NAWM

Predicting and Mapping the effects of the Sackett Decision

Held Tuesday, March 19, 2024 - 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET

View Recorded Webinar

The 2023 Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA is the most recent change to the scope of the Clean Water Act through its shrinking of federal jurisdiction over streams and wetlands. In the decision's wake, several states, organizations, and researchers have been developing predictive geospatial tools to map future possibilities for the extent of "Waters of the United States". This webinar featured presentations of ongoing prediction efforts in two states, Wisconsin and New Mexico, as well as a recently published national model to support future policy and regulatory frameworks.

INTRODUCTION

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

PRESENTERS

• Joe Shapiro, University of California, Berkeley [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Tom Bernthal, Wisconsin's Green Fire [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Andy Robertson, GeoSpatial Services at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota [PRESENTATION PDF]

ABSTRACTS

Joe Shapiro, University of California, Berkeley
We assess which waters the Clean Water Act protects and how Supreme Court and White House rules change this regulation. We train a deep learning model using aerial imagery and geophysical data to predict 150,000 jurisdictional determinations from the Army Corps of Engineers, each deciding regulation for one water resource. Under a 2006 Supreme Court ruling, the Clean Water Act protects two-thirds of US streams and more than half of wetlands; under a 2020 White House rule, it protects less than half of streams and a fourth of wetlands, implying deregulation of 690,000 stream miles, 35 million wetland acres, and 30% of waters around drinking-water sources. Our framework can support permitting, policy design, and use of machine learning in regulatory implementation problems.

Andy Robertson, GeoSpatial Services at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
New Mexico, one of the largest semi-arid states in the US is highly dependent on surface hydrology. From drinking water and cultural ceremonies to acequia farming and outdoor recreation, clean water supports all aspects of life in New Mexico. Water is a precious resource everywhere, but its importance is magnified in New Mexico’s arid climate.

The 2023 Supreme Court in Sackett v. EPA has the potential to remove federal Clean Water Act protections for many New Mexico waters. This presentation discussed efforts to quantify this potentially catastrophic impact and highlight the practical and political uncertainties which make such analyses challenging.

BIOS

Joseph S. Shapiro is Associate Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, in Agricultural & Resource Economics and the Department of Economics. He also serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Political Economy, Co-Editor of the Journal of Public Economics, Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and Research Associate at the Energy Institute at Haas. His research agenda focuses on three general questions: (1) How do globalization and the environment interact? (2) What have been the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity impacts of environmental and energy policies over the last half century, particularly for water, air, and climate pollution? (3) How important are the investments that people make to protect themselves against air pollution and climate change? Shapiro has received an Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, Kiel Institute Excellence in Global Affairs Award, and Marshall Scholarship. Shapiro holds a Ph.D. in economics from MIT, Masters degrees from Oxford and LSE, and a BA from Stanford. 

Andy Robertson is currently Executive Director of GeoSpatial Services at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. In this role, Andy is responsible for oversight and management of all GeoSpatial Services projects, activities and staff. GeoSpatial Services is engaged in a wide variety of projects across the Lower 48 and Alaska including: wetland inventory; National Hydrography Dataset updates; spatial data development; and natural resource condition assessments. GeoSpatial Services has been a key partner of the USFWS and has been working for over 18 years to update legacy National Wetland Inventory data across the nation. Andy is a steering committee member for the NAWM Wetland Mapping Consortium, a NAWM Board Member and is past-chair of the Alaska GeoSpatial Council Wetland Technical Working Group. 

Please click only once on each video recording to view in this window.

Part 1: Introduction: Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers

Part 1: Introduction: Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers
Presenter: Joe Shapiro, University of California, Berkeley

Part 2: Presenter: Tom Bernthal, Wisconsin's Green Fire

Part 2: Presenter: Tom Bernthal, Wisconsin's Green Fire

Part 3: Presenter: Andy Robertson, GeoSpatial Services at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota; and Questions & Answers

Part 3: Presenter: Andy Robertson, GeoSpatial Services at Saint Mary’s University of MN
Questions & Answers

View Past Wetland Mapping Consortium Webinars

 PDF List of Past Wetland Mapping Consortium Webinar Recordings
  
View Upcoming Wetland Mapping Consortium Webinars
 

Thank you to our Generous Sponsors! 

