Vol. 28 No. 1 January/February 2018

Executive Director Search is Underway: How We Got Here

By Jeanne Christie, ASWM Executive Director

Recently the Association of State wetland managers announced it is searching for a new Executive Director. It also indicated that the current Executive Director, (that’s me), is planning to continue to work for the Association by transitioning into a different role. I wanted to provide our members with some perspective on what this job announcement means and what’s next for the Association of State Wetland Managers.

First, this is not a sudden decision. In the late summer of 2016, I talked to the board and ASWM staff about beginning a transition to a new Executive Director in 2018. I had thought about it for quite a while and believed and still do believe that it is time to seek new leadership. I remain firmly committed to this organization. I love wetlands, I love the work, and most of all I like and respect the people who dedicate their lives to conserving, managing, protecting and restoring wetlands. In my experience people who pursue careers in wetlands are resourceful, thoughtful, dedicated, creative and just plain fun to be around.

I was first introduced to the Association of State Wetland Managers at one of the annual meetings back around 1989. As a new employee at the US Environmental Protection Agency, I was inspired by the leadership and the vision of ASWM’s previous Executive Director Dr. Jon Kusler. Over the years I attended many ASWM meetings and events and Jon became a good friend. In 1999 when I was contemplating a change from working for the federal government, I talked to Jon and he invited me to join him at ASWM.

The agreement was that I would start as Assistant Executive Director and that in the next year or so we would switch positions. That is what we did and Jon continued to work for the Association for many years. Even now he occasionally helps us out on a specific project.

In this Issue• Executive Director

Search • Pipeline Permitting• Association News• ASWM Strategic Plan• New Members• Upcoming Webinars• Recent Webinars• Full URL Links

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New leadership led to changes in the organization. Jon ran ASWM as a ‘think tank’ exploring cutting edge science, legal and policy issues. This supported innovation and development of newly established state wetland programs all over the country. When I took over around 2000, ASWM evolved to developing sustained resources and support for growing and maturing state wetland managers. Projects delved more deeply into specifics of carrying out programs over time. As the needs of the states changed, we did too.

One thing we have always prided ourselves on at ASWM is being ahead of the curve for our members. We’ve always striven to anticipate the future and to be ready to assist states and other wetland managers and professionals deal with new challenges. Over the past two decades ASWM has grown as an organization both in staff and in our ability to address a wider array of needs and challenges. With this expansion leadership needs for the organization are again evolving. For example within 2-3 years the organization will increasingly need an Executive Director who directs, not one who is deeply involved in carrying out individual projects. I believe ASWM will benefit from acquiring a new Executive Director that can fulfill that need. My goal is to stay with the organization and to continue to be deeply involved in specific projects, and at the same time, make way for new ideas and growth with a new Executive Director.

It is important to have a smooth transition to new leadership. So with the full support of the board, we are currently in search of a new Executive Director. This is a learning experience for all of us, because it is the second time in the entire history of ASWM dating back to 1983 that we are seeking new leadership. At this point we anticipate that there will be the selection of a new Executive Director and then a period of transition. Exactly how that will happen will depend on the candidate selected. It’s an important and exciting time for the organization. We will keep you, our members, informed as we move ahead.

Click here for Information on how to apply for the Executive Director position.

ASWM Approves New Five Year Strategic Plan for 2018-2022

Every five years, the Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM) re-views and renews its organizational strategic plan. ASWM’s last strategic plan was in effect from 2013-2017. ASWM’s strategic plan guides the work of the organization and serves as a tool to evaluate progress towards its goals.

More information on the Strategic Plan can be found here.

The Strategic Plan Document can be found here.

