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WETLAND NEWS

Vol. 19 No.1 February-March 2009

Board of Directors

Peg Bostwick, ChairLynda Saul, Vice Chair

David Davis, Secretary/TreasurerRichard Gitar

Maryann McGrawJanet Morlan

Alan QuackenbushJames Stoutamire

fJeanne Christie, Executive Director

Jon Kusler, Esq. PhD., Assoc. Director

Inside this issue:

Association NewsStimulus Package Opportunities & ChallengesNew Book Service Welcome New Members

2 Basin RoadWindham, ME 04062

(207) 892-3399

Association News - by Jeanne Christie A Fishing Tale

Last weekend the Sebago Lake Fishing Derby was held in southern Maine. Sebago is the second largest lake encompassing 47.5 square miles (http://sebagocam.com/) in Maine and the public drinking water source for the City of Portland. It also has a historic landlocked salmon fishery. When the salmon fishery was in decline around 18 years ago, the decision was made to stock the lake with togue (lake trout). However the salmon are recovering and now the state is encouraging fisherman to harvest as many togue as possible to keep them from eating all the little salmon. Hence the derby. continued on p. 2

Stimulus Package Opportunities and Challenges by Jeanne Christie The stimulus bill was signed last week, but the federal agencies in many cases have been working for months to get ready to spend a great deal of money in a very short period of time. Some agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration posted information about spending stimulus monies even before the bill was signed. Agencies are rapidly finalizing and posting additional details on the criteria that will be used to fund “shovel ready” projects. ASWM has assembled information that identifies opportunities and challenges with respect to funding projects that will have an impact on wetlands and other water resources. This includes funding that can be used for wetland and aquatic restoration as well as projects that will require environmental review and permitting. Additional information will be posted on the ASWM website on the new stimulus webpage as it becomes available. http://www.aswm.org/fwp/stimulus/index.htm continued on p. 5

New Wetland Book List

Details on p. 6

2 Wetland News

This past weekend the lake was frozen solid. Snowmobiles, cars and trucks zipped across the ice—their drivers searching for the best place to drill a hole and jig for fish. But on a lake as big as Sebago pressure ridges form creating weak spots in the ice. Over the weekend three snowmobiles and three cars went through. One of them belonged to my cousin’s wife. It is not clear at this point why she drove five miles across the ice and over two pressure ridges when she knew her husband’s camper was only a mile from shore. I can only say

from personal experience that it is very disorienting to be out on an immense sheet of ice looking at dozens and dozens of tiny dark shapes and trying to figure which are the right ones to shoot for.

She eventually realized she had gone too far and turned around to go back. Re-crossing one of the pressure ridges, the front end of the car broke through the ice. She leaped out of the car and called my cousin on the cell phone. After he concluded this wasn’t a joke, it still took an hour to figure out where she was. He rounded up a regular posse of volunteers on snowmobiles and ATVs and, dragging all sorts of interesting equipment across the ice, they rode to her rescue.

If a car goes through the ice, the fine is $1,000 a day until it is recovered. There is a company in New England that specializes in recovering sunken vehicles. The cost of recovery starts at $6,000 and goes up. We know this because another driver allegedly put a truck through the ice the same day on another part of the lake. The “story” is that it sunk and the people in it who escaped safely, simply abandoned the vehicle in its watery grave hoping no one would notice. People did notice (you can see for miles across the ice) and divers were sent down to investigate. Since the vehicle wasn’t reported there were concerns that people had gone down with the vehicle. Of course the license plate numbers were recorded.

The truck was retrieved from the bottom of the lake the next day.

Luckily, only the front end of my cousin’s car went through. The back end still rested on the ice. The posse pulled it out of the water and drove it back to the fishing camp on the ice, where they all spent the night recounting the extraordinary events of the day.

This is only one of the many legends that arise from a weekend dedicated to fishing. Afterward, it is never entirely clear what really happened and what was added after the fact. Except for my cousin’s story. That’s entirely true!

