NAWM
The National Association of Wetland Managers is a nonprofit membership organization established in 1983 to promote and enhance protection and management of wetland resources, to promote application of sound science to wetland management efforts and to provide training and education for our members and the public. Membership is open to anyone who is involved with wetland resources.
We invite you to join us for NAWM’s Annual State/Tribal/Federal Coordination (STFC) Meeting, to be held at the Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, WA from April 8-10, 2025 with optional field trips on Friday, April 11.
The theme for this meeting is Building an Evergreen Future with Wetlands and will have a particular focus on cross-boundary issues, restoration, mitigation, adaptation, geospatial approaches, and more. The purpose of this annual meeting is to support state and Tribal wetland program managers, and other wetland professionals as they respond to challenges in the coming year.
Agenda
Keynote Speaker
Greg Masten, M.Ed.
President of the National Congress of American Indians Foundation
Registration
Meeting Registration includes lunch on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Please note, Speaker registration is now open.
Standard Registration: November 11, 2024 – February 27, 2025
Late Registration: February 28 – March 28, 2025 
Cancellation/Refund Policy for In-Person Participation
If your plans change and you cannot attend, written notice must be provided to Laura Burchill at NAWM (laura@nawm.org) by the following deadlines:
January 1, 2025 - February 28 2025 50% of Registration Refunded
After February 28, 2025 No Refund
Any time before February 28, 2025 You may substitute the name on your registration, but you must notify NAWM of the change.
Scholarships
Jon A. Kusler Student Scholarship Award is Now Closed
A limited number of scholarships are available to U.S. state and Tribal agency staff to assist those in need to cover travel, lodging and/or registration costs to attend NAWM's Annual State/Tribal/Federal Coordination Meeting. Our intent is to support as many people as possible with the limited amount of funding that we have. If you are able to cover some of your expenses, that will enable more of our colleagues to attend.
Scholarships may be provided to those who are eligible for up to a maximum of $1,000 in expenses. Please note that scholarships are provided as reimbursements for expenses paid - receipts are required for reimbursement. Registration expenses will be waived (versus reimbursed) and will be considered as part of the total scholarship expense amount approved.
Scholarship decisions will be made on a rolling basis until all available funds have been used.
Raffle
We are accepting Raffle donations. Please contact Dawn Smith (dawn@nawm.org) for more information. Deadline to submit a raffle item is Monday, March 17, 2025.
Lodging
Lodging/Room Rates-Reservations/Travel Information
The Skamania Lodge
1131 SW Skamania Lodge Way
Stevenson, WA 98648
Phone: (844) 432-4748 or Local: (509) 314-4177
Room Rates
NAWM’s room block is now open. To make your lodging reservations, call 844-432-4748 and specify National Association of Wetland Managers group code 1YQ29P. Or reserve online at Skamania Lodge. NAWM’s agreed upon per diem rate for Skamania Lodge is $155/night for Superior Guestrooms, not including applicable taxes and/or fees. Deadline to make reservations is Saturday, March 8, 2025.
When reservations are made, Skamania Lodge will require a deposit equal to the room rate and tax for the first night. An individual’s deposit is refundable to that individual if Skamania Lodge receives notice of an individual’s cancellation at least 7 days prior to scheduled arrival. Upon check-in, each guest will be required to present a valid credit card, on which an amount of sufficient pre-authorization can be obtained to cover room and tax charges and resort fee for the length of the guest’s stay, plus the anticipated use of Skamania Lodge’s ancillary services, and Skamania requires each guest’s home/business address and email address.
Check-In/Check-Out
Check-In time is 4:00 pm on arrival day and Check-Out time is until 11:00 am on departure day. Skamania Lodge may impose a late check-out fee of $100.00, from 1:00-3:00 pm, and a full day's room and tax will be charged after 3:00 pm. Any attendee wishing special consideration for late checkout should inquire at the front desk on the day of departure.
Meals
Meeting Registration includes lunch on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Skamania Lodge offers dining at the Cascade Dining Room; River Rock Lounge; Backyard Grill: and Skamania To-Go
Wetlands: Changing the Narrative Campaign
A multi-year, multi-media campaign to share stories about why wetlands are important through the voices of everyday Americans.
