Wetlands Workgroup

The Wetlands Workgroup facilitates the implementation of projects that protect, restore and enhance tidal and non-tidal wetlands across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Restoration efforts are focused on projects that benefit species requiring high-quality wetland habitats (including American black duck) and incorporate water quality benefits where possible. Additionally, the workgroup coordinates the collection and organization of wetland restoration data reported by the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Track progress towards the Wetlands Outcome

An aerial view of the Nanticoke River looking southwest shows wetlands north of Nanticoke Wildlife Management Area in Wicomico County, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Rath/Chesapeake Bay Program)

Projects

Tidal Wetlands Strategic Plan

Complete

This plan was developed to accelerate the protection, restoration and creation of tidal wetlands throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Tidal Wetlands Landowner Engagement

Complete

This project was completed as part of the development of a Tidal Wetlands Strategic Plan, and involved developing and implementing an outreach and engagement program that will accelerate tidal wetland restoration among private landowners.

Financing and Funding Tidal Wetlands Strategic Plan Implementation

Complete

This project was completed as part of the development of a Tidal Wetlands Strategic Plan, and involved identifying new and innovative financing and funding sources for strategic plan implementation.

Non-tidal Wetlands Communication Strategy

Complete

This project explored current perceptions of non-tidal wetlands and barriers to participation in wetland restoration, and developed a targeted strategy to better engage local stakeholders.

2024 Wetlands Workgroup Statement: Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency

Complete

The Wetlands Workgroup's statement on the U.S Supreme Court ruling in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency.

View all projects‍

Publications

Evaluating an Improved Systems Approach to Wetland Crediting: Consideration of Wetland Ecosystem Services

Publication date: April 29, 2024

This report summarizes the proceedings of a workshop to explore the wetland accounting system and provide insight on improved approaches to promote wetland projects.

View document [PDF, 2.5 MB] Evaluating an Improved Systems Approach to Wetland Crediting: Consideration of Wetland Ecosystem Services

Wetland Co-Benefits Factsheet For Virginia Planners

Publication date: December 16, 2021

This factsheet provides resource managers and state planners in Virginia with information on how wetland and living shorelines support the Commonwealth's existing programs and policies.

View document [PDF, 636.7 KB] Wetland Co-Benefits Factsheet For Virginia Planners

Wetland Rehabilitation, Enhancement and Creation BMP Expert Panel Report

Publication date: March 18, 2020

Recommendations from the Wetland Expert Panel for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment effectiveness estimates for non-tidal wetland best management practices.

View document [PDF] Wetland Rehabilitation, Enhancement and Creation BMP Expert Panel Report

Nontidal Wetland BMPs in the Phase 6 Model Fact Sheet

Publication date: August 7, 2018

This fact sheet explains how nontidal wetland restoration, rehabilitation, enhancement and creation are defined and simulated in the Phase 6 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model.

View document [PDF, 930.8 KB] Nontidal Wetland BMPs in the Phase 6 Model Fact Sheet

Wetland Expert Panel Recommendations for Non-tidal Wetland BMPs

Publication date: December 19, 2016

Recommendations from the Wetland Expert Panel for the incorporation of non-tidal wetland best management practices (BMPs) and land uses in the Phase 6 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model.

View document [PDF, 4.4 MB] Wetland Expert Panel Recommendations for Non-tidal Wetland BMPs

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Related Resources

Wetlands Work

Wetlands Work connects agricultural landowners in the Chesapeake Bay watershed with people and programs that can support wetland restoration on their land.

