NAWM

Webinar #4: Pipeline Permitting 101

Held Wednesday, November 7, 2018 – 3-5 pm ET  

INTRODUCTION 

• Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers [PowerPoint Presentation] 

PRESENTERS

• Clifford Brown, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources  [Presentation #1: PowerPoint Presentation] [Presentation #2: PowerPoint Presentation] 
• Robert Parker, Consultant  [Presentation #1: PowerPoint Presentation]  [Presentation #2: PowerPoint Presentation]
• Brenda Zollitsch, Association of State Wetland Managers  [PowerPoint Presentation]

ABSTRACT

This webinar has been designed to help provide a basic overview for regulators that are new to oil and natural gas pipeline permitting and provide a review for others who already are engaged in this work. The webinar began with an overview of the expansion of oil and especially gas pipeline development in recent years and the associated growing need for review of pipeline permit applications by state and tribal aquatic resource regulators.  The webinar covered pipeline basics – how pipeline projects are planned, the general steps in construction, and the potential to participate in a pre-application phase during which many key planning decisions are made.  The webinar discussed the different processes involved in oil and gas permitting.  Next, the webinar providef an overview of §401 Water Quality Certification and where this review process fits into overall planning and permitting. The webinar discussed examples of how states and tribes have dealt with conditioning §401 certifications and share lessons learned.  The webinar concluded by describing new resources designed for those working on pipeline permitting that will soon be available on the Association of State Wetland Managers’ website.

BIOS

Clifford Brown has worked for West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Section, since 1989 and currently serves in the DNR Environmental Coordination Unit as the lead for oil and gas related activities. Responsibilities include review of Section 401 applications, coordination with WVDEP and USEPA for mitigation and restoration associated with administrative orders and consent decrees, coordination with USFWS related to the National Wildlife Refuge System, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, coordination with the USFS for oil and gas projects on the Monongahela, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in West Virginia, and serves on the AFWA Energy and Wildlife Policy Committee and the agency coordinator for review of FERC projects in West Virginia. He holds a B.S. in Biology and a M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from the Pennsylvania State University.

Robert Parker has worked in state government, nonprofits and consulting firms, developing a critical breadth of knowledge about the regulatory process from many perspectives. He is the former Section 401 Coordinator at Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) and currently works as a independent consultant. While at NDEQ Robert also coordinated the state’s Storm Water Management Plan Grants Program and served as project manager for Watershed Management Plans in development by Nebraska Natural Resources Districts under the state's Nonpoint Source Management Plan.  Before relocating to the Great Plains, Robert worked in the Great Basin region with threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout. He has a B.S. in Fisheries Biology from Humboldt State University, where he completed undergraduate research in genetic and morphologic differentiation in isolated populations of rough sculpin (Cottus asperrimus) in California’s Pit and Fall Rivers. Prior to his career in science and policy Robert spent nearly two decades working as a professional whitewater and fly fishing guide in Alaska, California, Montana, and Chile.

Brenda Zollitsch, PhD is Policy Analyst at the Association of State Wetland Managers, leading ASWM’s research on wetland and stream issues. She has been the PI on an ongoing multi-year project exploring ways to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of state and tribal permitting of oil and gas pipeline projects. In addition to her work for ASWM, Brenda serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service teaching courses in public policy. She also assists water resource collaborations as a strategic planner and professional facilitator. Brenda holds her PhD in Public Policy from the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service and a double Masters’ degree in International Relations and Environmental Resource Management from Boston University.   