Jeanne ChristieExecutive Director

(Continued on next page)

Association News, continued from p. 1

Stimulus Bill

These are challenging times for everyone. State budgets are constricting. Many wetland professionals working in the private sector have experienced a sharp decline in business. Congress and the new Administration have agreed on a large stimulus bill, which includes opportunities for wetland restoration, and green infrastructure. The stimulus package will also increase the workloads of federal and state agencies over the next two years and lead to many opportunities for various kinds of employment to help implement the projects that will be funded. In this issue we have pulled together information about some parts of the stimulus package that may be of interest to wetland professionals.

New Leadership at Corps

In January Meg Gaffney-Smith became the new chief of the Section 404 Regulatory Program for the Corps replacing Mark Sudol. Meg was most recently Chief of the Regulatory Branch, Baltimore District. Prior to Baltimore, Meg served as Acting Chief of Regulatory in Jacksonville, as a Senior Regulatory Program Manager on the Headquarters Regulatory staff, and as an Environmental Planner at the Institute for Water Resources (IWR).

While at IWR she has participated in ASWM meetings and workshops. ASWM is already working with Meg to identify opportunities for the states and the Corps to work together to improve the program delivery and conservation and protection of water resources subject to state and federal laws and regulations. Outlook for Clean Water Act Legislation

It is likely that one or more new bills to address concerns over Clean Water Act jurisdiction will be introduced in the new Congress. It’s unknown but unlikely that the Clean Water Restoration Act will be reintroduced as is. There were hearings and extensive debate about the bill in both Houses last year and it seems reasonable that the bills’ co-sponsors will revise the legislation to address some of the issues that were raised. Currently Congress and the Administration are very focused on moving the country out of the recession. In addition climate change legislation is likely to figure large as important environmental legislation in this Congress. Between the need to address the economy and climate change, it may be a challenge to get Congress to focus on Clean Water Act legislation. However, it is early days for this Congress and the Administration and they have not sorted out all of their priorities and are not likely to do so for some period of time.

At ASWM we are concerned that uncertainty over the extent of jurisdiction may lead to unintended consequences. For example there may be increases in pollution from point sources when operators learn that they are no longer subject to the Act—or decide to stop treating effluent on the premise that they aren’t subject to the Act without asking. This might also happen with individuals and/or companies involved in dredge and fill activities. While it is unlikely that this kind of activity would be widespread, there is often an increase in illegal activities affecting a state or nation’s waters when there is uncertainty. In many states, even if the activity is no longer covered by the Clean Water Act, it is still regulated under state law.

Following a fourth circuit Tulloch decision years ago (affirming that the Corps could not regulate drainage) there was a dramatic increase in drainage activities to establish urban developments in North Carolina. Ultimately many of these activities were successfully prosecuted because they were done in violation of state and/or federal law. It is important to get confirmation whether an activity is regulated under federal, state, or local law and obtain all the required permits before moving forward with a project.

Association News, continued from p. 2Wetland News 3

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4 Wetland News Association News, continued from p. 3

ASWM Supports ECOS Resolutions to Fix the Clean Water Act

The Association of State Wetland Managers has formally endorsed supporting two resolutions put forward by the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) last year. These resolutions support adopting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s definition of waters found in the agency’s Clean Water Act regulations and making additional changes to make it easier for States to take a larger role in implementing the Section 404 program. More information about ECO’s resolutions is available at: http://www.ecos.org/section/clean_water_act_jurisdiction/

ASWM Receives U.S. Government Services Administration Contract

In January ASWM was awarded GSA Contract Number GS-10F-0065V. This will make it easier for ASWM to enter into contracts with federal agencies. ASWM is now listed along with other GSA contractors under Multiple Award Federal Supply Schedule Contract for Environmental Services 899-1 Environmental Planning Services & Documentation.

Like other organizations, ASWM is working to create new income streams to keep the organization operating through the current recession and into the future. ASWM anticipates that the new authority will allow it to work with new federal partners and undertake work assignments that will be beneficial to federal agencies, states, tribes, local government and other interest groups. Additional information is available by contacting jeanne.christie@aswm.org or (207) 892-3399.

