Vol. 27 No. 5 September/October 2017

In this Issue•Wetlands as a Tool to

Reduce Storm Surge•Managing Conflicting

Goals•Association News•New Publication•New Members•Upcoming Webinars•Recent Webinars

Can Wetlands Serve as a Tool to Reduce Storm Surge from Hurricanes?

An Inquiring Mind Wanted to Know

By Brenda Zollitsch, ASWM Policy Analyst

The 2017 hurricane season has brought into focus the need to identify and capitalize on any tools available to attenuate floodwater and avoid (or at least minimize) the catastrophic impacts of these damaging events. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria have joined the annals of hurricane history alongside hurricanes Andrew, Katrina, Sandy, Irene and others. With these recent developments, my curiosity was piqued about whether wetlands had made a difference in protecting specific

areas or whether they could have. Storm surge attenuation is listed as an ecosystem service provided by wetlands. According to NOAA, Storm surge is “an abnormal rise in water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tides. This rise in water level can cause extreme flooding in coastal areas. Considering the major flooding from storm surge in many areas during both recent hurricanes, I was curious how effective wetlands are at this attenuation.

As a wetland policy analyst at the Association of State Wetland Managers, my interest was only increased by anecdotal information shared by colleagues, friends and relatives in affected areas –1) wetlands and native vegetation had indeed provided barriers during these storm events and 2) where healthy wetlands existed, storm surge impacts were lessened. If it was true that these areas fared better, how much better did they fare? Regardless of location, is having a wetland barrier universally more effective than not having a wetland when a major storm hits? Coastal wetland and hazard managers will need time to look at data from these new storms before such questions can be answered. However, to explore these questions in the meantime, I examined some recent literature on the topic.

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With the important caveat that I am a neophyte on this issue, I share with you the following quick summary of what I found and why it is important:

1. Do wetlands attenuate storm surge? Research shows that there are many ways in which wetlands can attenuate storm surge from coastal storms. Coastal wetlands act as “semi-permeable barriers, redirecting the surge around them, protecting the areas behind them” (Narayan and Beck, 2017). Wetlands act to slow down inland penetration from storm surge and reduce the height of the storm surge. They reduce wave energy and provide resistance to the flow of water (Shepherd et al, 2011).

Costanza et al (2013) describe that wetlands decrease the area of open water for wind to form waves and increase the drag on water motion, thereby reducing the amplitude of the storm surge. So the answer is yes, wetlands can attenuate storm surge.

However, studies show that attenuation rates vary tremendously1, influenced by variables specific to each storm and the conditions where they make landfall (Masters, 2017). Attenuation levels are site-specific and vary by type of wetland. Based on the limited data available, Narayan et al (2016) find that “wave reduction is linearly correlated with the relative height of a salt marsh2.” The wave reduction in salt-marshes is highest when the canopy is close to the water surface. This same study, which includes a meta-analysis of sixty-nine studies on wetland natural defenses, found that coral reefs attenuate the most wave height, followed by salt marshes, then mangroves and to a lesser extent (~half) seagrass and kelp beds.

2. Is there a standard calculation that accurately represents this attenuation? Over time, one formula has been used as a kind of “rule of thumb” to capture the positive impacts of wetland buffers – the US Army Corps of Engineers has shared that for each 2.7 miles of marsh, storm surge is knocked down by 1 foot (USACE, 1963). However, this formula provides an over-simplified calculation and does not address the issue that the weather/wetland combination is never a one-size-fits-all calculation. Researcher Jeffrey Masters, PhD (Weather Underground) emphasizes that the degree to which wetlands can provide protection from storm surge is dictated by complex, interactive calculations of storm track, speed, duration, size, wave size, regional topography, geometry of the shore, presence of barrier islands, slope of the ocean bottom, type and thickness of vegetation and presence/absence of 1A landmark Army Corps of Engineers study (1963) found attenuation rates could vary by a factor of three (Masters, 2017).2i.e. the submergence of the vegetation relative to the water level

Storm surge has damaging impacts that can be attenuated by wetlands; Photo credit: NOAA

Healthy coastal marshes can attenuate storm surge significantly; Photo credit: Weather Underground

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leaves. Formulas for predicting attenuation are, at present, elusive and any potential calculations need to take local conditions and specific storm variables into consideration.

3. Does the amount of attenuation depend on the power and speed of the hurricane? While wetlands have been shown in many cases to be effective in reducing (at least to some extent) the inland flow of storm surge and in buffering coastal damage from wind and water, this only stands true for less powerful storms, such as tropical storms and more common large storm events that don’t qualify as hurricanes or tropical storms. An important finding is that, as storms reach hurricane force and especially those that are slow-moving, wetlands are ineffective at attenuating the impacts. This is especially true for those that hover over one location for more than a few hours. Studies to date indicate that wetland/no wetland comparisons show no difference for these types of major storm events (Masters, 2017). It should be noted that when wetlands become ineffective at attenuating storm surge in these storm events due to extreme conditions, so do other solutions. Consequently, the only real way to ensure damage does not occur in these areas is to build infrastructure someplace else.