Part 1: Introduction: Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers

Part 1: Introduction: Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers

Part 2: Presenter: Robert Parker, Wetland Policy Consultant

Part 2: Presenter: Robert Parker, Wetland Policy Consultant

Part 3: Presenter: Clifford Brown, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

Part 3: Presenter: Clifford Brown, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

Part 4: Presenter: Clifford Brown, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

Part 4: Presenter: Clifford Brown, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

Part 5: Presenter: Robert Parker, Wetland Policy Consultant

Part 5: Presenter: Robert Parker, Wetland Policy Consultant

Part 6: Presenter: Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers

Part 6: Presenter: Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers

 

 
Webinar #3: Horizontal Directional Drilling: Understanding Context when Reviewing Oil and Gas Pipeline Permit Applications

Held Monday, October 29, 2018 – 3-5 pm ET 

INTRODUCTION

• Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers [PowerPoint Presentation]

PRESENTERS

• Richard Dalton, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection [PowerPoint Presentation]
• Patrick Ryan, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection [PowerPoint Presentation]
• Rick Gitar, Fond du Lac Reservation [PowerPoint Presentation]
• Brenda Zollitsch, Association of State Wetland Managers [PowerPoint Presentation]

ABSTRACT

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is often considered a best practice for pipeline construction. However, in practice, HDD is only appropriate in certain contexts. This webinar started with a geology primer identifying contexts where HDD both commonly works and does not work well and why. Next, the state and tribal regulators shared their perspectives on reviewing permits that include HDD and some of their lessons learned. They shared the kinds of information that it is beneficial for reviewers to request and common considerations when reviewing and conditioning permit applications that include proposed HDD. Alternatives to HDD and their strengths and weaknesses also was discussed. The webinar concluded with information about new resources for those working on pipeline permitting efforts that will soon be available on the Association of State Wetland Managers’ website.

BIOS

Richard Dalton is a Geologist and Manager for the Office of the State Geologist in the Division of Water Supply and Geoscience at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.  He started with the Bureau of Geology and Topography in spring of 1967 where he was involved mapping the limestone and dolomite geology of northwestern New Jersey. He spent six years doing spill response of oil and hazardous chemicals, then was moved back to the New Jersey Geological Survey where he works in the Office of the State Geologist today.  He is also a member of the New Jersey Well Drilled and Pump Installers Licensing Board.  He holds a BA in geology from Rutgers University. 

Patrick Ryan is an Environmental Supervisor within the Division of Land Use Regulation at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. He supervises a permitting staff responsible for environmental reviews of wetlands, highlands, waterfront, and flood hazard area permit applications for northern New Jersey. Mr. Ryan has a M.S. in Ecology from Penn State University and a B.S. in Natural Resource Management from Cook College, Rutgers University.

Rick Gitar is the Water Regulatory Specialist and Tribal Inspector for the Fond du Lac Reservation – Office of Water Protection, located in northeast Minnesota, where he has worked for over 20 years. He is the administer of Fond du Lac’s Wetlands Protection and Management Ordinance, their Clean Water Act 401 Water Quality Certification program, and provides CWA Section 402 oversight for projects on the Reservation. Rick is also a credentialed inspector for EPA, conducting compliance inspections in the areas of wetlands and storm water. He conducts Fond du Lac’s environmental reviews under NEPA and the tribe’s Tribal Environmental Policy Act Ordinance. Rick received a double major B.S. in Biology (Botany Focus) and Journalism from the University of Wisconsin – Superior and a M.S. in Environmental Biology (Botany Focus) from the University of Minnesota – Duluth. Rick is also a Master Herbalist and teaches adult extension classes. He is currently enrolled in the online Doctorate of Herbal Medicine Program with AMNAH College.

Brenda Zollitsch, PhD is Policy Analyst at the Association of State Wetland Managers, leading ASWM’s research on wetland and stream issues. She has been the PI on an ongoing multi-year project exploring ways to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of state and tribal permitting of oil and gas pipeline projects. In addition to her work for ASWM, Brenda serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service teaching courses in public policy. She also assists water resource collaborations as a strategic planner and professional facilitator. Brenda holds her PhD in Public Policy from the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service and a double Masters’ degree in International Relations and Environmental Resource Management from Boston University. 