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In Wetlands: Changing the Narrative, we’re going to shine a light on the people who are reshaping our relationship with the natural world. Hunters, anglers, ranchers, and small family farmers all depend on healthy wetlands for their way of life. From the most remote bison wallow in the Great Plains to the edges of the Everglades and beyond we’ll discover seemingly ordinary people making extraordinary
impacts on their local wetlands through a mix of landowner stewardship, science, engineering, and sheer determination. Their stories, insights, and passion will be the conduit through which the wondrous natural history of our wetland heritage is presented to our viewers.
Why Now?
One answer to this question comes from a place of urgency. Anyone who has read the news lately
has seen stories of habitat loss, species extinction, natural disasters, and pollution -- all things that scientists and environmentalists remind us can be mitigated with healthy, expansive wetlands.
But there is another, more positive reason for embarking on this effort now - momentum. Even though wetlands continue to be caught in the crosshairs of development and deregulation, there has been a palpable shift in public attitudes toward them.
Stories like these in Tennessee contain powerful messages that speak to the values of those who call Tennessee home.
With the power of cameras and screens to amplify stories like these, we have a golden opportunity to reveal the true importance - and magic - of wetlands to a national audience.
Our Approach
The goal of Wetlands: Changing the Narrative is to bring diverse and hopeful stories about America's wetlands to American audiences through a range of traditional and new media avenues. “Story packages” will be built from single collections of footage, animation, and interviews and will seed programming aimed at those who get their information via tv, streaming, or social media.
Campaigns will be launched in locations (regions, states, Tribal lands, localities) where wetland protections are under threat of being weakened or eliminated and where there is an active group of volunteers who are eager to participate in advisory committee meetings and champion the videos tailored to resonate with their community’s values.
The Team
Wetlands: Changing the Narrative will be led by Marla Stelk and her team at the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM). From her office in Portland, Maine she will lead a group of experienced filmmakers, advocates, and campaigners who together will source, produce, and share these stories across various media. The key creatives on the project are stationed across the country - from the Northeast to the Midwest to the Pacific and understand that every wetland story is both unique and universal…intensely local and part of a much larger picture. Some of the creative partners NAWM has engaged so far include:
Wide Awake Films (Kansas City, MO): For more than 20 years the team at Wide Awake has produced award winning films for television, museums, streaming, and commercial clients. Their clients run the gamut, including PBS, John Deere, The National Park Service, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
Platte Basin Timelapse (Lincoln, Nebraska): Since 2011 PBT has used film and multimedia to bring the stories of our nation’s waterways to a wider audience. Known for their timelapse nature photography and keen understanding of river systems and watersheds, PBT stands ready to lend their expertise to whichever watery habitat we choose to film.
If you would like to donate to this effort and help us reach our fundraising goal of $500k for 2025, please click the button to the right.
If you would like us to bring our campaign to your location, please contact NAWM’s Executive Director, Marla Stelk at 207-892-3399.
Wetlands: Changing the Narrative Campaign
A multi-year, multi-media campaign to share stories about why wetlands are important through the voices of everyday Americans.
| In Wetlands: Changing the Narrative, we’re going to shine a light on the people who are reshaping our relationship with the natural world. Hunters, anglers, ranchers, and small family farmers all depend on healthy wetlands for their way of life. From the most remote bison wallow in the Great Plains to the edges of the Everglades and beyond we’ll discover seemingly ordinary people making extraordinary impacts on their local wetlands through a mix of landowner stewardship, science, engineering, and sheer determination. Their stories, insights, and passion will be the conduit through which the wondrous natural history of our wetland heritage is presented to our viewers. Why Now? One answer to this question comes from a place of urgency. Anyone who has read the news lately has seen stories of habitat loss, species extinction, natural disasters, and pollution -- all things that |
  Wetlands: Changing the Narrative Project Trailer |
|
scientists and environmentalists remind us can be mitigated with healthy, expansive wetlands.
But there is another, more positive reason for embarking on this effort now - momentum. Even though wetlands continue to be caught in the crosshairs of development and deregulation, there has been a palpable shift in public attitudes toward them.
Stories like these in Tennessee contain powerful messages that speak to the values of those who call Tennessee home.
Changing the Narrative - The Tennessee Stories Changing the Narrative - The Tennessee Stories Changing the Narrative - The Tennessee Stories Changing the Narrative - The Tennessee Stories
Please click only once on each video recording to view in the window.