4. What other benefits can wetlands provide in limiting the impact of major coastal storms?Wetlands play other roles in addition to storm surge attenuation during major storms. Other services include shoreline stabilization and floodwater attenuation. A study published by Shepherd et al (2011) looks across the research finding that coastal wetlands have the potential to attenuate “smaller more frequent waves and stabilize shorelines by promoting sediment deposition and reducing erosion”. Additionally, salt marshes have the potential to “mitigate flooding in coastal areas by reducing flood peaks and storing flood waters associated with coastal storms.”

5. Are there other circumstances where wetlands are less effective at battling back storm impacts?One scientist studying post-Katrina impacts along the Mississippi River (using storm surge modeling) found that while the storm surge was attenuated in some places, those who lived along the river’s levees had the storm surge build up, with little-to-no protection provided by nearby marshes. This is in part because the extent of alterations has unnaturally constrained a high volume of water in a proportionally small channel. Historically, the lower Mississippi floodplain was more than 100 miles wide.

More importantly, wetlands are ineffective in limiting damages to areas that are at high risk of flooding. According to wetland experts David Conrad and Larry Larson, over time government policies have “encouraged, rather than discouraged, people to build homes and businesses in places with increasing risks of flooding by allowing new building in those areas, constructing insufficient flood control projects that give residents a false sense of security, and subsidizing redevelopment after disasters without mitigation” (Conrad and Larson, 2017). To quote ASWM’s Executive Director, Jeanne Christie, “the only meaningful way to stop damages from occurring in these flood zone areas during big events is not to build there.”

Click on the image to view a YouTube Video about Storm Surge

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6. What is the economic impact of the storm attenuation services provided by wetlands?A new study funded by Lloyds of London (Narayan et al, 2017) finds significant economic benefits from coastal wetlands through avoided damage from the attenuation of storm surge. The study shows that in the case of Hurricane Sandy alone, “coastal wetlands prevented more than $625 million in direct property damages by buffering coasts against storm surge.” Damages were found to be reduced by an average of 11% across twelve East Coast states and by over 22% in half the areas affected by the storm (Naryan and Beck, 2017). While these benefits varied widely by location, the bottom line across the board is reduced impacts.

7. Are there complications for areas along shoreline where wetlands have been lost?While the exact amount of attenuation is debated across studies, most agree that wetlands do provide critical protections. The loss of wetlands, consequently, increases risks of higher levels of storm surge and other storm impacts. For example, in coastal Louisiana a combination of development, construction of levees, new dams, dredging by oil and gas companies, creation of new canal systems, and sea level rise (in addition to other causes), have led to massive wetland loss in Southern Louisiana. These wetlands are being replaced by open water and eventually the ocean. To bring home the extent of this loss, America’s Wetland Foundation shares the unfortunate message that “one football field of wetlands is being lost every hour” in the Mississippi River Delta.

Wamsley et al (2007) indicate that studies are starting to support “general observations and anecdotal evidence” that wetlands attenuate storm surge. To simulate the impacts of unchecked continuing wetland loss, Wamsely et al used the ADCIRC model3 (without any restoration efforts to add back wetlands into the simulation). The model looked at outcomes after 50 years. Their results showed an increase in storm surge of 10-15% along Louisiana’s coast over that time period. A study by Fitzpatrick at al (2008) from

3ADCIRC is a system of computer programs used to solve time dependent, free surface circulation and transport problems in two and three dimension for predication of storm surge and flooding.

Coastal wetlands offer a first line of defense against hurricane storm surge; Photo credit: Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East

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Mississippi State University using a SLOSH model4 found that hurricanes moving across more eroded marshlands had an increased surge of 1-3 feet due to wetland erosion and subsidence). These studies identify limitations to the variables used in the simulations and limit their predictive capacity. However, while it may not be possible at the current time to predict how much attenuation of surge will occur, whatever protections that they do offer disappear if wetlands are lost.

Key Takeaways – Make Sure Wetlands are in the Toolbox but Keep Expectations RealisticHurricanes like Katrina, Sandy, Irene, Harvey, Irma and Maria all stimulate a desire to better understand any tools that can contribute to coastal protections. To date, research shows that wetlands have a role in protecting natural and built systems along the coast by attenuating storm surge and other services such as reducing flooding and erosion. Protection, enhancement and restoration of wetlands should be included in coastal planning efforts designed to reduce risks from hurricanes and other major storm events. While the value of wetlands for these purposes is coming into focus, so are their limitations. Wetlands are not a panacea. Like dikes and levees, they too have their limits. Wetlands are a valuable part of a suite of different tools that can be used in conjunction with other tools to reduce damages from storm events and other threats, like sea level rise. Once a storm’s duration and intensity reach certain levels, they too cannot protect communities from some of the most catastrophic effects of storm surge and its associated flooding.