Strategic Plan Approved by Board

In January the ASWM Board approved a five-year strategic plan. ASWM identified certain activities that ASWM will undertake over the next five years to achieve the following goals:

A. To be a recognized leader in advocating for science-based wetlands conservation, protection and management.B. To build the capacity of wetland managers and public officials at all levels of government to participate in wetland policy development and to build strong, science-based wetlands programs.C. To educate wetland managers, public officials, and others with regard to current wetland science and the use of new technologies and techniques for wetland planning, assessment, restoration, mitigation, and management.D. To integrate wetlands into broader water programs including water quality protection, flood protection, watershed management and ecosystem-based planning.E. To sustain an active and growing membership. F. To be fiscally competent and administratively responsible.

To see the full plan, please go to: http://www.aswm.org/aswm_strategic_plan_22609.pdf

Wetland News 5

Stimulus Package Opportunities and Challenges, continued from p. 1

In nearly all cases funding needs to be obligated within 12 months or less. There is emphasis placed on existing “shovel ready” projects throughout the federal agencies that have received stimulus funding. In most cases proposals for funding need to be forwarded to the appropriate federal agencies within 30-120 days (or less) even if the agency is still in the process of developing guidance or criteria for submissions. In some cases, the best strategy may be to submit quickly even if the “shovel ready” project proposal will take some additional work, particularly if there is the opportunity to amend submissions. Green infrastructure projects under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund can be amended or added to within 120 days.

Guidance from agencies such as Federal Highways indicates that all environmental regulations must be complied with and that emergency permitting procedures cannot be used for stimulus projects. Therefore projects where permit applications have not been initiated may not be able to meet the strict timeframes even though the stimulus funding does allow for some additional temporary staffing or subcontracting in some agencies. The better strategy will be to pursue projects where all permits are issued.

Attempting to use the stimulus legislation to fund projects that are in an early stage of program planning may not be able to meet the stringent time requirements and states, municipalities and other entities that attempt to use the stimulus funding for projects that are not “shovel ready” run the risk of losing the funding.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(From the Environmental Council of States (ECOS) Ecoswire February 13) The final stimulus bill, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, includes $4 billion for Clean Water State Revolving Fund projects and $2 billion for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund projects.

Projects must be on a state Intended Use Plan (IUP) through the appropriate state revolving fund (Clean Water or Drinking Water) to be eligible for funding. Many states have a long list of existing projects for important infrastructure including treatment plants, sewer lines, etc. that are already on the IUP.

The bill also includes the following provisions: Waives the mandatory 20 percent matching requirement for both funds.

Requires that not less than 50 percent of the capitalization grants be used to provide assistance for additional subsidization in the form of forgiveness of principal, negative interest loans, or grants or any combination of these.

Allows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator to reallocate SRF monies where projects are not under contract or construction within 12 months.

Requires not less than 20 percent of each revolving fund to be available for projects to address green infrastructure, water and/or energy efficiency, innovative water quality improvements, decentralized wastewater treatment, stormwater runoff mitigation, and water conservation. continued on p. 7

6 Wetland News

New Wetland Book List-On AmazonASWM offers a new service through its website! Now members may browse through our wetland book list and purchase books--on Amazon. Book titles have been sorted into topics—general, wetland science, watershed management, legal, wetland fiction and nonfiction. We are also going to include a reading list for children & teens in the future. Find it on our menu at the left-hand side of the website under publications, or visit: http://www.aswm.org/propub/bookservice/index.htm Some examples of books available on our webpage are featured below. If you have recommendations, please let us know.

Wetland Ecosystemsby William J. Mitsch, James G. Gosselink, Li Zhang, Christopher J. Anderson, 2009, Wiley

A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter, 2006,

Norilana Books

Wild Birds of the American Wetlands Terry Tempest Williams (Introduction), Rosalie Winard (Photographer), 2008,

Random House Inc.

Paving Paradise: Florida’s Vanishing Wetlands and the

Failure of No Net Lossby Craig Pittman and

Matthew Waite, 2009, University Press of Florida

Wetland News 7

Stimulus Package Opportunities and Challenges, continued from p. 5

Some states may be challenged to identify eligible green infrastructure projects, given the short time frame to submit state lists to EPA and the requirement that projects be ready-to-go. States now can review a list compiled by American Rivers and its partners that includes 253 green infrastructure projects in 33 states and the District of Columbia that appear ready to begin construction. According to the organization, “the ready-to-go projects list contains over $1.2 billion worth of green infrastructure projects, which incorporate engineered and natural systems to help supply clean water, reduce polluted runoff, stop sewer overflows, minimize flooding and enhance community safety.”