Terry Hamby: duck hunter, landowner
Zac Fox: businessman, brewer
John and Bill McEwen: anglers, landowners
Kristen Cecala: educator, scientist
With the power of cameras and screens to amplify stories like these, we have a golden opportunity to reveal the true importance - and magic - of wetlands to a national audience.
Our Approach
The goal of Wetlands: Changing the Narrative is to bring diverse and hopeful stories about America's wetlands to American audiences through a range of traditional and new media avenues. “Story packages” will be built from single collections of footage, animation, and interviews and will seed programming aimed at those who get their information via tv, streaming, or social media.
Campaigns will be launched in locations (regions, states, Tribal lands, localities) where wetland protections are under threat of being weakened or eliminated and where there is an active group of volunteers who are eager to participate in advisory committee meetings and champion the videos tailored to resonate with their community’s values.
The Team
Wetlands: Changing the Narrative will be led by Marla Stelk and her team at the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM). From her office in Portland, Maine she will lead a group of experienced filmmakers, advocates, and campaigners who together will source, produce, and share these stories across various media. The key creatives on the project are stationed across the country - from the Northeast to the Midwest to the Pacific and understand that every wetland story is both unique and universal…intensely local and part of a much larger picture. Some of the creative partners NAWM has engaged so far include:
Wide Awake Films (Kansas City, MO): For more than 20 years the team at Wide Awake has produced award winning films for television, museums, streaming, and commercial clients. Their clients run the gamut, including PBS, John Deere, The National Park Service, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
Platte Basin Timelapse (Lincoln, Nebraska): Since 2011 PBT has used film and multimedia to bring the stories of our nation’s waterways to a wider audience. Known for their timelapse nature photography and keen understanding of river systems and watersheds, PBT stands ready to lend their expertise to whichever watery habitat we choose to film.
How To Help
|
If you would like to donate to this effort and help us reach our fundraising goal of $500k for 2025, please click the button to the right. |
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When: February 26-27, 2025
Where: Online via Microsoft Teams
Duration: 2 days; 1-5pm PST each day
Who: EPA Region 9, including tribes, states, and non-profit/academic partners. The National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) will be providing technical and facilitation support.
What:
- General information and updates on Wetland Program Development Grants and upcoming 2025 WPDG Notice of Funding Opportunity
- Showcase current/previous WPDG projects
Agenda
Meeting agenda will be provided in the coming weeks.
If you have questions, please reach out to Portia Osborne, NAWM Assistant Director, at portia@nawm.org or (207) 892-3399.
Members of the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) include state, tribal, federal, and local wetland managers, regulators, researchers, field scientists, academics, private consultants, and more. These wetlanders work across the United States in a wide variety of wetlands and related aquatic resources. To celebrate the important work that NAWM members are doing, each month NAWM shines the Member Spotlight on one member to learn more about the good work they are doing to protect and restore our wetland resources, how they came to work in wetlands, and how being a member of the Association benefits their work. Past member spotlights are archived below. If you would like to nominate a member for a future Member Spotlight, please reach out to Portia Osborne, NAWM Assistant Director, at portia@nawm.org.