So What Can be Done to Incorporate Wetlands into the Storm Resiliency Toolbox?While the science continues to fine-tune our understanding of these issues, there are actions that can be undertaken to make the most of nature’s coastal shock absorbers. Here is a list of ten actions that can help address the issue of hurricane damage.

1. Policies should prohibit building in floodplains and incentivize vacating homes and businesses currently in the floodplain. Wetlands cannot keep water flowing from areas where it naturally belongs. In a recent discussion with Jeanne Christie, Executive Director of the Association of State Wetland Managers, she shared that “the only definitive thing that works for large hurricanes or floods is not putting the house or business in harm’s way in the first place.” As part of this effort, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should update national flood maps to reflect the current 100 year floodplain (Christie, 2017; Conrad and Larson, 2017).

4The SLOSH (Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes) model is a numerical model used by NWS to compute storm surge. Storm surge is defined as the abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tides.

Wetlands can play a valuable role in hazard reduction and increasing resiliency when used as part of a suite of solutions; Photo credit: USACE.

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2. Continue to study the specific values of wetlands in attenuating storm surge and other services that reduce storm damage. The case for wetlands protection and restoration is strengthened by current and compelling data showing storm-related ecosystem services.

3. Continue to improve and include quantification of the economic benefits of wetlands as “natural defenses” against coastal storms (Naryan and Beck, 2017). Without a clear understanding of the values of wetlands in storm attenuation and specifically the economic costs and benefits as a hazard mitigation tool, planners will continue to struggle with prioritizing wetland-related natural or gray-green solutions. Studies, such as the Lloyds of London-supported effort, should continue and be strengthened (Narayan, 2017).

4. Invest in wetland habitat conservation, enhancement and restoration activities. There is an extensive and growing body of literature finding a wide range of coastal hazard protection benefits from wetlands and other natural infrastructure, including reduction of damages from storm surge, coastal erosion and sea level rise. Identification and prioritization of projects should maximize the use of wetlands in these roles.

5. Regulate the expansion of impervious areas in hurricane- and flood-prone zones. As Conrad and Larson (2017) argue, while the damages from Hurricane Harvey would have still been significant, they would not have been as catastrophic if Houston had limited the paving over of pastures and wetlands. Waters that have no place to infiltrate create flood hazards. Planners need to continue to find new ways to integrate wetlands and other green infrastructure into planning.

6. Include the risk reduction role of wetlands in products used by the risk and engineering sectors. A new study by Narayan et al (2017) is receiving attention because it is one of the first to comprehensively look at the economic value of coastal wetlands to reduce flood damage in the United States. In a political environment dominated by cost-benefit-based decisions, the ability to quantify the flood attenuation and other benefits of wetlands is invaluable. Science alone provides evidence that protecting wetlands is enough, but the additional evidence of economic value provides wetlands a more even playing field in the consideration of policy alternatives.

7. Use new national habitat maps developed by Arkema et al (2013) to identify where conservation of wetlands can have the greatest potential to protect coastal communities. Detailed local habitat maps, combined with other local information can serve as guidance to target the use of wetlands to attenuate storm (and other) impacts. Arekma et al have developed coastal habitat maps

Storm Surge from Hurricane Sandy; Photo credit: Union of Concerned Scientists

To check out Louisiana State Museum’s Model of the Role

of Wetlands in Slowing Storm Surge, click below:

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using five sea-level-rise scenarios. These maps create a hazard index for every 1 km2 of the United States coastline. The index is used to identify the most vulnerable people and property as indicated by being in the upper quartile of hazard for the nation’s coastline. Their research finds that the number of people, poor families, elderly and total value of residential property that are most exposed to hazards may cut in half if existing coastal habitats remain fully intact. Use of these maps can help inform communities as they engage in land use and hazard planning.

8. Commit to adaptive management. Experiences with unusual storm patterns and changes in climate require even greater flexibility in planning. Extreme weather events, sea level rise and other hazards may continue to increase over time. Preparing and finding ways to increase community resilience should include innovative uses of wetlands and should adapt to changing world and weather events.

9. Become engaged in planning and voluntary activities in your coastal community. If you are part of a community that would benefit from the protection or restoration of wetlands, planning can protect and build wetland habitat that provides multiple benefits to your community. Bring these issues to the attention of planners and safety officials. Volunteer to serve on planning committees and voice the need to consider natural infrastructure options.

