(Washington, DC) — The national goal of “no net loss” of wetlands remains a daunting challenge. In February 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published Status and Trends of Wetlands, which noted a loss of more than 350,000 acres of coastal wetlands in the United States between 1998-2004, while at the same time reporting an overall gain in wetland acreage. Building on the challenges presented by FWS Status and Trends reports over the years, the U.S. EPA began the National Wetlands Condition Assessment process in 2006 to determine how healthy and effective our wetlands are—a key component in interpreting data that shows both hopeful gains and worrying losses. In the May-June issue of the National Wetlands Newsletter, EPA reports that the process of assessing the nation’s wetlands has yielded initial indicator classes for determining wetland condition. While far from the final peer-reviewed report, wetlands scientists are buzzing at the potential.
The May-June issue also provides a valuable and detailed look at the policy challenge of “state assumption” of the section 404 dredge and fill regulation of the Clean Water Act, with Lance Wood of the Corps and David Evans of EPA taking differing views of state authority for wetland regulation.
The May-June issue also highlights sustainable wetland management and how it can provide the naturally-occurring benefits, or “ecosystem services,” that come from wetlands formed naturally within a watershed. Additional articles provide valuable perspective and summaries on the history of the National Wetlands Awards and the National Wetlands Newsletter, staples of the wetlands community for 20 and 30 years respectively.
For three decades, the nationally recognized National Wetlands Newsletter has been a widely read and esteemed journal on wetlands, floodplains, and coastal water resources. The Newsletter, published by the highly respected Environmental Law Institute®, analyzes the latest issues in wetland regulation, policy, science, and management through feature articles written by local, national, and international experts from a variety of perspectives.