Our Watershed Agreement Goals & Outcomes

Thriving Habitat, Fisheries & Wildlife Goal

Wetlands

Our Members

Pam Mason (Chair)
Virginia Institute of Marine Science mason@vims.edu
Nancy Schumm (Vice Chair)
City of Gaithersburg (MD) Nancy.Schumm@gaithersburgmd.gov
Tess Danielson (Vice Chair)
District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment tess.danielson@dc.gov
Jeff Sullivan (Vice Chair)
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) jdsullivan@usgs.gov
Nick Staten (Staffer)
Chesapeake Research Consortium staten.nick@epa.gov
Alicia Berlin
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) aberlin@usgs.gov
Benjamin Lewis
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources ben.lewis@dwr.virginia.gov
Joe Berg
Biohabitats jberg@biohabitats.com
Mark Biddle
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control mark.biddle@state.de.us
Michelle Campbell
District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment michelle.campbell@dc.gov
Joel Carr
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) jcarr@usgs.gov
Kayla Clauson
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Kayla.Clauson@delaware.gov
Denise Clearwater
Maryland Department of the Environment dclearwater@mde.state.md.us
Jen Dietzen
District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment jennifer.dietzen@dc.gov
Kevin DuBois
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) kevin.r.dubois.civ@us.navy.mil
Jim Feaga
Ducks Unlimited jfeaga@ducks.org
Leah Franzluebbers
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) leah_franzluebbers@fws.gov
Mark Gallagher
Princeton Hydro mgallagher@princetonhydro.com
Michelle Henicheck
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality michelle.henicheck@deq.virginia.gov
Sarah Hilderbrand
Maryland Department of Natural Resources sarah.hilderbrand@maryland.gov
Mark Hoffman
Chesapeake Bay Commission mhoffman@chesbay.us
Amy Jacobs
The Nature Conservancy ajacobs@tnc.org
Jeff Jones
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Jeffray.Jones@va.usda.gov
Seth Keller
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) seth.d.keller@usace.army.mil
Neely Law
Fairfax County (VA) Neely.Law@fairfaxcounty.gov
Jessica Martinsen
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) martinsen.jessica@epa.gov
Jenna Mitchell
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay jmitchell@allianceforthebay.org
Greg Noe
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gnoe@usgs.gov
Dave Norris
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources david.norris@dgif.virginia.gov
Karinna Nunez
Virginia Institute of Marine Science karinna@vims.edu
Rachael Peabody
Virginia Marine Resources Commission rachael.peabody@mrc.virginia.gov
Greg Podniesinski
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources gpodniesin@pa.gov
Alison Rogerson
Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Alison.Rogerson@state.de.us
Ben Sagara
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources ben.sagara@dwr.virginia.gov
Alison Santoro
Maryland Department of Natural Resources alisona.santoro@maryland.gov
Chris Spaur
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) christopher.c.spaur@usace.army.mil
Steve Strano
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) steve.strano@md.usda.gov
Anne Wakeford
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources anne.m.wakeford@wv.gov
Melissa Yearick
Upper Susquehanna Coalition melissa@u-s-c.org
Stephanie Jacobs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Jacobs.Stephanie@epa.gov
Kevin McLean
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality kevin.mclean@deq.virginia.gov
Sophia Seufert
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) sophia_seufert@fws.gov
Sarah Koser
Chesapeake Bay Trust SKoser@cbtrust.org
Heather Hepburn
Maryland Department of Natural Resources heather.hepburn1@maryland.gov
Johnathan Phinney
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) jonathan_phinney@fws.gov
Sadie Drescher
Chesapeake Bay Trust sdrescher@cbtrust.org
Adam Gold
Environmental Defense Fund agold@edf.org
Jay Ford
Chesapeake Bay Foundation jford@cbf.org
Aaron Wendt
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation aaron.wendt@dcr.virginia.gov
Amanda Poskaitis
Underwood & Associates amanda@ecosystemrestoration.com
Keryn Gedan
George Washington University kgedan@gwu.edu
Megan Diehl
Chesapeake Bay Trust mdiehl@cbtrust.org
Andrew Larkin
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Andrew.W.Larkin@noaa.gov
Dr. Andy Baldwin
University of Maryland baldwin@umd.edu
Duncan Simpson
Princeton Hydro dsimpson@princetonhydro.com
Kristen Saacke Blunk
Headwaters LLC Kristen@headwaters-LLC.org
Kati Booth
The Nature Conservancy kati.booth@tnc.org
Jeryl Phillips
Virginia Institute of Marine Science jrphillips@vims.edu
Jeffrey Lapp
National Association of Wetlands Managers jeff@nawm.org
Lorie Staver
University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science lstaver@umces.edu
Aaron Blair
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) blair.aaronM@epa.gov
Erin Reilly
Virginia Institute of Marine Science emreilly@vims.edu
Megan Lang
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) megan_lang@fws.gov
Amanda Pachomski
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) amanda_pachomski@fws.gov
Elise Frazier
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Elise.M.Frazier@deq.virginia.gov
Matt Robinson
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) robinson.matthew@epa.gov
Shelby Reisinger
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection shreisinge@pa.gov