Egret Sponsors 

To address the effects of a changing climate, The Pew Charitable Trusts considers multiple policy areas to help lawmakers safeguard their constituents and communities. Pew experts produce research, identify best practices, work alongside state and local leaders to create resilience plans and policies, safeguard habitats that help slow climate change, and target resources to vulnerable communities.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation that supports State and local governments in the design, construction, and maintenance of the Nation’s highway system (Federal Aid Highway Program) and various federally and tribal owned lands (Federal Lands Highway Program). Through financial and technical assistance to State and local governments, the Federal Highway Administration is responsible for ensuring that America’s roads and highways continue to be among the safest and most technologically sound in the world.   

Loon Sponsor 

Meristem, a collaboration, an extension of your team, your vision, your project. We specialize in wetlands, native plants, permitting, mitigation banking, endangered species, hard work, and consistent communication. 

Kingfisher Sponsors

Cattails Environmental provides quality and timely environmental consulting services related to the Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act, and works primarily in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas with occasional forays into surrounding states.

Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores, and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America's waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people. To date, DU has conserved more than 18 million acres.

Ecobot is a comprehensive digital solution for wetland and stream assessments. With customized regional workflows and GIS integrations, plus built-in resources and automations like soil suggestions, Ecobot simplifies fieldwork through QA and report generation. Create your free account today.

Ecosystem Investment Partners specializes in large-scale environmental restoration projects across the country, including more than 40,000 wetland acres as of September 2023. These restoration projects span 14 states and 15 Corps of Engineers districts—from South Florida to Alaska's North Slope.

If you would like to become a Sponsor of our Annual Meeting, please see information here.

Return to main meeting webpage.

				CONTACT INFORMATION
				Agenda Marla Stelk, Executive Director National Association of Wetland Managers (207) 892-3399; marla@nawm.org	General Information Laura Burchill, Office Manager National Association of Wetland Managers 500 Washington Avenue, Suite 201, Portland, ME 04103 (207) 892-3399; laura@nawm.org

Existing EPA CWA Resources/Trainings

Overview/General

- Clean Water Act Section 106 Tribal Guidance – includes chapters on grant requirements, program development, monitoring program development/implementation (including summary table [Table 6] of common parameters), programmatic reporting requirements (including a summary table [Table 10] of reporting deliverables), program expansions - additional activities & regulatory authorities, and other funding options.

- Watershed Academy – a variety of online learning modules (see especially the water law section) and webcast recordings.

- 2023 WOTUS rule revision webinars/trainings – video recordings and pdfs of presentation slides

Regulatory & Non-Regulatory Approaches (including Water Quality Standards):

- Handbook for Developing and Managing Tribal Nonpoint Source Pollution Programs Under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act – a practical and accessible guide for tribes that covers how to develop a nonpoint source assessment report and management program, activities eligible for funding under CWA section 319, and successfully implementing a watershed-scale restoration project.

- NPS Program Sample Training Curriculum for Tribal Staff – “a list of tasks and training resources available to ensure you quickly become versed in the requirements and duties of a Nonpoint Source team member.”

- 2023 Tribal Nonpoint Source Webinar Training Series – a six-part series, each recording is approximately 90 minutes.

- Tribal Nonpoint Source Programs: Working to solve water quality problems – a report highlighting several examples of tribal nonpoint source pollution control work conducted under CWA section 319

- Water Quality Standards Handbook – a compilation of EPA’s guidance on WQS for states, tribes, and territories to use in developing and implementing water quality standards (WQS)

- TAS for the Water Quality Standards Program: Frequently Asked Questions provides answers to questions regarding the TAS for WQS application process, and TAS for the Water Quality Standards Program: Procedural Steps for Tribal TAS Applications resource outlines the steps for tribal TAS applications. A TAS Application Template for Water Quality Standards and Water Quality Certifications is available to help Tribes apply to EPA for TAS for these programs.

- EPA’s Model WQS Template for Waters on Indian Reservations can serve as a foundation for Tribes seeking to develop their own WQS. This template provides basic language covering the primary elements of WQS that a Tribe can adopt directly, while allowing a Tribe to add or modify language to align with their own water quality goals. EPA’s Tribal/State Human Health Criteria Calculator generates a customized numeric human health criteria table. 

- Wetland Water Quality Standards provides an overview and information on developing and using WQS for wetlands. EPA’s Templates for Developing Wetland Water Quality Standards can be used for developing these standards.

