National Association of Wetland Managers - Staff

Portia Osborne, Executive Director (portia@nawm.org) 

Portia is the Executive Director at the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM). She has worked on wetland policy and management issues at NAWM since 2022, including leading projects to build the capacity of state and Tribal wetland programs across the country, planning workshops and training events, and coordinating with NAWM members on wetland policy changes. Before coming to NAWM, Portia spent a decade working in environmental consulting, during which time she conducted natural resource assessments and wetland delineations and prepared state and federal permit applications for transportation, oil and gas, and renewable energy projects 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). Portia loves all wetlands but is particularly fond of the salt marshes in southern Maine and the peatlands found in her native Adirondack Mountains.

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.

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.


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 cats, who complete the family nest.

The National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) was founded by Jon A. Kusler, Esq., Ph.D., and Scott Hausmann in 1983 with two goals — to support state wetland programs and to support national wetland policy reflecting sound wetland science. NAWM has tried to stay true to these goals throughout the years, during the ups and downs of funding and politics.

Jon and Scott created the Association with no staff and no budget. NAWM’s first national meeting in 1983 was hosted by Richard Haman and the University of Florida College of Law. To their surprise and delight, over 120 wetland managers and scientists attended. The quality and enthusiasm of the attendees was striking. Most did not know each other prior to the meeting but many emerged friends. Many who attended that first meeting in Florida also continue as wetland advocates and mentors.

This was the first of many workshops NAWM conducted with a broad range of federal agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Other partners have included the Association of State Floodplain Managers, Society of Wetland Scientists, Association of Clean Water Administrators, Coastal States Organization, National Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and the Environmental Law Institute.

Hundreds of symposia, workshops, publications, webpages, and webinars later, NAWM has established a national presence and is looked to by states, tribes, and other organizations for leadership in matters of national wetland policy, applying sound science, interpreting and implementing the Clean Water Act and related programs, restoring aquatic systems, and facilitating transfer of knowledge among peers and government agencies.

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Scaling Wetland Intelligence with GeoAI: Tools, Trends, and a National Vision

Held Thursday, January 29, 2026 - 3:00-4:30 p.m. EST

PRESENTERS

• Sunny Fleming, Esri
• Andy Carroll, Skytec

ABSTRACT 

The National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) is the most authoritative national dataset for wetlands, yet in many areas its coverage is decades old. Recent policy changes, including the Sackett v. EPA decision, place greater responsibility on states to develop strategies for protecting wetland resources. This webinar you learned how the state of Tennessee partnered with Skytec to enhance Esri’s Wetland Identification Model (WIM) with advanced GeoAI and cloud computing to produce more accurate, scalable wetland predictions. They also covered tools to help states get started, how these efforts align with emerging policy trends, and a vision for scaling this approach nationally. You will see how these innovations help states make informed, data-driven decisions for conservation, permitting, and land-use planning.  

BIOS 

Sunny Fleming is Esri’s industry lead for the domains of environment, conservation, and natural resources. Throughout her career, she has applied GIS concepts and technology to environmental policy, conservation, and natural resources, from monitoring species in the field to helping state parks manage assets and assess their economic impacts. She continues to pursue her passion for the environment by helping industry leaders streamline and improve their work with GIS technology, whether in the field or in the office, and whether setting policy or managing wildlife and resources.

Andy Carroll is a Co-Founder and CTO at Skytec, a remote sensing and geospatial technology company specializing in the application of satellite-based remote monitoring and spatial data analytics for natural resource management. Prior to Skytec, Andy managed and directed the Interdisciplinary Geospatial Technology Lab at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and served as a Project Manager at the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Andy is a licensed Professional Geologist, a certified GIS Professional and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Lyndhurst Foundation and the Appalachian Carbon Exchange.

Recording coming soon. Please check back. Thank you.

How to Receive a Certificate of Attendance for the January 29, 2026, NAWM Hot Topics Webinar: Scaling Wetland Intelligence with GeoAI: Tools, Trends, and a National Vision

Using the ClassMarker online system, NAWM will ask you to certify that you attended the entire live NAWM Wetland Mapping Consortium webinar: "NAWM Hot Topics Webinar: Scaling Wetland Intelligence with GeoAI: Tools, Trends, and a National Vision” on Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 3:00-4:30pm Eastern.