ReferencesArkema et al. (2013). Coastal habitats shield people and property from sea level rise and storms. Nature. Climate Change 3: 913-918.

Christie, J. (2017). Discussion with Jeanne Christie, Executive Director, Association of State Wetland Managers. October 16, 2017.

Conrad, D. and G. Larson. (2017). We already knew how to reduce damage from floods. We just didn’t do it. Washington Post (September 1, 2017). Downloaded from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/we-already-knew-how-to-reduce-damage-from-floods-we-just-didnt-do-it/2017/09/01/cc6c4174-8f2a-11e7-8df5-c2e5cf46c1e2_story.html?utm_term=.20f537750ae1

Fitzpatrick et al. (2008). The impact of Louisiana’s Levees and Wetlands on Katrina’s Storm Surge. Presented at the 28th Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology. April 30, 2008. Downloaded from: https://ams.confex.com/ams/28Hurricanes/techprogram/paper_137224.htm

Masters, J. (2017). Storm surge reduction by wetlands. Weather Underground. Downloaded from: https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/surge_wetlands.asp

Narayan, S. et al. (2016). The Effectiveness, Costs and Coastal Protection Benefits of Natural and Nature-Based Defenses. PLoS One 11, e0154735 (2016). Downloaded from: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0154735

Narayan, S. and M. Beck. (2017). The antidote to hurricane damage? Wetlands. Downloaded from: https://www.salon.com/2017/09/30/the-antidote-to-hurricane-damage-wetlands/

Narayan et al. (2017). The value of coastal wetlands for flood damage in the Northeastern USA. Nature. Scientific Reports 7, Article No. 9463. Downloaded from: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-09269-z

Shepard et al. (2011). The protective role of coastal marshes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 6, e27374 (2011). Downloaded from: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0027374

Wamsley et al. (2007. Influence of Wetland Degradation on Surge. Proc. 10th International Workshop on Wave Hindcasting and Forecasting and Coastal Hazard Symposium. Downloaded from: http://www.waveworkshop.org/10thWaves/Papers/wamsleyetal_hawaiiconf.pdf

To watch a short video on scientists studying wetland

effects on storm surge, click here:

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These are not easy circumstances to navigate, and even seasoned facilitators can be challenged by them in real life situations. I found myself therefore in the uncomfortable position of not being able to give an easy answer. The bottom line is that there is no silver bullet when you find yourself in such an environment, so I was not able to give a quick 2-3 minute answer that was satisfactory to anyone. In regard to the first question, I am not an expert as I have minimal experience working with tribes, but I am aware of and respect many of their cultural values and traditions so I can easily understand why ecosystem service valuation may not be the right framework. In general, incorporating cultural values into an ecosystem service framework is challenging, and although it is recognized in discussions, there is very little literature or case studies in regard to how they have been measured or incorporated into decision-making.

However, I did some research and found an article by Comberti, et al, entitled “Ecosystem services or services to ecosystems? Valuing cultivation and reciprocal relationships between humans and ecosystems” that is very informative and a recommended read on this topic. And another article by Satz, et al, entitled “The Challenges of Incorporating Cultural Ecosystem Services into Environmental Assessment” that I also recommend. Overall, in my experience working with diverse communities with cultures and traditions different than my own (e.g., Somalian refugees in Portland, Maine), I have found it is best to find a trusted leader in the community who is willing to educate you and act as a liaison between you, your agency/organization, and their community.

In regard to question two, I have much more experience with this type of stakeholder engagement, and there are some tips and best practices that you can follow to reduce conflict and give you a better chance of success.

Managing Conflicting Goals for Wetland Restoration and Diverse Cultural Values

By Marla Stelk, ASWM Policy Analyst

I recently attended the Michigan Wetlands Association conference as an invited speaker on two different but related white papers that I co-authored, including “Ecosystem Service Valuation for Wetland Restoration: What it is, How to do it, and Best Practice Recommendations” and “Wetland Restoration: Contemporary Issues and Lessons Learned.” After each presentation, I was asked questions regarding how to effectively work with stakeholders who hold different or divergent views and/or values regarding ecosystem services, benefits, and goals for wetland restoration. Specifically, I was asked: 1) how to communicate with tribes on the topic of ecosystem service valuation when their relationship to nature is fundamentally different, and 2) how to reach consensus with a stakeholder group that has divergent and perhaps competing priorities for wetland restoration benefits, i.e., stormwater retention vs habitat.

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•Do adequate planning and be prepared.

• Identify who in your meeting may have deeply held perspectives and research any potential areas of conflict so that you have a balanced understanding of the different opinions ahead of time.

• Identify leaders within each stakeholder group and have a conversation with them ahead of time to build trust and help develop your agenda. Try to enlist them to assist you with communication, outreach and anticipating any potential triggers that could disrupt your meeting.