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When My Pig isn’t the same as Your Pig: Helping State and Tribal Wetland Regulators Address Complexity in Linear Oil

and Gas Pipeline Development Permitting ProcessesBy Brenda Zollitsch, ASWM Policy Analyst

What is a “pig” in pipeline development? What type of pig should be used and during which phase in the process? Is the correct term “shale oil gas” or “hard rock resources”? Where can states have input on planning for and practices used in pipeline development? How can cumulative impacts be considered? Can permit review processes happen effectively across agencies, boundaries and silos?

These and many other questions often cause major barriers to effective state and tribal permitting of pipeline projects. The following article shares some initial findings from ASWM’s project on improving §401 Certification of Linear Oil and Gas Transmission Project Permits.

Many states across the country are, for the first time, reviewing complex permits for natural gas pipelines, while others are experienced but have limited resources for this review work. Wetland program and other aquatic resource managers at the state and tribal level have expressed a critical need to better understand the science, policy and tools available to approve, waive, condition or deny permits. Through this project, ASWM is working to help states explore ways to adopt practices that may increase the effectiveness and efficiency of their permitting activities.

To address these issues, the Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM) is in the process of working to better understand and support improvements in state and tribal permitting for linear oil and gas pipeline development projects. ASWM is working to break down these complex processes into manageable parts and develop training resources and tools for use by wetland program staff, consultants and others working on these issues.

ASWM has found that a wide range of experience with and demand for pipeline permit review exists across the nation. In the following article, ASWM shares its work to “unpack complexity” around this topic. Working on these multiple project elements over the last year has brought to light some critical insights about complexity. More importantly, it has helped ASWM and its partners find ways to overcome some of these issues, in ways that will provide new resources and training with the potential for gains in efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and replicability of permit review efforts.

The Importance of Place – Where Pipelines are Being Developed MattersIn order to better understand expanding pipeline development, ASWM is working with agencies at multiple levels to gather data about where new pipelines are being constructed, as well as where planning

ASWM’s Energy Project components include

working to:

1 Identify key barriers and challenges to effective, efficient and transparent

wetland permitting processes;

2 Understand the importance of language and framing of issues

among the key actors in permit development and review;

3 Document and discuss the key process steps and points of access

for wetland regulators throughout the pipeline permitting process;

4 Understand and address common issues that arise when wetland

regulators work with consultants that serve as intermediaries for companies developing pipelines.

5 Identify and share vetted best management practices for use

in pipeline planning, administrative capacity building and conditioning permits.

Additionally, the project is developing training webinars and web-based resources for use by states and tribes.

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is taking place currently. The shale revolution is leading to new development where gas pipelines have never been before. This also means that permit reviewers in states may have little experience dealing with the significant task of understanding and participating in the review of pipeline permit applications.

A second challenge for permit reviewers relates to where pipelines are being developed is a lack of access to information about planned projects prior to the formal submission of a permit application. Engagement in pre-planning is recognized by most agencies as one of the most effective ways to reduce barriers during the permit review phase. When key resources are protected or best practices are incorporated into the initial plans, some elements of conditioning or requests for changes to the submitted plans can be avoided. Consequently, developing relationships with energy companies and their consultants in ways that build relationships and spur dialogue outside of the formal review process is very important.

Regardless of where those pipelines may be constructed and access to planning processes, ASWM is working to make sure that states that have not dealt with pipeline permit review in the past or who are about to have a new volume of permits to review will be provided with useful resources to help them think and work through review processes.

When Words Don’t Mean the Same Thing to Different PeopleEvery day, language is used by states, tribes, oil companies, consultants, and other partners to describe a variety of resources, practices and tools that contribute to the development of linear oil and gas pipeline projects. However, it is clear from our work to date, that an initial challenge facing all the actors in this process is language and a lack of shared understanding of key terminology. One word may have a variety of meanings across different groups of actors in the permitting process. Knowing how to speak the language of the other actors in the process

What is a Pig?

