NAWM

The second of five Advancing the Integration of Clean Water Act and Natural Hazard Mitigation Planning and Implementation project workshops has been rescheduled to January 2026 (prior date was November 2024) and will welcome states and communities in the Southeast. The workshop program can be reviewed here.

Dates: Rescheduled to January 21-23, 2026 (from November 13-15, 2024).

Location: Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Who should attend: The focus of the training is on integrating programs to improve interagency planning and implementation of co-beneficial projects that reduce flood risk and improve water quality, among other benefits. To embed this focus on program integration, states, local community, and Tribal participants will be asked to attend in pairs. Each pair should consist of one individual who works on programs related to Clean Water Act requirements and one individual who works on programs related to natural hazard mitigation. States will participate in the training to deepen their relationship with any communities or Tribes in attendance from their state. Following the two-day workshop, NAWM and ASFPM will continue to work with each cohort to facilitate integration efforts via quarterly calls and webinars.  

If you are interested in having your community participate in an upcoming training, please see sign-up information!

 

Photo: Guana Peninsula, Guana Lake and Guana River with the Guana dam separating the two waterbodies. Credit: Allix North, FL Department of Environmental Protection

Return to Integrated Watershed Management

MAWWG-NEBAWWG Webinar Series: Salt Marsh Projects and Programs

Held Wednesday, December 4, 2024 - 3:00-4:00 p.m. EST

INTRODUCTION

• Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers [Presentation PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Mihaela Enache, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection [Presentation PDF]
• Tom Kutcher, Rhode Island Natural History Survey [Presentation PDF]

ABSTRACTS

Mihaela Enache
Diatom-based applications for assessment and monitoring of New Jersey coastal wetlands condition

Due to high sensitivity to environmental conditions, diatoms are one of the most used aquatic indicators in environmental assessment, mitigation, and monitoring. NJDEP started investigations based on coastal diatoms in collaboration with external partners in 2012 . These investigations revealed an inventory of more than 800 species, with about one third being new to science. Numerical analyses revealed strong relationships between diatoms and salinity, nutrients, and tidal exposure. Weighted-averaging partial least square transfer functions were developed for Tidal Exposure Index (TEI; R2boot = 0.87; RMSEPboot = 15.6%) and Standardized Water-Level Index (SWLI; R2boot = 0.56; RMSEPboot = 0.18) to assess the sea level rise (SLR) impacts, in addition to sediment total nitrogen concentration (TN; R2boot = 0.58; RMSEPboot = 0.29% dry weight). Investigations were conducted based on sediment diatoms on a high number of NJ wetland sites to reveal regional trends in tidal flooding and nutrient pollution. Overall, sites with highest nitrogen pollution and sites that are receiving highest impacts from tidal exposure did not reveal a specific regional trend but were scattered across the NJ coast suggesting that conditions can vary locally. Results from these investigations are providing wetland stakeholders with an additional tool to establish restoration goals and ensure best management practices to address nutrient pollution, climate change, and SLR.

Tom Kutcher
Rhode Island’s Salt Marsh Restoration, Assessment, and Monitoring Program (RAMP)

Rhode Island salt marshes are in critical danger of degradation and loss from pervasive anthropogenic disturbances, including inundation stress associated with sea-level rise. In recent decades, salt marsh platform elevations have lagged behind the rising tide frame concurrent with a loss of nearly 12% of vegetated area from edge and platform dieoff. Managers and scientists have responded by developing and implementing plans to organize salt-marsh monitoring, assessment, and intervention efforts while leveraging collective knowledge across state, federal, academic, and NGO agencies. The multi-agency collaboration we call the Salt Marsh RAMP (Restoration, Assessment, and Monitoring Program) has made steady progress in actuating these plans by standardizing management tools and methods across agencies, collecting condition and disturbance data across numerous marshes, expanding long-term monitoring sites and methods, prioritizing marshes for restoration and migration facilitation, testing and implementing innovative restoration and conservation methods, documenting and assessing restoration outcomes, applying adaptive management, and increasing the state’s capacity to initiate and carry out restoration and conservation actions. This presentation outlined our past, current, and upcoming work.

BIOS 

Mihaela Enache first connections to the microscopic world started in eastern Europe, at the beautiful and old University Al. I. Cuza with the study of microscopic fossils and their applications in biostratigraphy. There, she focused on foraminifera found in the mid-Miocene from the Carpathians and the Cheliff Basin in N Africa. At that time, she totally fell in love with the study of microfossils and their potential in telling the fascinating past of the earth. Then, she had the opportunity to work with diatoms as part of a national –scale project meant to protect Canadian forests. That was love at first sight! Then she pursued to look deeper into how diatoms can be used to reconstruct past climate conditions and forest fire relationships in lakes from British Columbia. Her experience with diatoms encompasses a quarter century and since 2012 at New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection she is working on diatom-based applications in freshwater and coastal systems. These applications are encompassing reconstruction of reference conditions, direction of change under anthropogenic stressors, and present-day condition assessment. Mihaela has a Doctorate in micropaleontology from the University Al.I Cuza (Romania) and a PhD in paleolimnology from Queens University (Canada)

Tom Kutcher is a Wetland Scientist for the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, where he works to develop wetland monitoring, assessment, and restoration programming for Rhode Island’s state environmental agencies. He is a co-author of the Rhode Island Salt Marsh Monitoring and Assessment Strategy and principal author of the Rhode Island Coastal Wetland Restoration Strategy. Tom has developed and implemented wetland monitoring and assessment methods across Rhode Island, including for recent large-scale salt marsh restoration projects. Tom formerly worked as Stewardship Coordinator at the Narragansett Bay Estuarine Research Reserve, served as the Narragansett Baykeeper with Save The Bay and the Waterkeeper Alliance, and has worked as an adjunct instructor in the Landscape Architecture Program at the Rhode Island School of Design. Tom lives and recreates along the shores of Narragansett Bay with his marine-biologist wife and two salty kids.

