Integrating Wetlands and Watershed Management: Lessons from the U.S.

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Integrating Wetlands and Watershed
ManagementLessons from the U.S.

• By Dr. Jon Kusler
• Association of State Wetland Managers
• aswm_at_aswm.org
• www.aswm.org
• P.O. Box 269, 1434 Helderberg Trail
• Berne, N.Y. 12023 USA

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Outline

• History of Effort in the U.S.
• Progress in Integrating Wetlands and Water
  Resources Management
• Examples of Techniques
• Problems Encountered
• Suggested Future Directions Based on What We Have
  Learned

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Historical Perspective

• Water and Wetlands Management in U.S. Prior to
  1970
• Adoption of Environmental Programs in 1970s and
  1980
• Federal
• 1968 National Environmental Policy Act
• 1972 Water Pollution Control Act
• 1990 No Net Loss Wetland Goal
• Farm Bill and Many Other Acts
• State
• Local
• Implementation in the 1970s to 2003

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Losses

• Nationally over one half of all historical
  wetlands destroyed
• Over 75 destroyed in many states
• Many of the remaining wetlands degraded due to
  pollution, impaired hydrologic regimes,
  fragmentation, loss of adjacent buffer habitat

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WATER RESOURCE PROBLEMS RESULTING FROM WETLAND
LOSSES

• Increased Nonpoint Pollution
• Increased Flooding
• Increased Erosion
• Increased Sedimentation of Reservoirs
• Loss of Groundwater Recharge
• Loss of Water Recreation
• Loss of Waterfowl
• Loss of Fish, Mammals, Amphibians, Reptiles
• Loss of Educational, Research Opportunities
• Loss of Heritage Values
• Loss of Biodiversity

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Mississippi River Flooding Near St. Louis in 1993
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Adoption ofNo Net Loss Goal (1990)

• The National Wetland Policy Forum in 1990
  recommended the following interim and long term
  goals (See Protecting Americas Wetlands An
  Action Agenda, The Conservation Foundation,
  Washington, D.C.)
• Interim Goal To achieve no overall net loss of
  the nations remaining wetlands base.
• Long Term Goal To increase the quantity and
  quality of the nations wetlands resource base.

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ADOPTION OF REGULATORY STANDARDS FOR WETLANDS
AND OTHER AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

• No net loss of functions and acreage
• Avoid wetlands if there are practical
  alternatives
• Mitigate (reduce) project impacts
• Compensate for impacts through restoration,
  creation, or enhancement

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Wetlands and Water ResourcesManagement Efforts

• Are multiobjective
• Bring the biological/botanical and
  engineering/water resources communities together
• Generate maps and other wetlands and water
  resources information
• Help key actors (stakeholders) form collaborative
  visions for the future and
• Provide consensus-building and conflict
  resolution mechanisms.

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Wetlands and Water Resources Management Efforts

• Are being undertaken at a variety of scales at
  federal, state, and local levels of government.
• Include a variety of traditional water resources
  projects with wetland components pollution
  control, stormwater management, floodplain
  management, erosion control, water supply,
  recreation.
• Include a variety of ecosystem-related wetland,
  floodplain, riparian area and aquatic resource
  projects with broader water resources management
  components.
• Include a variety of watershed planning, coastal
  zone, river, floodplain management, greenway and
  other multiobjective resource management planning
  and implementation and projects.

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Wetlands and Water Resources Management Efforts

• Are being implemented through a broad range of
  techniques
• Public education efforts
• Mapping and inventory efforts
• Land and water use plans and regulations
• Wetland and floodplain restoration projects
• Greenways
• Water projects and other public works projects
• Acquisition programs
• Tax incentive programs

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BENEFITS OF INTEGRATED WETLANDS AND WATER
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

• Less costly and more effective achievement of
  multiple goals
• Reduced conflicts
• Facilitated regulatory permitting
• Improved political acceptability
• Improved funding capabilities

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BRING TOGETHER KEY MANAGERS

• ENGINEERS
• HYDROLOGISTS
• BIOLOGISTS AND BOTANISTS
• LAND USE PLANNERS
• FLOODPLAIN MANAGERS
• OTHERS

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EXAMPLES OF INTEGRATED APPROACHES TO TRADITIONAL
WATER RESOURCES

• FLOOD LOSS REDUCTION AND EROSION CONTROL
• STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
• WATER SUPPLY
• POLLUTION CONTROL
• OUTDOOR RECREATION

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WETLANDS ANDFLOOD LOSS REDUCTION

• Adoption of restrictive floodplain regulations to
  protect flood storage and conveyance areas
• Creation of greenways
• Relocation of structures
• Bioengineering of stream banks

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Restrictive Regulations
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Greenways
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Restoration of FragmentedCorridors
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Bioengineering
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Wetlands and Stormwater Management

• Preservation of natural detention areas
• Construction of new wetland/stormwater detention
  areas
• Retrofitting existing detention areas
• Preservation of stream buffers

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Preservation of Natural Detention Areas and
Grassed Channels
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Retrofitting Existing Detention Areas
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Source Water Protection

• Protection of natural stream buffers
• Wetland restoration
• Erosion control through bioengineering

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Protection of Natural Buffers
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Bioengineering
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Pollution Control

• Fencing
• Buffer Strips
• Construction of Wetlands
• Wetland Restoration
• Stream Restoration

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Setbacks and Buffers
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Constructed Wetlands
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Wetland Restoration
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Stream Restoration
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Outdoor Recreation

• Hiking, Biking, Walking
• Ecotourism
• Canoeing and Boating Opportunities

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Hiking, Biking, Walking Trails
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Boardwalks, Birdwatching, Ecotourism
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Problems and Restraints

• Separate Program Mandates and Goals
• Lack of Money
• Lack of Staff
• Lack of Expertise
• Turf Battles
• Lack of Scientific Know-How
• Lack of Incentives to Bring Key Actors to the
  Table
• Conflicts in Goals and Statutes
• Political Pressures for Development
• Many Restoration Projects Partially Failing

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Summary Keys to Successful Integration

• Educate the Public and Government Agencies
• Rethink Watershed Management to Include Ecosystem
  Protection
• Adopt No Net Loss Goal
• Bring Key Actors Together on Specific Projects
• Develop Multiobjective Data Bases
• Employ New Technologies (e.g., GIS)
• Look for Win/Win Opportunities
• Be Practical

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• THANK YOU