Terry Doss, NJ SEA (February 2025)
Who do you work for and what is your current position? I work for the State of New Jersey, within the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, serving as the Co-Director for the Meadowlands Research and Restoration Institute. I lead efforts to preserve, protect and restore the wetlands and other habitats located in the Hackensack Meadowlands. The favorite part of my job is any day that I get to go out on the water. I much prefer a beautiful sunny day with warm temperatures, but even in winter I love the idea that we are out on the water when few else are out there. Each time we head out, there is an air of anticipation – you never know what new or interesting thing we are going to see in the tidal marshes that line the Hackensack River, but there is always something. Also, experiencing the quiet and solitude of nature, in the chaotic din of the NY-NJ metropolitan area with planes, trains and automobiles whizzing by, is just magical. I think one of my biggest professional accomplishments was being able to survive and thrive as a working mother. I’m so proud of my grown sons, and hope they are as proud of me as I am of them. We were always in this together, and I loved bringing them out to the field – my older son was out in the field for a wetland delineation at three months of age and, flash forward many years, my younger son was out planting floating wetlands with me when he was home for college just a few years ago. I never tried to separate my career from my home life, I never thought there was enough time in the day for that luxury, so we had to be in it together. I love tidal wetlands, they are like poetry in perpetual motion. They are where the land meets the sea, ever changing, known but yet unknown, settled yet shifting. They allow for expansive views – of the grasses, the sea, the sky, the wildlife. But because they are both land and sea, they are so often misunderstood, mistreated, maligned. I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I knew I liked working outdoors and that I wanted to work and live near the water. I graduated from U of Delaware with a degree in Agricultural Sciences with a focus on Natural Resource Economics, but wasn’t sure where to go with that. A few years later, I went back to Delaware to work on a Masters in Marine Policy, combining my interests in the water, the outdoors and economics. While there, I became interested in the valuation of wetlands, and from there dove deep into the science of wetlands. Every job I had, starting with the National Ocean Service at NOAA and then moving into private consulting, there were always opportunities to get more involved with wetlands and I jumped at every one of them. To expand my knowledge, I took wetland field courses from Environmental Concern and the Continuing Education Program at Rutgers, which allowed me to study under some of the giants in the wetland science field, and I joined and became active in scientific organizations like Society of Wetland Scientists and the Society for Ecological Restoration. The more people I met and spoke with, the more my opportunities expanded. Look for opportunities that you think you will enjoy to expand your knowledge and your circle of contacts. Go to conferences, and if there are volunteer activities, sign up. Join non-profit organizations and get involved. Become a member of different scientific societies and assist with meetings, field trips, raising funds, …. There is no magic bullet as to what will stick, so try everything and see what gives you experience while also making you happy. I believe that I have been a member of NAWM since the early 2000s. In 2001, I attended a meeting on behalf of the Society of Wetland Scientists and met up with Jeanne Christie who was there on behalf of ASWM (now NAWM) and we started talking about connecting the two organizations in a more meaningful way. Eventually, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by both groups to coordinate and collaborate, and I acted as the liaison between the two groups for a while. (Not sure if this MOU is still active.) Even though I was not a “state wetland manager” until 2018, I was able to attend a number of the annual meetings and other events along the way. I am most grateful for all of the webinars offered by NAWM. While the in-person meetings are the best way to keep in touch and learn, the constancy of the webinars keeps me in touch with what is going on around the nation on a more day-to-day basis. For example, after the Sackett decision, the discussions on what happens next were especially helpful for us here in the Meadowlands, because even though NJ has assumed jurisdiction for the wetlands of the state, that did not include the wetlands of the Meadowlands. It was helpful hearing from others about the different aspects, experiences and possible actions. My favorite memory was my first NAWM meeting at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV. I assume this was sometime in the early 2000s. I had no idea what to expect, and at first it seemed like most meetings. But then, I went to the bonfire. It was an incredible experience and a great way to bring everyone together. Nothing specific, just an all-around great vibe and a great opportunity to relax with many like-minded wetland scientists.
What is your favorite part of your job?
What is one of your biggest professional accomplishments?
All these years later, it is amazing to head out to my first tidal wetland restoration site that our team worked on 25 years ago and see how it is flourishing. I remember bringing the boys out there before, during and after the restoration work. Now, 25 years later, the site is amazing – for the first time this year, we heard saltmarsh sparrows out there. I’m proud of that!
What is your favorite wetland, or type of wetland, or wetland species? Why?
Working in the Meadowlands really drives this home – all the abuses that have been thrown at the tidal wetlands along the Hackensack River over the past two hundred years, and that continue to be thrown at them. Yet they persist, they thrive, they are resilient, and they continue to provide habitat, protection, recreational opportunities. After giving a presentation on the Meadowlands’ marshes a few years ago at a MAWWG meeting, someone came up to me and said, “wow, the Meadowlands’ wetlands are really bad ass!” And I couldn’t agree more, they are bad ass and that is why they are my favorite.
How did you end up working in wetlands?
What advice do you have for someone interested in getting started in wetlands work?
How long have you been a member of NAWM? How have you participated in NAWM (e.g., attended webinars, contributed to project workgroups, attended annual meeting, etc.)?
What is your favorite benefit of being a member of NAWM?
What is your favorite NAWM memory?