 MAWWG-NEBAWWG Webinar Series: Updating the National Wetlands Inventory in US Territories

Held Wednesday, September 4, 2024 - 3:00-4:00 p.m. EDT

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

• Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers [Presentation PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Jes Skillman, Ducks Unlimited [Presentation - PDF]
• William Hernández, Environmental Mapping Consultants, LLC. [Presentation - PDF]

BIOS

Ms. Skillman has over 12 years' experience in Conservation GIS at Ducks Unlimited. She currently manages and coordinates the Geospatial Department of Duck’s Unlimited’s Great Lakes / Atlantic office. In this role, Ms. Skillman works closely with stakeholders, the DU Conservation Team, and the DU GIS team to develop baseline data, priority area mapping tools, and web applications that align with conservation goals. She has experience mapping wetlands, landcover, and protected lands. She has also built several decision support tools and online web mapping applications for planning, decision support, and collaboration. Ms. Skillman has a BA in Ecology from the University of Toronto and a Masters in Conservation Biology from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Hernández is the Founder and Executive Director of Environmental Mapping Consultants LLC. He has more than 18 years of experience in the development and implementation of geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) applications to in coastal and marine ecosystems and a wide range of industries. He has led research projects studying the impacts of Sargassum and coastal water quality using satellite remote sensing technology and field monitoring. Dr. Hernández holds a PhD in marine sciences with a specialty in biological oceanography from the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez, and postdoctoral studies in satellite remote sensing and coastal water quality from City College, City University of New York.  

 

American Wetlands Month Webinar:
One Year Since Sackett v. EPA: Strategies for Moving Forward with Wetland Protections

Held Wednesday, May 29, 2024 - 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. EDT

In celebration of American Wetlands Month in May, this Members' Webinar was open to all. 

View Recorded Webinar

ABSTRACT

Wetlands and streams are at risk more than ever at the global and national level. The most recent U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wetlands Status and Trends Report finds that more than half of wetlands in the lower 48 states are gone, and loss rates have increased by 50 percent since 2009. Additionally, the 2023 Supreme Court decision on Sackett v Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rolled back federal protections of wetlands and other water bodies. Some estimates anticipate a loss of protections on 63% of our nation's wetlands as a consequence of the Sackett decision. The result is that state and Tribally led clean water protections are more important now than ever. Without additional conservation actions to protect these ecosystems, wetland loss will likely continue, reducing ecosystem benefits for people and habitat for fish and wildlife.

How do we move forward? While there is no one right or best way to approach this dilemma, one thing is clear – partnerships will be critical for success. In this webinar, you learned about approaches that two organizations, the National Association of Wetland Managers and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, are taking to increase public awareness about the value of wetlands as well as gain support in Congress to increase funding and flexibility for federal, state and Tribal wetland programs. 

INTRODUCTION

• Portia Osborne, Project Managers, National Association of Wetland Managers [Presentation PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Marla Stelk, National Association of Wetland Managers [Presentation PDF]
• Alexander Funk, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership [Presentation PDF]

BIO 

Marla Stelk is the Executive Director at the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) 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, climate change, environmental policy and research, land use planning, communications and organizational leadership. Marla has led research at NAWM 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 NAWM, Marla worked for a variety of environmental and social nonprofit organizations helping to build organizational capacity, manage projects and improve internal processes. 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.  

Alex Funk is the Director of Water Resources and Senior Counsel for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, which works to guarantee all Americans a quality place to hunt and fish. Alex has over a decade of experience working on Colorado River and western water challenges. In his role with the TRCP, Alex leads the organization’s national freshwater policy efforts focusing on issues ranging from the Clean Water Act to securing federal funding to increase the pace and scale of watershed conservation and restoration projects benefiting fish and wildlife. Alex previously served as the Agricultural and Rural Resiliency Policy Specialist at the Colorado Water Conservation Board, where he acted as the agency’s liaison to agricultural stakeholders on federal and state water policy issues, including such topics as demand management and voluntary water sharing agreements. Prior to CWCB, Alex served as the Western Policy Director for the National Young Farmers Coalition, focusing on Farm Bill policy, and a legal fellow with American Rivers.

Alex earned his Juris Doctorate from Vermont Law School and his bachelor’s degree in environmental policy and planning from Virginia Tech. Alex is a graduate of the Colorado Water Leaders Program with Water Education Colorado and is currently a member of the 2024 Colorado River Leaders cohort with the Water Education Foundation. Alex lives in Denver, Colo., with his family and can frequently be found mountain biking, backpacking, climbing fourteeners, and paddling his kayak around the West.

MAWWG-NEBAWWG Webinar Series: Wetland Classifications

Held Wednesday, May 22, 2024 - 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

• Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers [Presentation PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Bill Nichols, New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau [Presentation PDF]
• Mary Ann Furedi, Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program [Presentation PDF]

ABSTRACTS

Bill Nichols

NH Natural Heritage Bureau’s (NHB) ecological system classification provides a practical scale to inform the coarse filter approach to biodiversity conservation, whereby conserving an adequate number of viable examples of each system type, we can protect the majority of NH’s species. NHB gives special attention to exemplary ecological systems – ranging from all examples of rare types to high quality examples of common types – because they are among the best remaining examples of biological diversity in the state. This presentation identified the steps that collectively provide the science-based results used to inform conservation, wetland permit review, and mitigation in New Hampshire.

An examination of seepage wetlands in Pennsylvania
Mary Ann Furedi

Seepage wetlands represent a unique group of wetlands in Pennsylvania. They form in localized areas of groundwater discharge and play important biological and ecological roles. Given their small size, seepage wetlands are often poorly mapped and may be easily overlooked from a land management perspective. This presentation focused on how plant communities can be used to identify and better understand the distribution of these important aquatic resources.   

BIOS

Bill Nichols is the Senior Ecologist and State Botanist with the New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau, where he has worked since 1996. Prior to this position, he worked for six years with the Massachusetts Audubon Society and the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. Bill has a Master of Science Degree in Botany from the University of Rhode Island and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Biology from the University of New England. Bill has authored/coauthored 25 journal articles on ecological integrity assessment methods and NH’s flora and natural communities. 