An Example of Complexity caused by Technical Terminology

While buildup in a pipeline can cause transmittal slows or even plugging of the pipeline, cracks or flaws in the line can be disastrous. Pipeline “pigging” is a form of flow assurance for oil and gas pipelines and flowlines. Pigging ensures the line is running smoothly. Pigs are introduced into the line via a “pig trap”, which includes a launcher and receiver. Without interrupting flow, the pig is then forced through it by product flow, or can be towed by another device or cable. Pigs can be used during different phases of the pipeline development process. For this reason, there are a variety of types of pigs used in pipeline work, including utility pigs (which can be mandre, foam, solid cast or spherical), inspection pigs (also referred to as in-line inspection pigs or smart pigs), specialty pigs (such as plug pigs) and gel pigs (which can be used in conjunction with conventional pigs or by themselves and are useful in getting another stuck pig out of a pipe). Permit reviewers need to understand what is being done with which equipment. A reviewer who is inadequately trained is likely to struggle dealing with this kind of complexity during the review process. In other cases, they may not even know they should be looking at these intricacies.

Source: Wikipedia For a list of pending natural gas pipeline projects go to: https://www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/indus-act/pipelines/pending-projects.asp

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and being aware of conflicting definitions or perceptions is an important step in reducing misunderstandings and their associated delays and conflict.

Through this project, ASWM has identified numerous key sticking points that are created by words themselves. ASWM is compiling a list of commonly misunderstood words, terms and concepts. Along with this list are listed the diverse definitions or interpretations. This resource will then be integrated with other project elements, such as the resources to improve work with intermediaries (e.g. consultants), as a support resource with permit process maps, and to accompany best management practice resources.

One example of the importance of language arose early in ASWM’s project work. It was brought to the attention of ASWM policy analysts that the use of the term “shale gas” was not accepted by many energy companies developing gas pipelines. Rather than using the term “shale gas’, the companies preferred term is “hard rock resources.” When this insight was shared with an array of state regulators, none of them were familiar with the term “hard rock resources” or were comfortable

with replacing term “shale gas” with it. To produce informational materials that would be acceptable to BOTH regulators and energy companies, this language disconnect must be addressed.

When Reviewers Don’t Understand a Process, It’s Hard to Engage Effectively in ItPart of unpacking complexity involves working to capture and visualize the steps in pipeline permitting processes and identifying where decision points, access points and outputs exist. ASWM has developed a template for use by states and tribes to document and visualize the steps in their permitting processes. ASWM is now working with several states to adapt a template flow chart to create working models that can be shared between the range of actors in their review process. The most important aspect of this process is the opportunity it provides – to jointly review processes among the state’s partner agencies, consultants and applicants to discuss whether or not the process map represents their understanding of how things work. Where there is disagreement, there are opportunities for dialogue and troubleshooting.

Existing Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines in the United States Source: Interstate Natural Gas Association of America

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Peer-to-Peer Sharing about Best Practices and Conditioning PermitsASWM’s efforts to disseminate information and assist wetland managers often includes facilitating the sharing of practices and experiences between peers. This project includes a strong peer-to-peer sharing element, compiling resources that share best practices, variations on those best practices that are context- or region-specific, and examples of how those best practices have been used in permit conditioning decisions. The ability to learn from other states and tribes about what has worked, what has been acceptable to permit applicants and what has withstood legal scrutiny are all valuable to states and tribes that are working to implement their own regulations.

At the end of ASWM’s project, there will be online resources sharing best management practices for the pre-application, pre-construction planning, construction/implementation and post-construction monitoring and assessment, as well as enforcement around pipeline development projects. ASWM is not creating a BMP manual, but rather compiling a resource of existing BMPs that have been vetted by the national workgroup to serve as examples of ways to address common issues from pipeline development. Various types of BMPs are being compiled and reviewed. These BMPs range from ways to improve administrative review and how to set up regulatory and legal supports to construction and monitoring practices. Examples of BMP types being compiled include practices around stormwater management, hydrostatic testing, creation of wells, considerations for threatened and endangered species and many others. This online resource will be available on the ASWM.org website and include, where available, information and examples about how these BMPs have been integrated into permit conditions.