Although EPA allows for SRF spending on green projects, each state needs to enable such funding if it isn’t already operative. State SRF managers will also be looking at their existing lists to identify projects, or parts of projects, that would qualify as green infrastructure. EPA also plans to provide states with examples of such projects in upcoming guidance.

Start up funding for restoration work associated with “In Lieu Fee” programs are eligible for state revolving fund loans. There are some states that are getting these programs started, but may lack funding for the initial wetland or stream restoration costs that will be reimbursed by program participants in the future. However, these funds cannot be used to buy land or easements. Both the Clean Water Act state revolving fund stimulus funding or regular year funding could be used to support these projects. American River’s Website on Green Infrastructure Opportunities and EPA’s State Revolving Fund is located at:http://www.americanrivers.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AR7_GreenInfrastructure_RiversStimulus An excel spreadsheet of green infrastructure projects by state can be found on their website in the last bullet under “what you need to do” on this page.

Additional Information about the Clean Water State Revolving Fund

Fact Sheets--

Protecting Wetlands with the Clean Water State Revolving Fundhttp://www.aswm.org/fwp/stimulus/wetlands.pdf

Funding Nonpoint Source Activities with the Clean Water State Revolving Fundhttp://www.aswm.org/fwp/stimulus/nps.pdf

Clean Water State Revolving Fund What’s in it for Watersheds?http://www.aswm.org/fwp/stimulus/cwsrf_watersheds.pdf

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Federal Highway Administration

• $27.5 billion as supplemental formula grants (FHWA) Available through 09/30/2010 • $1.5 billion for discretionary grants program (OST) Available through 09/30/2011

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) received $29 billion in funding. A summary of the provisions of the stimulus funding directed to the Federal Highway Administration can be found at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/economicrecovery/summary.htm

The Federal Highway Administration has been working closely with state transportation agencies in anticipation of passage of the stimulus package. They have posted information about the stimulus including recommendations from FHWA on how to expedite the process to get projects implemented http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/economicrecovery/expedite.htm with questions and answers at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/economicrecovery/index.htm . FHWA is encouraging states to work with their environmental permitting programs (state and federal) to address all permitting requirements. State DOTs in the past have provided funding for environmental permitting staff in federal and state agencies to work on highway projects and they can draw down additional funds from that same pot of money for the stimulus bill.

Under Question 11 on the Q&A webpage FHWA Section 404 and 401 permitting are addressed.

Question 11: Can FHWA adopt “Emergency” rules with regard to environmental processing to save time? Can 404/401 permits be expedited or Nationwide or Regional permits be expanded by USACE for these projects?

Answer 11: No, FHWA cannot adopt emergency procedures. The emergency action procedures referred to in 23 CFR 771.131 only apply to emergency circumstances addressed in the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations 40 CFR 1506.11. CEQ is unlikely to consider all economic recovery projects as emergency, unless they are true emergencies under unique circumstances.

As for Clean Water Act Section 404 permits and 401 authorizations, many minor projects do not require permits or already qualify under Nationwide permits. Many states have funding arrangements and agreements with the Corps of Engineers and the State environmental agencies, and they can address expedited processes for projects in the recovery package through prioritization. It will not be practical to get Section 404 processes altered solely for the economic recovery package.

Stimulus Package Opportunities and Challenges, continued from p. 7

Continued...

Wetland News 9

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations program was allocated $290 million, of which $145 million is to be used for

purchasing and restoring floodplain easements. NRCS will be releasing guidance within 30 days with more specific information on how these funds can be used. It is likely that NRCS will encourage the purchase of easements to reduce flood problems and support linking up public land parcels along floodplain corridors. Also included within the watershed program are efforts to improve fish and wildlife habitat and to create or restore wetlands. The NRCS’ Watershed Rehabilitation program was provided $50 million, which can be used for dam removal or rehabilitation. These programs fall under the Emergency Watershed Program. The floodplain easement program has not been funded since 2002.

More information about these programs is available on the NRCS website at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ under Water Resource Programs.

