NAWM

Exploring the Nexus Between Wetlands, Agriculture, and Ecosystem Benefits

Held Monday, November 9, 2020 - 2:00 pm-3:30 pm Eastern

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INTRODUCTION

• Marla Stelk, Executive Director, Association of State of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Amy Kaleita, Iowa State University [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Nestoria L. Wright, Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas [PRESENTATION PDF]

DESCRIPTIONS

Amy Kaleita
Farmed prairie potholes: Challenges & Opportunities

Prairie potholes are enclosed depressions with no natural drainage, until a spill point is reached, that retain water for some portion of the year. Forty-four percent of the Des Moines Lobe of Iowa drains to potholes, and they are a common feature in row crop fields. Potholes are a nuisance to farmers because they are usually the last places in the field to dry out, and spring rains can cause ponding which can drown young row crops. Potholes also have water quality implications, due to having higher soil nitrate stocks than uplands, and our work has shown an increase in dissolved reactive phosphorus concentration in potholes over the course of an inundation event.

This project included extensive documentation of the inundation patterns and water quality within several farmed potholes in the Des Moines Lobe. Management alternatives such as conservation tillage, retirement of the pothole, and improving pothole drainage (95-99% of potholes in Iowa are already drained, but may have room for additional capacity) were tested using a small watershed model, which is calibrated to reflect the monitored conditions and then changed to reflect the new management practices. A simple and user-friendly app was created from these modeling results, for individuals to explore the flood risk and management options of their own potholes.

Nestoria L. Wright
Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas CWA Sec.104 (b) (3) Wetland Program Development Project Report 2019

The Kickapoo Tribe Environmental Office (KEO) Wetlands Program monitors and assesses wetlands on tribal and surrounding lands. Information obtained is used to develop and implement plans to improve the quality of these wetlands as well as promote the restoration of historic wetland sites. The Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas Environmental Director and Wetlands Program Coordinator have conducted the 2019 wetland field assessments using the National Wetlands Conditional Assessment methods. They were able to team up with Norman Ecological Consulting to conduct assays of 8 local wetlands including the well-known Mascoutah Marsh as a reference. These field assessments consisted of water, vegetation, and soil collection, not to mention notation of hydrology indicators and buffer characterization. The restoration of these sites is critical considering how important the wetlands are in preventing flooding, improving water quality, providing ecological niches for wildlife, and maintaining the overall health of our ecosystem. Since more than half of the land in Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas is used for agriculture, the wetlands can be utilized to lower harmful effects of insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, and run-off. By completing the 2019 field season they have been able to update the KEO’s wetland records.

Our Specific Goals of Wetland Development Project are to identify and assess the:

• Location, wetland size, type of water body, hydrology, soils
• Land use and impacts on wetland
• Inventory of noxious and invasive weeds, cultural plants, and wetland plants
• Potential wetland functions and values
• Fluctuations in groundwater levels
• Water quality parameters including nutrients & bacteria

BIOS 

Amy Kaleita is a Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University. Holding a teaching and research appointment, Kaleita works in the area of information technologies for precision conservation. Her research program includes design of sensing and monitoring systems for farm- and small watershed-scale soil and water data, and utilization of such data in modeling and decision support systems. She has authored or co-authored 42 peer-reviewed journal articles and leads a collaborative research program with more than $7 million in external support. She teaches courses for both engineering and technology students and has received over $4 million in external support for education programs. Kaleita holds a BS degree in Agricultural Engineering from Penn State, an MS in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois with an emphasis in hydrology, and PhD in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Illinois.

Nestoria L. Wright completed her Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management major in Health Services Organization and Policy (HSOP) and Psychology at Wichita State University, Master’s in public health (MPH) and Community Leadership Development at the University of Kansas and Wichita State University and a Ph.D. Public Health major in Epidemiology, at Walden University. She joined Kickapoo Tribes in Kansas in April 2019. Prior to working at the Kickapoo Tribe EPA, she has been employed at the US Air Force since 2011-February of 2019.She also worked as an Epidemiologist and Health Planner at Shawnee County Health Department Topeka Kansas, where she served as an Emergency Preparedness and Community Outreach Epidemiologist since 2004-2008. Prior to working in the Local and State Health Department as a public health Professional she was teaching Undergraduate Healthcare Administration and Health Promotion courses and presently teaching Masters’ in Public Health Online Courses since 2007 to present. She looks forward to continuing developing and promoting a comprehensive environmental protection programs for the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas that will protect the natural, cultural, and human resources.


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Wetlands from the Nebraska Sandhills to Iowa’s Restored Ag Lands

Held Monday, September 21, 2020 - 1:00 pm-2:30 pm Eastern

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INTRODUCTION

• Marla Stelk, Executive Director, Association of State of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Steven Hall, Assistant Professor, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Andrew Dzialowski, Associate Professor, Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University [PRESENTATION PDF]

DESCRIPTION

The U.S. EPA generously funds multiple wetland research and implementation projects each year, with each EPA Region awarding grants for specific activities in their respective areas. Two awardees from EPA Region 7 (which includes Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri) shared the results of their Enhanced State and Tribal Program (ESTP) grants: Steven Hall from the Iowa State University, and Andy Dzialowski from Oklahoma State. Bios and abstracts for both presentations can be found below.

PRESENTERS

• Steven Hall, Assistant Professor, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University
• Andrew Dzialowski, Associate Professor, Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University

ABSTRACTS

Steven Hall

Most depressional wetlands in the Des Moines Lobe of Iowa are partially drained and managed for row crop production. These depressions typically have flashy hydroperiods and experience intermittent ponding throughout the growing season, often causing complete crop mortality, and their environmental impacts remain poorly understood. We found that cropped depressions were hotspots of nitrate leaching, yielding 40% higher nitrate (140 kg N ha-1 y-1) than cropped uplands, with higher methane emissions and similar nitrous oxide emissions as cropped uplands. In contrast, restored wetlands with consistently ponded conditions provided substantial net nitrate removal (1600 kg N ha-1 y-1) and similar nitrous oxide emissions as cropped depressions, albeit with greater methane emissions. In sum, cropped depressions are both poor croplands and poor wetlands under present management conditions. Improving the drainage characteristics of cropped depressions while establishing restored wetlands at catchment outlets merits consideration to optimize environmental and agronomic outcomes in these landscapes.

Andy Dzialowski

The Nebraska Sandhills is the largest grass-stabilized dune system in the Western Hemisphere. It contains thousands of wetlands and it has been identified as an ecosystem of major concern. Despite the ecological importance of the Sandhills, very little is known about the abiotic and biotic characteristics of the wetlands in this region. Therefore, we conducted an ecological assessment of Sandhill wetlands to establish baseline conditions, identify indicators that can be used in monitoring programs, and begin to identify reference conditions. We focused on macroinvertebrates because they respond to environmental change, affect wetland function, and provide important nutritional resources for waterbirds in the region. We also sampled permanent waterbodies in the Sandhills to document the impacts of invasive carp on macroinvertebrate communities and to compare macroinvertebrate communities between permanent lakes and wetlands in the region.

BIOS 

Steven Hall is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology at Iowa State University. His researchprogram in biogeochemistry examines the impacts of soil processes on environmental services and impacts, particularly those related to water quality, soil fertility, and climate change.  

 

 

Andrew Dzialowski is an Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at Oklahoma State University (OSU). He received his PhD in Aquatic Ecology in 2003 from the University of Kansas. His research over the past 12 years at OSU has focused on invasive species, wetland ecology and bioassessment, water quality and reservoir management, and metacommunity ecology.  

 

 

 

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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on State Wetland Programs and Early Adaptations

Held Wednesday, June 10, 2020 - 3:00 pm-4:30 pm

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INTRODUCTION

• Brenda Zollitsch, Senior Policy Analyst, Association of State of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Brenda Zollitsch, Association of State of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Patrick Ryan, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Stacia Bax, Missouri Department of Natural Resources [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Audra Martin, NEIWPCC [PRESENTATION PDF]
  

ABSTRACT

Our world changed overnight with the COVID-19 pandemic. While we all focus on protecting public health, weathering the economic freefall and increasing the country’s medical capacity, every other aspect of business as usual has also been disrupted. Among these disruptions are systems and processes relied on by state and tribal agencies (and their wetland programs). To better understand the current landscape for these programs, the changes that are being made to accommodate health and safety concerns as well as comply with lock-downs and no contact orders, ASWM has been speaking with wetland program staff from around the country. This webinar started with ASWM sharing findings from these discussions. Next, state presenters shared about their experiences adapting in their states, including sharing about official state executive and administrative orders, changes in site inspection and travel protocols, as well as changes to monitoring and assessment activities. The webinar ended with an invitation for state and tribal wetland program staff to participate in information gathering through a new ASWM National Dialogue focused on COVID-19-related issues.

BIOS

Brenda Zollitsch is Senior Policy Analyst at the Association of State of Wetland Managers. Brenda’s areas of expertise include water resource policy, stormwater management, collaborative environmental policy implementation, and most recently, climate adaptation. At ASWM, Brenda conducts research and policy analysis on wetland and stream issues, manages projects; designs, coordinates and evaluates training for wetland professionals. Brenda is currently leading multi-year national projects on state and tribal wetland regulatory capacity building and Assumption of the Clean Water Act Section 404 Program, as well as many smaller projects. She is currently gathering information about the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on state and tribal wetland programs, as well as adaptations that these programs are making to function in this next work context. Brenda earned her PhD in Public Policy from the University of Southern Maine and double Master’s degree from Boston University in International Relations and Environmental Resource Management.

Patrick Ryan is an Environmental Supervisor within the Division of Land Use Regulation at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. He supervises a permitting staff responsible for environmental reviews of wetlands, highlands, waterfront, and flood hazard area permit applications for northern New Jersey. Mr. Ryan has a M.S. in Ecology from Penn State University and a B.S. in Natural Resource Management from Cook College, Rutgers University.

  

Stacia Bax is the Environmental Manager of the Financial Assistance Center’s Clean Water Section within the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Stacia has nearly 20 years of experience with the department in various areas related to the water program and state parks, with the 11 years working with Section 401. She recently started a new chapter in her career helping communities finance their wastewater and associated projects as part of Missouri’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund, with hopes to promote wetland and stream restoration where she can. 

 

 

Audra Martin works in the Water Quality Division at NEIWPCC. She coordinates two wetland workgroups, which bring together representatives across the northeast to discuss topics of shared concern, including permitting and regulatory issues and wetlands monitoring and assessment. Audra also serves as a project manager for NEIWPCC’s work to improve the habitat and water quality in Long Island Sound. She holds a Master of Environmental Management degree from Texas Christian University. 


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American Wetlands Month Hot Topics Webinar
Importance of Wetlands in Floodplain Function and Ecosystem Services

Held Friday, May 29, 2020 - 3:00 pm-4:30 pm

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SPONSORED BY:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

INTRODUCTION

• William Dooley, Policy Analyst, Association of State of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Dave Fowler, Association of State Floodplain Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Brian Ritter, Nahant Marsh Education Center [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Shelly Morris, The Nature Conservancy [PRESENTATION PDF]

ABSTRACTS

Presentation by Dave Fowler, Association of State Floodplain Managers
As we move into the new century, we face hard choices concerning our riverine and coastal floodplains. Development along our rivers and coasts with little thought for floodplain functions, cannot continue. People living near water continue to experience ever-increasing flood risks. Management of flood prone areas has for too long been “engineering-centered,” with little consideration to preserving or restoring the natural functions of floodplains for flood management. The gap between flood control and more environmentally sustainable floodplain management must be bridged. This can be accomplished by moving away from attempts to control the water in a watershed or along a coast and moving toward a philosophy which accepts that floods happen and appreciates them as a natural function. We should anticipate the flooding process and plan our development and infrastructure accordingly. Instead of controlling the water, we should control how and where we allow human activities to adversely affect it.

Presentation by Brian Ritter, Nahant Marsh Education Center
Nahant Marsh, located in Davenport, IA is one of the largest remaining urban wetlands on the Upper Mississippi River. Nahant Marsh’s journey from an EPA superfund site to a diverse ecological restoration and active education center, and key aspect of the City of Davenport’s flood plan, will be discussed.

Presentation by Shelly Morris, The Nature Conservancy
Dogtooth Bend (Alexander Co. Illinois) has experienced flooding for decades, and these floods are becoming more frequent, longer in duration, and more unpredictable in timing. Many landowners have expressed an interest in alternatives to farming and are actively looking for financial mechanisms to do so. The Nature Conservancy is working with NRCS and other partners to assist with a path forward, and in 2019 $25M was allocated through NRCS easement programs to purchase easements and restore a large portion of this area. Restoration of this Mississippi River floodplain will provide a variety of ecosystem services as well as financial assistance to interested landowners.

BIOS

Dave Fowler spent 36 years with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District working on a variety of water resource issues. He is most proud of the Flood Management work removing more than 300 residential and commercial structures from the regulatory flood plain, design and construction of eight major flood management projects, restoration and rehabilitation of more than 15 miles of channelized urban streams, and his role in starting the MMSD Green Seams program, a land acquisition program to protect natural flood storage. He retired from the MMSD in May and is currently working at the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) as a Senior Project Manager. He has been active with ASFPM for over 20 years and has served in numerous leadership positions. He is a founding member of the Wisconsin ASFPM state chapter. In 2005 Dave was awarded the River Networks “River Hero” Award at their annual conference in Keystone Colorado, and in 2016 he was awarded the Louthain Award for Distinguished Service to ASFPM and the Individual Watershed Award at the Sweet Water Clean Rivers Clean Lakes conference in Milwaukee.

Brian Ritter is the executive director of Nahant Marsh Education Center and the Program Coordinator and professor for Eastern Iowa Community College’s Conservation Program. He has been serving with Nahant since 2007 and with Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) since 2002. Brian earned his BS in Psychology with a minor in Biology from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA and his MS in Community Health, with an additional 40 graduate hours in Biology from Western Illinois University. Additionally, he has training in wetland delineation, botany, and wildland firefighting. During his tenure at Nahant, he has expanded the education program, established a summer research program, and grown the marsh preserve. In addition, he occasionally serves as a Biology adjunct faculty at St. Ambrose University. During his free time, he works around his small farm, Rockingham Hollow Farm, LLC, where raises organically-grown produce and goats. 