- Key information on EPA’s Final Rule - Treatment of Indian Tribes in a Similar Manner as States for Purposes of Section 303(d) website includes factsheet, FAQ, and application template

Monitoring and Assessment (including data management):

- For compiling WQ assessments: Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology and the Tribal Assessment Modules on EPA’s Ambient Water Monitoring and Assessment website for more information on Water Quality Assessments including exercises to practice assessing data against thresholds and WQS.

- Developing a Tribal Water Quality Program Monitoring Strategy supplement – “The Tribal Section 106 grant award includes three programmatic reporting deliverables, one of which is a Monitoring Strategy. This document addresses in more detail the development of a Water Quality Monitoring Strategy.”

- Protecting Waters and Wetlands in Indian County: A Guide for Developing Tribal Wetland Management Programs – a guide for tribal natural resource managers interested in developing a tribal wetland program, including wetland monitoring and assessment activities; this guide also includes case studies that provide examples of wetland protection and management activities

- The Tribal Assessment Modules on EPA’s Ambient Water Monitoring and Assessment website have more information on Water Quality Assessments, including examples and technical guidance. Module 1- Understanding Water Quality Standards; Module 2- Overarching Considerations in Assessing Water Quality; Module 3- Assessing Data for Specific Water Quality Parameters; Module 4- Analyzing Data to Determine Use Support for Water Quality Assessment Reports.

- EPA’s Quality Assurance Project Plan Development Tool - includes a template and model, and supplemental technical information (statistical methods, recommended WQ criteria - under module 4).

- Example Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for Monitoring of Surface Water – an example based on a fictitious Northern California tribe planning to conduct water quality monitoring on a river system within tribal lands.

- EPA Region 10 Tribal QAPP Guidance and Template - includes examples for a water monitoring project to help the reader understand, generally, how a QAPP is written; please consult with your EPA Project Officer before using this template to ensure it is suitable for your project.

- Water Quality Data Upload with WQX – factsheets, user guides, best practices reports, video tutorials

- ATTAINS resources for users (tutorials, trainings, fact sheets) – online data submission/access

- Guidance on Systematic Planning Using the Data Quality Objectives Process - provides information on how to apply systematic planning to generate performance and acceptance criteria for collecting environmental data, including examples/case studies.

- Guidance for Data Quality Assessment: Practical Methods for Data Analysis - demonstrates how to use data quality assessment in evaluating environmental data sets and illustrates how to apply some graphical and statistical tools (e.g., statistical analysis and verification tests).

Resources from EPA Regions in the Southwest U.S.

- The Southwest Tribal Clean Water Act Training is targeting tribal communities in all or parts of EPA Regions 6, 8, and 9; here is a map of EPA Regions

- Website for the Region 6 Tribal Program

- Website for the Region 8 Tribal Affairs Branch

- Website for the Region 9 Regional Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC)

- EPA Region 9 has a webpage for Tribal Clean Water Act Programs and Grants in the Pacific Southwest that includes program and grant information and contact information for appropriate EPA staff   

- Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (TCTACs) are supported by EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy. These regional technical assistance centers provide free training and other assistance to build capacity for applying to and managing grants, as well as other areas of technical assistance. TCTACs in the Southwest U.S. include:

- South Central Environmental and Energy Justice Resource Center (serving EPA Region 6)
- International City/County Management Association (serving EPA Region 8)
- Western Environmental Science Technical Assistance Center for Environmental Justice (serving EPA Region 9)
- Center for Community Energy and Environmental Justice (serving EPA Region 9)

Additional Useful Resources (Not from EPA)

- The National Tribal Water Council (NTWC) developed A Guidebook for Developing Tribal Water Quality Standards to assist tribes in developing a water quality standards program under tribal legal authority. NTWC held a webinar on the guidebook in January 2023.

- The Tribal Exchange Network Group (TXG) works to support tribal management, analysis, and sharing of environmental data. The TXG provides free trainings, online resources, and technical assistance.

List available in PDF

This calendar provides a place to share upcoming U.S. wetlands and water resources events. Note that the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) has set up this calendar for information sharing purposes only. NAWM does not endorse the listed events.

If you have additions or corrections to this list of trainings, please contact Sharon at sharon@nawm.org.

Submit an Event Here

Please note, all times listed below are Eastern Standard time.

Calendar of Events 

This calendar provides a place to share upcoming U.S. wetlands and water resources events. Note that the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) has set up this calendar for information sharing purposes only. NAWM does not endorse the listed events.

Event listing information:

• As a NAWM Member, there is no charge to have your membership's organization event listed.
• Non-members will be charged a $100.00 fee per listing for an event.
• If you are not a NAWM member and would like to join, please join here.
• Your event will be listed for 60 days.
  