Getting Up to Speed Quickly: Resources for New Permit ReviewersMany permit reviewers across the U.S. are working hard to learn about the permitting process and how to engage effectively in ways that are efficient and also effective in protecting a state/tribe’s water resources. As already discussed in the article, some of this need to learn is because some kinds of pipeline development has never taken place in a state before or because there has been an increase in the number of applications. However, ASWM’s recent study of all 50 state wetland programs (ASWM Status and Trends Report, 2015) indicates that there are also a large number of wetland program staff that have either retired, moved into other roles, or whose positions have been changed/eliminated. Consequently, there has been significant turnover and a wave of new hires, often junior staff, now responsible for permit review. They need to get up to speed quickly. This project is designed to meet these needs, providing new staff with resources to better understand the complexity they face, understand the processes with which they must engage, understand language that is key to their success and learn from their peers about what has and what has not worked in other places across the country.

Lowering a Pipe with a Sideboom Photo Credit: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

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Building Collaboration among Permitting ActorsAnother sticking point will not be a surprise – agreement, communication and collaboration in multi-actor processes – has long plagued most regulatory systems that require the involvement of multiple agencies. Pipeline permitting is no different. Pipeline permitting seldom includes just one state agency. Agencies must not only complete their own elements of the permitting process, but also understand the overall project and how other agencies are involved with the process and how to work in conjunction with those other players. Successful coordination requires handing the torch along the road to the completed review process and it doesn’t happen automatically. Along with this multi-actor, multi-agency comes frequent disagreement and/or confusion about the applicability of specific laws and can result in inconsistent agency decisions, as well as approval

delays. Other challenges include dealing with current lawsuits that have not set clear directives, and differing agency perspectives on such things as horizontal drilling and what constitutes adequate setbacks. Others may be concerned about what needs to be in emergency response plans and what should be required for mitigation.

In order to better understand the role of each agency and interest group in the permitting process and their constraints, ASWM is working with its national workgroup to provide process map templates to states for their use in discussions with their partners. By working collaboratively to come to agreement on steps, responsible parties and points of access, state agencies have an opportunity to develop organizational understanding and capacity. The maps themselves are just a tool. State and tribal investments in time and relationship building by staff is required to capitalize on these tools.

Photo Credit: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

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Dealing with the Piecemeal Approach to Applying for PermitsAnother barrier that contributes to complexity around pipeline permitting is the common approach by energy companies of applying for piecemeal applications for different elements over time to complete a larger project. While frustrating for reviewers, who are not able to assess the range of impacts from the complete project at one time, energy companies are not inclined to submit full plans, as their route often changes in response to economic changes and opportunities to purchase and develop land. This is especially difficult for reviewers working to understand and prevent cumulative adverse impacts. This is one of the hardest elements to overcome, as the companies’ business model disincentivizes the sharing of plans in advance.

Uncertainty from Shifting Energy and Environmental Policy DirectivesLearning about policies and regulations that need to be applied is a critical task for wetland regulators. However, the task for today’s wetland managers is not as simple as learning how to apply existing laws and regulations. The current political environment, which is moving away from federal regulation to a more state-led approach, adds an element of significant uncertainty. While current laws still apply, there may be less political will to enforce and more challenges to conditioning than there has been over the last several decades. With the potential of a more Scalia-based Water of the United States Rule on the horizon and federal actions to incentivize energy development, state regulators need to be ready to work within a rapidly changing and uncertain regulatory environment.

Working with IntermediariesAnother level of complexity is brought into the permitting mix when intermediaries are used to work with and communicate between the energy company seeking to build a pipeline project and the regulatory agencies. Some consultants have extensive experience with state regulations and processes, are skilled in selecting and

implementing best management practices, and have strong relationships with all partied involved. However, many others are missing some of these important assets. With these gaps come the potential for disconnects – where the process is not followed, there is not shared understanding of what needs to happen with siting or on the ground to protect water resources and communications get jumbled.

