been permitted by EGLE to destroy 61 acres of wetlands — one of the largest totals in Michigan permitting history — despite the project having less than 10% of its startup funding. Michigan has a "no net loss" wetland policy. To compensate for the annihilation of 61 acres, Copperwood is creating around 18 acres of "new wetlands." But research shows that — no surprise — man-made wetlands tend to have decreased biodiversity and increased prevalence of non-native species.