Part 1: Introduction: Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers

Part 1: Introduction: Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers Presenter: Richard Dalton, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Part 2: Presenters: Patrick Ryan, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Rick Gitar, Fond du Lac Reservation

Part 2: Presenters: Patrick Ryan, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Rick Gitar, Fond du Lac Reservation

Part 3: Presenters: Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers and Richard Dalton, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Part 3: Presenters: Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers and Richard Dalton, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Part 4: Questions/Answers

Part 4: Questions/Answers

Webinar #2: Cumulative Adverse Effects of Pipeline Development on Wetlands and Other Aquatic Resources

Held Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at 3 pm ET

INTRODUCTION

• Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers [PowerPoint Presentation]
• Webinar Series Information  [PowerPoint Presentation]

PRESENTER

• Wing Goodale, Biodiversity Research Institute [PowerPoint Presentation]

ABSTRACT

Energy projects, particularly pipelines, affect a range of aquatic resources, including wetlands. Impacts to wetlands from pipeline activities range from both short- and long-term destruction and disruption of wetlands and other aquatic resources to water quality impacts, habitat loss, increasing invasive species and compromised quality of critical areas. The adverse effects of a pipeline on a single wetland are important, but of equal or greater concern is the effect of pipelines that cross multiple watersheds and multiple wetlands. A single pipeline can cross hundreds of wetlands and streams, which can lead to cumulative adverse effects (CAE).

This webinar provided an introduction about how CAE can be conceptualized, the language used to discuss CAE, and the legal basis for CAE. The presentation discussed a framework for considering adverse effects, including a review of general approaches for CAE assessments and ways to address these effects. The webinar concluded with the presentation of a thought-provoking approach to conducting simple assessment of CAE that could be adapted for use by wetland professionals as they work to identify and address CAE for projects they are planning and/or permits they are reviewing. The webinar ended with information about the Association of State Wetland Managers’ recent pipeline permitting project and forthcoming resources on CAE that will be available on ASWM’s website.

BIO

Wing Goodale is Senior Deputy Director for the Center for Ecology & Conservation Research and Director for the Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) in Maine.  He is a NSF IGERT fellow in the UMass Offshore Wind Energy Program. Goodale has worked at BRI since 2000 and is now the deputy director. At BRI, he has raised or helped manage over $7.5 million of funds for more than 60 conservation biology projects. Goodale has served on municipal committees, environmental nonprofit boards, professional boards, and college boards, including the governor appointed Maine Board of Environmental Protection.  Wing is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Environmental Conservation at University of Massachusetts, Amherst.  He also has his Master of Philosophy in Human Ecology from the College of the Atlantic and his Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Colorado College.
 

Part 1: Introduction: Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers

Part 1: Introduction: Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, ASWM
Presenter: Wing Goodale, Biodiversity Research Institute

Part 2: Presenter: Wing Goodale, Biodiversity Research Institute

Part 2: Presenter: Wing Goodale, Biodiversity Research Institute

Part 3: Presenter: Wing Goodale, Biodiversity Research Institute

Part 3: Presenter: Wing Goodale, Biodiversity Research Institute

Part 4: Questions/Answers

Part 4: Questions/Answers

Webinar #1: Improving the Information Pipeline: Working with Consultants During Oil and Gas Pipeline Permitting Processes

Held Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at 3 pm ET

INTRODUCTION

• Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers [PowerPoint Presentation]

PRESENTERS

• Clifford Brown, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources [PowerPoint Presentation]
• Brenda Zollitsch, Association of State Wetland Managers [PowerPoint Presentation]
• Evan Hansen, Downstream Strategies, LLC [PowerPoint Presentation]

ABSTRACT

This webinar provided insights about how wetland and other aquatic resource regulators can improve working relationships with consultants who serve as intermediaries for energy companies working on oil and gas pipeline development projects.  This webinar shared insights from state permit reviewers on some of the common challenges, ranging from different understandings of permitting processes, points of access, pipeline terms and use of language.  The webinar discussed helpful ways of working together to establish common understanding, share key concerns about impacts to aquatic resources and incorporate best practices to address those impacts.  The webinar presented a new resource developed by ASWM to help guide more productive conversations and relationships between regulators and consultants, focusing on creating transparency, common understandings, and strong relationships that facilitate both efficient permit review processes and protection of aquatic resources.