Some Final ThoughtsDrawing on the principles of project management, ASWM’s pipeline permitting project is designed to address the complexity of problems associated with linear oil and gas pipeline development permitting simply by breaking them into more manageable units and then identifying key tasks that can to be completed in order to improve each issue -- with an eye to improving the overall permit review processes undertaken by states and tribes.

ASWM aspires to help states and tribes build stronger, more efficient and effective permitting processes that protect the nation’s wetlands and other water resources. ASWM is working to this end by helping states understand existing and emerging laws and regulations and developing a set of building blocks that can help train wetland regulators and other actors in the permitting process, as well as encourage establishment of clear, collaborative permit review processes.

Over the coming months, ASWM will be working with its national project workgroup and five subworkgroups to complete analysis and make recommendations on how to improve the various components of pipeline project review and permitting. As these suggested practices and tools become available, ASWM will launch both electronic resources and webinar-based trainings to share the projects findings with all interested parties.

If you would like to share any ideas, resources or training materials with ASWM to assist in this project, please contact Brenda Zollitsch at brenda@aswm.org or call (207) 892-3399.

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Association News By Jeanne Christie, Executive Director, ASWM

If it’s the end of February; it must be time for an ice fishing derby. The appeal of this sport is lost on me. I like being outside in the winter; but I like to be moving. Ice fishing requires people to spend a lot of time standing around outside in the cold staring at a hole (or five) in the ice. However, since I have a few hobbies that people find perplexing, I’m happy to defend their right to fish exposed to the elements in very cold weather and concede that even if I don’t get it; a lot of people do.

Every year my husband volunteers to measure fish for our county-wide derby. This requires heading to the south end of Sebago Lake before sunrise to hang out in a trailer for a couple days. People register, they leave. People bring in fish. They

A Busy New Year. Usually in Association News I talk about a handful of major actions underway. But this does not always give you, our members, a good understanding of the extent of the activity underway in our offices. So here are a few highlights from the first months of the year. Brenda Zollitsch is working with a national workgroup and five sub-workgroups on developing an array of tools and resources to assist state and tribal wetlands staff tasked with reviewing natural gas and oil pipeline permits. (For more information, see her article in this newsletter.) Marla Stelk is leading a 2-year project to demonstrate how wetlands restoration and protection can help other programs and watershed projects better achieve the goals of their programs. I am up to my ears in trying to keep up with the Waters of the U.S. rulemaking.

This week Brenda Zollitsch and I will be working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in DC on developing a series of webinars to help conservation planners work with wetlands. Next week Marla Stelk will be in Madison, Wisconsin providing assistance for a meeting of state and tribal wetland staff hosted by the Region 5 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Later in March, I’ll be on a panel at the Association of Clean Water Administrators biannual meeting. In April we have our annual meeting on April 11 and 12 and I hope you will attend. We’ll also be hosting a smaller one-day meeting on the 10th to begin exploring the potential for integrated functional mapping products that support restoration and protection of wetland, floodplain and riverine resources. Later in April, I’ll be joining wetland restoration and creation expert Tom Biebighauser, the Kansas

leave. More fish. More leaving. Reports of the size of fish brought to other check-in stations, people falling in the water (along the edge), altercations at the various boat ramps and the run on cheap beer at all the local markets filter through the trailer as people come and go.

Yesterday I ran along the edge of the lake just after sunrise. The sky was pink and ice fog floated in the distance. The ice in front of me was a palette of pale white and blue curves. I listened to people talking back and forth across the lake, drilling their holes, playing with their dogs, and enjoying the sunrise. For a minute there I almost understood.

Vive la différence!