My second favorite memory was sitting with Jon Kusler on a porch somewhere at some point in time after a long day of meetings, and listening to him talk about his vision for wetland science into the future. Being able to have discussions with great minds like Jon Kusler and Jeanne Christie were, for me, amazing opportunities that were only made available through NAWM.
Thank you for joining us for the 2024 Joint Meeting of MAWWG and NEBAWWG! The meeting was a great chance for participants to learn about new or updated programs, projects, regulations, data sources & policies; exchange knowledge and experiences on wetland programs, strategies, methods & tools; and network, collaborate, and build partnerships across states/regions. We had over 60 attendees from across the region attend in person, with several more participants online.
Dates: November 12-14, 2024 
Location: Hotel Northampton, Northampton, MA
Host Organizations:
- National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM)
- NEIWPCC
Agenda provided as a PDF or below with links to presentation slides. See also Resources.
| TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 | |
| 12:30pm – 5:00pm |
Field Trip to Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge, Hadley, MA and Pine Grove Restoration Site, Northampton, MA
Plan to have lunch on your own before the field trip. Dress appropriately for the weather and for trail walking.
12:30pm: Bus departs from the Hotel Northampton
1:00pm – 3:30pm: Tour of the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge (located at 69 Moody Bridge Rd., Hadley, MA 01035)
3:30pm – 4:30pm: Travel to and visit the Pine Grove Restoration Site (located along Old Wilson Rd. about 0.5 mile south of Rocky Hill Rd/Rte. 66 in Northampton)
5:00pm: Bus returns to Hotel Northampton
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| WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13 | |||||
| 8:30am – 9:00am |
Welcome/Agenda Review/Logistics |
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| 9:00am – 9:40am | State/Tribe/Partner Updates | |||
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| 10:00am – 12:15pm |
Climate Change and Wetlands Fifth National Climate Assessment (Northeast Chapter) Resilience Planning and Implementation in Northampton Sediment Sourcing and Contributions to Vertical Salt Marsh Accretion in the Northeast US Landscape-level and site-level based functional assessment and implications due to climate change A GIS-based hydraulic modeling tool for Massachusetts stream crossing replacement projects in USGS StreamStats
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| 1:30pm – 3:00pm | State/Tribe/Partner Update | |
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| 3:00pm – 3:15pm | Break | |
| 3:15pm – 3:35pm | Updates from the National Wetlands Inventory Amanda Pachomski, USFWS |
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| 3:35pm – 5:00pm |
Innovative Uses of Technology in Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Investigating the use of multispectral drones for identifying salt marsh condition Using Unoccupied Aerial Systems (drones and sensors) to assess and monitor salt marshes District Wetland and Stream Permit Screening Tool Update on Wetland Condition Assessment Tool (WetCAT) |
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| 5:00pm | Adjourn | |
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14 |
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| 8:30am – 8:45am | Welcome/Agenda Review/Logistics | |
| 8:45am – 9:45am | State/Tribe/Partner Updates | |
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| 9:45am – 10:30am | Common Metrics Project Megan Fitzgerald, US EPA |
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| 10:45am – 11:45am |
Cumulative and Secondary Impacts to Wetlands The Watershed Resources Registry: Making GIS Accessible to Build Capacity Managing Flood Storage Impacts with Rhode Island’s Freshwater Wetlands Regulatory Program Modeling Tidal Wetland Migration Potential in Delaware |
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| 1:00pm – 2:45pm |
Functional Assessments and Restoration Techniques The 2024 Function Based Rapid Stream Assessment Little Arnot Run, Restoration of a Headwater Stream Wetland Rapid Assessment: Technical Guidelines for Developing, Reviewing, and Revising Assessment Methods Consolidating wetland program gains via outreach initiatives and updated mapping A Watershed Approach to Restoration in New England |
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| 2:45pm – 3:00pm | Break | |
| 3:00pm – 4:30pm |
Applications of Wetland Monitoring Data Developing a Wetland Regional Monitoring Network in EPA Regions 1, 2, 3 and 5 Status and change in wetland condition (2011-2021), results from the 2021 National Wetland Condition Assessment Do wetlands count? Tracking and mapping a moving target State Responses to Changes in Federal Wetlands Jurisdictional Extent post-Sackett v. EPA Panelists: Alison Rogerson, DNREC; Dave Davis, VA DEQ; Jeff Lapp, NAWM; Laura Lapierre, VT DEC |
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| 4:30pm – 5:00pm | Wrap-up/Debrief/Next Steps | |
ResourcesNAWM's Wetlands: Changing the Narrative Campaign
Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge and Refuge Map
City of Northampton Pine Grove Restoration Site
Contact Information
Portia Osborne
Assistant Director
National Association of Wetland Managers
(207) 892-3399; portia@nawm.org
Thank you to our Generous Sponsors!