Mary Ann Furedi is the Ecological Assessment Manager with the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Mary Ann earned a Ph.D. in Biology from West Virginia University studying the impacts of deer browsing on the demography of American ginseng. Her work now primarily focuses on characterizing the current conditions of plant communities and plant populations and monitoring how they change over time. 

 

 

 

 

Status & Trends of Wetlands in the Conterminous U.S. from 2009-2019

Held Thursday, April 18, 2024 - 3:00-4:30 p.m. ET

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

• Marla Stelk, National Association of Wetland Managers [Presentation PDF] 

PRESENTERS [Presentation PDF]

• Megan Lang, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
• Jeff Ingebritsen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

ABSTRACT

On March 22, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released its sixth edition of the “Wetlands Status and Trends” report to Congress. The report, Status and Trends of Wetlands in the Conterminous United States 2009-2019, reveals that wetlands – 95 percent of which are freshwater — covered less than 6 percent of the lower 48 states as of 2019 – which is half the area they covered in the 1780s. The report also identifies that loss rates have increased by 50 percent since 2009 and that without additional conservation actions taken to protect these ecosystems, wetland loss will likely continue, reducing ecosystem benefits for people and habitat for fish, wildlife and plants. Report authors shared highlights from the report, including the methods used to collect and interpret wetland data, drivers of change, and the report’s conclusions and Storymap.

BIOS

Megan Lang is Chief Scientist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory Program and Project Lead for the Wetlands Status and Trends study. She is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland Department of Geographical Sciences and serves as an Associate Editor for the journal Wetlands. Dr. Lang has been working to improve the assessment of aquatic ecosystems through field and remote sensing studies for over two decades. Before working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, she led the U.S. Department of Agricultural Mid-Atlantic Regional Wetland Conservation Effects Assessment Project. 

 

Jeff Ingebritsen is a GIS Specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wetlands Inventory since 2013. He serves as the data manager for the Wetlands Status and Trends study. In addition to Status and Trends, Jeff works on various cartography, spatial analysis, and scripting projects for NWI. Jeff lives with his family in southern Wisconsin, where he enjoys gardening, cooking, and making music. 

 

 

 

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Integrated Watershed Management Planning: Southeast Workshop Introduction and Green Infrastructure for Coastal Resiliency

Held Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET

View Recorded Webinar

NAWM, in partnership with the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) through a cooperative agreement with the US EPA, is engaged in a training program to advance the integration of Clean Water act Programs with natural hazard mitigation planning and implementation. The focus of the training is on integrating programs to improve interagency planning and implementation of co-beneficial projects that reduce flood risk and improve water quality, among other benefits. Through this webinar, we recapped the first workshop held in Cincinnati in 2023, introduced information for our next workshop to focus on the Southeast in 2024, and highlighted a coastal green infrastructure project from Florida Sea Grant. See information on the 2024 Integrated Watershed Management Planning Workshop.

INTRODUCTION

• Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers [Presentation PDF]

PRESENTER

• Haley Cox, Florida Sea Grant [Presentation PDF]

ABSTRACT

Nature-based Solutions to Coastal Hazards in Florida’s Gulf of Mexico

Coastal areas in Florida’s Gulf of Mexico region experience disproportionate exposure to climate risks such as sea level rise (SLR) and intensifying storms. The City of Cedar Key, Florida is a small municipality (population < 750) in this region with particularly high exposure to climate hazards. In 2020, the NOAA tide gauge in Cedar Key recorded the 4th highest rate of SLR acceleration in the nation, and local sea level has risen nearly six inches since 1992 (Malmquist, 2021; VIMS 2022). The low-lying topography, deteriorating stormwater infrastructure, high exposure of Gulf hazards, and the accelerating rate of SLR combine to create extensive vulnerabilities to flooding and shoreline erosion.

Since 2014, the City of Cedar Key and its residents have collaborated with multidisciplinary project teams to develop nature-based solutions to erosion and coastal flooding. From 2016-2021, several living shorelines were constructed around Cedar Key’s Daughtry Bayou to address erosion impacts through restoration of shoreline habitat. Current projects such as Cedar Key ShOREs (Shoreline Options for Resilience and Equity), funded by the National Academy of Sciences Gulf Research Program, focus on achieving equitable shoreline and stormwater management solutions through community-supported green infrastructure installations. This presentation highlighted the role of these projects in natural hazard mitigation, water quality protection, and habitat enhancement.

BIO

Haley Cox is a Coastal Resilience Program Coordinator for Florida Sea Grant responsible for expanding extension and education programs related to climate and resilience along Florida’s Nature Coast and other vulnerable areas of the state. Haley previously worked as an Environmental Specialist in the Water Resources Division of the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department, where her responsibilities included implementing educational programs focused on reducing nonpoint source pollution in urban watersheds, coordinating community outreach events, and conducting water quality monitoring. Prior to this, Haley worked in the Wetlands and Water Quality Laboratory at University of Florida, where she was involved in a variety of environmental studies across Florida, including the construction and monitoring of living shorelines in Cedar Key and other coastal communities. She has a B.A. in Sustainability Studies with minors in Soil and Water Science and Environmental Science from the University of Florida. 

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View Past Hot Topics Webinars

PDF List of Past Hot Topics Webinar Recordings Here

View Upcoming Hot Topics Webinars

 

Wetland Water Quality Standards Webinars  

Water quality standards for wetlands have proven a challenging topic over the years.  Under a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NAWM undertook a project to identify best practices that can be used in the development of water quality standards for wetlands. The goal of the project was to help the states prepare and adopt water quality standards for wetlands. A webinar series was also held from June 2011 through January 2012 and the various presentations can be accessed from the list below:

2012

May 31, 2012 from 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. EDT
Wetland Water Quality Standards Webinar

April 19, 2012 from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT
Overview of State Water Quality Standards for Wetlands Report Revisions and Next Steps for States and EPA

March 22, 2012 from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT
Pilot States' One-Day Meeting Reports

February 16, 2012 from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT
Review and Discussion on Draft Model Regulation
To view Jon Kusler, National Association of Wetland Managers presentation, click here.

January 26, 2012 from 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. EDT
Impaired Waters and Wetland Water Quality Standards
To view Mark Gernes, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency presentation, click here.
To view Kevin Molloy, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency presentation, click here.