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City Kansas Public Schools and EPA Region 7 to create outdoor wetlands learning classrooms at two high schools. Then in May I’ll be at the National Mitigation Banking Conference to discuss our findings from last year’s Wetland Restoration Project. In June Marla will be at the Association of State Floodplain Managers Annual Meeting to have a face to face meeting with our Natural Floodplain Functions Alliance. And so it goes…

This list does not include our response to the many challenges state and tribal wetland managers and others will be impacted by if policy, programmatic, and legislative changes proposed by the Administration, Congress and state legislatures around the country continue

to move ahead. The new approach to federalism defined by reducing federal actions and giving more authority to the states has many potential benefits. But if the changes are too much, too fast and occur in conjunction with reductions in federal funding, and requirements to speed up permit processing timelines absent adequate resources to enable sound decision-making, then there is the potential for unintended consequences. It is early yet and there are many opportunities to ensure outcomes are good for both the environment and the economy. We will be working on identifying and supporting approaches that support legally defensible policies and programs that are built on sound science to benefit the public and the environment together.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THE ASWM ANNUAL STATE/TRIBAL/FEDERAL COORDINATION MEETINGFederalism Re-envisioned: Exploring Possibilities for Enhanced State and Tribal

Roles in Water Resources Protection, Conservation and Management

April 11-12, 2018, Silver Spring, MD

More information about the meeting, including registration forms, hotel reservations and transportation options can be found here.

ALL MEMBERS ARE WELCOME!

January/February 2018 11

Jeanne Christie photo

Chris Balk, NY State Department of Environmental ConservationBen Brink, CZR IncorporatedBonnie Broadwater, MI Department of Environmental QualityLaura Brophy, Institute for Applied EcologyCory Brown, MI Department of Environmental QualityJohn Burkhart, GAI Consultants, Inc.Aleita Burman, Burman Land & Tree, LLCJay Burrell, AECOMMatt Campbell, CZR IncorporatedKeith Carr, Illinois State Geological SurveySandy Chan, NY State Department of Environmental ConservationAngela Cleary, MI Department of Environmental QualityMerci Clinton, Shanon & Wilson, Inc.Samuel Cooper, CZR IncorporatedSarah Corbin, Shannon & Wilson, Inc.David Cowell, Hancock AssociatesCarla DeMasters, Westervelt Ecological ServicesMaxwell Dolphin, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, DLURBrian Drumm, NY State Department of Environmental ConservationLauren Drumm, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, DLURAndrew Edelhauser, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, CLUEKathy Frye Tom Fucigna, CZR IncorporatedZach Gilstrap, CZR IncorporatedMark Harris, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, DLURSamantha Hockenberry, Gannett Fleming, Inc.Ashley Hovis, ConsultantSusan Hudgens-Moore, CZR IncorporatedTheresa Hyland, MO Department of ConservationAmanda Johnson, CZR IncorporatedClaudia Jones, Critical Area CommissionJohn Jones, MI Department of Environmental QualityAndrea Keatley, KY Department of Environmental ProtectionMick Kelly, Kelly Biological ConsultingFaraz Khan, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, DLURRobert Kozachek, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, DLURLin Kuhn, MO Department of ConservationBritta Lees, Tennessee Valley Authority

Welcome New Members

Stacey MacEwan, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, DLURLoys Maingon, Comox Valley NatureKatee Meckeler, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, CLUEJessica Monson, Illinois State Geological SurveyBradford Norman, Resighini RancheriaRoger Oberholzer, CardnoTrudy Pink, USDA, NRCSRandall Pulley, CZR IncorporatedNathan Renaudin, TRC SolutionsMarissa Simpson, Geosyntec ConsultantsSusan Tepatti, MI Department of Environmental QualityTrent Todash, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, CLUEMichael Tropiano, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, DLURNick Tudor, CZR IncorporatedCarol Valor, Michigan Department of Environmental QualityChris VanMaaren, NY State Department of Environmental ConservationMatthew Vollbrecht, Westwood Professional ServicesDeborah Waller, County of Sonoma, Permit SonomaKatie Walter, Shannon & Wilson, Inc.Mark Westendorff, CZR IncorporatedAshleigh Windawi, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, DLURJackie Worden, SWCAMonica Zabroski, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, DLUR

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Planned topics for ASWM’s 2018 Webinar Series include:

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 Webinars. Click here for more

Information.