  

Submit an Event Here

The Southwest Tribal Clean Water Act Training was held March 4-7, 2024 at the Isleta Resort & Casino in Albuquerque, NM. This training was organized by the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota GeoSpatial Services (SMUMN GSS) in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The training workshop was open to tribal staff involved in implementing water quality monitoring and assessment programs and related Clean Water Act (CWA) programs from across the country, with a focus on examples and applications for Tribes in the southwest. The training addressed four areas key to water programs: 1) Regulatory and non-regulatory approaches to program building; 2) Water quality standards; 3) Monitoring and assessment; and 4) Data (collection, management, etc.). 

Training Workshop Dates and Location 

When: March 4-7, 2024 

Location: Albuquerque, NM

Where: 

Isleta Resort & Casino
11000 Broadway SE 
Albuquerque, NM 87105  

Training Materials

Final Agenda Updated 2/29/24

• Water Quality Program Basics (Liz Rogers, EPA Region 8) 
• A Basic Introduction to Water Quality Standards (WQS) (James Ray, EPA)
• A Basic Introduction to Monitoring, Data, & Assessment (Adam Griggs, Jesse Boorman-Padgett, Cristina Mullin, and Rob Cook, EPA)
• Review of Current Federal Rulemakings and Proposed Regulatory Changes – Part 1 (James Ray, EPA)
• Review of Current Federal Rulemakings and Proposed Regulatory Changes – Part 2 (Lauren Kasparek and Myra Price, EPA)
• Sackett v. EPA: Potential Implications for Tribal Nations (Nadine Padilla, University of New Mexico School of Law) 

DAY 2: SHARING STORIES – LESSONS LEARNED FROM TRIBES 

• Overview of White Mountain Apache Tribe’s Water Resources Program (Sean Parker and Javis Davis, White Mountain Apache Tribe)
• Protecting Tribal Water Resources in Northwest California (Gregg Young, Potter Valley Tribe)
• 319 NPS Work Building BMP Structures to Address Impacts from the 2011 Las Conchas Fire and Flooding (Dino Chavarria, Santa Clara Pueblo)
• Taking Action on Stormwater Pollution: Snoqualmie Tribe Floating Treatment Wetland Installation (Kelsey Payne, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe)
• Water Quality Standards and Ongoing Work to Protect, Monitor, and Improve the Water Resources of the Pueblo of Santa Ana (Tammy Montoya, Joshua Jojola, and Malcolm Vigil, Pueblo of Santa Ana)
• You Inherited a Monitoring Program. What Now? (Megan Poffinbarger, Pechanga Band of Indians)
• Challenges in Monitoring Different Waterbodies on Santa Clara Pueblo (Robert Gutierrez and Jake Naranjo, Santa Clara Pueblo)
• Flowing Knowledge: Leveraging R Software for Management and Analysis of Water Quality Data on the Bishop Paiute Reservation (Brianda Hernandez and Sabrina Barlow, Bishop Paiute Tribe) 

• Regulatory & Non-Regulatory Approaches: 
  • Federal Grant Writing: Identifying Opportunities and Developing Proposals (Dana Catron, NMSU Arrowhead Center)
  • CWA §319 Tribal Program: Nonpoint Source Pollution Management (Margot Buckelew, EPA)
  • Wetland Program Development and GAP Grant Program (Myra Price, EPA)
  • Overview of Treatment in a Similar Manner as a State (TAS) (Kelli Williams, EPA Region 9)
  • Treatment in a Similar Manner as a State (TAS) Opportunities through the 2023 CWA Section 401 Rule (Liana Prudencio, EPA)
  • Using wetland functional assessments to develop a Section 404 monitoring and assessment program (Andy Robertson, SMUM-GSS)

• Water Quality Standards:
  • Introductory Training on Water Quality Standards for Tribal Waters (Jasmin Diaz Lopez, EPA Region 6)
  • Intermediate Training on Common Tribal Water Quality Standards Interests (George Parrish, EPA Region 8)

• Monitoring and Assessment:
  • Water Quality Monitoring and Quality Assurance Project Plans (Rob Cook, EPA Region 6)
  • Monitoring Ecological Change and Project Effectiveness: Examples from San Antonio Creek, Jemez Mountains, NM (Karen Menetrey, Rio Grande Return) 
  • What Can Geospatial Approaches Do For Your Monitoring and Assessment Program? (Kathy Allen, SMUM-GSS)
  • Assessment Methodologies, ATTAINS, and How’s My Waterway (Jesse Boorman-Padgett, Cristina Mullin, and Selena Medrano, EPA)

• Data:
  • Submitting to WQX (Adam Griggs, EPA)
  • WQP and TADA (Jesse Boorman-Padgett and Cristina Mullin, EPA)

NAWM developed an introductory training session that provides an overview of the Clean Water Act and was available for attendees to watch prior to the training workshop.