2011

December 15, 2011 from 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. EDT
Impaired Waters
To view Jon Kusler, National Association of Wetland Managers presentation, click here.

November 17, 2011 from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT
Narrative and Numeric Criteria
To view John Bender, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality slide, click here. 
To view Jon Kusler, National Association of Wetland Managers presentation, click here.

October 13, 2011 from 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. EDT
Anti-degradation
To view Eric Shaw and Doug Fry, Florida Department of Environmental Protection presentation, click here.
To view Randall Phillips, Tennessee Department of  Environment presentation, click here.

September 22, 2011 from 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. EDT
Aligning Sources of Pollution, Designated Uses and Wetland Functions
To view presentation, click here.

August 18 from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT
To view John Dorney, NCDENR, presentation, click here.
To view Mark Gernes presentation, click here.

July 14, 2011 from 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. EDT

June 22, 2011 from 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. EDT
To view presentation, click here.

The National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) is passionate about knowledge sharing. As part of NAWM’s mission, providing training is key to ensuring our members are using the most scientifically up to date methods and information to run successful, effective, and efficient wetland programs. While online trainings have their advantages, nothing can take the place of in-person opportunities to learn and practice implementing new strategies with your peers in person and in the field. In addition to these opportunities, NAWM members can receive discounts for in-person trainings and other courses at partner organizations. For more information on other trainings, please contact NAWM’s Office Manager, Laura Burchill, at 207-892-3399.

NAWM’s current in-person training opportunities are listed below:

Integrated Watershed Management and Hazard Mitigation Planning Workshop
January 21-23, 2026
Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

 

This first of five Advancing the Integration of Clean Water Act and Natural Hazard Mitigation Planning and Implementation project workshops was held September 12-13, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The workshop aimed to facilitate collaborative partnerships and build cross-governmental relationships and awareness of what is going on in different departments, agencies, and at various levels of government in terms of hazard mitigation and water resource protection planning and program development. Participating states included Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Ohio. The workshop brought participants together with a cadre of leaders in the fields of water and hazards management. Throughout the workshop, discussions were held on integration and partnering, coming to a common language on frequently used water quality and hazard mitigation terms, floodplains, wetlands, and green infrastructure, hazard mitigation, local permitting & regulations, funding mechanisms and how to combine funding sources, and benefit-cost analysis. A mobile tour of the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati’s Lick Run Project was included as well. The event was hosted by the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) and the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), funded by an EPA cooperative agreement.

The workshop program can be reviewed here.

The workshop included a mobile tour of the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati’s Lick Run Project. Completed in 2021, is a "green" wet weather project that focuses on reducing combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in the Cincinnati neighborhood of South Fairmount into Mill Creek, a tributary of the Ohio River. The project uses a combination of green infrastructure, dedicated storm sewers, and real-time controls to eliminate over 800 million gallons annually of CSOs into the creek. This mobile tour will start at Lick Run Greenway’s Forebay Pond before going into the watershed to see its bioswale and stream restoration projects, ending at Headwaters Park.

 

Return to Integrated Watershed Management

NAWM, in partnership with the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM), is engaged in a cooperative agreement with the U.S EPA to develop and host a series of five regionally focused trainings to advance the integration of Clean Water Act programs with natural hazard mitigation programs. The focus of the training is on integrating these programs to improve interagency planning and implementation of co-beneficial projects that reduce flood risk and improve water quality, among other benefits.

These trainings will be held once a year (starting in 2023) and will be delivered to a different regional cohort, delineated in the map below:

 

2023: Cohort 1: Great Lakes/ Midwest area (Red) - Completed

September 12-13th, Andrew W. Breidenbach Research Center, Cincinnati, OH

2024: Cohort 2: Southeast (Green)

January 21-23, 2026 (Rescheduled from November 13-15th), Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

2025: Cohort 3: West (Purple)

2026: Cohort 4: Northeast (Yellow)

2027: Cohort 5: Great Plains (Blue)

NAWM and ASFPM have a goal for each regional cohort to include representative pairs from 9 communities, 9 states, and 2 Tribes. Although not pictured on the map above, U.S. territories will be included in this project with the regional cohort shown in green and can recommend communities located within their territorial boundaries. The state and territory pairs will be from the same state or territory in which the local community is located to facilitate relationship building. We anticipate that we will reach participants from 45 states and 10 Tribes. This is a "by invitation only" training, however, we are inviting nominations from interested communities and agencies.  

In addition to the five training workshops, there will be quarterly cohort calls and a ten-part webinar series on associated topics. The webinar recordings, materials and tools created for the training workshops, along with other information and resources on best practices, lessons learned, and relevant case studies will be posted online as they become available. 

If you are interested in having your community participate in an upcoming training, please click here.

Invited communities will:

• Attend one training workshop the year their regional cohort is the focus of the project
• Learn about collaboration opportunities to plan and implement projects focused on nature-based solutions with multiple benefits between programs
• Connect with other states and communities in their geographical area to discuss ideas and build a community of practice
• Participate in the quarterly project cohort call series to share our progress and continue to cover emerging issues
• Be eligible to receive up to 12 Continuing Education Credits (CECs) towards CFM renewal requirements

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who should be nominated?

Any community or tribe interested in participating. Note, even if your regional cohort will not be engaged for a few years, you can nominate yourself at any time. We will keep a running list.

Are there any requirements for nominated communities or tribes?

Yes, because the goal of this project is to build cross-sector, cross-government relationships, one water resources-related manager and one emergency manager from the community or tribe must be committed to attending the training workshop and participating in the cohort calls. Note, if a community is too small to have a water resources-related manager, they can pull in someone from a local or regional organization to fill that role.

How can I nominate a community?

Please fill out this Interest Submission Form

When are nominations due?

NAWM and ASFPM will start to process nominations for each year’s community selection in March but will still accept nominations on a rolling basis until the invitation list is complete.

How will invitees be selected from the list of nominated communities?