Please do the following:

• Choose one of the options from the box below. (NAWM Member or Non-Member). To receive a free certificate, you must be a current member on the date the webinar is held.
• Once you are in ClassMarker, click on Start and enter your email address and create a password.
• Do not click on Log in and Resume. The Resume button is there in case you misplace this specific certificate and need to retrieve it again. It won’t work for future webinar certificates.
• You will need to create a new password for each webinar certificate you wish to obtain.
• Then follow the prompts and enter your name as you wish it to appear on your certificate and answer the 2 questions about membership and attending the live webinar.

Answering “yes” to the question about your attendance will automatically qualify you to receive a certificate for your attendance. Answering “no” will result in no certificate being issued.

You will be prompted to download your Certificate of Attendance from ClassMarker after you complete the quiz.

Once you download your certificate, you can then submit the certificate to the accrediting organization of your choice to potentially receive continuing education units/credits. 

All Certificates must be claimed no later than 60 days from the live presentation. 

How to Receive a Certificate of Attendance for the December 18, 2025, NAWM Wetland Mapping Consortium Webinar: New Tools for Efficient and Effective Desktop Wetland Delineation in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Using the ClassMarker online system, NAWM will ask you to certify that you attended the entire live NAWM Wetland Mapping Consortium webinar: "NAWM Wetland Mapping Consortium Webinar: New Tools for Efficient and Effective Desktop Wetland Delineation in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed” on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, from 3:00-4:30pm Eastern.

Please do the following:

• Choose one of the options from the box below. (NAWM Member or Non-Member). To receive a free certificate, you must be a current member on the date the webinar is held.
• Once you are in ClassMarker, click on Start and enter your email address and create a password.
• Do not click on Log in and Resume. The Resume button is there in case you misplace this specific certificate and need to retrieve it again. It won’t work for future webinar certificates.
• You will need to create a new password for each webinar certificate you wish to obtain.
• Then follow the prompts and enter your name as you wish it to appear on your certificate and answer the 2 questions about membership and attending the live webinar.

Answering “yes” to the question about your attendance will automatically qualify you to receive a certificate for your attendance. Answering “no” will result in no certificate being issued.

You will be prompted to download your Certificate of Attendance from ClassMarker after you complete the quiz.

Once you download your certificate, you can then submit the certificate to the accrediting organization of your choice to potentially receive continuing education units/credits. 

All Certificates must be claimed no later than 60 days from the live presentation. 

How to Receive a Certificate of Attendance for the November 12, 2025, NAWM Members’ Webinar: Strategies and Tools for Peatland Restoration

Using the ClassMarker online system, NAWM will ask you to certify that you attended the entire live NAWM Members' webinar: "Strategies and Tools for Peatland Restoration" on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 3:00-4:30 pm Eastern.

Please do the following:

• Choose "NAWM Member Free Certificate" in the box below.
• Once you are in ClassMarker, click on Start and enter your email address and create a password.
• Do not click on Log in and Resume. The Resume button is there in case you misplace this specific certificate and need to retrieve it again. It won’t work for future webinar certificates.
• You will need to create a new password for each webinar certificate you wish to obtain.
• Then follow the prompts and enter your name as you wish it to appear on your certificate and answer the 2 questions about membership and attending the live webinar.

Answering “yes” to the question about your attendance will automatically qualify you to receive a certificate for your attendance. Answering “no” will result in no certificate being issued.

You will be prompted to download your Certificate of Attendance from ClassMarker after you complete the questions.

Once you download your certificate, you can then submit it to the accrediting organization of your choice to potentially receive continuing education units/credits. 

All Certificates must be claimed no later than 60 days from the live presentation.

Integrated Watershed Management Planning: Recovery and Mitigation Efforts Following the 2013 Colorado Floods

Held Wednesday, August 20, 2025 - 3:00-4:30 p.m. EDT

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

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

PRESENTERS

• Brian Varrella, Colorado Department of Transportation [PDF Presentation]
• Chris Sturm, Colorado Water Conservation Board 

ABSTRACT 

In early September 2013 several days of heavy rain led to massive flooding across Colorado’s front range communities. Streams reclaimed floodplains, destroyed roads, bridges, homes, and other infrastructure. Over the next five years many coalitions of river and highway professionals and local citizens implemented 117 river restoration projects and 200 infrastructure projects in ten different watersheds that drain from the continental divide to the front range. The Colorado Water Conservation Board, an agency within Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources, led the effort to restore riverscapes within these watersheds. The Colorado Department of Transportation worked with these same partners to restore highways completely washed away from the same work areas. The resulting symbiosis created a new multi-agency standard of practice. 