Shelly Morris is the Director of Floodplain Strategies for the Kentucky Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. In addition to working across Kentucky, she also covers floodplain conservation efforts for the Conservancy in western Tennessee and southern Illinois. She convenes a variety of agencies and stakeholders to develop collaborative approaches to advance the pace and scale of floodplain restoration and protection. Prior to joining the Conservancy in 2003, she received a BS in Biology from Murray State University and a MS in Biology from University of Louisville. 


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Risk Reduction for Mitigation Projects: Perspectives on Financial Assurances' Best Practices

Part 2 of 2: Casualty Insurance & Surety Bonds

Held Tuesday, December 14, 2021 - 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EST

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INTRODUCTION

• Marla Stelk, Executive Director, Association of State Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Steve Martin, Mitigation Specialist, PWS [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Alexander Dam, Director, Surety & Performance Security, Aon [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Chris Baker, Principal, Conservation United [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Robert Spoth, President, Ecosystems Insurance [PRESENTATION PDF]

BIOS

Steven Martin’s current focus is on compensatory mitigation policy and evaluation of compensatory mitigation proposals. He has assisted non-profits in evaluating potential mitigation projects and is consulting for the Ecological Restoration Business Association (ERBA). He is also working with Ecosystem Planning and Restoration on development of mitigation bank and In-Lieu Fee Program review workbooks and checklists.

In 2020, he retired from the Corps’ Institute for Water Resources (IWR) as a senior environmental scientist. His work at IWR included national implementation of the Regulatory In-lieu fee and Bank Information Tracking System (RIBITS), teaching aspects of compensatory mitigation policy and practices to Corps staff and other federal and state agencies, and development of tools to assist regulators in improving compensatory mitigation. He co-authored handbooks on financial assurances and site protection.

Prior to joining IWR, he worked for the Norfolk District Regulatory Branch where his work included wetland delineation, permitting, and compensatory mitigation. While in Norfolk, Mr. Martin chaired and oversaw development of 7 commercial mitigation banks, helped develop a template Mitigation Bank Instrument, off-site mitigation location guidelines, an in-lieu fee program instrument, and joint Norfolk District-Virginia DEQ Wetland Mitigation Guidelines.

Steve is a certified professional wetland scientist (PWS). He has an MS in Fish and Wildlife Biology from Virginia Tech.

Alexander Dam is a Director in Aon’s Surety & Performance Security practice, advising clients across a wide spectrum of industries on bonding and financial assurances. He started his career with a large carrier, specializing in large construction & engineering firms before joining the brokerage community. He is a trusted advisor to one of the country’s leading ecological restoration company and works closely with his client to address financial assurances requirements for sites across the country.
 

Chris Baker co-founded Conservation United in 2015 as a specialized insurance brokerage serving nonprofits and professionals in the ecological restoration sector. Chris’ 25-year career as Founder and CEO of American Conservation Experience, one of the nation’s largest environmental workforce development programs implementing hundreds of restoration projects annually across all 50 states, uniquely prepares him to represent the insurance interests of the mitigation banking industry. As a lifelong conservationist, Chris recognized the need for a multi-year product satisfying short-term financial assurance requirements. Conservation United now offers the only 10-year insurance policy as well as the only 10-year performance bond available in the market, eliminating the uncertainty of annual renewals and ensuring adequate protection for regulators, mitigation providers, and the natural resource alike.

  Bob Spoth spent almost 30 years with the world’s largest insurance brokerage firms specializing in providing advice, service, and insurance brokerage to the construction sector.  He brokered insurance for several ENR 100 firms and for several projects with construction budgets over $1 billion.  While working in that sector of the risk management community, he discovered a need for "financial assurance" for ecosystem restoration companies (Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting). He developed a specialty product, sought, and received the support of an insurance company and finally had the product approved for use by the US Army Corps of Engineers. We started a small insurance agency to exclusively market the product becoming the 1st insurance company to insure an offset credit of any sort.  We have since provided more than $500 million of financial assurance to the restoration sector.    

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Risk Reduction for Mitigation Projects: Perspectives on Financial Assurances' Best Practices

Part 1 of 2: Letters of Credit & Escrow Accounts

Held Tuesday, December 7, 2021 - 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. EST

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INTRODUCTION AND PRESENTATIONS

• Marla Stelk, Executive Director, Association of State Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Steve Martin, Mitigation Specialist, PWS [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Steve Moore, Vice President of Finance, Westervelt Ecological Services, LLC [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Amelia Savage, Environmental Attorney, Stearns Weaver Miller [PRESENTATION PDF]

ABSTRACTS

Steve Moore

This presentation included a discussion of the definition and makeup of LOCs, the parties to the LOC contract and their responsibilities, and the typical duration of the LOC contract. With that in mind, the presentation discussed the uses of LOCs and some minimum requirements established by USACE. LOCs as a form of financial assurance offer procedural and substantive benefits, but also present limitations and potential pitfalls. Mr. Moore offered some general considerations and recommendations for best practices for the USACE and Mitigation Bank/ ILF/ Project Sponsors.

Amelia Savage

Amelia Savage addressed the basics of escrow accounts and how they can be utilized by mitigation bankers to provide financial assurances as required by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Topics included: elements of escrow accounts; parties and general responsibilities; duration; use; and considerations and recommendations for both the bank sponsors and the regulators.

BIOS

Steven Martin’s current focus is on compensatory mitigation policy and evaluation of compensatory mitigation proposals. He has assisted non-profits in evaluating potential mitigation projects and is consulting for the Ecological Restoration Business Association (ERBA). He is also working with Ecosystem Planning and Restoration on development of mitigation bank and In-Lieu Fee Program review workbooks and checklists.

In 2020, he retired from the Corps’ Institute for Water Resources (IWR) as a senior environmental scientist. His work at IWR included national implementation of the Regulatory In-lieu fee and Bank Information Tracking System (RIBITS), teaching aspects of compensatory mitigation policy and practices to Corps staff and other federal and state agencies, and development of tools to assist regulators in improving compensatory mitigation. He co-authored handbooks on financial assurances and site protection.

Prior to joining IWR, he worked for the Norfolk District Regulatory Branch where his work included wetland delineation, permitting, and compensatory mitigation. While in Norfolk, Mr. Martin chaired and oversaw development of 7 commercial mitigation banks, helped develop a template Mitigation Bank Instrument, off-site mitigation location guidelines, an in-lieu fee program instrument, and joint Norfolk District-Virginia DEQ Wetland Mitigation Guidelines.

Steve is a certified professional wetland scientist (PWS). He has an MS in Fish and Wildlife Biology from Virginia Tech.

Steve Moore is the Vice President in charge of Business Analysis and Acquisition for Westervelt Ecological Services. Mr. Moore has over 30 years of experience in financial management, contract coordination and corporate strategic planning oversight. In his role, Mr. Moore is responsible for all aspects of financial analysis and reporting for Westervelt’ s mitigation and conservation banks, habitat mitigation turnkeys and service contracts for the Western, Southeastern and Rocky Mountain regions. In addition, he manages office operations and administrative support functions.

Mr. Moore is well versed in state-specific contracting requirements throughout the country. Mr. Moore works in cooperation with Regional Directors and processes managers to establish contract costs, create and maintain project pro forma, and control mitigation project budgets. In addition, Mr. Moore has extensive experience in coordinating with title and escrow companies during the land acquisition feasibility and acquisition processes. Mr. Moore has successfully managed the cash flow requirements, vendor payments and contract receivables for Westervelt for more than twelve years.

Prior to joining Westervelt, Mr. Moore held the positions of Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and other related titles for various real estate development firms throughout Northern California including the Central Valley. 
 
Amelia Savage works as an attorney Stearns Weaver Miller in Tallahassee, Florida on various environmental issues. She has worked on wetland mitigation banks and conservation banks for more than 15 years and routinely works with bankers, sellers, buyers, and regulators in all aspects of mitigation banking applications and implementation. In addition to mitigation banking and conservation banking, she helps utilities, businesses, and private landowners in Florida get the local, state, and federal permits needed to construct and operate their projects. These projects include personal docks, marinas, linear facilities, electric generation, mining, housing, and other developments.
 

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Mentoring the Next Generation of Wetland Professionals: A Collaborative Initiative with the Society of Wetland Scientists

Held Wednesday, October 6, 2021 - 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. EDT

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INTRODUCTION AND PRESENTATIONS

• Marla Stelk, Executive Director, Association of State Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ABSTRACT

Baby Boomers are retiring at record rates, with 3.2 million more of them retiring in the third quarter of 2020 than in the same quarter during 2019 according to a 2020 Pew Research Center study. Not only does this create a monumental hiring challenge for businesses, government agencies, universities, non-profits and others, but it can also result in a significant loss of institutional knowledge as seasoned employees leave the workforce. Alternatively, this presents a tremendous opportunity for students and emerging professionals to pursue their professional goals. But how each organization manages the transfer of knowledge and how much they invest in mentoring can make all the difference between a successful transition and a not-so-successful transition.

This is particularly true for careers that require specialized knowledge and experience such as wetland science, wetland policy, and wetland regulatory programs, to name a few. To address this need, the Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM) and the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) have agreed to provide a joint membership opportunity for students in 2022. Any student who joins either organization in 2022 will receive a free, complimentary membership to the other organization. MWSA and SWS have also engaged in discussions regarding partnering on a student mentoring initiative. The details of the joint mentoring program are still being ironed out but will be finalized toward the end of 2022.

This webinar introduced the SWS-ASWM student mentorship initiative and provided presentations by students themselves about what their career goals are, how they plan to achieve them, what their needs and challenges are, and what they think is needed to develop a successful mentorship program. The goal of this webinar was to hear directly from students about what they need to be successful and what they expect and/or need in a mentoring program. 

American Wetlands Month Webinar: Investing in Resiliency: Intersectional Perspectives of Wetlands, Infrastructure, and Healthy Communities

Held Tuesday, May 18, 2021 - 3:00 pm-4:30 pm Eastern

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INTRODUCTION

• Marla Stelk, Executive Director, Association of State Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS 

• Stella Wilson, Florida, Alabama, & Mississippi Restoration Area Coordinator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Elizabeth Habic, Environmental Protection Specialist, Federal Highway Administration [PRESENTATION PDF]
• LaTonya Gilliam, North District Engineer, Delaware Department of Transportation [ PRESENTATION PDF]
• Becca Madsen, Senior Technical Leader, Electric Power Research Institute [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Nalini S. Rao, Ph.D., Senior Technical Leader, Electric Power Research Institute [PRESENTATION PDF]

ABSTRACT

In celebration of American Wetlands Month this May, join us for a webinar highlighting the integral role that wetlands and wetlands data play in decisions about infrastructure development that supports healthy and resilient communities. As the Biden Administration looks to invest significantly in upgrades to the nation’s infrastructure, it is important to highlight the importance of wetlands, not only in the infrastructure planning and permitting process, but also in the development of natural infrastructure solutions. From reducing floods and buffering coastal communities to filtering out pollutants and providing recreational green spaces, wetlands provide a wide range of ecosystem services and benefits. This webinar will focus on the intersections between wetlands and infrastructure through the lens of a diverse set of stakeholders.

BIOS

Stella Wilson is the Florida, Alabama, & Mississippi Restoration Area Coordinator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Deepwater Horizon (DWH) Program. Ms. Wilson has served in this role with NOAA since June 2020 and was serving in a similar role as a contractor with NOAA since April 2017. She serves as the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (DOC) technical representative on the Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi Trustee Implementation Groups (TIGs) as part of the NRDA BP settlement agreement of 2015 and manages several large-scale restoration projects in these states to help compensate for injuries from the BP Oil Spill.

Ms. Wilson has thirteen years of experience in natural resource policy, planning, and restoration along the northern Gulf Coast. Ms. Wilson holds a B.S. in Natural Resources Conservation and an M.S. in Environmental Engineering Sciences, both from the University of Florida. Ms. Wilson’s experience includes developing local mitigation strategies, comprehensive coastal conservation plans, regional surface water improvement plans, regional watershed plans, local emergency management plans, and local capital improvement plans as well as managing hydrologic restoration, marsh restoration, and other habitat/living shoreline projects.

Elizabeth Habic is an Environmental Protection Specialist at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). She conducts research, technical assistance and outreach to improve the sustainability of transportation networks and enhance the resilience and durability of transportation to impacts of extreme weather and climate change. She has 10 years of experience on these issues at the Maryland Department of Transportation and State Highway Administration as the Climate Risk and Resilience Program Manager. Elizabeth has worked on many transportation planning initiatives with an environmental background working on state projects for over 20 years.

  

LaTonya Gilliam is the North District Engineer at the Delaware Department of Transportation. She has 18 years of experience in various positions in DelDOT's Construction, NPDES and Engineering Support sections. Throughout her career she has championed water quality improvement initiatives and worked with communities, non-profits and state resource agencies to incorporate sustainable practices into the project development processes. Many of these projects have occurred in the Inland Bays Watershed improving water quality along the SR 1 Coastal Highway Corridor in partnership with the Center for the Inland Bays. As the North District Engineer in the Division of Maintenance and Operations the focus is on the long-term maintenance and stewardship of the stormwater facilities and addressing the impacts of a changing climate on an inland urban stormwater infrastructure. 

Becca Madsen is a Senior Technical Leader at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Madsen manages and conducts research on a wide range of topics related to endangered species and natural resources within the context of electric power industry environmental challenges. Currently, a large focus of her work is on data science/artificial intelligence applications to environmental challenges.

Ms. Madsen has over 15 years of experience analyzing issues at the intersection of natural resources and economics. Prior to joining EPRI, she served as Principal of Madsen Environmental, where she provided consulting services to businesses seeking return on investment from environmental restoration and sustainability actions. Ms. Madsen has analyzed and written on topics ranging from global policies promoting biodiversity conservation, to feasibility of water quality trading in the Chesapeake Bay, to the application of an ecosystem services perspective at a major beverage company.