Natural Floodplain Functions Alliance Webinar SeriesGreen Infrastructure Resources for Coastal Flood Risk Management

Tuesday, March 6, 2018 - 3-4:30 pm EST

•Maria Honeycutt, Ph.D., NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management

•Lauren Long, The Baldwin Group, NOAA’s Office of Coastal Management

•Tashya Allen, The Baldwin Group, NOAA’s Office of Coastal Management

For more information and to register, click here.

Members’ Wetland Webinars• 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

• Assigning Value: Examples of State Methods for Calculating Wetland Mitigation Banking Credits

• Exploring Applications for Living Shorelines Restoration Prioritization Tools

• Understanding Federal Infrastructure Initiatives and What they Mean for Wetland Programs

• How to Hire Contractors for Wetland Restoration Projects

Wetland Mapping Consortium•Developmentofenhancedwetlandclassification

descriptors for Minnesota’s wetland mapping program

•U.S.GeologicalSurvey’sNationalLandCoverDataset and National Hydrography Dataset

Natural Floodplain Functions Alliance•Wisconsin’sWetlandsExplorerTool:Informing

Wetland Mitigation and Siting Decisions for Wetlands and Watersheds

Invasive Species Webinar Series•InvasiveSpeciesDatabases:Anin-depthlook

at EDDMAPS, NEMESIS and the USGS Non-Indigenous Aquatic Species Databse

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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.

Hot Topics WebinarWhat’s next for Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS)?

Held February 9, 2018

•Royal Gardner, Stetson University College of Law

•Stephen Samuels, Retired from the U.S. Department of Justice

View Recording Here.

Members’ Wetland WebinarsMapping tidal wetlands and their losses on the U.S. West Coast: New methods, new insightsHeld January 31, 2018

Laura Brophy, Director, Estuary Technical Group, Institute for Applied Ecology

How to Keep Headcuts from Working their Way Up or Downstream and Destroying WetlandsHeld December 13, 2017

Tom Biebighauser, Wetland Restoration and Training

Wetland Mapping Consortium WebinarMapping Innovations at the Michigan DEQ: New approaches, tools and technologies

Held December 6, 2017

•Chad Fizzell, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality•Jeremy Jones, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

View Recording Here.

To view the members’ webinars, you must log in on the ASWM Home Page, then navigate to the Members Wetland Webinar Series. Please contact us at laura@aswm.org or (207) 892-3399 if you need assistance logging in.

Natural Floodplain Functions Alliance WebinarsTowards Resilient and Sustainable Floodplains

Held December 19, 2017

Larry Roth, Arcadis

View Recording Here.

Reaching Across the Border to Improve Water Supplies for People and Nature: The United States, Mexico, and the Colorado River

Held January 9, 2018

Jennifer Pitt, Audubon

View Recording Here.

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Recently Recorded ASWM Webinars continued

Harvesting Invasive Species as a Management Strategy: Opportunities, Pitfalls and Lessons Learned

Held December 7, 2017

•Jason Goldberg, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service •Susan Pasko, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service•Matthew Barnes, Texas Tech University

View Recording Here.

Biological Control Strategies and Lessons Learned for Giant Salvinia, Water Hyacinth and Alligatorweed

Held November 30, 2017

•Dr. Rodrigo Diaz, Assistant Professor, Louisiana State University Dept. of Entomology

•Lori Moshman, Graduate Assistant, Louisiana State University Dept. of Entomology

•Nathan Harms, Research Biologist, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Cente

View Recording Here.