To narrow down the list of nominated communities, states, and tribes to those most in need of a training like this, we will compare our list against other notables lists, such as:

• FEMA’s list of communities with active hazard mitigation plans;
• GAO’s list of EPA superfund sites that are at risk of flooding, storm surge, wildfires or sea level rise;
• the White House’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) tool;
• EPA’s EJScreen Mapper.

When will teams be notified of their selection?    

For the first cohort, NAWM will send out invitations to selected communities and tribes beginning in March of each year.

What costs should teams anticipate needing to cover to attend the workshop?

There is no registration fee associated with the workshop, but participants should expect to cover the cost of their travel, meal, and/or lodging.

NAWM has secured limited funding to partially offset these travel costs. Individuals in need of travel support will be asked to complete a request form and will be awarded support based on need. If everyone were to submit a request, travel support is expected to amount to around $500 per person for each workshop. Costs will be reimbursed after the event upon submission of receipts.   

Click here for information specific to the 2nd training to be held in the Southeast January 21-23, 2026.

 

2023 MAWWG-NEBAWWG Webinar Series #2: Wetland Mapping, Modeling, and Assessing

Held Tuesday, December 12, 2023 - 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET

View Recorded Webinar

This is part 2 of a three-part webinar series highlighting EPA Wetland Program Development Grant grantees in regions 1-3.
This second webinar will focus on geospatial mapping and analysis wetlands.

INTRODUCTION

• Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Elizabeth Byers, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Laura Lapierre, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation [PRESENTATION PDF]

BIOS

Elizabeth Byers is a Senior Wetland Scientist with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection. She has led the design and implementation of a combined field and GIS protocol for wetland functional assessment and wetland condition monitoring, which will be formalized as part of Clean Water Act enforcement in West Virginia in January 2024. 

 

Laura Lapierre is the Program Manager for the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s Wetlands Program. The VT Wetlands Program administers the Vermont Wetland Rules, assesses the State's wetland health, maps wetlands, and assists voluntary restoration. In Laura’s 9 years managing the program, she and her team have received funding from the EPA Region 1 Wetland Program Development Grants. Laura has a Master's in biology from McGill University.

 

 

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2023 MAWWG-NEBAWWG Webinar Series
#1 Coastal Conservation Highlights

Held Tuesday, August 22, 2023 - 3:00-4:30 p.m. ET

View Recorded Webinar

This is part 1 of a three-part webinar series highlighting EPA Wetland Program Development Grant projects in regions 1-3. The first webinar focused on the conservation of coastal wetlands.

INTRODUCTION

• Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS/ABSTRACTS

Mary Phipps-Dickerson, Maryland Department of the Environment [PRESENTATION PDF]

Use of Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UA) to Assess Salt Marsh Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise
Scott Jackson, University of Massachusetts Amherst [PRESENTATION PDF]

Field work in salt marshes is difficult because tide cycles affect our ability to access interior portions of marshes and to see/evaluate marsh characteristics due to ever changing water levels. Remote sensing (satellite imagery; aerial photographs) offer some potential for assessing salt marsh characteristics. However, these data may not be available at stages in the tide cycle when specific characteristics need to be assessed, such as high tide for assessing high marsh flooding or low tide for assessing creek bank stability. We are investigating using Unoccupied Aerial Systems (drones and sensors) to collect data when timing is critical and evaluate the use of various sensors to create detailed maps salt marsh site (vegetation, bare ground, water features, elevation) and assess vegetation health/stress and physical characteristics of salt marshes. Using arrays of water loggers and detailed digital terrain models developed from UAS data, we will characterize the hydrology of salt marshes and correlate marsh vegetation with tidal hydrology. We are also using machine learning and object identification techniques to identify eroding creek channels within salt marsh, with an aim to create a bank erosion metric that can be applied statewide using readily available aerial photography. 

Strategies for Coastal Wetland Conservation Prioritization in Virginia Under Climate Change
Molly Mitchell, Virginia Institute of Marine Science [PRESENTATION PDF]

Accelerating sea level rise brings new considerations into coastal wetland conservation efforts. This project focuses on developing strategies to improve our understanding and strengthen the sustainability of Virginia’s coastal wetlands climate change. Marsh migration under sea level rise is a primary pathway for marsh persistence. However, the rate at which migration occurs and the resulting extent and habitat function of the newly migrated marsh is dependent on factors including location and its nexus to developed lands. Prioritizing conservation actions requires the ability to monitor change in both wetland extent and its habitat provision. We are developing remote monitoring protocols of coastal wetland vegetation that will help us understand where changes are occurring. We are also monitoring marsh bird usage to understand how changing extents and vegetation impact the habitat provision of our coastal wetlands. 

BIOS

Mary Phipps-Dickerson is a Natural Resources Planner with the Tidal Wetlands Division of the Maryland Department of the Environment. She reviews and authorizes projects proposed by communities, municipalities and private property owners to conduct work in, on, over, or under tidal wetlands ranging from shoreline stabilization efforts through marsh restoration, marsh enhancement, thin layer placement, reef balls and breakwaters, as well as navigational projects including dredging, pier, and marina projects. Review criteria take sea level rise, subsidence, and coastal resiliency into consideration while balancing wetland impacts and resource conversions. Mary is currently reviewing the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island Ecosystem Restoration Project which includes the restoration of Barren Island and James Island and incorporates the beneficial reuse of dredged material.

Dr. Molly Mitchell is a Research Assistant Professor and Director of the Professional MA program at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). Her research focuses on shifts in coastal resources due to the interaction of sea level rise and human-driven changes; a topic at the intersection of multiple disciplines, including projects involving ecology (marsh changes and blue carbon), physical dynamics (sea level rise trend analysis, shoreline geology) and human decision making (social vulnerability, sea level rise adaptation, adaptive management application). She works with representatives from many different groups to help translate research and current scientific understanding into practical recommendations. Dr. Mitchell was awarded a 2019 US CLIVAR Early Career Leadership Awards for her climate change communication efforts and is the co-lead for the World Climate Research Program' Safe Landing Lighthouse Activity’s Sea Level Rise Working Group.