Ms. Madsen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina Honors College and a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University. Ms. Madsen was a Peace Corps volunteer, a Doris Duke Conservation Fellow, a Presidential Management Fellow with the U.S. Forest Service, and an Enviropreneur Fellow with the Property and Environment Research Center.

Nalini S. Rao, Ph.D. is Senior Technical Leader in the Energy and Environment Sector at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Dr. Rao leads a research program “Ecosystem Risk and Resiliency,” which applies quantitative approaches to ecological and water-energy issues. Her program focuses on research and development in the areas of natural resources (water, climate, and ecological risk); developing tools and evaluating technologies; and business applications and benchmarking. At EPRI, Dr. Rao’s research program uses hydrologic, spatial, and economic analysis to deliver scientific analysis, decision-support software tools, resource risk management strategy evaluations, and technology assessments in the area of natural resources. Her program has over 96% member satisfaction rates as well as won three technical transfer awards for research applications which brought business values to member companies. She has worked on water, energy, climate, and economic research in both national and international applications, and prior to coming to EPRI, Dr. Rao worked at ICF International and Conservation International. Dr. Rao has a Ph.D. in Natural Resources from Cornell University where she used both hydrological and economic analysis to examine the adoption and effectiveness of agricultural best management practices in the New York City drinking water source watersheds. She also has a Masters of Environmental Science from Yale University and a B.A. in Economics and Environmental Sciences from U.C. Berkeley.

   

Looking Back, Looking Forward: A Review of Trump Administration Rulemakings and Charting a Path Forward

Held Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - 2:00pm-4:00pm ET

 View Recorded Webinar

 INTRODUCTION

• Marla Stelk, Executive Director, Association of StateWetland Managers

POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

PRESENTERS

• Julia Anastasio, Association of Clean Water Administrators 
• Royal Gardner, Professor of Law and Director of the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy Stetson University College of Law [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]
• James M. McElfish, Jr., Senior Attorney, Environmental Law Institute 
• Donna Downing, Senior Legal Policy Advisor, Association of State Wetland Managers
• Marla Stelk, Executive Director, Association of State Wetland Managers 

ABSTRACT

The Trump Administration has been a time of substantial change to aquatic resource protection programs, as well as to rulemaking processes used to define program requirements.  For example, on January 30, 2017, President Trump signed Executive Order (E.O.) 13771, Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs, which spearheaded his Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions and directed all agencies to repeal at least two existing regulations for each new regulation issued in FY 2017 and thereafter. This initial E.O. laid the context for the subsequent E.O. 13778, Restoring the Rule of Law, Federalism, and Economic Growth by Reviewing the “Waters of the United States” Rule, which was published in the Federal Register just four days later, on February 28.   The extent and speed of changes to aquatic resource protection programs has posed substantial challenges to states and tribes who have substantial responsibility under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA).

Clean Water Act programs address “waters of the United States,” and as a result the regulatory definition of that threshold term determines the scope of multiple aquatic resource and water quality protections. The Trump Administration’s 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) replaced the Obama Administration’s 2015 Clean Water Rule with a narrower definition of WOTUS.  Because CWA programs address waters of the US, the new narrower definition created a domino effect and reduced the extent of protections from those programs.  For example, CWA Section 401 certifications are required only for permits or licenses that may result in discharges into WOTUS, Nationwide Permits under section 404 apply only to discharges of dredged or fill material into WOTUS, as does section 404’s requirement for compensatory mitigation for impacts to WOTUS.  As the extent of waters considered to be WOTUS shrinks, so do the protections of programs such as these.  In addition, the Trump Administration has undertaken rulemaking to revise these and other CWA programs, further affecting the programs’ abilities to protect aquatic resource and water quality. 

In this webinar, the implications of these changes for state and tribal aquatic resource programs were examined and discussions included past, recent and ongoing rulemakings and court cases, enforcement issues, points of process for moving forward, and potential actions by the new Biden Administration. 

BIOS

Julia Anastasio joined the Association of Clean Water Administrators in May 2014 as the Executive Director and General Counsel. ACWA is an independent, nonpartisan national organization of state and interstate water program managers, who on a daily basis implement the water quality programs of the federal Clean Water Act. At ACWA, Ms. Anastasio focuses on working with state water program directors and EPA’s Office of Water on ensuring that the states have the resources they need to implement the Clean Water Act in their home states. Ms. Anastasio has over two decades of experience in government, administrative and environmental law and federal policy development. She began her career with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as an Executive Policy Specialist and returned to Washington, DC in 2005 to work for the America Public Works Association (APWA). While at APWA, she focused on environmental, sustainability and infrastructure development at the local, state and federal levels. Ms. Anastasio earned her B.A. from Franklin Marshall College, her Masters in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School, and her J.D. from American University.

Royal C. Gardner is Professor of Law and Director of the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy at Stetson University College of Law. He is an internationally recognized expert in wetland law and policy. Recent projects include serving as the Chair of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, testifying before a World Bank arbitration panel, advising the Government of Oman regarding wetland policy, and coauthoring amicus briefs on behalf of environmental scientists. In WOTUS-related litigation, he has filed amicus briefs in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and in the U.S. District Courts for the District of North Dakota and the Southern District of New York.

James M. McElfish, Jr. is a Senior Attorney; Director with the Environmental Law Institute Sustainable Use of Land Program. Jim McElfish’s research focuses on development choices and their links to land use, water resources, biological diversity, and infrastructure policy. ELI’s Sustainable Use of Land Program makes connections among laws, policies, taxes, investments, and land use decisions. His work includes research on coastal zone activities, renewable energy siting, enforcement, and conservation outcomes. McElfish served as representative of the natural environment on the American Planning Association’s multi-year Growing Smarter Legislative Guidebook Directorate. McElfish also leads ELI programs on water resources, examining how watersheds and resources can be evaluated, used, conserved, and restored. He is a nationally recognized authority on NEPA and a former litigator in private practice and with the Department of the Interior. McElfish has been an ELI Senior Attorney since 1986.

Donna Downing is the Senior Legal Policy Advisor, Association of State Wetland Managers. Donna was the Jurisdiction Team Leader in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds. Donna worked on a variety of issues at EPA, with a focus in recent years on the geographic scope of the Clean Water Act (CWA) in light of the U.S. Supreme Court decisions. She also served as EPA’s staff lead for CWA section 401 water quality certification, and on wetland-related legal issues. Prior to joining EPA in 1998, Donna worked for the U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment and in private law practice. She has a BA magna cum laude from Harvard University, an MPP from the University of California at Berkeley, a JD cum laude from Georgetown University Law School, and an LLM in Environmental Law summa cum laude from George Washington University Law School. Donna has been an adjunct professor at George Washington University Law School since 1996, teaching environmental law. In what’s left of her time, she moonlights as a professional potter and an unprofessional horse trainer. Donna also enjoys traveling and has traveled by reindeer sled in the Swedish Arctic, gone winter camping with dog sleds in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Wilderness Area, and bicycled the Burma Road in China%.3C/span>

Marla Stelk is the Executive Director at the Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM) where she has worked on wetland policy and management issues since 2013. Marla has over 25 years of experience working on wetland, water, and wildlife issues, policy and research, land use planning, communications and organizational leadership. Marla has led research at ASWM on topics such as ecosystem service valuation for wetland restoration, the role of wetlands in floodplain and natural hazard management, wetlands and watershed health, wetland mapping and communications. Prior to coming to ASWM, Marla worked for a variety of environmental and social nonprofit organizations helping to build organizational capacity, manage projects and improve internal processes. Marla also has a successful background in small business management and ran her own custom metal sculpture studio for 15 years. Marla earned her MA in Community Planning and Development with a focus on Land Use and the Environment at the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service and her BA in Environmental Issues from Colorado College. 

 

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WEBINARS

Wetland Link International - Americas Webinar:
Cómo atraer de forma efectiva visitantes locales a Centros de Humedales

Hosted by the National Association of Wetland Managers

Martes 30 de Mayo de 2017 – 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT (UTC -5)

Resumen del seminario

Muchos sitios de humedales deben trabajar duro para involucrar la comunidad local, proveyendo materiales de comunicación y de publicidad, tratando de hacerlos relevantes para un amplio rango de actores locales. Sin embargo, muchos de nosotros aún tenemos problemas para atraer gente a nuestros humedales, y éste seminario on-line analiza cómo aprender los unos de los otros las mejores formas de hacer que los humedales sean relevantes para la gente de su zona.

Si trabaja en humedales o en educación y sensibilización ambiental en las Américas, Wetland Link International (WLI) Américas y la National Association of Wetland Managers le invitan a participar de éste seminario on-line gratuito. Las presentaciones tratarán sobre las prácticas de participación y las lecciones aprendidas sobre varios aspectos del compromiso ambiental en sitios de humedales, incluyendo casos de estudio de socios de WLI en América del Norte, Central y del Sur. También proporcionaremos traducción consecutiva español-inglés e inglés-español. 

PRESENTACIONES

Introducción (inglés) - Chris Rostron, Wetland Link International, Reino Unido

Chris gestiona el proyecto global de WLI, una red de apoyo para quienes realizan actividades de educación, participación y sensibilización en centros de educación sobre humedales. Él presentará la red WLI Américas, el tema del seminario y los participantes.

Involucrar a los vecinos (inglés) - Nathalie Bays, Oak Hammock Marsh, Canada

Mantener exposiciones y programación al día puede ser un desafío. Aprenda cómo el Centro de Interpretación Oak Hammock Marsh trabaja para mantener su relevancia para la comunidad local a través de una variedad de programas atractivos.

Uso de las redes sociales para atraer visitantes a su sitio (español) - Daniel Bernal, Wetlands Bogotá, Colombia

Trabajar para mejor involucrar a las personas en los humedales urbanos de la capital de Colombia, Bogotá, ha significado utilizar las redes sociales de diferentes formas para atraer gente. Daniel hablará de lo que funciona y lo que no.

Volando como un águila – El uso de cámaras de animales silvestres para atraer visitantes locales e internacionales (inglés) - John DeFillipo, John Bunker Sands Wetland Center, Texas, US

El Centro John Bunker Sands Wetland tiene una pareja de águilas calvas americanas que nidifica en el sitio y puede ser monitoreada a través una de las cámaras de vida silvestre en nuestro website. El presentador explicará cómo éste servicio atrae visitantes locales e internacionales, así como conservacionistas, para convertirse en la misión de conservación del centro.

El uso de eventos especiales para involucrar el público local en el sitio (español) - Ingrid M. Flores, Coordinadora Regional del Caribe del Día Internacional de las Aves Migratorias y del Festival de Aves Endémicas del Caribe 

Todos los años durante la primavera y otoño se celebra el Día Internacional de las Aves Migratorias (DIAM) con eventos y actividades coordinadas entre varios sitios del hemisferio occidental. El DIAM es un proyecto de educación de Environment for the Americas y Birds Caribbean celebra el Festival de Aves Endémicas del Caribe (CEBF) desde 22 de abril (Día de la Tierra) hasta el 22 de mayo (Día de la Biodiversidad). Ingrid hablará sobre cómo planificar y presentar eventos emocionantes e inclusivos en los sitios.

Discusión interactiva

La última parte del seminario estará dedicada a la discusión interactiva, donde lo invitamos a compartir sus experiencias de participación y compromiso de ciudadanos locales en proyectos de protección de humedales.

BIOS

Chris Rostron es el Administrador del Programa de Wetland Link Interational, basado en Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) en el Reino Unido. Trabaja en éste puesto desde hace seis años. Tiene experiencia en participación y sensibilización de la comunidad en temas ambientales y en desarrollo de redes y tiene un Master en Gestion Ambiental, centrada en la gestion de cuencas hidrográficas. 

Nathalie Bays es la Gerente de Operaciones en el premiado Centro de Interpretación Oak Hammock Marsh en Manitoba, Canadá. Originaria de la provincia de Quebec, tiene un BSC en Fauna y un Master en Ciencias de Recursos Naturales. Trabajó como Coordinadora de Educación durante 14 años en el Centro de Interpretación, y ha sido la Gerente por los últimos seis. El Centro de Interpretación Oak Hammock Marsh es un galardonado centro de educación sobre humedales ubicado al norte de Winnipeg, que tiene como misión “Conectar las personas con los humedales”.

John DeFillipo, Director del Centro John Bunker Sands Wetland, es un naturalista con más de 20 años de experiencia integrando conceptos ecological con ideas de negocios. John ha sido un naturalista en el Centro de Educación Ambiental Camp McDowell en Alabama y en el Centro de Educación Ambiental Crow's Neck en Mississippi. En 2002, se convirtió en educador de extensión en el Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Mississippi, donde presentó programas de especies en peligro de extinción, incluyendo cocodrilos vivos. Mientras vivía en Mississippi, John trabajó como presidente de la Alianza de Educación Ambiental de Mississippi y recibió el Premio Educador Ambiental del Año 2008. En 2008 se fue Educador de Ciencias Naturales en el Museo Perot de Naturaleza y Ciencia, antes de convertirse en Director del Centro de Humedal en marzo de 2010. En agosto de 2015, John recibió el Premio al Mejor Líder de la Asociación de Administradores de Centros Naturales (ANCA) Actualmente es Vicepresidente de Desarrollo.

Daniel Bernal es ingeniero electrónico. Socio fundador de la Fundación Humedales Bogotá, Programa REtroCD y Amigo de la Veeduría de la Reserva Van der Hammen; ambientalista, periodista ciudadano y activista ambiental, pajarero, Yoga, Vegetarianismo; vive en un humedal.

La fundación Humedales Bogotá fue ganadora del Premio de la Convención de Ramsar a Jóvenes defensores de los humedales, 2015 y del Premio Colombia en Línea como mejor sitio de investigación en Colombia del año 2012.

Daniel es socio del programa RetroCD, primer programa de recolección de CDs/DVDs para su reciclaje en Latinoamérica y es parte del equipo de comunicaciones de la Red de Amigos de la Veeduría de la Reserva Thomas Van der Hammen.