An Overview of the Clean Water Act (Presentation - PDF)

Part 1: Introduction: Portia Osborne, Project Manager, National Association of Wetland Managers

Introduction: Portia Osborne, Project Manager, NAWM;
Trainer: Donna Downing, Senior Legal Policy Advisor, NAWM

EPA has extensive tools, resources and training sessions available online for your use. Resources that are most pertinent to the training workshop are compiled here for your reference:

EPA CWA Resources/Trainings

For More Information

If you have any questions, please reach out to Portia Osborne, Assistant Director at portia@nawm.org.

Thank you to all the Speakers and Participants for making the
2024 Annual meeting a great success! 

MEETING MATERIALS 

Thank You to Our Sponsors

							CONTACT INFORMATION
							Agenda Marla Stelk, Executive Director National Association of Wetland Managers (207) 892-3399; marla@nawm.org			General Information Laura Burchill, Office Manager National Association of Wetland Managers 500 Washington Avenue, Suite 201, Portland, ME 04103 (207) 892-3399; laura@nawm.org

This calendar provides a place to share upcoming U.S. wetlands and water resources events. Note that the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) has set up this calendar for information sharing purposes only. NAWM does not endorse the listed events.

If you have additions or corrections to this list of trainings, please contact Sharon at sharon@nawm.org.

Submit an Event Here

Please note, all times listed below are Eastern Standard time.

National Association of Wetland Managers - Staff

Marla Stelk, Executive Director (marla@nawm.org)

Marla is the Executive Director at the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) where she has worked on wetland policy and management issues since 2013. Marla has over 25 years of experience working on wetland, water, and wildlife issues, climate change, environmental policy and research, land use planning, communications and organizational leadership. Marla has led research at NAWM on topics such as ecosystem service valuation for wetland restoration, the role of wetlands in floodplain and natural hazard management, wetlands and watershed health, wetland mapping and communications. Prior to coming to NAWM, Marla worked for a variety of environmental and social nonprofit organizations helping to build organizational capacity, manage projects and improve internal processes. Marla earned her MA in Community Planning and Development with a focus on Land Use and the Environment at the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service and her BA in Environmental Issues from Colorado College.

Donna Downing, Senior Legal Policy Advisor (donna@nawm.org) 

Donna Downing is the Senior Legal Policy Advisor at the National Association of Wetland Managers. Donna was the Jurisdiction Team Leader in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds from 2007-2020. Donna worked on a variety of issues at EPA, with a focus in recent years on the geographic scope of the Clean Water Act (CWA) in light of the U.S. Supreme Court decisions. She also served as EPA’s staff lead for CWA section 401 water quality certification, and on wetland-related legal issues. Prior to joining EPA in 1998, Donna worked for the U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment and in private law practice. She has a BA magna cum laude from Harvard University, an MPP from the University of California at Berkeley, a JD cum laude from Georgetown University Law School, and an LLM in Environmental Law summa cum laude from George Washington University Law School. Donna has been an adjunct professor at George Washington University Law School since 1996, teaching environmental law. In what’s left of her time, she moonlights as a professional potter and an unprofessional horse trainer. Donna also enjoys traveling and has traveled by reindeer sled in the Swedish Arctic, gone winter camping with dog sleds in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Wilderness Area, and bicycled the Burma Road in China.