Managing Invasive Species in the Great Lakes: Establishing Goals & Objectives, Monitoring Programs, and Cooperative Management Areas in Michigan

Held January 11, 2018

•Gregory J. Norwood, Michigan Department of Natural Resources

•Dr. Don Uzarski, Central Michigan University

•Ryan Wheeler, Michigan Department of Natural Resource

Recording available soon.

Invasive Species WebinarsPhragmites australis: Current Research and Experiments in Control Strategies for Wetland Habitat Recovery

Held February 21, 2018

•Karin Kettenring, Utah State University•Christine Rohal, PhD Candidate, Utah State University•Andrea Davalos, State University of New York

Recording Available Soon.

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ASWM Staff

Jeanne Christie Executive Director

Jon Kusler, 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

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If you have issues opening the links in this publication, we have provided the full URL links below, which can be copy/pasted into your browser.Page 2How to apply for the Executive Director Posi-tion:https://www.aswm.org/news/jobs-a-training-opportunities/10127-aswm-executive-director-position

More Information on the Strategic Plan: https://www.aswm.org/pdf_lib/aswm_five_year_strate-gic_plan_2018-2022.pdf

The Strategic Plan Document:https://www.aswm.org/pdf_lib/aswm_strategic_plan_2018_2022.pdf

Page 6

ASWM Status and Trends Report:https://www.aswm.org/pdf_lib/state_summaries/status_and_trends_report_on_state_wetland_programs_in_the_united_states_102015.pdf

Page 10ASWM Annual State/Tribal/Federal Coordination Meeting Information:https://www.aswm.org/wetland-programs/state-wetland-programs/10091-2018-state-tribal-federal-coordination-meeting

Page 12NFFA Webinar Registration:Green Infrastructure Resources for Coastal Flood Risk ManagementTuesday, March 6, 2018 - 3-4:30 pm ESThttps://www.aswm.org/watersheds/natural-floodplain-function-alliance/2783-future-webinarsconference-calls-schedule.html#march0618

Complete Listing of ASWM Webinars:https://www.aswm.org/aswm/aswm-webinarscalls

ASWM Webinar Help Guide:https://aswm.org/pdf_lib/webinar_info.pdf

Certificate of Participation Information:https://www.aswm.org/aswm/aswm-webinarscalls/9887-about-certificates-of-participation

Page 13Hot Topics Webinar Recording:What’s next for Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS)?https://www.aswm.org/aswm/aswm-webinarscalls/10105-2018-past-aswm-s-hot-topics-webinar-series#feb9webinar

Members’ Webinars Login:https://www.aswm.org/

Wetland Mapping Consortium Webinar Recording: Mapping Innovations at the Michigan DEQ: New ap-proaches, tools and technologieshttps://www.aswm.org/wetland-science/wetlands-one-stop-mapping/9738-2017-wetland-mapping-consortium-recorded-webinars#decwebinar

NFFA Webinar Recordings:Reaching Across the Border to Improve Water Supplies for People and Nature: The United States, Mexico, and the Colorado Riverhttps://www.aswm.org/watersheds/natural-floodplain-function-alliance/10108-2018-nffa-recorded-webinars#pittwebinar

Towards Resilient and Sustainable Floodplainshttps://www.aswm.org/watersheds/natural-floodplain-function-alliance/9747-2017-nffa-recorded-webinars#webinardec

Page 14Invasive Species Webinar Recordings:Harvesting Invasive Species as a Management Strategy: Opportunities, Pitfalls and Lessons Learnedhttps://www.aswm.org/webinars-trainings/9972-invasive-species-webinar/10001-2017-past-invasive-species-webinars#webinarvideo120717

Biological Control Strategies and Lessons Learned for Giant Salvinia, Water Hyacinth and Alligatorweedhttps://www.aswm.org/webinars-trainings/9972-invasive-species-webinar/10001-2017-past-invasive-species-webinars#novwebinar

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