BIO 

Brian Varrella is the Resident Engineer of the Hydraulics group at the Colorado Department of Transportation, Region 4 (northeast). He specializes in hydraulic analysis, floodplain management and wildfire recovery, and has contributed to projects and trainings in 23 states. He has 9 years of private sector experience, 9 years as a local floodplain manager, and just completed 10 years in service at the State of Colorado. Brian had the privilege of leading the team that delivered the last two 2013 Flood Disaster recovery projects for CDOT with $70 million of federal disaster aid and supported another $680 million of work across the state, and also supported wildfire recovery from the High Park Fire in 2013 through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program with the City of Fort Collins. He is the survivor of 3 flood disasters and has dedicated his career to making communities more resilient to foreseeable natural hazards.  

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: Chris Sturm, Colorado Water Conservation Board

Part 2: Presenter: Brian Varrella, Colorado Department of Transportation

Part 2: Presenter: Brian Varrella, Colorado Department of Transportation

Part 3: Questions & Answers

Part 3: Questions & Answers

 Strategies for States and Tribes Regarding Nationwide General Permits

Held Tuesday, July 8, 2025 - 3:00-4:30 p.m. EDT

View Recorded Webinar

ABSTRACT

This webinar explored how states, tribes, and the public can prepare to help shape the new package of Nationwide General Permits (NWPs) that will take effect early March 2026. The Corps reissues NWPs every five years and must propose the draft NWPs for public comment and for water quality certification under Clean Water Act section 401. The official notice was posted in the Federal Register on June 16th with only a 30-day commenting window. The expiring NWP package raised numerous issues when they were proposed in 2020, both substantive and procedural, and many expect similar issues to recur in the new package. This webinar first provided a general overview of NWPs as well as the section 401 water quality certification process. Then, state and tribal staff who reviewed and commented on past NWPs explored how agencies and the public can prepare for what is expected to be a short window for public comments on the draft permits. Speakers also discussed data and analyses that state and tribal certifying agencies could begin to collect now that made informed water quality certification decisions. The webinar followed with Q&As.

INTRODUCTION

• Marla Stelk, National Association of Wetland Managers [Presentation PDF]

PANELISTS:

• Jon Devine, NRDC [Presentations PDF]
• Donna Downing, NAWM [Presentations PDF]
• Samantha Vogeler, Kentucky Division of Water [Presentations PDF]
• Denise Clearwater, Maryland Department of the Environment [Presentations PDF]
• Grace Leppink-Walz, Fond du Lac Tribe [Presentations PDF]
• Ken Norton, National Tribal Water Council and Director of the Hoopa Valley Tribal Environmental Protection Agency

BIOS

Jon Devine leads NRDC’s federal water policy team. His work focuses on implementing, defending , and strengthening the core programs under the Clean Water Act. Prior to working on water policy, he worked with NRDC’s Health & Environment program for four years. Previously, he served as an attorney-adviser in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of General Counsel and also worked as an environmental specialist in Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection. Devine graduated from Bowdoin College and received his JD from Georgetown University. He is based in NRDC’s Washington, D.C., office.  

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.  

Samantha Vogeler has worked for the Kentucky Division of Water since 2015. With a strong regulatory background, she has extensive experience in implementing regulations under the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. She is the Supervisor for the Kentucky 401 Water Quality Certification Section, where she ensures statewide implementation and compliance with the 401 Water Quality Certification Program and serves on the Kentucky Interagency Review Team. Since 2019, Samantha has served on the National Association of Wetland Managers Board of Directors and is currently the Vice Chair. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing sports, traveling, and exploring the outdoors.