Ha sido catalogado como: “Los y las ambientalistas de Colombia que debería seguir en twitter en 2016” por Red por la Justicia Ambiental en Colombia.

Columnista en la celebración de los 130 años del Diario El Espectador con el artículo: “Los humedales de Bogotá: un oasis en la gran ciudad”

Ingrid M. Flores es bióloga de vida silvestre con experiencia en investigación, enseñando ciencia y trabajando con el público. Ingrid también es gerente de proyectos y bióloga de vida silvestre en el Programa de Conservación de Tortugas Marinas de Palmas del Mar Resort en Humacao, Puerto Rico.

Ingrid coordina las actividades de CEBF y DIAM en el Caribe, trabajando con más de 30 coordinadores desde Bermuda hasta Bonaire. Esto implica ayudar a los coordinadores a planificar sus actividades, facilitar su trabajo con los medios locales, distribuir materiales de educación y divulgación sobre las aves del Caribe y el tema del festival a la red de coordinadores. Ingrid tiene un diploma MS en Manejo Ambiental y trabajó como profesora adjunta al Departamento de Ciencias Naturales y Tecnologías de la Universidad del Turabo en Gurabo, Puerto Rico, donde enseñó biología a estudiantes de pregrado.

 

Basado en la demanda: Opción de traducción consecutiva en tiempo real entre inglés y español

De acuerdo con la cantidad de solicitudes, podemos ofrecer la opción de presentar el webinario con traducción consecutiva entre español e inglés. Este servicio debe ser preparado con bastante tiempo de anticipación, por lo que necesitamos que nos comunique si le interesa participar del seminario escuchando la traducción del audio en español.

 

"Cuando haga click en el botón de registro, se le solicitará completar la siguiente información usando éstas palabras en inglés: "First Name" (Nombre);"Last Name" (Apellido); "Email Address (Correo electrónico) y "Organization" (Organismo).

A Legal Analysis of the Clean Water Act § 401 Proposed Rule

Held Friday, September 20, 2019 - 3:00-5:00 pm Eastern

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

Marla Stelk, Executive Director, Association of State Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Royal C. Gardner, Professor of Law and Director of the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy, Stetson University College of Law [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Mark A. Ryan, Principal, Ryan & Kuehler PLLC [PRESENTATION PDF]
• James M. McElfish, Jr., Senior Attorney, Environmental Law Institute [PRESENTATION PDF]

ABSTRACTS

On Thursday, August 22, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule for changes to Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 was published in the Federal Register. The EPA has only provided a 60-day public comment period - comments are due on or before Monday, October 21, 2019 – however, EPA has requested feedback on over 130 questions. CWA § 401 is a direct grant of authority to states (and tribes that have been approved for “treatment as a state” status) to review for compliance with appropriate federal, state, and tribal water quality requirements any proposed activity that requires a federal license or permit and may result in a discharge to waters of the United States. The proposed rule has significant legal and policy implications for states’ rights to protect their water quality within their own boundaries. To assist states, tribes and others in understanding the potential legal concerns surrounding the proposed rule, ASWM has invited three of the nation’s top Clean Water Act attorneys to provide a history of significant court cases regarding § 401, its use by states and tribes, and a legal analysis of the proposed rule and potential impacts.

Royal C. Gardner
Gardner provided a history of state water quality certification provisions, beginning with the Water Quality Improvement Act of 1970. He discussed the key U.S. Supreme Court cases that interpret Clean Water Act Section 401 (PUD No. 1 of Jefferson County v. Washington Department of Ecology and S.D. Warren Co. v. Maine Board of Environmental Protection), as well as other cases mentioned in the proposed rulemaking. He will also highlight significant aspects of the proposed rule: time limitations on state certification decisions; restrictions on the scope of what states may consider in the certification process; and federal agency review (and possible rejection) of state certification decisions.

Mark A. Ryan
Mark discussed the administrative process EPA is required to follow to promulgate a final rule, how the likely litigation will play out and the possibility of Congress invoking the Congressional Review Act. Mark also discussed how this effort fits into other CWA reform efforts by the Trump administration.

James M. McElfish, Jr.
James discussed the reliance by many states on 401 as a basis for wetlands regulatory programs; the various types of conditions that states have applied to 401 certifications to protect water quality in the context of federal licenses and permits and what limitations the proposed rule would place on such conditions; and the potential impacts of the proposed rule on enforceability of state conditions.

BIOS

Royal C. Gardner is Professor of Law and Director of the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy at Stetson University College of Law. He is an internationally recognized expert in wetland law and policy. Recent projects include serving as the Chair of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, testifying before a World Bank arbitration panel, advising the Government of Oman regarding wetland policy, and coauthoring amicus briefs on behalf of environmental scientists. In WOTUS-related litigation, he has filed amicus briefs in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and in the U.S. District Courts for the District of North Dakota and the Southern District of New York.

Mark Ryan is an Attorney with Ryan & Kuehler PLLC in Winthrop, Washington where he has a national and regional practice that focuses on Clean Water Act (CWA) counseling and litigation, water rights and land-use issues. Prior to Ryan & Kuehler, Mr. Ryan spent 24 years as an EPA trial attorney, where he was one of EPA's leading experts on the CWA. He has published and spoken extensively on the CWA, and he is the long-standing editor of the American Bar Association’s Clean Water Act Handbook. He received his B.S. in natural resources from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Indiana University School of Law (cum laude), where he was an editor of the Indiana Law Journal. Mr. Ryan's Clean Water Act Blog, where he provides summaries of recent developments under the CWA, can be viewed at ryankuehler.com. Mr. Ryan can be reached at mr@ryankuehler.com.

James M. McElfish, Jr. is a Senior Attorney; Director with the Environmental Law Institute Sustainable Use of Land Program.
Jim McElfish’s research focuses on development choices and their links to land use, water resources, biological diversity, and infrastructure policy. ELI’s Sustainable Use of Land Program makes connections among laws, policies, taxes, investments, and land use decisions. His work includes research on coastal zone activities, renewable energy siting, enforcement, and conservation outcomes. McElfish served as representative of the natural environment on the American Planning Association’s multi-year Growing Smarter Legislative Guidebook Directorate. McElfish also leads ELI programs on water resources, examining how watersheds and resources can be evaluated, used, conserved, and restored. He is a nationally recognized authority on NEPA and a former litigator in private practice and with the Department of the Interior. McElfish has been an ELI Senior Attorney since 1986.

Filling Wetland Regulatory Gaps: Approaches and Lessons Learned

Held Friday, November 13, 2020 - 2:00 pm-4:00 pm Eastern 

INTRODUCTION

• Brenda Zollitsch, Senior Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]

PRESENTERS

• Yvonne Vallette, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION] 
• Denise Clearwater, Maryland Department of the Environment [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION] 
• Richard Mraz, Washington State Department of Ecology [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION] 
• Michelle Cook, Kentucky Division of Water [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION] 

ABSTRACTS

This webinar discussed the reasons that regulatory gaps emerge and some of their drivers. Not all states are the same, so the first presentation explores these gaps and options for developing wetland regulatory programs or program elements to fill them. The webinar covered different regulatory regimes at various levels of government. The webinar then move on to examples of wetland regulatory building work in three states (Washington State, Maryland and Kentucky). States shared their regulatory capacity building experiences, explore their drivers for change, what gaps needed to be filled, and the processes they undertook internally to make decisions about their capacity building efforts. The panelists talked about the resources and conditions that were required to make these changes happen. State panelists discussed their outputs and outcomes, sharing what was created, what it has taken to implement it, and what resulted from their efforts. Each panelist ended by answering whether they were able to fill their regulatory gap.

BIOS

Yvonne Vallette is an Aquatic Ecologist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For the last twenty-three years she has worked at EPA Region 10’s Oregon Operations Office in Portland serving as the Region’s coordinator for enhancing State and Tribal Programs. Her work with EPA is focused on the technical and policy aspects of the Clean Water Act (CWA), including Section 404. Her practicable experience includes work in: aquatic resource monitoring and assessment, 404 enforcement, compensatory mitigation, impact analysis, CWA jurisdiction, 404 program assumption, and aquatic resources restoration.

Denise Clearwater has worked in Maryland’s wetland programs since 1986. She has a background in developing and implementing programs in wetland regulation, wetland training, and mitigation, as well as managing special projects for grants and program improvement and assisting in policy development. She has represented the Wetlands and Waterways Program in the Maryland Department of the Environment on numerous interagency work groups for regulatory, wetland monitoring, restoration, preservation and stream health and is a past co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Program Wetland Work Group. She is also a member of the Society of Wetland Scientists. Denise has a B.S. in zoology from the University of Maryland and an M.S. in wildlife management from Frostburg State College (now University).

Richard Mraz is the Wetland Policy Lead for the Washington Department of Ecology. He is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist who began his career in the wetlands field in Lee County, Florida in 1987. He has worked as a naturalist, field biologist and environmental planner with local, state and federal agencies since 1980. Rick has degrees in Geology, Field Biology and Philosophy.

 
Michelle Cook is an Environmental Scientist with the Division of Water, within the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection. In her role as Wetlands Program Coordinator, she oversees the development, validation, and implementation of wetland assessment methodologies including the Kentucky Wetland Rapid Assessment Method (KY-WRAM) and indices of biological integrity. Michelle is part of a team of scientists working to develop water quality standards for Kentucky’s wetlands. She has 10 years of experience in the wetlands monitoring and assessment field and holds a M.S. in Biology from Eastern Kentucky University, and a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Northern Kentucky University.

Improving Enforcement in Wetland Regulatory Programs

Held Tuesday, September 29, 2020 - 3:00pm-4:30 pm Eastern

INTRODUCTION

• Brenda Zollitsch, Senior Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]

PRESENTERS

• Yvonne Vallette, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]
• Stacia Bax, Missouri Department of Natural Resources [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]
• Sara Slater, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]

ABSTRACT

This webinar discussed the need for enforcement mechanisms in wetland regulatory programs. After painting the broader background of need, the webinar shared some of the most common compliance and enforcement tools and their pros, cons and contexts for successful application. The webinar went on to discuss the relationship between states and tribes with the Corps in terms of coordination of enforcement activities. This portion of the webinar explored the different scenarios across the country from the Corps conducting all enforcement in a state to working to actively coordinate state enforcement with multiple districts. The webinar concluded with details about how to build enforcement capacity at the state/tribal level through Wetland Program Plans, specifically how these planning activities can develop systems or be designed to include enforcement in the future.

BIO

Yvonne Vallette is an Aquatic Ecologist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For the last twenty-three years she has worked at EPA Region 10’s Oregon Operations Office in Portland serving as the Region’s coordinator for enhancing State and Tribal Programs. Her work with EPA is focused on the technical and policy aspects of the Clean Water Act (CWA), including Section 404. Her practicable experience includes work in: aquatic resource monitoring and assessment, 404 enforcement, compensatory mitigation, impact analysis, CWA jurisdiction, 404 program assumption, and aquatic resources restoration.   

Stacia Bax is the Environmental Supervisor of the Stormwater and Certification Unit within the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Stacia has nearly 20 years of experience with the department in various areas related to the water program and state parks, with the past 10+ years working with Section 401. For the past 7.5 years, Stacia has coordinated quarterly department-wide wetland meetings, which has helped in the development of the Wetland Program Plan document. 

Sara Slater is the 401 Water Quality Coordinator for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Prior to her work at Oregon DEQ, Sara served as Project Manager for Environmental Services Drainage utility in the City of Killeen, Texas. Her other experience includes serving as a program manager for Indiana State Department of Agriculture and Wetlands Project Manager at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Sara earned her MS in Geology from Purdue University in Indiana.

 

 

Conducting State/Tribal Review of the 2020 Nationwide Permits

Held Wednesday, September 16, 2020 - 3:00pm-5:00 pm Eastern

INTRODUCTION

• Brenda Zollitsch, Senior Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]

PRESENTERS

• David Olson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION] Timeline
• Panel of State Wetland Program Managers
  • Dave Davis, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
  • Richard Mraz, Washington State Department of Ecology

ABSTRACT

September 15th and the 60-day review period clock has started ticking. Nationwide Permits (NWPs) authorize certain activities under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is reissuing its existing NWPs and associated general conditions and definitions, with some modifications, as well as five new NWPs. The Corps is requesting comment on all aspects of these proposed nationwide permits. To view the Nationwide Permits in the Federal Register, go here.

This fifth webinar in ASWM’s Regulatory Capacity Building Webinar Series has been developed to help reviewers understand the content of the newly published Nationwides, options in the review process, and considerations related to specific proposed changes. David Olson from the Corps reviewed each of the proposed changes to the general conditions and introduce the five proposed new NWPs. After this content review, he was joined by state panelists who shared their approaches to the review process, specific elements of the proposed changes on which they are planning to comment, and lessons learned from their reviewing experiences in the past. The webinar ended with an opportunity for participants to ask the panel questions.

BIOS

David Olson is a Regulatory Program Manager at the Headquarters office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has worked for the Corps since 1991, beginning as a Regulatory Project Manager at the Baltimore District, evaluating applications for Department of the Army authorization to do work in waters and wetlands. In 2002, he began working at his current position at Corps Headquarters. His focus areas currently include wetland and stream restoration, the Corps’ nationwide permit program, and Endangered Species Act compliance for Department of the Army permits.

Dave Davis is the Director of the Office of Wetlands & Stream Protection at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. In this position, he is responsible for Virginia’s independent nontidal wetland regulatory program, non-regulatory wetland programs, and surface water investigation programs. He is DEQ’s lead technical expert on wetland science issues, drafts regulations and guidance on State wetland policy, serves as the liaison with federal agencies regarding 404/401 issues, and manages several federally-funded wetland grants. Prior to joining DEQ in 2001, Dave was a partner in a wetland consulting firm in Richmond. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (Music minor) from The College of William & Mary and a Master of Environmental Studies degree in Environmental Policy and Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist and a Virginia Certified Professional Wetland Delineator.