Jeff Lapp, Senior Science Policy Advisor (jeff@nawm.org) 

Jeff is our Senior Science Policy Advisor here at NAWM. Prior to joining us he spent over 32 years with the Environmental Protection Agency, primarily in the wetlands program. Starting out in the wetlands enforcement program in Region 3, he conducted many wetland inspections and has testified as both an expert and fact witness in civil and criminal federal cases. For the past 12 years, Jeff has been the Chief of the Wetlands Branch at EPA Region 3 overseeing both the regulatory and non-regulatory wetlands programs, the oceans disposal program and the Watershed Resource Registry (a Geospatial tool to identify potential restoration and preservation sites.) He has also had a host of acting positions including the Deputy Director for the Environmental Assessment and Innovation Division, the Deputy Director for the Office of Public Affairs, the Wetlands Regulatory Branch Chief at EPA Head Quarters and the Wetlands Technical Enforcement Lead at EPA Head Quarters. His technical skills include conducting wetlands identification training for both novice and experienced delineators from state and federal programs. In addition to teaching wetlands delineation, he has taught cases in hydric soils and plant identification and been a guest lecturer at Penn and Temple University on wetlands and horticultural issues. An avid botanist and horticulturalist, Jeff designed and constructed the EPA exhibit at the Philadelphia Flower Show for 29 years earning several awards including best of show, gold and silver medals, the Buckley medal, American Horticultural Society award, and the Chicago Horticultural Society awards to name a few. At his home, he raises a multitude of plants including Sarracenia, Rhododendrons, Hosta and a host of other rare and unusual species in his greenhouse and shade houses. When not working for NAWM or messing with his plants he like to ride bike, hike, cook and sip a spot of wine!


Portia Osborne, Project Manager (portia@nawm.org) 

Portia is a Project Manager at the National Association of Wetland Managers, where she provides program support including managing and implementing individual projects, coordinating overall project schedules, tracking project deadlines and outputs, delivering workshops and trainings, facilitating and coordinating various work groups, and moderating webinars. Portia has a decade of experience working in environmental consulting, during which time she conducted natural resource assessments and wetland delineations and prepared state and federal-level permit applications for transportation, oil and gas, and renewable energy projects located across the country. Portia earned her MS in Ecology and BS in Environmental Biology from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF).

Ian Grosfelt, Environmental Analyst (ian@nawm.org)

Ian is an Environmental Analyst with NAWM wearing a variety of hats and working on a variety of projects. He has a BS in Agriculture from Cornell University and a Masters of Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment. Ian has a decade of experience working in environmental fields starting as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal and continuing with environmental education organizations throughout New England as a facilitator, school gardener, and trainer. He is also trained in data analysis and geospatial mapping and has a passion for using these tools to further effective conservation. For side projects you can find Ian trying (and hopefully keeping) his hand at woodworking, biking new routes in Maine and building up a kitchen repertoire.

Dawn Smith, Communications Specialist (dawn@nawm.org)

Dawn works on multimedia projects, focusing on webinars and short videos. After working in the corporate world for several years, she is redirecting creative energies towards social media, documentaries and short film communication formats.  A lifetime resident of Maine, she has an appreciation for the preservation of local heritage and natural treasures, primarily from behind the lens. Working with the National Association of Wetland Managers, she has gained a greater appreciation for the local and national efforts to preserve and rebuild the wetland ecosystems that are all around us. 
 

Marti Northover, Accounting and Human Resources Manager (marti@nawm.org)

Marti Northover is the NAWM Accounting and Human Resources Manager. Marti has over 30 years of professional experience in accounting, logistics and advertising. Marti has an undergraduate degree in Geography from Framingham State University in Framingham, MA and Master's degree in Environmental Science from Clark University in Worcester, MA. Professionally Marti has taught environment related courses at colleges in MA, was owner of an historic inn, worked as the Director of Accounting and HR at a logistic company in MA and a homeless shelter in ME. Six years ago Marti moved to Alfred, ME, where she lives with her husband Vernon, enjoying the lake life and her chickens, ducks and nice garden. Currently Marti is the Treasurer of the Parson’s Memorial Library Board of Trustees and is an Associate Member of Alfred Conservation Commission.

Laura Burchill, Office Manager (laura@nawm.org)

Laura is the Office Manager in the Windham office and has been with the Association since 2004. She is responsible for maintaining the membership information; assisting with the many tasks involved in preparing for webinars and workshops, preparing Association publications as well as general office duties. She has 30+ years’ experience in graphic design and also works part-time for Parent & Family, a local publication.  She lives in Windham, Maine with her husband Dave and their canine companion Jay. 

Sharon Weaver, Webmaster (sharon@nawm.org)

Sharon is the Publications Specialist and Webmaster for the Association in the Berne, New York office, where she has worked for the past 20+ years. Along with general office tasks, she works on the layout and design of Association publications, reports, and brochures. She helps coordinate NAWM workshops and symposia. She manages the NAWM website, which includes daily updates and prepares and designs new webpages. When she is not entertaining company, she enjoys some alone time with her husband, Ken, and grown children Karla and Pieter.  She adores her dog and cat, who complete the family nest.