• Ensure that you have balanced representation in your participant list that will adequately reflect the diversity of viewpoints.

•Make sure your meeting is agenda-driven. This will help keep the discussion on topic and reduce the opportunity for detractors to take the discussion into a different direction.

• Be sure to send out your agenda in advance so all parties have a clear understanding about what will be discussed before they arrive.

• At the very beginning of the meeting, review the agenda with the participants and let them know what you hope to accomplish from the meeting.

• Make sure that your agenda provides opportunity for facilitated discussion and breaks for networking (depending on the length of the meeting) or for folks to go outside and get some fresh air.

• However, don’t walk in to the meeting thinking that you have all the answers – be open to new ideas and perspectives.

•After the agenda review, establish ground rules for interactions within your group.

• Start out by listing a few of your own and then open it up to suggestions by others. Some examples include: do not talk over or interrupt others; restrict your comments to 2 minutes max to allow time for everyone to participate in discussions; no personal attacks; etc.

• Ground rules need to be agreed upon by consensus with the entire group and should be listed on a flip chart or dry erase board so that they are visible to everyone throughout the meeting. This enables you to point to the agreed upon ground rules if someone starts to break one and refocus the discussion.

• Ground rules can also ensure that your meeting is culturally sensitive as it allows diverse stakeholders to identify any important cultural taboos at the beginning of the meeting which can help to avoid unintentionally offensive language or gestures.

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•Find common ground:

• Find something, anything, that the entire group can agree on and then build from there. For example, your entire group might all agree that clean drinking water is important. You can then take that point of agreement and build on it by discussing various strategies, and their pros and cons, to meet the goal of clean drinking water. By discussing the various ways to reach a goal and the resulting trade-offs of each scenario, the group is able to understand and make more informed choices about how to reach their common goal.

• If you are the facilitator:

Practice active listening and maintain objectivity.

• Make eye contact and exhibit affirmative head nods or facial expressions to show that you are really listening.

• Ask clarifying questions to ensure that you and everyone else in the room can better understand what the other person is saying.

• Paraphrase what the person has said in your own words, i.e., “What I hear you saying is….” Or “I want to make sure I understand what you are saying, so do you mean…?”

• Don’t formulate your answer while another person is speaking or you will miss important points of their discussion.

• If terms are being used that can be interpreted differently, ask the speaker to define what they mean when they use that term (e.g., sustainability, resiliency, etc.). You may need to see if you can get the group to come to consensus on definitions ahead of time during the discussion of ground rules if you suspect there are terms that will be used that could cause conflict or confusion.

If conflict arises:

• Do not respond emotionally – maintain an objective position and respond to the substance of the discussion, rather than its tone.

• Acknowledge and document the different viewpoints so people know that they have been heard. • Don’t be afraid to step in if the discussion gets heated or people start throwing out personal

attacks – ask everyone to stop the discussion and take a break if needed. Use your ground rules to maintain civility. If there is a detractor in the group who refuses to “play nicely” you have the right to ask them to leave – but use this very judiciously and only as a last resort.

For some useful resources on this topic, the National Estuarine Research Reserve has a great website with a lot of information on best practices for collaborative projects and stakeholder engagement as well as the Institute for Local Government (see their publication “Dealing with Deeply Held Concerns and Other Challenges to Public Engagement Process”). And for any meeting, be sure to include ample opportunity for short breaks and provide food and beverages. We all feel and communicate better when we are refreshed and reenergized.

If you expect the meeting to be very challenging and you do not have any actual facilitation experience (or anyone else in your organization), I strongly recommend that you hire a professional facilitator who has conflict management experience or a mediator who can assist you. Many of the above recommendations are easier said than done. Using a professional facilitator can be educational and help you develop your own skills over time.

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Association News By Jeanne Christie, Executive Director, ASWM

This year was a great year for our peach tree. Despite a late spring and slow start to the growing season, the peach buds bloomed in profusion and by late August the tree limbs were bowed by the weight of all the peaches. Maine is a little north for most peach species and our hardy Reliance peaches are always slow to ripen. So I waited and waited and waited…. I was still waiting in mid-September when we went on a 10 day vacation. Apparently the ripening occurred while we were gone because upon our return there were no peaches on the tree: just a tidy mound of peach pits on the ground.

We assume the culprits were a local raccoon family. I imagined them all lying about someplace groaning softly-- their furry bellies bulging from a surfeit of peach.

We’ll just chalk this one up to feeding the local wildlife and hope for another bountiful crop next year!

Have a great fall!