Richard Mraz is the Wetland Policy Lead for the Washington Department of Ecology. He is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist who began his career in the wetlands field in Lee County, Florida in 1987. He has worked as a naturalist, field biologist and environmental planner with local, state and federal agencies since 1980. Rick has degrees in Geology, Field Biology and Philosophy.

 

 

 

Communications Strategies and Lessons Learned for Wetland Programs

Held Thursday, August 20, 2020 - 3:00-5:00 pm Eastern

INTRODUCTION

• Brenda Zollitsch, Senior Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]

 PRESENTERS

• Alison Rogerson, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]
• Laura Lapierre, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]
• Mary Ann Tilton, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]

ABSTRACT

This webinar shared communication strategies and examples of their use in practice to strengthen wetland regulatory programs. Participants learned how various techniques can be employed in real-world contexts. Examples included strategies to gather input and build support for new or changing regulations, to work through stakeholder engagement activities, and to improve awareness of and compliance with new requirements. This webinar shared examples from three states actively engaged in this communications work. Presenters shared lessons learned and advice on how to think through and implement this work, as well as insights about common challenges.

BIOS

Alison Rogerson works for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program which assesses the health of Delaware’s tidal and non-tidal wetlands, investigates shoreline stabilization and wetland restoration methods, and creates usable products to inform and teach stakeholders. Alison has been with DNREC for 12 years and has experience combining wetland science and research with outreach and education to strengthen wetland management and protection in Delaware.

Laura Lapierre, PWS, NHCWS is the Program Manager of the Vermont Wetlands Program for the VT Department of Environmental Conservation and has held this role for nearly 7 years. At VT DEC, Laura is responsible for the management and protection of Vermont’s wetlands through the program’s implementation of the Vermont Wetland Rules, wetland bioassessment projects, wetland restoration work, and aiding in the development of state wetland policy. Laura has a Master’s Degree in Biology from McGill University.

Mary Ann Tilton is the Assistant Wetlands Bureau Administrator with the State of New Hampshire, Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), Wetlands Bureau. She has been with NHDES for over 30 years in various management and supervisory positions. She helped develop the Wetlands Enforcement program and supervised wetlands compliance for 17 years. She has served as the Assistant Administrator since 2005 and oversees state wetlands rules development, program development, and wetlands permitting. She is the recipient of an EPA Merit Award (2019) for development of a Wetlands BMP, multi-year rules initiative, and development of stream crossing rules. She holds a BA degree in Botany and Zoology from Connecticut College, MS in Zoology from University of Rhode Island, and a JD from UNH Law School (formerly Franklin Pierce Law Center), and is a Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) and member of the Society of Wetland Scientists. She lives with her family in Concord, NH and enjoys hiking in the White Mountains, skiing, and exploring arboretums. 

 

Building Capacity to Protect and Manage Wetlands through the Development of State Wetland Associations

Held Wednesday, June 24, 2020 - 3:00pm-4:30pm

INTRODUCTION

• Brenda Zollitsch, Senior Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]  

PRESENTERS

• Erin O'Brien, Wisconsin Wetlands Association [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]
• Rick Savage, Carolina Wetlands Association [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION] 
• Kim Matthews, Carolina Wetlands Association [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION] 

ABSTRACTS

This webinar shared how states and tribes can partner with or encourage the development of state wetland associations to enhance the capacity of states and tribes to protect their wetlands. State associations can be valuable partners with states and tribes on a range of activities, ranging from restoration activities and monitoring and assessment to stimulating financial investments and assisting with education and outreach. This webinar shared the experiences of the Wisconsin Wetland Association and the Carolinas Wetland Association, while also sharing some of the interesting connections states have with other associations. The webinar included basic information about what state wetland associations are, what roles they play, lessons learned by two example associations and some lessons learned to help those interested in forming a new state wetland association. The webinar included presentations by both associations, followed by a panel session and Q&A with webinar participants.

BIOS

Erin O’Brien is the Policy Programs Director for the Wisconsin Wetlands Association (WWA). Since 2004, Erin has overseen the implementation and expansion of WWA's government relations work including lobbying, legislator education, regulatory oversight, local government outreach, and EPA funded wetland program development collaborations with university and municipal partners. Erin has a Master’s degree in Land Resources from University of Wisconsin-Madison. WWA recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. A timeline of its history can be found at Wisconsinwetlands.org/50years. 

Rick Savage formed the Carolina Wetlands Association nonprofit in 2015 to maintain a public focus on the value of wetlands. He serves as the organization's president. Currently, Carolina Wetlands Association is working with communities to restore wetlands, create community resilience and environmental equity, to mitigate climate change effects and provide additional co-benefits in terms of ecosystem services. Prior to his work with the Carolina Wetlands Association, Rick worked for the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Division of Water Quality, doing wetlands monitoring research for EPA. Rick worked with EPA scientists and other state scientists to develop the sampling protocols and coordinated regional assessment efforts for the National Wetland Condition Assessment. Rick has an MS in Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech and an MS in Natural Resource Management.

Kim Matthews is the current Vice-President and founding board member of the volunteer-based non-profit organization, the Carolina Wetlands Association. She is also the chair of the Development Committee focusing on outreach, communication, and fundraising. Kim graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Wittenberg University. She received her M.S. in Forestry from North Carolina State University. She has over
20 years of experience in wetland ecology, stormwater management, and watershed assessments. She is currently an environmental scientist with RTI, International where she provides technical support and assistance to federal and state environmental agencies.

 

Sharing EPA's "Refresh" to the Enhancing State and Tribal Programs (ESTP) Framework

Held Tuesday, March 24, 2020 - 3-5:00 pm ET

INTRODUCTION

Brenda Zollitsch, Association of State Wetland Managers [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION] 

PRESENTERS

• Rebecca Dils, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds [INTRO: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION] 
• Michael McDavit, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds [INTRO: POWERPOINT PRESENTATION] 
• Kerryann Weaver, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5 [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]
• Yvonne Vallette, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10[POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]
• Eliodora Chamberlain, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]

ABSTRACT

This webinar shared information on forthcoming updates to the EPA’s Enhancing State and Tribal Programs (ESTP) Framework. EPA’s ESTP Framework is designed to enhance EPA's delivery of technical and financial support for state and tribal wetlands programs. The overall objective of the ESTP initiative is to accelerate program development on a national scale.

The webinar provided a brief introduction and background on EPA’s ESTP Initiative and how it relates to wetland program planning and capacity building efforts. The webinar then move to presentations on the “refreshes” being made in each of the four core element areas addressed in the ESTP Framework: 1) wetland monitoring and assessment, 2) wetland regulation, 3) wetland water quality standards, and 4) voluntary wetland restoration and protection. The webinar encourages states and tribes to utilize the framework as a planning tool to build state and tribal wetland program capacity. The webinar ended with an invitation for state and tribal wetland staff to participate in ASWM’s capacity building National Dialogues and an overview of ASWM resources around this topic. 

BIOS

Rebecca Dils is a long-time employee of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and has worked as a regional and state liaison in numerous programs including Toxic Release Inventory Community Right-to-Know, State & Local Comparative Risk, Coalition to Restore Urban Waterways, and Indiana’s eCnter for Urban Policy and the Environment. One of her favorite projects was being a team leader for the Conservation Core and At-Risk Youth Environmental Program in Richmond, California. She is currently working on the ESTP Wetlands Program with a zeal for the Voluntary Restoration & Protection Core Element.

Michael McDavit is currently the Chief of the Program Development and Jurisdiction Branch, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. His unit oversees “Waters of the US” jurisdictional matters under the Clean Water Act and administers technical/financial assistance for enhancing state and tribal aquatic resource programs. His team is currently working on a number of rulemaking projects, including Waters of the US (WOTUS) definition rulemaking, state and tribal 404 permitting regulations, and guidance/regulation on the section 401 water quality certification process. Mike holds a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay and a MPA from The George Washington University. His 37-year federal career has spanned many environmental functions, including regulation of pesticides, management of hazardous waste, and air and water pollution control.

Kerryann Weaver is an Environmental Scientist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region 5 Office in Chicago. She works in the Watersheds and Wetland Branch of the Water Division. Kerryann is involved with Clean Water Act Section 404 permit review and enforcement, as well as wetland mitigation banking, wetland program contract and grant review and management. Kerryann managed the development of the Wetland Supplement.

 Yvonne Vallette is an Aquatic Ecologist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For the last twenty-three years she has worked at EPA Region 10’s Oregon Operations Office in Portland serving as the Region’s coordinator for enhancing State and Tribal Programs. Her work with EPA is focused on the technical and policy aspects of the Clean Water Act (CWA), including Section 404. Her practicable experience includes work in: aquatic resource monitoring and assessment, 404 enforcement, compensatory mitigation, impact analysis, CWA jurisdiction, 404 program assumption, and aquatic resources restoration.

Dr. Eliodora Chamberlain graduated with a B.S. in Zoology from the University of California, Davis. She received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Wildlife Behavior and Physiological Ecology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences and the USGS Fish and Wildlife Cooperative Research Extension Unit.

After working 17 years in wildlife research, US Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, she started working for the US EPA Region 7 in 2005. She works in the Watersheds and Grants Branch in the Water Division as a Wetlands and Streams Biologist and wears several hats. She is the Lead Regional Coordinator for ESTP & NWCA, and is the Regional Team Leader for the CWA 404 Regulatory section.

When she is not working for the EPA, she is a Canine Search Specialist with FEMA’s Missouri Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue Canine Team, a FEMA K9 Lead Evaluator, and a FEMA K9 Instructor. She currently has a FEMA certified disaster search and rescue dog, Phoenix, and is currently training her pup, Raven, to be a future FEMA disaster search and rescue dog.

Introduction to Wetland Program Plans (WPPs)

Held Friday, February 21, 2020 - 3:00-5:00 pm EST 

INTRODUCTION

Brenda Zollitsch, Association of State Wetland Managers [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]

PRESENTERS

• Yvonne Vallette, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]
• Richard Mraz, Washington State Department of Ecology [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]
• Stacia Bax, Missouri Department of Natural Resources [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]
• Brenda Zollitsch, Association of State Wetland Managers [POWERPOINT PRESENTATION]

ABSTRACT

This first webinar in ASWM’s Wetland Regulatory Capacity Building Webinar Series focused on the use of Wetland Program Plans (WPPs) as a tool that can help states and tribes identify and plan capacity building efforts. WPPs focus on four core elements – wetland regulation, wetland monitoring and assessment, wetland water quality standards, and voluntary wetland restoration, but can include other efforts as well. In the first presentation, the webinar shared how WPPs can be used as one of (many) different capacity building tools and explain the components and expectations around their development. Next, the webinar shared examples of two state WPPs, each taking a different approach to fulfilling the required elements of a WPP. The webinar shares additional benefits of WPPs, including improved coordination with partners, measurable objectives to guide and track ongoing work and access to funding sources, including EPA Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs). The webinar concluded with an invitation to engage in ASWM’s national dialogues and share upcoming project resources that may be useful to states and tribes seeking to build the capacity of their wetland programs.

BIOS

Yvonne Vallette is an Aquatic Ecologist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For the last twenty-three years she has worked at EPA Region 10’s Oregon Operations Office in Portland serving as the Region’s coordinator for enhancing State and Tribal Programs. Her work with EPA is focused on the technical and policy aspects of the Clean Water Act (CWA), including Section 404. Her practicable experience includes work in: aquatic resource monitoring and assessment, 404 enforcement, compensatory mitigation, impact analysis, CWA jurisdiction, 404 program assumption, and aquatic resources restoration.

Rick Mraz is the Wetland Policy Lead for the Washington Department of Ecology. He is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist who began his career in the wetlands field in Lee County, Florida in 1987. He has worked as a naturalist, field biologist and environmental planner with local, state and federal agencies since 1980. Rick has degrees in Geology, Field Biology and Philosophy

Stacia Bax is the Environmental Supervisor of the Stormwater and Certification Unit within the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Stacia has nearly 20 years of experience with the department in various areas related to the water program and state parks, with the past 10+ years working with Section 401. For the past 7.5 years, Stacia has coordinated quarterly department-wide wetland meetings, which has helped in the development of the Wetland Program Plan document. 

  

 

 

View Past Wetland Regulatory Capacity Building Webinars Here

2021

View a List of Wetland Regulatory Capacity Building Webinar Recordings Here

Wetland Link International Americas Webinar:
Evaluation of environmental awareness-raising activities at wetland sites

Held Wednesday, October 25, 2017 – 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT

WEBINAR OVERVIEW

We spend a lot of time in our professional and voluntary capacities working with local communities, wetland practitioners and private sector partners to increase awareness through environmental education and other activities. But do we know how effective these activities are in leading to positive environmental changes in both individual behavior and conservation action at the site? Just as importantly, can we demonstrate this to participants, funders and project partners so they can see how our activities are influencing behavior and resulting in improvements in wetland protection or other environmental outcomes. Evaluation often is forgotten at the end of a project, but it is an essential part of improving our future work, for better outcomes for our own organizations and networks.

This webinar used practical, easy to use examples of how to evaluate, based on tried and tested techniques from partners across the Americas. The webinar was available in both English and Spanish, and will include time for discussion after the presentations.

INTRODUCTION

• Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State of Wetland Managers [PPRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTATIONS

Introductory Remarks

PRESENTERS

Chris Rostron, Wetland Link International, UK
Chris manages the WLI global project, a support network for those delivering education, engagement and awareness-raising activities at wetland education centers. [PRESENTATION PDF]

 

 

Ethel Wilkerson, Manomet. (USA)
Building practical evaluation techniques into your project. [PRESENTATION PDF]
Ethel works with program managers to establish developmental evaluation across the varied programs of Manomet including wetland conservation, climate smart forest management, and grocery stewardship. With metrics that measure incremental progress towards outcomes, development evaluation allows for real-time feedback and program adjustment during implementation.

Susan Bonfield, Environment for the Americas. (USA)
Evaluating the needs or minority ethnic communities to encourage access to protected natural areas. [PRESENTATION PDF]
In the US, minority ethnic groups are often under-represented in the visitors to protected natural areas. Susan has worked on looking at interviews with these groups to establish perceptions towards wild areas and what the barriers to visitation might be.