BIOS

Evan Hansen is Principal of Water and Energy Programs for Downstream Strategies, LLC a consulting firm in West Virginia.  Evan’s work focuses on resource and environmental problems and solutions in three areas: water, energy, and land. He manages interdisciplinary research teams, performs quantitative and qualitative policy and scientific analyses, provides litigation support and expert testimony, develops computer tools, provides training, and performs field monitoring. He is engaged in ongoing source water protection activities and works with watershed organizations and agencies on Clean Water Act and Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act issues such as permits, TMDLs, antidegradation, and watershed-based plans. Evan has his M.S. in Energy and Resources from the University of California, Berkeley and his B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Evan is a Switzer Environmental Fellow and has worked with ASWM on this project through a Network Innovation Grant from the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation.

Clifford Brown has worked for West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Section, since 1989 and currently serves in the DNR Environmental Coordination Unit as the lead for oil and gas related activities. Responsibilities include review of Section 401 applications, coordination with WVDEP and USEPA for mitigation and restoration associated with administrative orders and consent decrees, coordination with USFWS related to the National Wildlife Refuge System, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, coordination with the USFS for oil and gas projects on the Monongahela, George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in West Virginia, and serves on the AFWA Energy and Wildlife Policy Committee and the agency coordinator for review of FERC projects in West Virginia. He holds a B.S. in Biology and a M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from the Pennsylvania State University.

Brenda Zollitsch, PhD is a Policy Analyst at the Association of State Wetland Managers. Brenda conducts research and policy analysis on wetland and stream issues. Brenda has recently completed a national status and trends/state summaries project analyzing 50 state wetland programs across the United States and a national stream identification, delineation and mitigation study, a communications case study project and a wetland training needs assessment and enhancement project. She currently leads projects focused on increasing access to high quality wetland training and improving energy permitting to protect wetlands. In addition to her work for ASWM, Brenda is a Switzer Environmental Fellow, serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Southern Maine teaching courses in public policy and sustainable communities and assists water resource collaborations as a professional facilitator. Brenda holds her PhD in Public Policy from the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service and a double Master’s degree in International Relations and Environmental Resource Management from Boston University. 

Part 1: Introduction: Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers

Part 1: Introduction: Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers
Presenter: Clifford Brown, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources

Part 2: Presenter: Clifford Brown, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources

Part 2: Presenter: Clifford Brown, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources

Part 3: Presenter: Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers

Part 3: Presenter: Brenda Zollitsch, Policy Analyst, Association of State Wetland Managers

Part 4: Presenter: Evan Hansen, Downstream Strategies, LLC

Part 4: Presenter: Evan Hansen, Downstream Strategies, LLC

View a List of Past Pipeline Permitting Webinar Recordings Here

The National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) holds eight webinars per year for members. NAWM Member webinars cover a variety of topics encompassing wetland science, policy, program implementation, and legal issues. These webinars, including recordings for past webinars are available to NAWM members.  

Not a NAWM Member? Join or Renew 

For more information about this webinar series, please contact Laura Burchill at laura@nawm.org or
(207) 892-3399. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities.

If you haven’t used Go To Webinar before or you just need a refresher, please view our guide prior to the webinar.

View Past NAWM Members' Webinar Series Here 

View a List of Past NAWM Members' Webinar Series Recordings Here 

Please note, updated webinar title.