To address the effects of a changing climate, The Pew Charitable Trusts considers multiple policy areas to help lawmakers safeguard their constituents and communities. Pew experts produce research, identify best practices, work alongside state and local leaders to create resilience plans and policies, safeguard habitats that help slow climate change, and target resources to vulnerable communities.
Loon Sponsors
At Westervelt Ecological Services (WES), we are dedicated to providing mitigation and conservation solutions across the United States. Established in 2006, WES has conserved over 30,000 acres of habitat for the benefit of over 50 federally or state protected plants and animals. To reach our conservation goals, WES collaborates with private landowners, businesses, nonprofits including land trust organizations, and government entities.
Society of Wetland Scientists and the SWS Pacific Northwest Chapter
Information coming soon.
Kingfisher Sponsors
Cattails Environmental provides quality and timely environmental consulting services related to the Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act, and works primarily in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas with occasional forays into surrounding states.
Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people. To date, DU has conserved more than 18 million acres.
If you would like to become a Sponsor of our Annual Meeting, please see information here.
Return to main meeting webpage.
Return to Main Meeting Information
We invite you to join us for NAWM’s Annual State/Tribal/Federal Coordination (STFC) Meeting, to be held at the Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, WA from April 8-10, 2025 with optional field trips on Friday, April 11.
The theme for this meeting is Building an Evergreen Future with Wetlands and will have a particular focus on cross-boundary issues, restoration, mitigation, adaptation, geospatial approaches, and more. The purpose of this annual meeting is to support state and Tribal wetland program managers, and other wetland professionals as they respond to challenges in the coming year.
| Welcome to Our Meeting Sponsors
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For questions, please contact Marla Stelk, Executive Director at marla@nawm.org. Draft Agenda with Field Trip Information
We are accepting Raffle donations. Please contact Dawn Smith (dawn@nawm.org) for more information. Meeting Registration includes lunch on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Standard Registration - Deadline: Thursday, February 27, 2025 Late Registration: February 28 – March 28, 2025 |
2025 SFC Meeting Registration Rates
See the Agenda for Field Trip Information
Not a NAWM Member or Did Your Membership Lapse? Join Here
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Cancellation/Refund Policy for In-Person Participation |
| January 1, 2025 - February 28 2025 | 50% of Registration Refunded | |
| After February 28, 2025 | No Refund | |
| Any time before February 28, 2025 | You may substitute the name on your registration, but you must notify NAWM of the change. |
A limited number of scholarships are available to U.S. state and Tribal agency staff to assist those in need to cover travel, lodging and/or registration costs to attend NAWM's Annual State/Tribal/Federal Coordination Meeting. Our intent is to support as many people as possible with the limited amount of funding that we have. If you are able to cover some of your expenses, that will enable more of our colleagues to attend.
Scholarships may be provided to those who are eligible for up to a maximum of $1,000 in expenses. Please note that scholarships are provided as reimbursements for expenses paid - receipts are required for reimbursement. Registration expenses will be waived (versus reimbursed) and will be considered as part of the total scholarship expense amount approved.
Scholarship decisions will be made on a rolling basis until all available funds have been used.
State/Tribal Scholarship Application
Call for Abstracts is Now Closed
Jon A. Kusler Student Scholarship Award is Closed
Lodging/Room Rates-Reservations/Travel Information
Rooms at the Skamania Lodge are now full. See nearby hotels below.
The Skamania Lodge
1131 SW Skamania Lodge Way
Stevenson, WA 98648
Phone: (844) 432-4748 or Local: (509) 314-4177
Room Rates
NAWM’s room block is now open. To make your lodging reservations, call 844-432-4748 and specify National Association of Wetland Managers group code 1YQ29P. Or reserve online at Skamania Lodge. NAWM’s agreed upon per diem rate for Skamania Lodge is $155/night for Superior Guestrooms, not including applicable taxes and/or fees. Deadline to make reservations is Saturday, March 8, 2025.