Contact the State Conservationist’s office for more information about the plans for the NRCS state offices to submit proposals for funding to the national program office.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The U.S. Army Civil Works program includes funding for a number of navigation and other civil works projects. There will be traditional levee raising and other hard construction flood control projects. Cost share funding has been waived for inland waterways construction, but only for stimulus funding. Green projects can be funded by the Corps using stimulus funding under Section 1135 and Section 206.

Summary of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Provisions American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Special thanks to Melissa Samet from American Rivers for providing this.)

Overview: Provides funding for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) projects with some limitations. Funding is to be directed to project elements or activities that can be completed with the stimulus funding (and any existing funding within the appropriate account).

Total Funding: $4.6 billion to the Corps as follows• $25 million for investigations• $2 billion for construction, general, with not less than $200 million for “water related environmental infrastructure assistance”• $375 million to projects under the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) program• $2.075 billion to operations and maintenance • $25 million to the regulatory program• $100 million to the formerly utilized sites remedial action program (FUSRAP)

Limited New Starts: Funds “shall only be used for programs, projects or activities that heretofore or hereafter receive funds provided in Acts making appropriations available for Energy and Water Development.” This should allow new project starts for projects carried out under one of the named continuing authorities programs (see below), and for other new projects that receive initial funding via either the FY09 or FY10 Energy and

Stimulus Package Opportunities and Challenges, continued from p. 8

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Water appropriations acts.

Local Cost Share Waiver For Navigation Construction: Waives the local cost share for construction of navigation projects normally required from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund for monies appropriated under the construction account of the stimulus bill. This waiver applies only to the local cost share for monies appropriated through the stimulus bill.

Mandatory Project Selection Criteria: The bill language provides that funds are to be used only for “programs, projects or activities or elements of programs, project or activities than can be completed within the funds made available in that account and that will not require new budget authority to complete.”

Discretionary Project Selection Criteria: The conference report directs the Corps to consider the following criteria when allocating funds and to use those criteria to execute authorized projects in order to maximize national benefits. The Corps should consider whether funds for programs, projects, or activities:

• can be obligated/executed quickly;• will result in high, immediate employment;• have little schedule risk;• will be executed by contract or direct hire of temporary labor;• will complete either a project phase, a project, or will provide a useful service that does, to

require additional funding. Construction Funding for Continuing Authorities Programs: Funds can be used to construct projects under the following continuing authorities programs, and the cost limitations for those programs are waived for funds appropriated through the stimulus bill:

• Section 14 – Emergency Streambank Protection. The section 14 program authorizes the Corps to carry out emergency streambank and shoreline protection projects to prevent damage to public facilities, such as roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, and water/sewage treatment plants.

• Section 205 – Flood Damage Protection. The section 205 program gives the Corps authority to plan and construct small flood damage reduction projects.

• Section 206 – Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration. The section 206 program gives the Corps authority to plan and carry out projects to restore degraded aquatic ecosystems. 33 U.S.C. § 2330. These projects do not have to be related to an existing Corps project.

• Section 1135 – Project Modifications for Improvement of the Environment. The section 1135 program gives the Corps authority to modify existing Corps projects to restore the environment, and to construct new projects to restore areas degraded by a Corps project.

Unlimited Reprogramming Authority: The Secretary has unlimited reprogramming authority within each funding account for funds provided under the stimulus bill (not applicable to the regulatory program). Transparency: The Secretary must submit a quarterly report to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees detailing the allocation, obligation and expenditure of the stimulus funds beginning within 45 days of enactment (not applicable to the regulatory program).

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Stimulus Package Opportunities and Challenges, continued from p. 9

Wetland News 11

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

NOAA received significant funding, but there is no information available other than some general conference language about how they will spend funds allocated to address a backlog of research, restoration, navigation, conservation and management activities.

NOAA is actively planning how it will disperse stimulus funds. NOAA’s implementation strategy maintains a focus on the intent of the bill to create and sustain jobs, implement projects in a timely manner, and have a transparent process for funding and tracking projects implemented using stimulus funding. In addition, NOAA plans to maximize the benefits to NOAA’s mission (restoring fish habitat for commercial and recreational fisheries, coral reef conservation, recovery of endangered species, and contributing to improved coastal resiliency); and the ecosystem benefits of investments by investing in mid- and large-scale restoration projects.