 Spatially explicit estimation of wetland nutrient inputs and their relationship with water quality 

Wednesday, September 24, 2025 - 3:00-4:00 p.m. EDT    

PRESENTER

• Scott Alford, ORISE / US EPA Office of Research and Development

ABSTRACT

Wetlands are effective in reducing nutrient loads in surface waters, but there is a need to optimize allocation of conservation efforts to efficiently maximize the likelihood of water quality improvements. This presentation describes efforts to quantify nutrients flowing through wetlands and identify existing and potential wetlands that maximize attenuation of excess landscape nutrients across the conterminous United States (CONUS). We then combined our datasets with harmonized national water quality data to model regional and seasonal variability in the relationship between wetland nutrient interception and in-stream nitrate across CONUS. We found that there was a consistent negative relationship between in-stream nitrate concentrations and wetland interception of landscape nutrients in the Upper Midwest, Temperate Plains, and SE Coastal Plains regions of the US with strongest relationships during Spring, illustrating the role of wetlands in reducing landscape nitrogen transport to streams. Drier regions of the western US exhibited either neutral or positive relationships of wetland interception and stream nitrate, depending on the season, indicating that wetlands may accumulate and then serve as a stream nitrate source in these regions under certain conditions. We are currently developing methods to apply these relationships to potential wetland areas across CONUS to estimate potential improvement of water quality through wetland restoration. These analyses and data will provide an optimized CONUS-wide wetland conservation framework to aid local communities better tailor their nutrient reduction strategies.

BIO

Scott is an ORISE postdoctoral fellow with the US EPA’s ORD Freshwater Ecology Branch in Corvallis, Oregon under the mentorship of Dr. Ryan Hill. Scott holds a PhD in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida and has a background in estuarine ecology. Scott’s ORISE project focuses on using spatial analyses to quantify nutrient interception by wetlands across CONUS.

    

A Certificate of Attendance to be used toward Continuing Education Credits is available when participating in NAWM's live webinars. All Certificates must be claimed no later than 60 days from the live presentation. Certificates are not available for viewing recorded webinars. More Information.

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View Past Member' Webinar Series Here

View a List of Past Members' Webinar Series Recordings Here

The National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) formerly the Association of State Wetland Managers (ASWM), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) collaborated to develop a series of webinars introducing the topic of restoration of aquatic ecosystems through the reintroduction of beavers, the use of beaver dam analogues (BDAs) or restoration designed to attract beavers to an area to contribute to changing hydrology and restoring ecosystem services. The webinar series was planned by a national workgroup of beaver restoration experts and webinars are presented by expert practitioners, managers and researchers working in the field. In 2020-2021, the six-part webinar series covered the basics of beaver restoration and continuing through implementation challenges and ways to encourage beaver restoration projects. The series has been added to our Online Trainings library, available here.

If you haven’t used Go To Webinar before or you just need a refresher, please view our guide prior to the webinar here.   

View Past Beaver-related Restoration Webinars
  

Please check back for future Beaver-related Restoration Webinars.

See the NAWM-BLM Beaver-Related Restoration Training Series

Receive information on upcoming NAWM Webinars

Thank you!

The Association conducts research and publishes reports, guidebooks, news articles, brochures, white papers, and summaries of findings of symposia and workshops. These are available electronically to all interested individuals and organizations.

NAWM Publications

Wetland News Digest

Wetland News (Members' Only)

Weekly News of Interest

Listed below are links to news articles that may be of interest to the wetland community. Readers are encouraged to send links to recent articles, publications, and other resources pertaining to wetlands in their local area to Marla Stelk, Executive Director at news@nawm.org and reference “In the News” in the subject.

• Study: 72% of Illinois wetlands no longer protected by federal Clean Water Act

• Deepwater Horizon settlement will pay to restore Cameron Parish marshlands

• Mississippi River mayors want FEMA reform to include wetlands to fight floods

• Wetlands and drought: How does Vermont find and protect wetlands during drought?

• CDFW to acquire rare peat fen wetlands near Bridgeville

• This small Virginia island could be underwater before the next century

Comment Letter

August 6, 2025 –
NAWM Comments on EPA Request for Input on Clean Water Act Section 401

NAWM submitted comments in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) request for input on regulatory uncertainty or implementation challenges associated with the Clean Water Act (CWA) section 401 certification process as defined in the 2023 Water Quality Certification Improvement Rule. NAWM believes that CWA section 401 has worked well for over 50 years and has found no evidence to support claims that the certification process is broken. NAWM does believe EPA needs to revise the certification regulations from 2023. Read letter here. 