Scott Jackson is Extension Professor in the Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he teaches courses on wetlands and wildlife conservation and management. Scott’s research interests include aquatic connectivity, wetland assessment and monitoring, impacts of roads and highways on wildlife and ecosystems, and landscape-based ecological assessment. Scott has been involved in the development of standards for road-stream crossing structures, survey protocols for assessing crossing structures for aquatic and terrestrial passability, and approaches for prioritizing road-stream crossing structures for replacement. He coordinates the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC), a network of practitioners in the 13-state North Atlantic region working to enhance river and stream connectivity. As a member of the UMass Landscape Ecology Lab, Scott contributed to the development of landscape assessment tools and approaches including the Conservation Assessment and Prioritization System (CAPS), Designing Sustainable Landscapes (DSL) and Critical Linkages. 

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Implications of the Supreme Court’s Sackett Decision for Protection of Wetlands and Waters

Held Wednesday, June 14, 2023 - 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. EDT

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INTRODUCTION

• Marla Stelk, Executive Director, National Association of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATIONS PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Jon Devine, Director, Federal Water Policy, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
• Donna Downing, Senior Legal Policy Advisor, National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM), former Jurisdiction Team Leader in EPA’s Office of Water (1998-2020)
• Timothy Hoffman, Senior Counsel, New York State Attorney General
• Pat Parenteau, Professor of Law Emeritus, Vermont Law School

ABSTRACT

On May 25, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision in Sackett v. EPA. The majority opinion establishes Justice Scalia’s “relatively permanent” analysis as the standard for determining when a wetland, stream, or other water is a “water of the United States” (WOTUS) protected by the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). This webinar provided an overview of the decision and some of the ambiguities it contains, discuss the decision’s potential impacts on aquatic resource protection, and explore some of the potential next steps for states and tribes.

BIOS

Jon Devine leads NRDC’s federal water policy team. His work focuses on implementing, defending, and strengthening the core programs under the Clean Water Act. Prior to working on water policy, he worked with NRDC’s Health & Environment program for four years. Previously, he served as an attorney-adviser in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of General Counsel and also worked as an environmental specialist in Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection. Devine graduated from Bowdoin College and received his JD from Georgetown University. He is based in NRDC’s Washington, D.C., office.

Donna Downing is the Senior Legal Policy Advisor at the National Association of Wetland Managers. Donna was the Jurisdiction Team Leader in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds from 2007-2020. 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.

Timothy Hoffman is the Senior Counsel for the New York State Attorney General. He is responsible for cases against industrial polluters and multi-state litigation against the federal government. Represent New York in a wide variety of environmental matters in federal and state trial and appellate courts. Serve as lead counsel in complex cases involving water and air pollution, natural resources, hazardous substances, nuclear waste, energy law, federal rollback of environmental protections, and environmental impact review. Multi-state litigation efforts include representing six Great Lakes states in Northwest Environmental Advocates v. EPA, 537 F.3d 1006 (9th Cir. 2008), where the Ninth Circuit invalidated EPA's regulatory exemption of vessel-discharged aquatic invasive species from Clean Water Act pollution controls. In 2015 achieved one of the largest groundwater impact settlements in New York history, responding to the collapse and flooding of North America's largest salt mine, the former Akzo-Nobel Salt Mine located in western New York. Previously served as a trial attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office prosecuting violent crimes. Clerked for the late U.S. District Court Judge William Ingram in the Northern District of California. Worked as a staff analyst for the Wisconsin Legislature's joint committee overseeing executive agency regulatory authority. Graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School and Indiana University, with honors and distinction from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Admitted to practice law in the State of New York, the U.S. District Court for the Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of New York, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Sixth and Ninth Circuits.

Pat Parenteau is Professor of Law and Senior Counsel in the Environmental Advocacy Clinic at Vermont Law School. He previously served as Director of the Environmental Law Center and was the founding director of the EAC (formerly the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic) in 2004. Professor Parenteau has an extensive background in environmental and natural resources law. His previous positions include Vice President for Conservation with the National Wildlife Federation in Washington, DC (1976- 1984); Regional Counsel to the New England Regional Office of the EPA in Boston (1984-1987); Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (1987-1989); and Senior Counsel with the Perkins Coie law firm in Portland, Oregon (1989-1993). Professor Parenteau has been involved in drafting, litigating, implementing, teaching, and writing about environmental law and policy for over three decades. His current focus is on confronting the profound challenges of climate change through his teaching, publishing, public speaking and litigation. Professor Parenteau is a Fulbright US Scholar and a Fellow in the American College of Environmental Lawyers. In 2005 he received the National Wildlife Federation’s Conservation Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to wildlife conservation and environmental education. In 2016 he received the Kerry Rydberg Award for excellence in public interest environmental law. Professor Parenteau holds a B.S. from Regis University, a J.D. from Creighton University, and an LLM in Environmental Law from the George Washington University Law School.

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Celebrating the Endangered Species Act at 50 and the Importance of Conserving Wetlands and Wetland-dependent Species

Held Wednesday, May 17, 2023 - 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. EDT

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MODERATOR

• Martha Balis-Larsen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Elizabeth Holmes Gaar, NOAA [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Kara Moore-O'Leary, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Aimee Weldon, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Regional Office [PRESENTATION PDF]

ABSTRACT

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), NAWM and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) hosted a panel discussion on wetland-dependent threatened and endangered (T&E) species. Wetlands account for just 5.5% of the contiguous U.S., yet 50% of T&E species are wetland-dependent. Conserving and restoring wetland habitat therefore plays an outsized role in the success of ESA. The two primary federal agencies responsible for implementing ESA are the USFWS and NOAA. Staff from both agencies highlighted how ESA has saved specific fish, migratory bird and amphibian species from extinction and describe some of the barriers that remain.