Sebastián Saiter / Ricardo Matus, Patagonian Ecological Association. (Punta Arenas, CHILE)
"Tres Puentes wetland, valuation of a natural classroom for conservation".  [PRESENTATION PDF]
The Association is composed of people from different professions, students and children, who share the purpose of preserving and understanding species that inhabit the urban natural reserves of Patagonia. This interdisciplinary and trans-generations team has been evaluated on their working lines looking the community involvement to wetland conservation. Born in 2007, it has focused its work with neighbours and local schools. It is part of the Patagonia Natural Reserves Network.

Interactive Discussion
The last segment of the webinar will host an interactive discussion where you are invited to share your experiences in evaluation of projects.

Based on Demand - Option for Real Time Spanish-English Translation
Based on the amount of demand, we have the option to hold the webinar with consecutive translation between Spanish and English. This translation service must be arranged well in advance of the presentation date, so if you are interested in participating while listening to Spanish translation, please contact chris.rostron@wwt.org.uk.

BIOS

Sebastián Saiter is a Punta Arenas-born naturalist and birder. Since childhood he showed a passion for discovering Nature and exploring the landscapes of Chilean Patagonia. He studied Adventure Tourism, and is an active member of NGO Agrupacion Ecologica Patagonica, involved in projects to protect wetlands, urban parks and reserves: he works on environmental education projects with children, in both private and public schools in the area.

Ricardo Matus is a naturalist who participates in research and conservation projects in the extreme south of Patagonia. During last ten years he has been working in the reproductive biology and conservation actions of the Ruddy-headed goose and also developing a study in the Magellanic plover in his breeding area. 

Partnering with Beaver to Benefit Sage Grouse and Working Lands: Restoring Emerald Islands in the Sagebrush Sea

Held Wednesday, July 26, 2017 - 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Eastern

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

• Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Jeremy Maestas, Sagebrush Ecosystem Specialist, USDA-NRCS West National Technology Support Center,
  Portland, OR
• Dr. Joe Wheaton, Professor, Watershed Sciences Department, Utah State University, Logan, UT
  
• [PRESENTATION PDF]

ABSTRACT

In the arid sagebrush ecosystem of the American West, wetlands and other mesic habitats—such as riparian areas and wet meadows—comprise less than 2% of the landscape yet they are disproportionately important to people and wildlife. As summer heat dries out soils in sagebrush uplands, species like sage grouse—along with livestock and many other wildlife species—follow the green line seeking out wetter, more productive areas. These mesic habitats serve as grocery stores providing nutritious forage, including the protein-rich forb and insect foods that help newly hatched sage grouse chicks grow and thrive. With roughly three quarters of mesic areas in private ownership, western ranchers play an integral role in conserving these vital resources. Recently, the NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative launched a campaign across 11 western states to accelerate protection, restoration, and enhancement of mesic habitats. Restoration opportunities abound but techniques that are relatively simple, low cost, and effective are needed to engage more landowners and partners in conservation at ecologically meaningful scales. Increasingly, ranchers and agencies in the west are learning to partner with beaver as a ‘cheap and cheerful’ alternative for achieving a myriad of desired outcomes. This webinar discussed recent partner efforts to scale up riparian and wet meadow restoration with private landowners in sage grouse habitats, and in particular, how Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) and other beaver-assisted techniques are being employed as a low-cost restoration tool to boost habitat resilience for wildlife and working lands. 

BIOS

Jeremy Maestas is the national NRCS Sagebrush Ecosystem Specialist responsible for helping NRCS staff and partners put science into practice through strategic habitat conservation delivery in sagebrush ecosystems across the western U.S. He grew up in Nevada and went on to earn B.S. and M.S. degrees in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University. Much of his career has focused on sustaining working landscapes in desert ecosystems, where his contributions have included implementation of large-scale strategic approaches to reducing conifer encroachment, wildfire and invasive species threats, and scaling-up mesic habitat conservation.

Joe Wheaton is an Associate Professor at Utah State University and a fluvial geomorphologist with over a decade of experience in river restoration, including working with beaver in restoration. Joe runs the Ecogeomorphology & Topographic Analysis Lab at Utah State U. and is a leader in the monitoring and modeling of riverine habitats and watersheds. He is the co-director of the Intermountain Center for River Rehabilitation & Restoration. He worked four years in consulting engineering before completing his B.S. in Hydrology (2003, UC Davis), M.S. and Ph.D. in Hydrologic Sciences (2003, UC Davis; 2008, U. of Southampton, UK). He has worked as a lecturer (U. of Wales 2006-08), Research Assistant Professor (Idaho State U. 2008-09) and is an Assistant Professor at Utah State U. (2009-present) where he teaches GIS, Fluvial Hydraulics and Ecohydraulics.   

Held Tuesday, July 11, 2017 - 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Eastern

 View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

• Jeanne Christie, Executive Director, Association of State of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Jan Goldman-Carter, National Wildlife Federation
• Virginia Albrecht, Hunton and Williams, LLP
• Royal C. Gardner, Stetson University, College of Law [PRESENTATION PDF]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Army (Army) are carrying out a two-step process to revise Clean Water Act Jurisdiction. The first step is to repeal the Clean Water Rule regulation finalized by EPA and the Army in the spring of 2015 and replace it with the 1986 rule previously in place in conjunction with the Rapanos guidance. Essentially this step formally adopts the current status quo which remains in place because the Clean Water Rule is stayed by the Sixth Circuit Court pending action by the court. The next step following the repeal and replace rulemaking will be a new rule based in part on the Scalia Opinion in the Rapanos decision.

As states, tribes, and others review the proposed rule and think about the rulemaking that is planned to follow it, there are many issues to consider. ASWM has invited legal experts representing diverse perspectives to share their insights to help webinar participants to understand the current process, issues of importance, and potential outcomes as these rulemaking efforts are carried out and later challenged in the courts.

BIOS

Virginia S. Albrecht is Special Counsel for Hunton and Williams.  Her practice focuses exclusively on environmental law and administrative law --- in particular, the Clean Water Act (CWA) wetlands program, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal regulatory programs that affect the use of land. She has experience in permit negotiation, litigation of policy issues, lobbying Congress and the Administration, enforcement defense, and compliance counseling. Representative clients include development companies, agricultural and mining companies, state and local agencies, and trade associations. She has extensive experience with federal environmental agencies both in Washington and in district and regional offices. Virginia is a member of the assumable waters subcommittee which EPA established in 2015 to obtain advice on the scope of waters that can be assumed and Administered by states under section 404 of the clean water act.  She is also an adjunct professor for the University of Miami School of Law Program in Real Property Development.  She received her JD from Vanderbilt University Law School, was Articles Editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review in1981, and received her MA in Communications from the University of Pennsylvania in 1970 and her BS from the University of Wisconsin in 1964.  She has bar admissions in the District of Columbia.

Jan Goldman-Carter is Director, Wetlands and Water Resources for the National Wildlife Federation. She manages the NWF campaign to restore Clean Water Act protections and works to strengthen wetland and watershed protections regionally and nationally. Jan has lectured and written extensively on Clean Water Act and wetlands laws and programs since 1987. She received the EPA-ELI National Wetlands Award in 1993. Jan served as a wetlands specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She grew up on the edge of the "River of Grass" - the Everglades - and enjoys canoeing, kayaking, birding and otherwise being in and on the water. She received her B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies from Williams College, Massachusetts, her M.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources, and her law degree from the University of Minnesota.

Royal C. Gardner is Professor of Law and Director of the Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy at Stetson University College of Law. He is an internationally recognized expert in wetland law and policy. Recent projects include advising the Government of Oman regarding wetland policy, coauthoring a U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief on behalf of environmental scientists, and creating an interdisciplinary course that facilitates discourse among experienced scientists, policymakers, and students.

His research and scholarship focus on U.S. and international wetland legal and policy issues, with an emphasis on biodiversity offsets. He has lectured in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America.

Professor Gardner is the current chair of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP) for the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental wetland treaty with 168 countries. He also served on the Ramsar STRP as North American representative (2006–2008) and invited expert (2009–2012). He was chair of the U.S. National Ramsar Committee (2005–2008) and participated in the Ramsar Convention Conferences of the Parties held in Spain (2002), Uganda (2005), Korea (2008), and Romania (2012). In 2006, he won the National Wetlands Award for Education and Outreach. In 1999–2001, Professor Gardner was appointed to the National Research Council’s Committee on Mitigating Wetland Losses.

An executive editor of the Boston College Law Review and a member of the Order of the Coif, he graduated magna cum laude from Boston College Law School. He then clerked for Chief Judge Francis J. Boyle of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. From 1989 to 1993, he served in the Army General Counsel’s office as the Department of the Army’s principal wetland attorney, advising the assistant secretary of the Army (civil works) on legal and policy issues related to the Corps of Engineers’ administration of the Clean Water Act section 404 program. From 1993 until he joined the Stetson faculty in 1994, Professor Gardner worked for the Department of Defense, where he participated in negotiating international agreements with Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus to facilitate the dismantlement of the former Soviet Union’s nuclear weapons.

Since joining the Stetson faculty, Professor Gardner has twice received Stetson University’s Homer and Dolly Hand Award for Excellence in Faculty Scholarship and has been voted the Outstanding Professor by the Stetson student body. He has taught at Stetson’s summer programs in Spain, Germany, Argentina, and Estonia, and has been a visiting professor at the Universidad de Málaga (Spain) and Concordia International University-Estonia, where he received the Outstanding Instructor Award. At Stetson, Professor Gardner has served as director of graduate and international programs, associate dean, vice dean, and interim dean. 

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The presentations  for Jan Goldman-Carter and Virginia Albrecht are not available for viewing.

 

How to Connect with the Public to Protect Wetlands: Findings from ASWM’s Wetland Communications Case Study Project

Held Tuesday, July 11, 2017 - 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Eastern

 View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

• Marla Stelk, Policy Analyst, Association of State of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Ted LaGrange, Wetland Program Manager, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission [PRESENTATION PDF]
  

ABSTRACT

This webinar shares the findings from ASWM’s new report on Wetland Communications Case Studies. ASWM’s Communications Project was designed to inform communications planning and future research on wetland messaging and opportunities to initiate behavior change through targeted communication strategies and products. The report is designed first to provide information that will inform future federal, state and tribal wetland communication efforts.  Secondly, the report identifies and documents a range of existing successful communication practices by states, tribes and nonprofits working on wetland issues.  This webinar presented a summary of the case studies and focus on useful findings that help guide those considering or working on developing communications projects related to wetlands. Participants will come away with knowledge about several new resources and lots of great advice from case study organizations.

BIOS

Brenda Zollitsch is a Policy Analyst at the Association of State of Wetland Managers.  Brenda conducts research and policy analysis on wetland and stream issues; manages projects; develops communications guidance; and writes articles and blogs for ASWM. Brenda currently leads a project focused on improving linear oil and gas pipeline energy permitting to protect wetlands.  Brenda recently completed a national status and trends/state summaries project for ASWM analyzing 50 state wetland programs across the United States, a project focused on increasing access to high quality wetland training and a national stream identification, delineation and mitigation study.  Brenda has 25 years of organizational leadership experience and a strong background in academic and action research, facilitation, training and communications.  Brenda received her PhD in Public Policy from the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service in 2012, focusing on environmental policy and collaborative environmental management.  She has her Master’s degree from Boston University.

Marla Stelk is a Policy Analyst at the Association of State of Wetland Managers. For the past four years, she has focused her research on how to improve wetland restoration success. Currently, she leads the Association’s new project on healthy wetlands and healthy watersheds. Marla coordinates the Wetland Mapping Consortium and the Natural Floodplain Functions Alliance. She is the Association’s Communications Team leader, Editor of Wetland Breaking News and author of the blog, For Peat’s Sake. Marla’s areas of expertise include environmental science and policy, stakeholder engagement, facilitation and communications. At ASWM she has continued her work on climate change issues and represents ASWM on the national Advisory Committee on the Water Information Water Resources Adaptation to Climate Change Workgroup. Marla earned her MA in Community Planning and Development with a focus on Land Use and the Environment in 2013, and her BA in Environmental Issues from Colorado College in 1992.

Ted LaGrange is an Iowa native, Ted moved to Nebraska in 1993 to work as the Wetland Program Manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. As Wetland Program Manager he works on a wide variety of wetland issues throughout the state including private land restoration programs, public lands management, resource advocacy and outreach. Prior to moving to Nebraska, he worked for 8 years as a Waterfowl Research Technician for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in Clear Lake. Stationed in northern Iowa, he worked with the prairie pothole restoration program, especially evaluation of plant and waterfowl response to wetland restoration. Ted received B.S. and M.S. degrees in wildlife biology from Iowa State University. During his college years he spent summers working on refuges in Oregon and New York for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, working on a muskrat ecology study on the Upper Mississippi River, and working on the Marsh Ecology Research Project for Delta Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Station in Manitoba. His professional interests are in prairie wetlands and waterfowl/waterbird ecology.   

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The Basics of Wetland Plant Identification

Held Thursday, June 1, 2017 – 3:00 p.m. eastern, 2:00 pm central, 1:00 pm mountain, 12:00 pm pacific, 11:00 am Alaska and 9:00 am Hawaii

 View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

• Jeanne Christie, Executive Director, Association of State of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTER

• Joe Ely, University of Central Missouri [PRESENTATION PDF]

ABSTRACT

This webinar was taught at a beginner or novice level and was open to anyone interested in learning about or improving their knowledge of plant terminology, the characteristics of common wetland plant families and species, introducing the proper use of plant keying using various resources. Those just entering the world of wetlands and wetland plant identification will benefit from learning the diagnostic characteristics of the most encountered wetland plant families and species in the Midwest. Those with some prior experience will be able to refresh their skills and enhance their intermediate skills. This webinar started with an introduction to wetland plants and their adaptions to a wet environment.  The goal of the webinar was to give basic information and tools on wetland plant identification.  Specifically, this webinar included an introduction to wetland plant adaptations, morphology, terminology, and the tools to aid in plant identification (structure and use of dichotomous keys). 