MISSION

The mission of the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) is to build capacity for state and tribal members and foster collaboration among the wetland community of practice by encouraging the application of sound science to wetland management and policy, promoting the protection and restoration of wetlands and related aquatic resources, and providing training and education for members and the general public.

VISION

As a result of NAWM’s work, the wetland community has access to and effectively uses sound science, policy, and private/public partnerships to preserve, protect, and restore the nation’s precious and limited wetlands and related aquatic resources.

HISTORY

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. Read more.

Officers

Mark Biddle, Chair

Mark Biddle is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) with more than 30 years of experience. For most of his career, Mark worked at the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) in the Watershed Assessment and Management Section. Mark managed the Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program, the Watershed Management Program, Stream Habitat and Biology Program, and the Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Program. Mark has been involved in Delaware’s regulatory and permitting responsibilities for tidal wetlands, subaqueous lands, 401 water quality certification, and drafting legislation and regulations for non-tidal wetlands. His work has involved the Delaware Wetlands Conservation Strategy, wetland restoration, compensatory mitigation, and wetland banking, assessing restored wetlands for nutrient assimilation, serving as team leader for Delaware Whole Basin Management, leading multiple statewide and regional wetland mapping and other geospatial efforts, and participating on various ecological and green infrastructure initiatives. Mark holds degrees in Natural Resource Management and Soil and Water Management attending both Delaware State University and the University of Delaware. Since leaving employment at DNREC, Mark is currently working for Maryland Environmental Service as Program Manager for Engineering and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Samantha Vogeler, Vice Chair

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 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.

Amy Lounds, Secretary

Amy Lounds has served as the Section Manager for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Field Operations Support Section in the Water Resources Division for the past five years. The Section is responsible for administering, supporting, and enforcing division programs such as the Wetlands, Lakes and Streams, Great Lakes, Floodplains, Critical Dunes, High Risk Erosion Areas, Dam Safety, and the Coastal Management programs, which includes Michigan’s assumed Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act program. Her duties include managing program staff, ensuring compliance with federal requirements and state-federal agreements, providing program guidance for staff and the public, and resolving complex and controversial technical and policy issues. Amy has worked for EGLE for over 25 years and earlier in her career served as the Wetlands, Lakes and Streams Unit Supervisor and the statewide wetland policy specialist and the administrator of the wetland mitigation banking program. Prior to working for EGLE, Amy worked for the Michigan Department of Transportation doing environmental reviews and permit applications for wetlands, inland lakes and streams, and floodplains. Amy has a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Michigan State University and a Maters in Landscape Architecture and Conservation Biology and Ecosystem Management from the University of Michigan. Amy currently lives in Holt, Michigan with her husband and two daughters, and enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors. 

Lauren Driscoll, Treasurer

Lauren Driscoll is the Manager of the Wetlands Program at the Washington State Department of Ecology, a position that she has held since 2005. She is responsible for ensuring statewide consistency in the implementation of wetland permitting, technical assistance, and guidance for local wetland regulations. She oversees the wetland compliance program and writes grants for wetland program activities including projects to improve wetland mapping in Washington. Lauren specializes in wetland policy, mitigation options such as wetland banks, In Lieu Fee and advance mitigation, and analyzing federal legislative and executive actions related to wetlands. Lauren received her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the Evergreen State College where she studied ecology, botany, organic agriculture and computer sciences.