Denise Clearwater has worked in Maryland’s wetland programs since 1986. She has a background in developing and implementing programs in wetland regulation, wetland training, and mitigation, as well as managing special projects for grants and program improvement and assisting in policy development. She has represented the Wetlands and Waterways Program in the Maryland Department of the Environment on numerous interagency work groups for regulatory, wetland monitoring, restoration, preservation and stream health and is a past co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Program Wetland Work Group. She is also a member of the Society of Wetland Scientists. Denise has a B.S. in zoology from the University of Maryland and an M.S. in wildlife management from Frostburg State College (now University). 

Grace Leppink-Walz is the Water Regulatory Specialist for the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Northern Minnesota. She enforces the Fond du Lac Band’s 401 Water Quality Certification Standards, Environmental Policy, and Wetland Protection & Management Ordinances. She is also Fond du Lac Band’s Coordinator for the St. Louis River Area of Concern which deals with legacy contamination in the St. Louis River and estuary.  

 



Ken Norton, an enrolled member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, is Director at Hoopa Valley Tribal Environmental Protection Agency (TEPA). Ken has expertise in water quality and development of water quality standards, having worked in environmental protection since 1980. Over 40 years, Ken has worked as a fishery technician, fishery biologist, water quality coordinator, and director at Hoopa Valley Environmental Department. His educational degree is a Bachelor of Science in Fishery Management. As a fisheries expert, Ken understands the water quality needs of healthy salmon and other river life and is experienced in watershed restoration. As TEPA Director, Ken oversees an array of Tribal water programs and other tribal environmental programs. Between 2004 and 2009, Ken had the honor to serve as Vice-Chair of the National Tribal Operations Committee and lead spokesperson for Tribes on national Tribal/EPA water issues. Currently, Ken serves as the chair of the National Tribal Water Council and advocates for the health and sustainability of clean and safe water for Indian communities, Alaska Native Tribes, and Alaska Native Villages.

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

Part 1: Introduction: Marla Stelk, National Association of Wetland Managers; Presenters: Jon Devine, NRDC and Donna Downing, NAWM

Part 1: Introduction: Marla Stelk, National Association of Wetland Managers; Presenters: Jon Devine, NRDC and Donna Downing, NAWM

Part 2: Presenters: Samantha Vogeler, Kentucky Division of Water and Denise Clearwater, Maryland Department of the Environment

Part 2: Presenters: Samantha Vogeler, Kentucky Division of Water and Denise Clearwater, Maryland Department of the Environment

Part 3: Presenters: Grace Leppink-Walz, Fond du Lac Tribe and Ken Norton, National Tribal Water Council and Director of the Hoopa Valley Tribal Environmental Protection Agency

Part 3: Presenters: Grace Leppink-Walz, Fond du Lac Tribe and Ken Norton, National Tribal Water Council and Director of the Hoopa Valley Tribal Environmental Protection Agency

 
NAWM American Wetlands Month Webinar: Talking about the Clean Water Act Without Getting Bogged Down in the Reeds

Held Wednesday, May 21, 2025 - 3:00-4:30 p.m. EDT

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

• Marla Stelk, National Association of Wetland Managers [Presentation PDF]

PRESENTERS [Presentation PDF]

• Jim Murphy, National Wildlife Federation
• Lacey McCormick, National Wildlife Federation

ABSTRACT

The National Wildlife Federation was pleased to present the Waters Storytelling Toolkit. The toolkit is meant to be used by local advocates of every stripe -- Tribes, community members, policy experts, etc. -- to help tell the story of why protecting wetlands and smaller streams in their area is important. The presentation gave an overview of the Clean Water Act and the 2023 Sackett Supreme Court decision that revoked protections for streams and wetlands long protected by the law. The toolkit also provides messaging recommendations and describes a variety of potential story frames. Each section has a succinct slide deck and an accompanying video with more discussion and detail. NWF’s ultimate goal is to create a broader base of public support for strong water protections at the local, state and federal levels.

BIOS 

Jim Murphy is the Senior Director of Legal Advocacy with National Wildlife Federation (NWF) where he advances National Wildlife Federation’s legal engagement with the judicial, administrative, and legislative branches of government in order to protect wildlife, with a focus on water, energy, and climate issues including advancing regulatory solutions to carbon pollution, protecting the nation’s waters and wetlands, and promoting clean, wildlife friendly renewable energy. He also serves on several boards, including the Renewable Energy Wildlife Institute, the Vermont Advisory Board for the Conservation Law Foundation which he currently chairs, and is Chair of the Montpelier Roxbury School District Board of Directors. In collaboration with NWF, he directed the Vermont Law School Environmental Advocacy Clinic from 2019-2022 and was an assistant professor at the law school. He has an LL.M., summa cum laude, in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School, a J.D. from Boston College Law School, and B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Vermont.