When reservations are made, Skamania Lodge will require a deposit equal to the room rate and tax for the first night. An individual’s deposit is refundable to that individual if Skamania Lodge receives notice of an individual’s cancellation at least 7 days prior to scheduled arrival. Upon check-in, each guest will be required to present a valid credit card, on which an amount of sufficient pre-authorization can be obtained to cover room and tax charges and resort fee for the length of the guest’s stay, plus the anticipated use of Skamania Lodge’s ancillary services, and Skamania requires each guest’s home/business address and email address.
Check-In/Check-Out
Check-In time is 4:00 pm on arrival day and Check-Out time is until 11:00 am on departure day. Skamania Lodge may impose a late check-out fee of $100.00, from 1:00-3:00 pm, and a full day's room and tax will be charged after 3:00 pm. Any attendee wishing special consideration for late checkout should inquire at the front desk on the day of departure.
Best Western, Columbia River Inn in Cascade locks, OR (5 miles) from the lodge Hotel In Cascade Locks OR - Best Western Plus Columbia River
Hotel Stevenson (1 mile) from the lodge Hotel in Stevenson, WA
Backwoods Cabins (10 Miles) from the hotels Premier Columbia River Gorge Hotel | Backwoods Cabins
Meals
Meeting Registration includes lunch on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Skamania Lodge offers dining at the Cascade Dining Room; River Rock Lounge; Backyard Grill: and Skamania To-Go
Information coming soon.
Things to Do in and Around Skamania Lodge
Wetlands: Changing the Narrative Campaign
A multi-year, multi-media campaign to share stories about why wetlands are important through the voices of everyday Americans.
|
In Wetlands: Changing the Narrative, we’re going to shine a light on the people who are reshaping our But there is another, more positive reason for embarking on this effort now - momentum. Even though |
Wetlands: Changing the Narrative Project Trailer |
|
Stories like these in Tennessee contain powerful messages that speak to the values of those who call Tennessee home. Read Press Release
| Please click only once on each video recording to view in the window. |
 Changing the Narrative - The Tennessee Stories Changing the Narrative - The Tennessee Stories Changing the Narrative - The Tennessee Stories  Changing the Narrative - The Tennessee Stories |
| With the power of cameras and screens to amplify stories like these, we have a golden opportunity to reveal the true importance - and magic - of wetlands to a national audience. |
Our Approach
The goal of Wetlands: Changing the Narrative is to bring diverse and hopeful stories about America's wetlands to American audiences through a range of traditional and new media avenues. “Story packages” will be built from single collections of footage, animation, and interviews and will seed programming aimed at those who get their information via tv, streaming, or social media.
Campaigns will be launched in locations (regions, states, Tribal lands, localities) where wetland protections are under threat of being weakened or eliminated and where there is an active group of volunteers who are eager to participate in advisory committee meetings and champion the videos tailored to resonate with their community’s values.
The Team
Wetlands: Changing the Narrative will be led by Marla Stelk and her team at the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM). From her office in Portland, Maine she will lead a group of experienced filmmakers, advocates, and campaigners who together will source, produce, and share these stories across various media. The key creatives on the project are stationed across the country - from the Northeast to the Midwest to the Pacific and understand that every wetland story is both unique and universal…intensely local and part of a much larger picture. Some of the creative partners NAWM has engaged so far include:
Wide Awake Films (Kansas City, MO): For more than 20 years the team at Wide Awake has produced award winning films for television, museums, streaming, and commercial clients. Their clients run the gamut, including PBS, John Deere, The National Park Service, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
Platte Basin Timelapse (Lincoln, Nebraska): Since 2011 PBT has used film and multimedia to bring the stories of our nation’s waterways to a wider audience. Known for their timelapse nature photography and keen understanding of river systems and watersheds, PBT stands ready to lend their expertise to whichever watery habitat we choose to film.
How To Help
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If you would like to donate to this effort and help us reach our fundraising goal of $500k for 2025, please click the button to the right. |
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Publications
The Association conducts research and publishes reports, guidebooks, news articles, brochures, white papers, and summaries of findings of symposia and workshops. These are available electronically to all interested individuals and organizations.