Clean Water Act Jurisdiction – As Revisions to Clean Water Act jurisdiction move ahead, polls show increased public concern about water pollution. Currently the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S Department of Army/Corps of Engineers are pursuing rulemaking to rescind (step 1) and replace (step 2) the 2015 Clean Water Rule. The comment period of the rule that would rescind the existing rule has closed and the agencies are currently pursuing a series of public outreach meetings via conference call and webinar to seek recommendations on a new rule that would rely on the Scalia plurality opinion in Rapanos. This is occurring during a time that the public is increasingly concerned about water pollution as well as the availability of safe drinking water. For the first time ever, The Chapman University’s annual survey of “America’s Top Fears” included pollution of oceans, rivers, and lakes and pollution of drinking water as one of the top ten fears of Americans.

Can Wetlands Established Through Beaver Reintroduction Reduce the Impacts of Wildfires in the West? Wildfires in the West have been in the headlines for many weeks. The loss of human lives and property as well as natural landscapes has been catastrophic. While forest fires are part of a natural cycle throughout the lower 48 states, that cycle has been interrupted and delayed by human intervention and the result has been much hotter, more destructive fires. Could the presence of more wetlands support avoidance of similar events in the future? Realistically a holistic approach will require a number of different tools, but reintroduction of beaver deserves consideration. A string of beaver ponds extending up a drainage (i.e. stream) can form a natural fire break. It keeps the adjacent floodplains green year around and evapotranspiration increases the local humidity. There are other benefits as well. An article in The Wildlife News provides insight into this issue. For the past two years ASWM has been developing and sharing a proposal to encourage reintroduction of beaver into the montane west capitalizing on efforts already underway throughout the region. It is a high priority to find funding to support this project.

Jeanne Christie photo

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ASWM Annual State/Tribal/Federal Coordination Meeting Dates and Location Set. The Association of State Wetland Managers will hold its annual meeting April 11 and 12 at the Tommy Douglas Conference Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. This is a change in venue from the well-loved National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in West Virginia. But we think the new site retains many of the amenities that made the NCTC a popular location: onsite lodging, onsite parking, shared community spaces and informal cafeteria style dining to facilitate discussions. Plus it is very close to Washington DC. Please save the dates on your calendars and expect more information later this year.

ASWM Board At Large Elections Complete.We would like to welcome new At Large Board Members: Jill Aspinwall (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection), Ed Clements (Indiana Department of Environmental Management), and Lauren Driscoll (Washington Department of Ecology) as well as returning At Large Board Members Denise Clearwater (Maryland Department of the Environment), and Tim Rach (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) to the ASWM board. Their biographies are available here. We are deeply grateful for the contributions of retiring board members Bill Ryan (Oregon Department of State Lands) Maryann McGraw (New Mexico Department of the Environment), and Doug Norris (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources).

ACWA, ECOS, and ASWM Send House Leadership Letter Highlighting Concerns About H.R. 3043, Hydropower Policy Modernization Act of 2017 The Association of State Wetland Managers signed on to a letter with the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) and the Association of Clean Water Administrators (ACWA) raising concerns about provisions of H.R. 3043, the Hydropower Policy Modernization Act of 2017. If enacted as written, the draft bill would modify Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensing requirements under the Federal Power Act and may conflict with state authority under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act to protect water quality and provide critical input on federal dredge and fill permits to wetlands and other waters under §404. The joint letter is available here.

ASWM Comments on Proposal to Rescind the 2015 Clean Water Rule The Association of State Wetland Managers has responded to the request for comments on the rule proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Army to rescind the 2015 Clean Water Rule and replace it with the regulations and guidance that were previously in place. Comments were due by Wednesday, September 27. You can find the ASWM Cover Letter here and the ASWM Comments here. The proposed rule and other information relating to changes to the Clean Water Act, Waters of the U.S. regulation can be found here. For a recent blog post on “Distribution of Wetlands and Streams and Extent of State Dredge and Fill Permitting Programs in the United States” click here.

Jeanne Christie photo

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Society of Wetland Scientist Regional ChaptersASWM is proud to have a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS). While ASWM focuses on state, tribal and national wetland science and policy across the United States, SWS is international and has 16 regional chapters that hold regular meetings. Below is a list of the 10 U.S. chapters, with contact information if you wish to get involved:

Alaska USA ChapterBoundaries: Alaska Current President: Joe Christopher (Joseph.christopher@asrcenergy.com)

Website: http://sws.org/alaska-chapter

Central USA Chapter Boundaries: Kansas and Missouri. Current President: Christopher Thomas (thomasnative@icloud.com)Website: http://sws.org/central-chapter

Mid Atlantic USA Chapter Boundaries: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. Current President: Jeff Trulick (Jeff.Trulick@usace.army.mil) Website: http://sws.org/mid-atlantic-chapter

New England USA Chapter Boundaries: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Current President: Jennifer Karberg (jkarberg@nantucketconservation.org) Website: http://sws.org/new-england-chapter