Lacey McCormick leads the National Wildlife Federation’s Clean Water Act defense messaging. Over her two decades at NWF, she has led messaging on a number of other water issues, from the Federation’s years-long effort to hold BP accountable for the Gulf oil disaster to the need to ensure enough water flows in Texas’ streams. She has a master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Austin. She lives in Austin, TX with her husband and two sons.

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

Part 1: Introduction: Marla Stelk, National Association of Wetland Managers

Part 1: Introduction: Marla Stelk, National Association of Wetland Managers; Presenters: Jim Murphy, National Wildlife Federation and Lacey McCormick, National Wildlife Federation

Part 2: Presenters: Jim Murphy, National Wildlife Federation and Lacey McCormick, National Wildlife Federation

Part 2: Presenters: Jim Murphy, National Wildlife Federation and Lacey McCormick, National Wildlife Federation

National Wetland Condition Assessment: Federal and State Perspectives on the 3rd Collaborative Survey of Wetlands in the U.S.

Held Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - 3:00-4:30 p.m. EST

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

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

PRESENTERS

• Gregg Serenbetz, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [Presentation PDF]
• Joanna Lemly, Colorado Natural Heritage Program [Presentation PDF]
• Mike Bourdaghs, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency [Presentation PDF]

ABSTRACT

• Less than half of wetland area was rated good, based on an analysis of plant communities.
• Nonnative plants are a widespread concern.
• Physical alterations to wetlands are the most widespread stressors measured.
• Nutrient levels are elevated for some wetlands.
• Microcystins, a type of cyanobacteria toxin, were present, but at very low levels, posing minimal recreational human health concerns. 

Gregg Serenbetz is an Environmental Protection Specialist in U.S. EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds in Washington, DC. He began his career at EPA working on smart growth and coastal wetland initiatives before shifting to his current focus on wetland monitoring and assessment programs. He has been the project lead for the National Wetland Condition Assessment for the past 10 years.

Joanna Lemly is a wetland ecologist with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program at Colorado State University where she leads CNHP’s work on wetland mapping, monitoring, and assessment. Joanna has worked with partners at the federal, state, and local levels to assess the condition of wetlands using both quantitative and qualitative methods, including EPA's National Wetland Condition Assessment (NWCA) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)'s Riparian & Wetland Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (R&W AIM) program.

Michael Bourdaghs is an environmental research scientist with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency where he has led wetland monitoring program development and implementation for the past twenty plus years.

 



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: Gregg Serenbetz, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Part 2: Presenter: Joanna Lemly, Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Part 2: Presenter: Joanna Lemly, Colorado Natural Heritage Program

Part 3: Presenter: Michael Bourdaghs, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Part 3: Presenter: Michael Bourdaghs, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Long-Term Management at Mitigation Sites: Overview & Best Practices Part II

Held Tuesday, March 4, 2025 - 3:00-4:30 p.m. EST

View Recorded Webinar

INTRODUCTION

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

MODERATOR

• Sara Johnson, Ecological Restoration Business Association (ERBA)

PRESENTERS [Presentation - PDF]

• Greg DeYoung, Westervelt Ecological Services
• Matt Gause, Westervelt Ecological Services
• Merrill Chester Gregg, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation
• Steven Martin, Mitigation Specialist, PWS
• Eric Olsen, Gunster 
• Stephanie Tom Coupe, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

BIOS

Sara Johnson is the Executive Director of the Ecological Restoration Business Association (ERBA). She is an attorney with a background in and passion for solutions to public environmental challenges that blend conservation and economic goals. Through her role with ERBA she advocates for policies that support environmental markets, including opportunities for mitigation, and convenes mitigation providers and agency partners. Prior to her position with ERBA, Johnson worked in the environmental compliance office of Patuxent River Naval Air Station on the Chesapeake Bay and as a law clerk with the Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division in Washington, D.C. Johnson holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Richmond and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia, where she served as the Articles Development Editor of the Virginia Environmental Law Journal. She is licensed to practice law in Virginia and California.