Justin Farino (justin@nawm.org)

Justin is an Administrative Assistant for NAWM and works closely with the Office Manager and others to support NAWM’s staff with a variety of tasks and projects. Graduating from Georgia Southern University with a degree in Political Science, he promptly put it to good use by working in construction management, ultimately moving to South Korea to teach English to kindergarteners. Now back in the States, Justin is pursuing a J.D. at Maine Law, seeking to focus in Environmental and Human Rights Laws. Justin enjoys self-identifying as a photographer, red wine connoisseur, and outdoor enthusiast, but does not claim to be particularly proficient at any of them.

Modeling Beavers, Springs, and Seeps

Held Wednesday, October 11, 2023 - 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. ET

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

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

PRESENTERS

• Sarah Marshall, Colorado Natural Heritage Program [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Mike Knudson, GeoSpatial Services, St. Mary's University of Minnesota [PRESENTATION PDF]

ABSTRACTS

Developing High Resolution, Frequently Updated Wetland and Beaver Activity Maps for Colorado and the West using Machine Learning Techniques, Sarah Marshall, Colorado Natural Heritage Program - Sarah Marshall

As Colorado and the West experience increasing impacts of climate change and human population growth, wetlands and riparian areas are central to any discussion of future water supply. One critical barrier to incorporating wetlands into statewide habitat, water and natural hazard mitigation planning is a lack of recent, frequently updated wetland mapping with coverage across states and river basins. This gap is particularly relevant for the most dynamic wetland types such as headwater floodplain wetlands where wetted areas may change in extent on a scale of 1-10 years. The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) and Lynker are collaborating to overcome this barrier by developing remote-sensing based wetland mapping that can be updated to capture past, current, and future wetland conditions. Using a combination of machine learning techniques and iterative expert training and feedback, the project team has worked to model and map wetland boundaries and identify specific wetland features including beaver ponds. Sarah Marshall with CNHP will present on the team’s work across Colorado and the Colorado River basin.

Evaluation of Prevalence Probability Prediction of Ground Water Discharge Springs in Missouri using the MaxEnt Machine Learning Algorithm - Mike Knudson

This project was an exploratory effort to assess the ability of geospatial and machine learning based modeling to predict presence of ground water discharge springs in a pilot study area. Field investigation to locate ground water discharge springs can be time consuming in large geographical areas, especially in areas that are difficult to access. Model development was based primarily on the methods developed by Gerlach et al. (2022). The authors identified six topographic variables as important for locating ground water discharge springs using the MaxEnt model: elevation, planform curvature, profile curvature range, distance to flowlines, terrain ruggedness index (TRI), and flow weighted slope (FWS). For this pilot project, we evaluated performance of these six predictor variables in locating springs in the pilot study area using a MaxEnt machine learning model. We also identified 10 additional variables that were commonly used in geospatial modeling of ground water discharge and evaluated them as potential predictor variables in the analysis.

BIOS 

Sarah Marshall is an ecohydrologist with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program at Colorado State University. Sarah has nearly two decades of experience working with wetland and riparian ecosystems in the western U.S. She has a Ph.D. in Water Resources Engineering, with expertise in ecological restoration and the effects of land use and management on wetland hydrology, soils, and ecology. Her current work focuses on large-scale wetland mapping to help identify high-priority wetland conservation and restoration areas to meet water quality, water supply, and habitat needs in a changing climate. She has also developed a suite of tools and protocols to help understand, manage, and assess the ecological condition of wetlands across Colorado and the West.   

Mike Knudson has been a GIS Analyst at GSS since January 2021. In 2010, Mike earned his B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Minnesota. In 2014, he obtained an M.S. from the University of North Dakota in Earth System Science and Policy. His research areas integrate remote sensing and environmental monitoring to create data products that inform decision making. He currently serves GSS as a data support specialist assisting with a multitude of wetland mapping and functional assessment projects along with wetland probability modelling. He enjoys traveling and wilderness exploration with his wife and two children, along with wood crafting and upland bird hunting.  

Please click only once on each video recording to view in this window.