BIO

Joe Ely is a Plant Ecologist and has been a Professor of Biology for 14 years. He has worked in the field of Plant Ecology and Botany for more than 25 years. He has field experience on barrier islands, mix-mesophytic forests, grasslands, northern conifer forests, and numerous wetlands.

Joe has a B.S. degree in Biology from Salem College, WV, a M.S. degree in Biological Sciences from Marshall University, and his Ph.D. in Plant Biology from Southern Illinois University.  

Wetland Link International - Americas Webinar:

Successfully Attracting Local People into Wetland Sites 

Traducción en español disponible

Hosted by the Association of State Wetland Managers

Held Tuesday, May 30, 2017 – 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT

WEBINAR OVERVIEW

Many wetland sites work hard to engage local people, providing communications and publicity materials, trying to make them relevant to a wide range of local stakeholders. However, many of us still struggle to bring local people into our wetlands, and this seminar looks at how we can learn from each other on the best way make wetlands relevant to people in your local area.

If you work in wetland or environmental education and engagement within the Americas, Wetland Link International (WLI) Americas and the Association of State of Wetland Managers this was a free webinar. Presentations shared engagement practices and lessons learned on various aspects of environmental engagement at wetland sites, including case studies from WLI partners in North, Central and South America. We also provided consecutive translation into English – Spanish and Spanish - English.

INTRODUCTION 

• Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTATIONS

Introductory Remarks (English) - Chris Rostron, Wetland Link International, UK
[PRESENTATION PDF]

Chris manages the WLI global project, a support network for those delivering education, engagement and awareness-raising activities at wetland education centers.  He will introduce the WLI Americas Network, the webinar topic, and presenters.

Engaging your Neighbors (English) - Nathalie Bays, Oak Hammock Marsh, Canada
[PRESENTATION PDF - ENGLISH]; [PRESENTATION PDF - SPANISH]

Keeping exhibits and programming fresh on a limited budget can be challenging. Learn how Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre works to remain relevant to the local community through a variety of engaging programs.

Using Social Media to Bring Visitors to Your Site (Spanish) - Daniel Bernal, Wetlands Bogotá, Colombia [PRESENTATION PDF]

Working to better engage people at an urban Wetlands in Colombia’s capital, Bogotá, has meant using social media in various forms to bring them in.  Daniel will talk about what works and what doesn’t.

Fly Like an Eagle – Using Wildlife Cameras to Attract Local and International Visitors (English) - John DeFillipo, John Bunker Sands Wetland Center, Texas, US
[PRESENTATION PDF - ENGLISH];  [PRESENTATION PDF - SPANISH]

The John Bunker Sands Wetland Center has an active nesting pair of American Bald Eagles that can be monitored through a live wildlife camera on our website.  The presenter will discuss how this amenity attracts local and international visitors, as well as “armchair conservationists,” to become vested in the conservation mission of the center. 

Using Special Events to Engage Locals Onsite (Spanish) - Ingrid M. Flores, Caribbean Regional Coordinator for International Migratory Bird Day and Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival (Spanish)
[PRESENTATION PDF]

International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) takes place every year during Spring and Fall with events and activities coordinated across multiple sites in the Western Hemisphere.  Environment for the Americas is the home of IMBD and Birds Caribbean is the home of the Caribbean Endemic Birds Festival (CEBF) from April 22^nd (Earth Day) to May 22^nd (Biodiversity Day). Ingrid will discuss how to plan and deliver exciting and inclusive events on site.

Interactive Discussion

The last segment of the webinar hosted an interactive discussion where you were invited to share your experiences in engaging local citizens in wetland projects and protection. 

BIOS

Chris Rostron is the Programme Manager for Wetland Link International, which is based at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) in the United Kingdom.  He has worked in this position for the past 6 years.  He has a background in environmental community involvement, network development, and holds a Masters degree in Environment Management, with a focus on river basin management.

 

Nathalie Bays is the Manager of Operations at the award-winning Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre in Manitoba, Canada. Originally from the province of Quebec, she holds a BSC in Wildlife and an MSc in Natural Resource Sciences. She worked as the Education Coordinator for 14 years at the Interpretive Centre and has been the Manager for the past six.  The Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre is an award-winning wetland education facility located north of Winnipeg, with the mission to “Connect people with wetlands”.

John DeFillipo, Director of the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center, is a naturalist with over 20 years of experience blending ecological concepts with business insights.  John has been a naturalist with Camp McDowell Environmental Education Center in Alabama and Crow’s Neck Environmental Education Center in Mississippi.  In 2002, he became an Outreach Educator with the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science where he presented endangered species programs, including live Alligators.  While living in Mississippi, John served as the president of the Mississippi Environmental Education Alliance and was the recipient of the 2008 Environmental Educator of the Year Award.  In 2008 he became Lead Natural Science Educator with the Perot Museum of Nature and Science before becoming the Director of the Wetland Center in March 2010.  In August 2015, John received the New Outstanding Leader Award from the Association of Nature Center Administrators (ANCA) where he currently serves as VP of Development.  

Daniel Bernal is an Electronic engineer. Founding member of the Wetlands Bogotá foundation, REtroCD programme, and Friend of the Van der Hammen Reserve; environmentalist, citizen reporter and environmental activist, birdwatcher, yoga and vegetarianism; I live in a wetland.

The Wetlands Bogotá foundation was the winner of the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Awards for "Young wetland champions 2015" and the "Premios Colombia En línea" as best research site in Colombia 2012.

Daniel is a member of the RetroCD programme, the first recycling programme for CDs/DVDs in Latin America. Part of the communication team of the Network of Friends of the Thomas Van de Hammen Reserve.

Listed as: ‘Environmentalist to follow on twitter in 2016’ by the Network for Environmental Justice in Colombia. Columnist as part of the celebration of 130 years of the Spectador newspaper with the article ‘Bogota wetlands; an oasis in the big city’.

Ingrid M. Flores is a wildlife biologist with experience conducting research, teaching science, and working with the public.  Ingrid is also project manager and wildlife biologist at the Sea Turtles Conservation Program of Palmas de Mar Resort in Humacao, Puerto Rico. Ingrid coordinates CEBF and IMBD activities across the Caribbean, working with over 30 coordinators from Bermuda to Bonaire. This entails helping coordinators plan activities, facilitating their work with local media, and distributing education and outreach materials on Caribbean birds and the festival theme to our network of coordinators. She has a M.S. degree in Environmental Management and also served as an adjunct professor in the Department Natural Science and Technology at the University of Turabo in Gurabo, Puerto Rico, where she taught biology to undergraduate students. 

Recorded Webinar: 2017 Annual State/Tribal/Federal Coordination Meeting

What's Next for Clean Water Act Jurisdiction:

Maintaining - or Draining - the Swamps? The Future of the Clean Water Rule

Held Tuesday, April 11, 2017 

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

• Jeanne Christie, Executive Director, Association of State of Wetland Managers

ABSTRACT

In the spring of 2017, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers are implementing Executive Order 13778 on Restoring the Rule of Law, Federalism, and the Economic Growth by Reviewing the ”Waters of the United States” Rule which directs the federal agencies to rescind the current Clean Water Rule and replace it.  This recorded webinar by Stephen Samuels, retired, formerly with Department of Justice, provided information about the status of the currently stayed Clean Water Rule and the case that has been accepted to be heard in 2018 before the Supreme Court, as well as a succinct overview of Supreme Court decisions addressing Clean Water Act jurisdiction in recent decades through the present day.  

PRESENTER

• Stephen Samuels, Retired, formerly with Department of Justice [PRESENTATION PDF]

BIO

Now retired, Stephen Samuels was previously Assistant Chief of the Environmental Defense Section of the Environment & Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.  In that capacity, Mr. Samuels supervised a staff of 15 attorneys handling federal district court litigation involving all the major environmental pollution statutes.  Mr. Samuels has 31 years of experience enforcing and defending the Clean Water Act Section 404 regulatory program.  During that time, he helped lead the federal government’s litigation responses to the Supreme Court's decisions in SWANCC, Rapanos, Sackett and Hawkes.  Until his retirement in January 2017, Mr. Samuels headed the DOJ litigation team that defended challenges to the Clean Water Rule.  Mr. Samuels is a frequent speaker on Clean Water Act jurisdiction at conferences around the country.  Mr. Samuels previously was an attorney with the U.S. Department of Energy and with the law firm of Breed, Abbott & Morgan.  Mr. Samuels earned his J.D. in 1977 from Stanford Law School and his B.A. in 1974 from Tulane University.

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Nationwide Permit Rule Webinar: Low-head Dam Removal: Technical Issues and Considerations for State/Tribal/Federal Review

Held Thursday, February 9, 2017 - 3:00 p.m. ET

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

• Jeane Christie, Executive Director, Association of State of Wetland Managers and Peg Bostwick, Association of State of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTER

• Serena McClain, American Rivers [PRESENTATION PDF]
  [PRESENTATION WITH NOTES PDF]
• James MacBroom, Milone & MacBroom[PRESENTATION PDF]

ABSTRACT

The New Frontier: An Overview of Recent Policy and Regulatory Changes Affecting Dam Removal Projects

Removing dams and other instream barriers can be one of the fastest, most effective ways of restoring ecological function. However, as more dam removal projects are proposed, many proponents have found that the regulatory environment can be unreasonably complicated, time consuming, and expensive for both the applicant and regulatory authorities. Over the course of the last 18 months, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has completed rulemaking that has a direct bearing on implementation of future dam removal projects and attempts to address some of these challenges. This presentation provided an overview of the issuance of the new Corps nationwide permit (NWP) 53, Removal of Low-Head Dams, including the use of case studies to illustrate select projects where this type of permit may have been applicable.

BIOS

Serena McClain is a director of river restoration with American Rivers in Washington, DC. She has worked in the river restoration field for more than 15 years, engaging with regional and national stakeholders to demonstrate how to enhance safety, quality of life and economic development by restoring the natural function of rivers. McClain has managed and provided technical assistance to projects around the country, utilizing her communications and policy expertise to ensure that local communities and key decision-makers are aware of the opportunities available to them and are equipped with the tools necessary to aid them in those decisions. She currently leads the program’s dam removal practice.

Jim MacBroom earned BS and MS degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Connecticut and is a registered Professional Engineer in five states. He is Vice President of Milone & MacBroom Inc, a Civil and Environmental Engineering consulting firm located in Cheshire Connecticut, and he developed and taught graduate courses in River Processes & Restoration and Applied Hydrology at Yale University for 17 years. He has over 35 years of experience in watershed management, open channel hydraulics, dam repair and removal, fish passage, computer modeling, fluvial morphology, stream restoration, and tidal systems. Jim is a member of the ASCE Stream Restoration Committee, American Rivers Technical Advisory Committee, and was a speaker at the annual University of Wisconsin continuing education course on dam removal.

Jim has planned, designed, and inspected many river restoration and dam removal projects including earth, timber crib, and concrete structures, with a special interest in sediment management, channel evolution, and design of natural-like bypass channels.

A recording of the January 19 webinar, “Overview of the Final Rule on Issuance and Reissuance of the §404 Nationwide Permits” is available here.  

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Overview of the Final Rule on Issuance and Reissuance of the §404 Nationwide Permits

Held Thursday, January 19 from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

• Jeane Christie, Executive Director, ASWM and Peg Bostwick, Association of State of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTER

• Dave Olson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [PRESENTATION PDF]

ABSTRACT

On Friday, January 6 the Final Rule on Issuance and Reissuance of §404 Nationwide Permits (NWPs) was published in the Federal Register. The NWPs authorize a variety of activities in jurisdictional waters and wetlands under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, as long as those activities result in no more than minimal adverse environmental effects. The 50 existing and two new nationwide permits for living shorelines and lowhead dam removal will go into effect on March 18, 2017. There are differences between the proposed rule for nationwide permits issued in June of 2016 and the final rule published on January 6. The purpose of this webinar was to provide a briefing to state and tribes and other interested parties understanding the final changes to the existing nationwide permits as well as gain additional information about the two new nationwides. The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session. A more thorough understanding of the contents of the final rule will facilitate Section 401 Certification and Coastal Consistency Review as well as discussions between the states and the Corps Districts on development of regional conditions in the coming months.

BIO

David Olson is a Regulatory Program Manager at the Headquarters office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has worked for the Corps since 1991, beginning as a Regulatory Project Manager at the Baltimore District, evaluating permit applications for work in waters and wetlands. In 2002, he began working at his current position at Corps Headquarters. He manages the Corps' nationwide permit program and works on Endangered Species Act compliance. His other responsibilities include providing advice on applying wetland and stream mitigation policies and regulations. He is also developing an approach for cumulative effects analysis in the Corps' regulatory program. 

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Wetlands & Climate Change: A Summary of Current Wetland Scientific Findings

Held Tuesday, November 15, 2016 - 3:00 p.m. EST

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION 

• Marla Stelk, Policy Analyst, ASWM [PRESEANTATION PDF]

PRESENTER

• Gillian Davies, PWS, Senior Ecological Scientist, BSC Group, Inc. and President, Society of Wetland Scientists [PRESENTATION PDF]
  

ABSTRACT

Understanding the relationship between wetlands and climate change is a critical underpinning to developing climate-smart wetland management policy, strategy, and practices that support wetland protection, carbon storage, and wetland-related climate resiliency. This presentation summarized recent scientific findings regarding the role of wetlands in the global carbon cycle, how climate change is impacting wetlands, how wetlands perform carbon storage services and where limitations exist, as well as the role of wetlands in climate resiliency. Differences between types of wetlands will be examined.