Steven Martin has 35 years of experience with compensatory mitigation, mitigation policy, and evaluation of mitigation projects. He has assisted non-profits and the private sector. He co-authored EPA’s mitigation bank and In-Lieu Fee Program review workbooks and checklists. He collaborated with ERBA and EPIC on quantitative and qualitative analyses of mitigation bank approvals. He is working with 2 ILF programs, the Coastal Virginia Conservancy and the Florida Keys Restoration Fund. He retired from the Corps’ Institute for Water Resources (IWR) as a mitigation specialist. He helped implement and administer RIBITS, taught compensatory mitigation policy and practices and helped developed guides to improve compensatory mitigation.  

Stephanie Tom Coupe is Senior Director of NFWF’s IDEA department, which receives and administers funds designated for the benefit of specific natural resources that arise from legal and regulatory proceedings. Prior to joining NFWF, Stephanie was a deputy director for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, where she also served as a lawyer within the Office of General Counsel and graduated from the fish and game warden academy. Stephanie also worked in the Washington, DC Office of the California Governor on natural resources issues. Stephanie received her B.A. from the University of California at Davis and her J.D. from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law.

Greg DeYoung is a co-founder of Westervelt Ecological Services. Greg has four decades of experience in planning, environmental review, wetland mitigation, and endangered species conservation. His background includes the permitting of mitigation and conservation banks and large-scale mitigation projects in the West, the Rocky Mountains, and the Southeast. He is Vice President Emeritus, Westervelt Ecological Services, and also currently serves as Past President of the Ecological Restoration Business Association (ERBA). Greg has been a director for three non-profit conservation organizations: The Nevada County Land Trust, the Wildlife Heritage Foundation, and the Whitney Oaks Wetland Conservancy. Mr. DeYoung holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).  

Merrill Gregg is the Director of Investments and Special Projects at Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation based in Dallas where she has worked for the past nine years. In this role, Merrill focuses on land protection, developing innovative conservation finance models, and leads oversight of the Foundation’s investment portfolio and mitigation bank endowments. Merrill also consults private foundations on conservation initiatives and is an active volunteer with park-focused organizations. Merrill serves on the board of Streams & Valleys and is an advisor for Good Natured, Mayor Mattie Parker’s effort to expand greenspace in Fort Worth, one of the fastest growing cities in the US. Merrill previously served on the board and finance committee of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, a joint Canada-U.S. nonprofit organization that works to protect one of the last intact mountain ecosystems left on Earth. Before her career in the nonprofit sector, Merrill worked in the investment banking industry in New York City and Hong Kong. She holds an AB in History and American Studies from Princeton University.  

Matt Gause is the Director of Operations for Westervelt Ecological Services and oversees land stewardship and ecological resource management on over 20,000 acres of conserved mitigation land across more than a dozen states in the US. Mr Gause is a restoration ecologist and botanist and has over thirty years of direct experience with habitat restoration, conservation, and long-term land stewardship of conserved lands. Prior to his current position Mr. Gause served as the Director of Land Stewardship and Ecological Resources for Westervelt.

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; Presenters: Sara Johnson, Ecological Restoration Business Association (ERBA) and Matt Gause, Westervelt Ecological Services

Part 2: Presenters: • Greg DeYoung, Westervelt Ecological Services; Steven Martin, Mitigation Specialist, PWS; and Eric Olsen, Gunster

Part 2: Presenters: • Greg DeYoung, Westervelt Ecological Services; Steven Martin, Mitigation Specialist, PWS; and Eric Olsen, Gunster

Part 3: Presenters: Merrill Gregg, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and Stephanie Tom Coupe, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Part 3: Presenters: Merrill Gregg, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and Stephanie Tom Coupe, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Part 3>Part 4: Best Practices Round-Up: Presenters: Greg DeYoung, Westervelt Ecological Services and Stephanie Tom Coupe, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Part 4: Best Practices Round-Up

Long-Term Management at Mitigation Sites: Overview & Best Practices Part I

Held Tuesday, February 11, 2025 - 3:00-4:30 p.m. EST

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INTRODUCTION

• Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers [Presentation PDF]
• Sara Johnson, Ecological Restoration Business Association