NOAA is receiving a number of requests for more information and project suggestions. NOAA will use a competitive process to allocate restoration funding. NOAA is developing a 30-day competitive solicitation for that, which will be released soon after the President signs the bill. The notice will be published in the Federal Register, and will be broadly distributed.

Stimulus Bill Text from NOAA: NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES For an additional amount for “Operations, Research, and Facilities”, $230,000,000 PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION For an additional amount for “Procurement, Acquisition and Construction”, $600,000,000. Joint House-Senate Conference report: NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES The conference agreement includes $230,000,000 for NOAA operations, research, and facilities to

address a backlog of research, restoration, navigation, conservation and management activities. PROCUREMENT, ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION

The conference agreement includes $600,000,000 for construction and repair of NOAA facilities, ships and equipment, to improve weather forecasting and to support satellite development. Of the amounts provided, $170,000,000 shall address critical gaps in climate modeling and establish climate data records for continuing research into the cause, effects and ways to mitigate climate change.

Stimulus, continued from p. 10

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ASWM Welcomes New Members!

Autumn Aulicky, AMEC Earth & EnvironmentalChristy Benes, AMEC Earth & EnvironmentalWilla Brantley, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR)Scott Brejcha, V3 Companies of IllinoisIan Broadwater, Normandeau Associates, Inc.Sharon Brown Sean Casto, Normandeau Associates, Inc.Greg Christodoulou, Mississippi DMRJennifer Clark, Mississippi DMRJeff Clark, Mississippi DMRRon Cole, Mississippi DMRLynn Cudlip, JFNew & Associates, Inc.Karl Curry, Envirotech Consultants, Inc.James Davis, Mississippi DMRLarry Dixon, Working Lands Investment Partners,LLCRobert Dunn Patrick Fairbairn, Normandeau Associates, Inc.Peggy Fiedler, WSP Environment & EnergyMatt Fields, Virginia TechNicole Fuhrman, Virginia TechHarold Gilbert, Envirotech Consultants, Inc.Laurie Gneiding, AMEC Earth & EnvironmentalDustin Graves, American Structurepoint, Inc.Jana Guynes, Mississippi DMRPolly Harris, StantecGinger Hicks, Virginia TechRebbecca Hill, Oregon State UniversityKris Hoellen, The Conservation FundWarren Andrew Jones, The Conservation FundLawrence Keenan, Ph.D., St. Johns River Water Management DistrictBob Kerpec, Hey and Associates, Inc.Peg Kohring, The Conservation FundKelly Loutner, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd.Perry Lund, Washington Department of Ecology, Shorelands & Env. Assistance ProgramKeith Maurice, Normandeau Associates, Inc.Brad Meiklejohn, The Conservation Fund

Erik Meyers, The Conservation FundSara Owen, Wetland Consultants, Inc.Scott Owen, Wetland Consultants, Inc.Phil Perhamus, AMEC Earth & EnvironmentalGeorge Ramseur, Mississippi DMRRebekah Ray, Mississippi DMRDaniel Redgate, Blueskies Environmental AssociatesKaty Richardson, Wetland Consultants, Inc.Lisa Richardson, Wetland Consultants, Inc.Chris Roche, Normandeau Associates, Inc.Ali Rupp, Mississippi DMRPreston Smith Deborah Spalding, Working Lands Investment Partners, LLCJason Steele, EEE Consulting, Inc.Hayley Steele, American Structurepoint, Inc.Carla Stimmel, Envirotech Consultants, Inc.Cliff Sunda, Working Lands Investment Partners, LLCPamela Swint, Virginia TechEileen Wands, HydroQual, Inc.Jennifer West, Normandeau Associates, Inc.Cy Whitson, Gannett Fleming, Inc.Scott Williams, Blueskies Environmental AssociatesTravis Williams, Mississippi DMRSteve Wright, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd.

Jeanne Christie, Assistant Editor

Sharon Weaver, Web Lay-out, Design

Laura Burchill, Proof-reader

Leah Stetson, Editor, Design

Wetland News Staff

Copyright Association of State Wetland Managers, Inc. February 2009

All photos by Jeanne Christie