Part 1: Introduction: Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers

Part 1: Introduction: Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers
Presenter: Mike Knudson, GeoSpatial Services, St. Mary's University of Minnesota

Part 2: Presenter: Sarah Marshall, Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Part 2: Presenter: Sarah Marshall, Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Part 3: Questions & Answers

Part 3: Questions & Answers

Canadian Wetland Inventory Activities in the Prairie and Boreal Regions of Canada

Held Wednesday, August 30, 2023 - 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. ET

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

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

PRESENTERS

• Lyle Boychuk, Ducks Unlimited Canada [PRESENTATION PDF]
• Rebecca Edwards, Ducks Unlimited Canada [PRESENTATION PDF]

BIOS

Lyle Boychuk is the Manager of GIS and Inventory Programs; Prairie Region for Ducks Unlimited Canada. Lyle has been working in geomatics for 27 years and is currently in his 23rd year of service with DUC. He manages a team of specialists responsible for building GIS applications in support of conservation programs and managing the delivery Canadian Wetland Inventory (CWI) projects across Prairie Canada. His professional interests include the use of remote sensing to characterize Prairie Wetlands, the application of terrain data for quantifying wetland hydrology; and the use of UAV technology to support conservation program delivery.

Rebecca (Becky) Edwards is the lead remote sensing specialist for DUC’s National Boreal Program. She completed her MSc in Geography specializing in remote sensing from Queen’s University focusing on vegetation change in the Arctic. Becky has been working with DUC for over 7 years with experience in wetland remote sensing, time series analysis, northern landscapes, and wetland ecology. She has led and supported many large-scale wetland inventory products across the Boreal to support the Canadian Wetland Inventory (CWI) and continues to advance novel wetland classification methodologies.



Please click only once on each video recording to view in this window.

Part 1: Introduction: Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers

Part 1: Introduction: Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers
Presenter: Rebecca Edwards, Ducks Unlimited Canada

Part 2: Presenter: Lyle Boychuk, Ducks Unlimited Canada

Part 2: Presenter: Lyle Boychuk, Ducks Unlimited Canada
Questions & Answers

Examples of semi-automation for mapping Cowardin classes and wetland vegetation in Alaska

Held Thursday, April 27, 2023 - 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Eastern 

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

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

PRESENTER 

• Timm Nawrocki, Alaska Center for Conservation Science [PRESENTATION PDF]

ABSTRACT

Wetlands mapped according to the Cowardin Classification have frequently been delineated manually. Despite increasingly available remotely sensed data and access to large amounts of computational resources, automated approaches to mapping wetlands have been limited to ecologically coarse approaches. One challenge to automating the mapping of Cowardin classes is that the Cowardin Classification integrates contextual information that may not be directly represented in remotely sensed data. We have implemented a semi-automated strategy for wetland mapping that retains advantages of automation while enabling a wetland scientist to focus on providing the contextual information necessary to assign Cowardin classes. Additionally, we have implemented automated approaches to mapping wetland vegetation that could be modified by a wetland scientist to arrive at Cowardin classes. Semi-automation has potential to improve consistency, accuracy, and cost-efficiency of mapping Cowardin classes in Alaska and other areas where wetlands occupy large proportions of the landscape.

BIO

Timm Nawrocki received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Virginia and a M.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Alaska Anchorage. He specializes in spatial analyses of terrestrial vegetation, soils, and wildlife; remote sensing; and identification of vascular and non-vascular plants. He is fluent in Python, R, SQL, Javascript, geographic information systems (GIS), and web development including a variety of frameworks, platforms, and languages.

 

Please click only once on each video recording to view in this window.

Part 1: Introduction: Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers

Part 1: Introduction: Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers
Presenter: Timm Nawrocki, Alaska Center for Conservation Science, University of Alaska Anchorage

Part 2: Presenter: Timm Nawrocki, Alaska Center for Conservation Science, University of Alaska Anchorage

Part 2: Presenter: Timm Nawrocki, Alaska Center for Conservation Science, University of Alaska Anchorage
Questions & Answers

Please click only once on each video recording to view in this window.

Part 1: Introduction: Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers

Part 1: Introduction: Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers
Presenter: Meghan Halabisky, University of Washington Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis Lab

Part 2: Presenter: Anthony Stewart, PhD Student, University of Washington

Part 2: Presenter: Anthony Stewart, PhD Student, University of Washington

Part 2: Presenter: Andy Robertson, GeoSpatial Services at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

Part 3: Presenter: Andy Robertson, GeoSpatial Services at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

Part 4: Questions & Answers

Part 4: Questions & Answers

View Past Wetland Mapping Consortium Webinars

 PDF List of Past Wetland Mapping Consortium Webinar Recordings
  
View Upcoming Wetland Mapping Consortium Webinars