PRESENTERS  [Presentation PDF]

• Michelle Mattson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Ken Powell, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources
• Matt Gause, Westervelt

ABSTRACTS

Michell Mattson
The presentation provided an overview of the requirements of the Corps’ and EPA 2008 Mitigation Rule and USFWS 2003 Conservation Bank Guidelines as they relate to aspects of long-term management (LTM) planning; the Why, What, When and Who of LTM of compensatory mitigation sites, including the importance of LTM planning to sustain target ecosystem functions and services and the potential risks of not adequately providing LTM.

Ken Powell
Ken described key aspects of long-term management and monitoring associated with wetland banks in Minnesota under the state’s Wetland Conservation Act including the state’s long-term stewardship fund. 

Matt Gause
In part I of the LTM webinar Mr. Gause discussed the contents of a Long-term Management Plan and best practices for arranging for long-term stewardship at a mitigation site. In Part II Mr. Gause will be describing a method that can be used to estimate and arrive at an initial funding amount for the long-term stewardship fund (Endowment).     

BIOS

Michelle Lee Mattson is an ecologist with over 25 years of professional experience in ecosystem restoration, site assessment, and regulatory compliance as a consultant and Corps' regulator. Michelle is a compensatory mitigation subject matter expert (SME) for the Corps’ Institute for Water Resources (IWR) Regulatory Team supporting national and regional training courses. She has spent her career in the field working with restoration teams to design, install and monitor restoration projects and programs including developing mitigation banks and in-lieu fee programs. Michelle is also part of the Sustainable Rivers Program (SRP) tram, a partnership between the Corps and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to provide funding to Corps’ Districts to evaluate, test, and implement operational changes at existing infrastructure to improve environmental responses. 

Ken Powell supervises Minnesota’s primary wetland regulatory program, the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act. Ken is a professional wetland scientist and certified wildlife biologist with 30 years of experience working with wetlands in Minnesota and the upper Midwest.  

Matt Gause is the Director of Operations for Westervelt Ecological Services and oversees land stewardship and ecological resource management on over 20,000 acres of conserved mitigation land across more than a dozen states in the US. Mr. Gause is a restoration ecologist and botanist and has over thirty years of direct experience with habitat restoration, conservation, and long-term land stewardship of conserved lands. Prior to his current position Mr. Gause served as the Director of Land Stewardship and Ecological Resources for Westervelt. 

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

Part 1: Introduction: Ian Grosfelt, National Association of Wetland Managers; Presenter: Michelle Mattson, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Part 2: Presenters: Ken Powell, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and Matt Gause, Westervelt

Part 2: Presenters: Ken Powell, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and Matt Gause, Westervelt

Part 3: Moderator: Sara Johnson, Ecological Restoration Business Association

Part 3: Moderator: Sara Johnson, Ecological Restoration Business Association

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The Pacific Northwest Tribal Clean Water Act Training was held November 17-20, 2025 at the Tulalip Resort Casino in Tulalip, WA. 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 addressed Clean Water Act (CWA) programs including Section 106, Section 319, Section 303(d), water quality standards, and wetlands and was targeted to Tribes who conduct water quality monitoring, issue water quality certifications, and address water quality issues, nonpoint source pollution, and impaired waters/TMDLs. Tribal staff from across the country were invited, although there was a focus on examples and applications for Tribes in the Pacific Northwest.

Training Workshop Dates and Location
When: November 17-20, 2025
Where: Tulalip, WA
Venue: Tulalip Resort Casino
       10200 Quil Ceda Blvd.
       Tulalip, WA 98271 

Agenda and Presentation Materials
Agenda (updated 12/18/25) is now available. Copies of presentation slideshows are linked within the agenda.

Resources
Compilation of relevant EPA resources: Existing EPA CWA Resources/Trainings   

NAWM An Overview of the Clean Water Act recorded training video

Region 10 Tribal Operations Committee Clean Water Act Handbook

Recorded Training Videos from EPA:

• Tribal Nonpoint Source Resources and Trainings
• Water Quality eXchange (WQX) 101 Training Series
• Tribal EPA Region 9 Conference Recordings