North Central USA Chapter Boundaries: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Current President: Julie Nieset (jenieset@illinois.edu) Website: http://sws.org/North-Central-Chapter

Rocky Mountain USA Chapter Boundaries: Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Current President: Heather Houston (heather@westerneco.com) Website: http://sws.org/rocky-mountain-chapter

Pacific Northwest USA Chapter Boundaries: Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Current President: Yvonne Vallette (vallette.yvonne@epa.gov) Website: http://sws.org/pacific-northwest-chapter

South Atlantic USA Chapter Boundaries: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Current President: Douglas DeBerry (ddeberry@vhb.com) Website: http://sws.org/south-atlantic-chapter

South Central USA Chapter Boundaries: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Current President: Scott Jecker (swjecker@whitentongroup.com) Website: http://sws.org/South-Central-Chapter

West USA Chapter Boundaries: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the US Trust Territories in the Pacific. Current President: Russell Huddleston (Russell.Huddleston@ch2m.com) Website: http://www.swswestern.org/

14 September/October 2017

NEW ASWM WHITE PAPER AVAILABLEWetland Restoration: Contemporary Issues & Lessons LearnedNumerous studies have documented the shortcomings of wetland mitigation and voluntary restoration projects to achieve stated goals. However, despite these findings, there is little overall evidence that wetland restoration outcomes have significantly improved - and wetlands continue to be lost. There is general agreement among restoration professionals that the science exists to achieve restoration goals and that wetland restoration performance will improve if certain barriers are addressed. Many lessons have been learned over the past 50 years and there are wetland professionals throughout the country who have found methods to effectively address these barriers. However, much of this information is stored in the minds of those who have learned these lessons over time. This white paper was developed with guidance from a national expert work group in order to share this information,

present potential solutions to restoration challenges and barriers, and recommend specific actions that can be taken to improve wetland restoration outcomes.To download the white paper, Wetland Restoration: Contemporary Issues & Lessons Learned, click here.

Welcome New MembersCharles Arnold, PA Department of Environmental ProtectionJoshua Fair, PA Department of Environmental ProtectionMoriah Fickes, GEI ConsultantsJohn Kraeuter, PA Department of Environmental ProtectionMelanie Musarra, The Environmental Design Partnership, LLPDarrell Oakley, VHBCynthia Ovdenk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Darcie Quamme, Integrated Ecological ResearchJoshua Surette, GZA GeoEnvironmentalJeff TenPas, U.S. Forest ServiceSandra Tsekoouras, Neikirk Engineering, LLCAlaina Vecere, PA Department of Environmental ProtectionJesse Walker, PA Department of Environmental ProtectionDonald Wilson, Wilson Environmental Technologies, Inc.Nicole Wright, Ecofish Research Ltd.

September/October 2017 15

Members’ Wetland WebinarsCentred Outdoors: Trading Screen Time for Wild Spaces — One Community’s ApproachWednesday, November 1, 2017 - 3pm ET

Presenters: • Robert Brooks, Pennsylvania State University• Andrea Murrell, ClearWater Conservancy

For more information and to register, click here.

Restoration Outcomes and Reporting: An Assessment of Wetland Area Gains in WisconsinWednesday, November 29, 2017 - 3pm ET

Presenters: •Tom Dahl, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Retired)•Rusty Griffin, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

For more information and to register, click here.

How to Keep Headcuts from Working their Way Up or Downstream and Destroying WetlandsWednesday, December 13, 2017 - 3pm ET

Presenter: Tom Biebighauser, Wetland Restoration and Training

For more information and to register, click here.

Some planned topics for ASWM’s 2018 Members’ Webinar Series include:• Wetlands as a tool to reduce wildfire hazards

• How to consider cumulative impacts during project planning and permit review

• Guidance on ways to engage with the policy process and communicate with decision makers around wetland issues

• Strategies to improve mitigation compliance

For a complete listing of ASWM Webinars, click here.

If you haven’t attended an ASWM webinar or used Go To Webinar

before or you just need a refresher, please view our Help Guide

prior to the webinar.

A Certificate of Participation to be used toward Continuing Education Credits will

be available for all Members’ Webinars. Click here for more Information.

