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Wetlands and Watersheds
This page provides the expansion of the Center’s current watershed protection guidance, tools, and resources to provide guidance to local communities on how to integrate wetlands into larger watershed protection efforts. First, we offer the official definition of a wetland.
| Articles | Slideshows | Bibliography | Links | Events |
Articles and Guidance Materials
The audience for the articles includes local natural resources managers and land planners who can benefit from guidance on local tools for protecting wetlands.
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Article 1 of the Wetlands & Watersheds Article Series: Direct and Indirect Impacts of Urbanization on Wetland Quality 
Authors: T. Wright, J. Tomlinson, T. Schueler, K. Cappiella, A. Kitchell, D. Hirschman Released: 2006
Full Article Executive Summary
Reviews the direct and indirect impacts of urbanization on wetlands, and describes how impacts to wetlands affect watershed health.
Article 2 of the Wetlands & Watersheds Article Series: Using Local Watershed Plans to Protect Wetlands
Authors: K. Cappiella, A. Kitchell, T. Schueler Released: 2006
Full Article Executive Summary
Presents detailed methods for integrating wetland management into the local watershed planning process.
Article 3 of the Wetlands & Watersheds Article Series: Adapting Watershed Tools to Protect Wetlands
Authors: K. Cappiella, T. Schueler, J. Tasillo, T. Wright Released: 2005
Full Article Executive Summary
Describes 37 techniques for protecting wetlands through local programs and ordinances.
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Article 4 of the Wetlands & Watersheds Article Series: A Local Ordinance to Protect Wetland Functions
Authors: B. Strommen, K. Cappiella, D. Hirschman, J. Tasillo Released: 2007
Full Article Executive Summary
Outlines the key elements of an effective ordinance to protect wetlands from the indirect impacts of land development, and provides adaptable model ordinance language.
Article 5 of the Wetlands & Watersheds Article Series: The Next Generation of Stormwater Wetlands
Authors: K. Cappiella, L. Fraley-McNeal, M. Novotney, T. Schueler Released: 2008
Full Article Executive Summary
This article revisits the design of stormwater wetland systems based on lessons learned from the field, and presents new concepts and design objectives for stormwater wetlands.
Article 6 of the Wetlands & Watersheds Article Series: The Importance of Protecting Vulnerable Streams and Wetlands at the Local Level
Authors: K. Cappiella, L. Fraley-McNeal Released: 2007
Full Article Executive Summary
Makes the case for expanded local protection of vulnerable streams and wetlands that may not be fully protected by state or federal law due to their perceived isolation from perennial or navigable waters. Also summarizes state and local approaches to closing this gap.
"Biodiversity Values of Geographically Isolated Wetlands in the United States" (NatureServe) This article is an assessment of the potential impacts of the SWANCC decision on the at-risk species and communities that are associated with isolated wetland systems in all 50 U.S. states.
The wetland slideshows provided here are descriptive graphic presentations on important aspects of wetland and watershed management. Each slideshow topic is aligned with one of the articles in the Wetlands & Watersheds Article Series. The idea is to provide a brief overview of the topic in 30 slides or less. Since the articles themselves contain a much greater amount of detail, we encourage you to download them for more information. The slideshows are PDFs, designed for online viewing only and are not available as PowerPoint files.
Direct and Indirect Impacts of Land Development on Wetland Quality
This slideshow reviews the direct and indirect impacts of urbanization on wetland function and quality.
Using Local Watershed Plans to Protect Wetlands
This slideshow presents detailed methods for integrating wetland management into the local watershed planning process.
Adapting Watershed Tools to Protect Wetlands
This slideshow describes specific tools for protecting wetlands through local programs and regulations.
Annotated Bibliography of Urban Wetland Research
Over the past few years, CWP has conducted extensive research on wetlands. As a result, we have compiled a large number of resources and have provided a listing of these resources on this web page in annotated bibliography form for others to use when searching for the latest wetland research. The majority of the resources in the bibliography are post-1990 research related to natural wetlands within an urban setting.
Each resource in the bibliography contains a full citation and a brief description of the resource. The bibliography contains over 250 entries and is organized alphabetically in two files: research articles and manuals, textbooks and guidance documents.
Part 1: Research Articles – This section includes nearly 150 articles from dozens of different types of publications, including professional journals, newsletters, USGS publications, and other sources.
Part 2: Manuals, Textbooks and Guidance Documents – This section includes over 100 manuals, textbooks, guidance documents, conference proceedings and other documents related to urban wetlands.
Below you will find helpful web sites and online reports addressing a variety of wetland issues. The list of resources has been split into the following categories for improved navigation:
- General Wetland Websites
- Wetland Assessment Websites
- Regulatory Wetland Websites
- Web Links to Key Wetland Publications
General Wetland Websites
A listing of federal, academic, and non-governmental wetland websites is provided below. These sites are good resources for wetland mapping data, the latest research on wetlands, the status of federal wetland regulations and guidance, and funding for wetland conservation and restoration.
 Photo: USDA NRCS |
Center for Wetlands at the University of Florida
Duke University Wetland Center
Pacific Estuarine Research Laboratory
Penn State Cooperative Wetlands Center
NOAA Estuarine Research Reserve System
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Regulatory Assistance Program
USGS National Wetlands Research Center
USDA NRCS Wetlands Reserve Program
Association of State Floodplain Managers
Association of State Wetland Managers
Environmental Law Institute Wetlands Program
The Society for Ecological Restoration
To help you navigate through the dozens of wetland assessment protocols that are in practice, the links below provide some guidance on selecting a method or on developing state-specific methods where none currently exist. Some of these files are available as a PDF. To download the free Adobe Acrobat reader, you can do that here.
A Review of Rapid Methods for Assessing Wetland Condition (PDF)
The Process of Selecting a Wetland Assessment Procedure: Steps and Considerations
National Inventory/Survey Tools for Ecological Assessment
EPA Wetlands – Monitoring and Assessment
The websites below provide links to information on the federal regulatory program, as well as model ordinances for local wetland protection. Some of these files are available as a PDF. To download the free Adobe Acrobat reader, you can do that here.
A Model Wetlands Ordinance for Indiana Communities
Clinton River Watershed Council (MI) Model Wetland Ordinance
The Wetlands Regulation Center
Westchester County (NY) Model Ordinance for Wetland Protection (PDF)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program
Links to some of the key publications on wetland classification, delineation, restoration, status and trends, biodiversity value, urban impacts, mitigation, and watershed management are provided below. While this is by no means a comprehensive listing, we consider these important reading for anyone that is interested in wetland protection. Please let us know if you want to recommend adding a publication to this list! Some of these files are available as a PDF. To download the free Adobe Acrobat reader, you can do that here.
Protecting Natural Wetlands: A Guide for Stormwater Best Management Practices (PDF)
Natural Wetlands and Urban Stormwater: Potential Impacts and Management
Biodiversity Value of Geographically Isolated Wetlands in the United States (PDF)
A Hydrogeomorphic Classification for Wetlands (PDF)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual (1987) (PDF)
National Wetlands Mitigation Action Plan
Classification of Wetland and Deepwater Habitats of the U.S.
National Symposium on Compensatory Mitigation and the Watershed Approach
An Introduction and User’s Guide to Wetland Restoration, Creation and Enhancement (PDF)
USGS National Water Summary on Wetland Resources
Report to Congress on Status and Trends of Wetlands in the Conterminous U.S. 1998-2004 (PDF)
Wetland Stewardship for Local Governments
Center for Watershed Protection © 2008
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