BIOS

Elizabeth Holmes is NOAA Fisheries’ West Coast Region Habitat Program Leader and also the Senior Policy Advisor for Protected Resources. In her 35 years with NOAA Fisheries, Ms. Gaar developed and led various components of regional and national habitat and Endangered Species Act (ESA) programs. She served as the first Chief of Endangered Species in the Pacific Northwest (NW) when petitions to list salmon and steelhead under the ESA first emerged and later served as Assistant Regional Administrator for Habitat Conservation, where she established NMFS NW Region’s ESA and Magnuson Stevens Act essential fish habitat regulatory programs. Ms. Gaar also served as NOAA’s NW Region Chief of Salmon Recovery, responsible for developing and implementing the Region’s ESA salmon recovery program. Prior to working for NOAA, Ms. Gaar was a District Fishery Biologist with the US Forest Service with tenures on both the Siuslaw and Mt. Hood National Forests. She earned her Bachelor’s of Fisheries Science degree from Oregon State University and her law degree from the Northwestern School of Law, Lewis and Clark College.

Kara Moore-O'Leary is an Ecologist for the National Wildlife Refuges in the Pacific Southwest Region 8 and the Zone Biologist for the Central Valley of California and the Klamath Basin. She has supported National Wildlife Refuges in design of survey protocols for threatened and endangered plants and has conducted research on T&E plant species reproduction, population dynamics, and range distributions. She received her bachelor’s in biology and her master's degree in Natural Resource Management from the from University of Michigan and her PhD in Ecology and Conservation Biology from the University of California, Davis. Before joining the Service, she conducted research in the Department of Evolution and Ecology at UC Davis on rare plant reproductive biology, reducing the ecological impacts of utility scale energy, and ecosystem restoration in arid ecosystems. She has been supporting Refuges in conservation planning, survey protocol development, and evidence-based approaches to conservation since she joined the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2016. 

Aimee Weldon has been the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture Coordinator (ACJV) since 2016 based in Hadley, Massachusetts at the USFWS Northeast Regional Office. As Coordinator, Aimee is responsible for guiding the strategic vision of the Joint Venture, and to coordinate the many partnerships on priority species conservation. Prior to joining the ACJV, she directed the land protection and habitat restoration activities at Potomac Conservancy, a regional land trust and watershed organization dedicated to conserving and improving water quality in the Potomac River Basin. Aimee also held wildlife leadership positions at Defenders of Wildlife in Washington D.C., where she managed a national program to engage land trusts in biodiversity conservation, and at the National Audubon Society, where she coordinated the Virginia Important Bird Areas program. She is the primary author of ‘Conserving Habitat through the Federal Farm Bill – A Guide for Land Trusts and Landowners’, created to connect a wider network of practitioners to the many opportunities to leverage Farm Bill dollars for wildlife conservation. Aimee received her Master’s degree in Ecology from North Carolina State University and her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the College of St. Benedict in Minnesota.

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MARSH Webinar 2: Communication and Branding

Held Wednesday, April 19, 2023 - 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. EST

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INTRODUCTION

• Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers

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Development of Rapid Streamflow Duration Assessment Methods for Nationwide Coverage

Held Thursday, April 13, 2023 - 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. EDT 

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INTRODUCTION

•  Portia Osborne, National Association of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTERS [PRESENTATION PDF]

• Brian Topping, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
• Tracie Nadeau, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 

ABSTRACT

Practitioners and regulated entities need rapid, reach-scale methods to classify streamflow duration to implement and comply with many federal, state, and local programs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, working cooperatively with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is developing regional streamflow duration assessment methods (SDAMs) for nationwide coverage. These SDAMs use hydrological, geomorphological, and biological indicators, observable in a single site visit to classify reaches as perennial, intermittent, or ephemeral (https://www.epa.gov/streamflow-duration-assessment). We presented five regional beta methods that resulted from multi-year studies conducted nationwide and included the evaluation of 141 candidate indicators expected to control or respond to streamflow duration at reaches of known streamflow duration class. To maximize classification accuracy, each regional SDAM relies on a different suite of indicators resulting from machine learning applied to regional datasets. Beta SDAMs will be re-evaluated considering user comments and additional data to produce final methods in 2023-24. We described the SDAM development process, including data analysis and management, highlight similarities and differences between the regional SDAMs, invited user comment on the beta methods, and discussed opportunities for more refined regionalization.

BIOS

Brian Topping has worked at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency since 2004 primarily in the Clean Water Act Section 404 regulatory program for the discharge of dredge and fill material in waters of the United States. Brian began working on streamflow duration assessment method development in 2007 in Oregon and currently leads the project delivery team for the development of rapid field-based streamflow duration assessment methods at EPA. He also works on stream mitigation assessment methods, program tracking and reporting, program training, and compensatory mitigation.

 

Tracie Nadeau is an Environmental Scientist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10 (Pacific Northwest), Tracie Nadeau is currently on detail to EPA Headquarters’ Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (OWOW) as a core member of the small team developing Streamflow Duration Assessment Methods (SDAMs) for nationwide coverage. She began working on streamflow duration assessment method development in 2007 when she led the development of an SDAM for the Pacific Northwest. Tracie is a broadly trained aquatic ecologist with over 20 years of experience working at the science-policy interface, synthesizing and communicating state of the science on aquatic resource issues, implementing programs, and developing and coordinating applied research projects. In her Region 10 Oregon Operations home office, she works on stream, wetland, watershed, and mitigation issues, including working with state and tribal partners to build program capacity and develop science-based tools supporting program implementation.  

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Introduction to the new national manual on the Ordinary High Water Mark

Held Wednesday, March 29, 2023 - 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. EDT 

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INTRODUCTION

• Portia Osborne, National Association of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATION PDF]

PRESENTER

• Gabrielle C. L. David, Ph.D., Research Physical Scientist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Research Development Center [PRESENTATION PDF]

ABSTRACT

Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) delineation has long been a part of identifying aquatic resources that may be subject to federal jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Sections 9 and 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. Despite the challenges found in OHWM delineation, because of the complexity and dynamic nature of inland waterways, a national manual providing guidance on OHWM identification and delineation has never been released. The National Technical Committee for OHWM, comprised of experts from Federal agencies and academia, developed and released the interim draft of the National OHWM Field Delineation Manual for Rivers and Streams. The manual provides a scientifically supported, weight-of-evidence framework to support efficient OHWM identification and delineation that are consistent, repeatable and defensible. Use of the National OHWM Manual will result in timely and more predictable identification and delineation of the OHWM across the Nation.