BIO

Gillian is currently the President of the international Society of Wetland Scientists, as well as Past President of the New England Chapter of the Society of Wetland Scientists. Recently, she Chaired the SWS 2015 Annual Meeting Program Committee, which was themed: “Changing Climate. Changing Wetlands.” Gillian has been working as a Senior Ecological Scientist at BSC Group, Inc. since 2003. Prior to that, she was a Circuit Rider for the Division of Wetlands & Waterways in the Northeast Region at Mass DEP. Gillian was a contributing author to the Massachusetts Climate Change Adaptation Report (September, 2011) that is intended to guide climate adaptation policy in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Gillian has a Master of Environmental Studies degree from the Yale School of Environmental Studies, and a bachelor’s degree from Williams College. She is a Professional Wetland Scientist, a Registered Soil Scientist, and a New Hampshire Certified Wetland Scientist, with 25 years of experience working in the wetlands field.  

Wetland Link International Americas Webinar: Sharing Tools and Approaches to Actively Engage Local People at Wetland Sites

Held Wednesday, November 9, 2016 – 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. EDT

INTRODUCTION

• Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, ASWM [PRESENTATION PDF]

WEBINAR OVERVIEW

If you work in wetland or environmental education and engagement within the Americas, Wetland Link International (WLI) Americas Network and the Association of State of Wetland Managers invited you to join us for a webinar to learn about practices specifically designed to successfully engage local stakeholders at wetland sites in the Americas. The focus of this webinar was moving stakeholders from passive interest to active engagement in wetland outreach, protection and preservation. Presentations shared engagement practices and lessons learned on various aspects of environmental engagement at wetland sites, including case studies from WLI partners in North, Central and South America.

PRESENTATIONS

Introductory Remarks
Presenter: Chris Rostron, Wetland Link International, UK [PRESENTATION PDF]

Engaging Stakeholders in Wetland Stewardship Activities
Presenter: Laura Chamberlain, Community Engagement Coordinator, WHSRN [PRESENTATION PDF]

Involving Local People in Wetland Science and Monitoring
Presenter: Jaime Torres, Estero del Salado, Mexico [PRESENTATION PDF]

Civil Society’s Role in Protecting Wetlands
Presenter: Patricio Guerrero, Agrupación Defensa y Conservación Maule Mataquito/REDALES (Red Centros de humedales Latinoamérica y El Caribe), Chile [PRESENTATION PDF]

Interactive Discussion
The last segment of the webinar will host an interactive discussion where you are invited to share your experiences working to engage local citizens in wetland projects and protection.

Based on Demand - Option for Real Time Spanish-English Translation

Based on the amount of demand, we have the option to hold the webinar with simultaneous translation between Spanish and English. This translation service must be arranged well in advance of the presentation date, so if you are interested in participating while listening to Spanish translation, please contact chris.rostron@wwt.org.uk.

Presenter Information:

Presenters will include Chris Rostron, Head of Wetland Link International/Member Ramsar CEPA Oversight Panel; Laura Chamberlain, US, Community Engagement Coordinator, Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network Executive Office, Manomet, Inc; Patricio Guerrero, Acción por la Terra, Chile; Jaime Torres, Estero el Salado, Mexico.

Nationwide Permit Rule Webinar #3
Interactive Discussion with States and Tribes on Reviewing the Proposed Rule to Reissue the §404 Nationwide Permits

Held July 6, 2016 - 3:00 p.m. ET

INTRODUCTION

• Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, ASWM [PRESENTATION PDF]
  

FACILITATOR

• Jeanne Christie, Association of State of Wetland Managers

ABSTRACT

The Army Corps of Engineers’ Proposal to Reissue and Modify Nationwide Permits (NWPs) was published in the Federal Register on June 1, 2016. The Corps solicited comments for the reissuance of existing NWPs, general conditions and definitions with some modifications. The Corps also proposed to issue two new NWPs and one new general condition.

This third webinar in ASWM’s three-part series on reviewing the Nationwide Permits had been designed to invite webinar participants to share how they have been looking at the proposed NWPs and to identify common issues among states. 

Nationwide Permit Rule Webinar #2
Panel on State Processes for Reviewing the Proposed Nationwide Permits and Lessons Learned from States

Held Tuesday, June 14, 2016 – 3:00 p.m. ET

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

• Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, ASWM and Jeanne Christie, Executive Director, ASWM [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Jeanne Christie, Association of State of Wetland Managers
• Jeff Boyles and Joni Lung, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency [PRESENTATION PDF]
  
• Steven Smailer and Tyler Brown, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
  [PRESENTATION PDF]
  
• Vena Jones, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation [PRESENTATION PDF]
  
• Heather Preston, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control [PRESENTATION PDF]
  

ABSTRACT

The Army Corps of Engineers’ Proposal to Reissue and Modify Nationwide Permits was published in the Federal Register on June 1, 2016. The Corps solicited comments for the reissuance of existing NWPs, general conditions and definitions with some modifications. The Corps also proposed to issue two new NWPs and one new general condition.

This second webinar in ASWM’s three-part series on reviewing the Nationwide Permits shared about the various processes states undertake to review the nationwide permits and what types of changes states may want to make. ASWM provided a series of three webinars to assist states as they begin their review process. A focus of this second webinar shared by state presenters and lessons they have learned from reviewing the Nationwides in the past.

BIOS

Jeff Boyles has worked at Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for 16 years with the majority of the time spent in the Division of Surface Water, in the 401 and Isolated Wetland Permit Programs, working on all aspects of the program including permit review, mitigation compliance, database development, and the Interagency Review Team. Jeff is Supervisor of the 401 Section at Ohio EPA.

Joni Lung works in the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Division of Surface Water, 401 and Isolated Wetland Permit Program since 2012, and as an Environmental Specialist 3, she is the lead worker for the program. Her responsibilities include program development, rule and policy development, and special projects such as the general certification for the Nationwide Permits.  

Steve Smailer works for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.  He became the Section Manager of DNREC’s Wetlands and Subaqueous Lands Section in April of 2015. He previously worked for DNREC as a Hydrogeologist for 10 years, and recently spent 12 years in the private sector before returning back to DNREC.

Tyler Brown also works for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.  Tyler was hired as an environmental scientist in the Wetlands and Subaqueous Lands Section in May of 2013, and recently became the Program Manager of the section in September of 2015. Previously, he worked at the local Conservation District for 2 years in the agriculture field.

Vena Jones works for the Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation.  Vena is lead staff responsible for statewide review of stream focused compensatory mitigation projects, the creation of 401 focused policy and stream mitigation guidance.

Heather Preston works for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.  Heather has worked for the Department for 23 years. She is currently director of SCDHEC's Water Quality Division where she oversees the 401 Water Quality Certification program among other duties. 

Nationwide Permit Rule Webinar #1
The New Nationwide Permit Rule – What You Need to Know

Held Wednesday, June 8, 2016 – 3:00 p.m. ET

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

• Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, ASWM and Jeanne Christie, Executive Director, ASWM [PRESENATION PDF]

PRESENTER

• David Olson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [PRESENTATION PDF]

ABSTRACT

On June 1, 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published its proposal to reissue its Nationwide Permits (NWPs). The NWPs were last reissued in 2012, and expire on March 18, 2017. The NWPs authorize a variety of activities in jurisdictional waters and wetlands under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, as long as those activities result in no more than minimal adverse environmental effects. The Corps is proposing to reissue all 50 of its existing NWPs and to issue two new NWPs. The current NWPs authorize various categories of activities, ranging from aids to navigation, mooring buoys, maintenance activities, utility line crossings, residential developments, agriculture activities, and wetland and stream restoration activities. The two proposed new NWPs will authorize the removal of low-head dams and the construction and maintenance of living shorelines. This webinar provided an overview of the proposed NWPs, with a focus on the proposed changes to the NWPs and the topics on which the Corps is soliciting comments. The comment period ended on August 1, 2016.

BIO

David Olson is a Regulatory Program Manager at the Headquarters office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has worked for the Corps since 1991, beginning as a Regulatory Project Manager at the Baltimore District, evaluating permit applications for work in waters and wetlands. In 2002, he began working at his current position at Corps Headquarters. He manages the Corps' nationwide permit program and works on Endangered Species Act compliance. His other responsibilities include providing advice on applying wetland and stream mitigation policies and regulations. He is also developing an approach for cumulative effects analysis in the Corps' regulatory program.

American Wetlands Month: What you can do to protect and restore wetlands

Held Wednesday, May 18, 2016 – 3:00 p.m. ET

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

• Marla Stelk, Policy Analyst, ASWM and Jeanne Christie, Executive Director, ASWM [PRESENTATION PDF]

Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of American Wetlands Month (AWM) with ASWM, Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS), EPA, NOAA, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. During this webinar, you’ll hear about federal agency AWM activities and the new Wetland Treasures and Wetland Ambassadors programs from SWS.

PRESENTERS

• Kathleen Kutschenreuter, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [PRESENTATION PDF]
  
• Susan-Marie Stedman, NOAA Fisheries [PRESENTATION PDF]
  
• Mitch Bergeson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [PRESENTATION PDF]
  
• Dr. Abbey Tyrna, University of Florida, IFAS Extension [PRESENTATION PDF]
  
• Dr. Bianca Wentzell, Passaic River Institute, Montclair State University [PRESENTATION PDF]

ABSTRACTS

Kathleen Kutschenreuter, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA)

May marks the 26th anniversary of American Wetlands Month, a time when EPA and our wetland partners across the country celebrate the vital importance of wetlands to our nation's ecological, economic, and social health. This is an especially great time to learn more about wetlands, explore wetlands, and/or take further action to preserve and protect them. Among the many exciting happenings, EPA has just released the results from the 2011 National Wetlands Condition Assessment (NWCA). This comprehensive nationwide survey encompassed tidal and nontidal wetlands and was the first of its kind to evaluate the ecological condition of our nation’s wetlands. Follow EPA on twitter @EPAwater and tweet pictures of you or others in your community celebrating American Wetlands Month using the hashtag #WetlandsWork.

Susan-Marie Stedman, NOAA Fisheries

In early May, NOAA Fisheries will be launching a new web feature about the wild and tasty fish in our nation's coastal wetlands. From blue crabs in mid-Atlantic seagrass beds, to salmon in Pacific northwest forested wetlands, lots of interesting fish, shellfish, and other fun creatures can be found in the wetlands of our coastal states. In this webinar we clicked you this new web feature called "What's Wild in Our Wetlands?"

Mitch Bergeson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

This presentation provided an overview of two new US Fish and Wildlife Service wetland products. The Wetlands Mapper is available to all users to view on their cell phones and handheld devices. This new mobile friendly version provides wetland scientists, educators and the general public the ability to view wetland map information on their cell phones while standing in the field at their location of interest. The other is the new National Wetlands Inventory, Version 2 dataset. This new derived dataset provides a more comprehensive representation of all surface water and wetland features on the landscape in one polygonal dataset.

Dr. Abbey Tyrna, University of Florida, IFAS Extension

The Society of Wetland Scientists launched its Wetland Treasures initiative to help raise public awareness of wetlands and their many benefits to human health and environmental quality. The Wetland Treasures website will be the premier one-stop-shop for information on a wetland’s biology, ecology, conservation status, and access across the nation. Webinar participants learned about the history, goals and structure of the Wetland Treasures initiative and took a tour of the website to see its many unique features and functions and learned first-hand just how easy it is to submit an application on behalf a favorite wetland.

Dr. Bianca Wentzell, Passaic River Institute, Montclair State University

Dr. Bianca Wentzell introduced the new Wetland Ambassadors Program through the Society of Wetland Scientists. Wetland Ambassadors is an international student exchange program that arranges and provides visiting research fellowships for graduate students interested in wetland science. Dr. Wentzell discussed the mission of this program, details about its launch in the summer of 2017, and potential opportunities for partnership.

BIOS

Kathleen Kutschenreuter is an Environmental Scientist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water Headquarters in Washington D.C. She has over 20 years of domestic and international experience in the areas of environmental research, policy, program development and management, and communications. Since joining EPA in 1997, Kathleen has worked within the Office of Sustainable Ecosystems and Communities and the Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds to advance local, state, tribal, national, and international environmental protection and restoration efforts. She holds a Master of Environmental Management from Duke University and two Bachelor of Science degrees - Zoology (aquatic ecology) and Natural Resource Management (environmental science/ethics) - from The Ohio State University. Kathleen served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Central America and also with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources prior to joining the EPA. She is a certified diver, an avid photographer, and adores exploring all things outdoors (especially with her curious toddler)!

Susan-Marie Stedman has worked as a fishery biologist and wetland scientist for over 20 years in the Office of Habitat Conservation, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, in Silver Spring, Maryland. She works on a wide range of wetland-related efforts including Clean Water Act policy and regulation, National Ocean Policy implementation, and NOAA-specific wetland policies. She has a Master’s Degree in Coastal Geology from the University of Delaware and studied marine biology and geology as an undergraduate at Southampton College, New York. Prior to joining NOAA she worked as a wetland consultant in New York and New Jersey.

Mitch Bergeson is a GIS Specialist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service's, National Standards and Support Team in Madison WI. He is the Project Lead for the National Wetlands Inventory database, Wetlands Mapper and the Wetlands Status and Trends Projects. Mitch has over 20 years of experience in the natural resource and geospatial fields and holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point and an M.S. in Wildlife Ecology and Certificate Degree in GIS, both from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Abbey Tyrna is a water resources extension agent for University of Florida IFAS Extension in Sarasota County. She received a Ph.D. in Geography from Penn State under the direction of Robert P. Brooks in 2015. Abbey’s research focused on understanding the changes to wetland hydopatterns across a gradient of human disturbance and the ability of networks to visualize wetland cumulative impacts at the watershed scale. As a wetland enthusiast, Abbey quickly saw the potential of the Society of Wetland Scientists’ Wetland Treasures initiative and jumped at the opportunity to the lead the effort as the chair of the Wetland Treasures subcommittee.

Dr. Bianca Wentzell is currently a postdoctoral research scientist at the Passaic River Institute of Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey. She is a wetland ecologist and aquatic plant biologist who focuses on wetland plant response to human impact. Dr. Wentzell also serves as the Chair of the new Wetland Ambassadors Committee at the Society of Wetland Scientists, which is intended to design and implement an international student exchange program for budding wetland scientists around the world. 

 

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