16 September/October 2017

Some planned topics for ASWM’s other Webinar Series include:

Wetland Mapping Consortium•DevelopmentofenhancedwetlandclassificationdescriptorsforMinnesota’swetlandmappingprogram•U.S.GeologicalSurvey’sNationalLandCoverDatasetandNationalHydrographyDataset•Michigan’supdatestotheNWIandMichiganWaterProjectTracking

Natural Floodplain Functions Alliance•Minnesota’sWatershedApproachtoRestorationandProtectionofLakesandStreams•Tolerableriskguidelinestosupportquantitativeanalysesforcomparisonofnon-structure,sustainable

alternatives for flood risk reduction•NOAA’sGreenInfrastructureEffectivenessDatabase•WisconsinDNRandTNCdecisionsupporttoolforwetlandmitigationsitingdecisionsforallwetlandsand

watersheds across the state

•GovernmentLiabilityforFloodHazards

Invasive Species (NEW mini webinar series!)•ManagingandMonitoringInvasiveSpeciesintheGreatLakes•RegionalapproachesandspecialconsiderationsforcontrollingPhragmitesaustralis•Commercialincentivesforinvasivespeciescontrol

•BiocontrolmethodsforAlligatorweek,waterhyacinthandgiantsalvinia

Hot Topics•Wetland Restoration: Contemporary Issues and Lessons Learned – an Action Agenda•StreamliningInfrastructurePermitting:EPA’sImplementationofExecutiveOrder13807

•ScientificResearch•State,Tribal,andLocalProgramDevelopment•New Category! Wetland Business Leader

Nominate a Wetland Hero for the 2018 National Wetlands Awards!

The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) is accepting nominations for the 29th Annual National Wetlands Awards. The National Wetlands Awards Program honors individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to theconservationandrestorationofournation’swetlands.Recipientswillbehonored inWashington,DC,during American Wetlands Month in May.

The deadline for submitting a nomination for the 2018 awards isDecember 22, 2017. Individuals may be nominated in the following categories:

•ConservationandRestoration•EducationandOutreach•LandownerStewardship

Visit www.nationalwetlandsawards.org to find out how you can nominate a wetland hero.

September/October 2017 17

Wetland Mapping Consortium Webinars

Recently Recorded ASWM WebinarsThe Association of State Wetland Managers hosts and records 3-5 webinars

each month. Below are some recent presentations. For more information on future and past webinars, click here.

Mapping Wetland Inundation Dynamics Using Multi-Source Satellite Data

July 19, 2017

Ben DeVries, University of Maryland

View Recording Here.

Developing a Spatially Enabled Wetland Program Website to Communicate the Importance of Tribal Land Management

October 18, 2017

Andy Robertson, Executive Director, GeoSpatial Services, Saint Mary’sUniversityofMinnesota

Recording will be available soon.

Natural Floodplain Functions Alliance Webinar SeriesThe Iowa Watershed Approach: A New Paradigm for Flood Resilience

October 24, 2017

•Allen Bonini, Iowa Department of Natural Resources•Dr. Craig Just, University of Iowa•Melissa Miller, Iowa Water Center•Breanna Shea, Iowa Flood Center, University of Iowa

•Jake Hansen, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship- Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality

•Jessica Turba, Disaster Recovery Operations Bureau of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management.Recording available soon

Members’ Wetland WebinarsInspiring Lifelong Stewards through Citizen Science

September 27, 2017

DanaPounds,Nature’sAcademyToviewthemembers’webinars,youmustloginontheASWMHomePage,thennavigate to the Members Wetland Webinar Series. Please contact us at laura@aswm.orgor(207)892-3399ifyouneedassistanceloggingin.

18 September/October 2017

ASWM Staff

Jeanne Christie Executive Director

JonKusler,Esq.PhD. Founder Emeritus

Peg Bostwick Senior Policy Analyst

Brenda Zollitsch, PhD. Policy Analyst

Marla Stelk Policy Analyst

Dawn Smith Communication Specialist

Michael Burton Bookkeeper

Sharon Weaver Webmaster

Laura Burchill Program Assistant

Wetland Breaking News (WBN) Sponsorship Opportunities

Wetland Breaking News sponsorship provides the perfect opportunity for your business to increase its visibility with members of the wetlands and water resources community and reinforce your continued commitment to wetlands in the U.S. Take advantage of this opportunity to promote your company in Wetland Breaking News which will prominently display your ad or company’s logo and website link in the publication. Sponsors will be recognized on the Wetland Breaking News homepage, in the e-newsletter/email sent to over 3,000 subscribers and on the online issue of the newsletter. Wetland Breaking News is posted on 75 websites. For more information, click here.

Board of Directors

Ken Murin Chair

Tom Harcarik Vice Chair

Mark Biddle Secretary/Treasurer

Jill Aspinwall

Denise Clearwater

Edward Clements

Lauren Driscoll

Timothy Rach

Remember that November 28, 2017 is #GivingTuesday. Giving Tuesday is celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday. #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, when many focus on their holiday and end-of-year giving. On this day and as the year comes to a close, we hope that you will think of the Association of State Wetland Managers and the value it provides. We hope you will support our ongoing efforts with a donation. To learn more about how you can help, click here. Also, keep an eye out for this year’s search for the wetland creature -- Coming to a computer near you!

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