BIO

Gabrielle David is a research physical scientist specializing in fluvial geomorphology in the Remote Sensing/GIS Center of Expertise at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL). Dr. David leads applied research projects on stream systems in support of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Regulatory Program through the ERDC-led Wetland Regulatory Assistance Program (WRAP). WRAP accelerates and enhances USACE Regulatory decisions by developing rapid decision support tools and integrating sound science and technical concepts into the USACE decision-making process. Dr. David supports WRAP and Regulatory through development of innovative tools and technical resources, and by providing scientific reasoning for regulatory decisions. In particular, Dr. David chairs the National Technical Committee for OHWM and leads projects on improving methods and tools used for assessing streams. Prior to her time at ERDC-CRREL, Dr. David was a visiting assistant professor at Boston College and Bowdoin College. She has taught courses in river restoration, environmental geology, geomorphology, water resources, ecology, and environmental studies. Currently, she teaches regional courses on field identification of the OHWM and is part of a team developing a course on stream restoration for regulators. Dr. David received her BS in Environmental Geology from The College of William and Mary and her MS and PhD in Geosciences from Colorado State University.

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MARSH Mentorship Introductory Webinar

Held Tuesday, February 14, 2023 - 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. EST

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INTRODUCTION

• Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers

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Recommendations for Reducing Wetland Loss in Coastal Watersheds of the United States

Tuesday, January 31, 2023 - 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. EST

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INTRODUCTION

• Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATIONS PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Amanda Santoni, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Jonathan Phinney, National Wetland Inventory 
• Marla Stelk, National Association of Wetland Managers

ABSTRACT

The Interagency Coastal Wetlands Workgroup (ICWWG) recently released the Recommendations for Reducing Wetland Loss in Coastal Watersheds of the United States. This report presents voluntary recommendations that aim to reduce and reverse the loss of wetlands in coastal watersheds and are intended apply to program managers, non-governmental organizations, and government staff (federal, state, tribal, local, and regional) involved in coastal wetland and watershed management. The intent of the report is to help forge cooperation and build capacity to reduce coastal wetland losses nationwide. This webinar provided an introduction to and background on the Recommendations report and share efforts by agencies and partners to implement specific recommendations. In addition, recommendations that may be best addressed by state, tribal, or local governments was highlighted.

BIOS

Amanda Santoni is an Ecologist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Specifically, she works in the Ocean and Coastal Management Branch on the Coastal Wetlands Initiative. She leads the Interagency Coastal Wetlands Workgroup (ICWWG) which helps to address coastal wetland loss, management, and restoration by bringing together seven federal agencies with programs and authorities that protect and manage coastal wetlands.

Jonathan Phinney started his career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) in 2012. Presently, he is the Branch Chief for the National Wetlands Inventory Program where he oversees 12 staff located in five regional office and headquarters. He has also managed the Coastal Barrier Resources Program and the Analytical Control Facility. He spent the previous ten years at NOAA where he held several technical and management roles in NOAA Fisheries and NOAA’s Ocean and Atmospheric Research Program. He also logged four years in the nonprofit conservation world of Washington, D.C. after completing his graduate studies and a postdoc. Originally from the great state of Connecticut, he spent 10 years in California, but considers himself a (Northern) Virginian where he and his family enjoy outdoor hiking and biking and viewing the wetlands along the Potomac River and tributaries.

Marla Stelk is the Executive Director at the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) 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, climate change, environmental policy and research, land use planning, communications and organizational leadership. Marla has led research at NAWM 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 NAWM, Marla worked for a variety of environmental and social nonprofit organizations helping to build organizational capacity, manage projects and improve internal processes. 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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Advancing the Integration of Clean Water Act Programs with Natural Hazard Mitigation Planning & Implementation

Held Tuesday, January 17, 2023 - 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. EST 

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This was a 60-minute informational webinar regarding a new project designed to aid states, local communities, and tribes in integrating their Clean Water Act programs with their natural hazard mitigation programs. This project is being implemented by the National Association of Wetland Managers and the Association of State Floodplain Managers in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Beginning in 2023 and over the course of five years, we will host one annual in-person training workshop in five pre-determined regions. This introductory webinar included a background discussion of water and natural hazard mitigation, an overview of current EPA resources to get started, and an outline of the goals and processes of this project in addressing deeper needs. There was 30 minutes for Q&A and information on the nominating process for those interested in attending a workshop.

INTRODUCTION

• Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers [PRESENTATIONS PDF]

PRESENTERS

• Marla Stelk, National Association of Wetland Managers
• Ellie Flaherty, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Jenna Moran, Association of State Floodplain Managers

WEBINAR RESOURCES

• Project Summary and Nominating Process
• EPA Nature-Based BMPs with Co-Benefits for Water Quality and Hazard Mitigation
• ASFPM CRS for Community Resilience Green Guide
• NAWM Healthy Wetlands Healthy Watersheds White Paper
• FEMA Mitigation Planning and the Community Rating System: Key Topics Bulletin

BIOS

Marla Stelk is the Executive Director at the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) 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, climate change, environmental policy and research, land use planning, communications and organizational leadership. Marla has led research at NAWM 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 NAWM, Marla worked for a variety of environmental and social nonprofit organizations helping to build organizational capacity, manage projects and improve internal processes. 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.

Ellie Flaherty is a Biologist in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Nonpoint Source (NPS) program. In this role she provides technical and programmatic support for the Clean Water Act Section 319 grant program and supports NPS program efforts to connect nature-based water quality practices with hazard mitigation and resilience planning. Ellie joined EPA shortly after receiving her Master of Science in Natural Resources and Environment from the University of Michigan in 2019.  



Jenna Moran joined the Flood Science Center as a Senior Project Manager in October 2020. Now, as the FSC Co-Director and Portfolio Manager, she oversees the administration of ASFPM's portfolio of grants while managing select projects within the portfolio. Before coming to ASFPM, Jenna was the Associate Program Director for Resilience at the National Association of Counties, where she handled grants and initiatives relating to resilience and community and economic development. Jenna holds a Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame. Before transitioning into the world of resilience, she worked in arts and culture as a stage manager and a Design Program Specialist at the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

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