Collis Adams, Past Chair

Collis has served on the Board of Directors of NAWM (ASWM) for many years including several terms as Chair. Collis recently retired as the administrator of the Wetlands Bureau at the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and is currently the owner/manager of Adams Environmental Consulting, LLC providing consulting services to property owners, engineers, municipalities, and others. During his tenure at DES he was responsible for all activities relative to the New Hampshire Dredge and Fill Law (NH RSA 482-A) and the Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act (NH RSA 483-B). Prior to filling that role, he spent ten years with the DES Alteration of Terrain Program reviewing and permitting stormwater management plans for large scale developments and 5 years with the DES Subsurface Systems Bureau reviewing plans for on-site wastewater disposal systems. As administrator of the wetlands bureau he was instrumental in the implementation of an in-lieu fee program for wetland mitigation and then expanding that program to include streams and their riparian habitats. Before DES, Collis spent six years in private engineering consulting and prior to that, a five-year stint with the New England Division of the Army Corps of Engineers. In 1980 Collis graduated with a BSCE degree in civil/environmental engineering from the University of Massachusetts. Collis lives in Goffstown, New Hampshire with his wife Laura. He has two children, one of each, and is particularly proud that he has instilled in them his same sense of love for the outdoors. Collis particularly enjoys spending time along the varied coastlines of New England. Collis also serves on his local Select Board, Planning Board, and Conservation Commission.

Members At Large

Stacia Bax - Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Stacia Bax is the Environmental Manager in the Financial Assistance Center within the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Her section awards loans and grants to wastewater, stormwater, and nonpoint source projects across the State of Missouri. Stacia has over 21 years of experience with the department and has also worked most recently with the Section 401 Water Quality Certification Program for over 11 years, Section 402 NPDES program master general permits (industrial stormwater, industrial process water, construction/land disturbance stormwater, and municipal stormwater), and NPDES eReporting Rule. She also has worked with Section 319 Nonpoint Source grants, Water Quality Standards rulemaking, TMDL development, Montauk State Park as a seasonal naturalist, and fieldwork in the beautiful Ozarks of Southwest Missouri.

In her personal time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter and son (and two dogs) hiking, camping, and kayaking as well as archery, scouting activities, and watching her daughter play college volleyball and son with shotgun sports. In her spare time, Stacia loves to read, cook and bake (pies are her favorite), explore new places, and craft fiber arts (knitting and crocheting namely, though she has a loom she would love to learn to weave on). She lives in Central Missouri.
 

Denise Clearwater - Maryland Department of the Environment

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). 

Andy Robertson, GeoSpatial Services at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Andy Robertson is the Executive Director of GeoSpatial Services at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. In this role, he 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. Andy has a diverse background in spatial information systems, watershed planning, wetland inventory, forest management, environmental impact assessment, desktop and server system support and database administration. He is a Registered Professional Forest Technologist (Alberta, Canada) and has experience leading natural resource projects for both private sector companies and public agencies across Canada and the United States including the Department of Interior, United States Army Corp of Engineers, NOAA, and the Department of Agriculture. Andy has a Forest Technology Diploma from Sault College of Applied Technology in Ontario, Canada, a B.Sc. in Environmental Science from the University of Waterloo and has completed postgraduate work in forest management at the University of Toronto. He is also a steering committee member for the Wetland Mapping Consortium and is co-chair of the Alaska GeoSpatial Council Wetland Technical Group. 

Bill Ryan - Oregon Department of State Lands

Bill Ryan is the Deputy Director at the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) leading the Aquatic Resources Management Program which is responsible for implementation of Oregon’s Removal-Fill and Wetlands Conservation Laws. Prior to joining the DSL in June of 2010, Bill enjoyed 14 years at the Oregon Department of Transportation performing environmental compliance work including wetlands delineation and mitigation, mitigation banking, regulatory streamlining and process improvement. Bill started his professional career in Southern California in 1989 providing environmental planning and habitat restoration expertise for various planning and engineering firms. Bill has been a member of NAWM (ASWM) for nine years. He also serves on the Board of the Oregon Public Management Association which provides networking and low-cost training opportunities for managers and aspiring managers in public service. Bill has an undergraduate degree in Geography Ecosystems Management from UCLA and a master’s in Biology from California State University, Fullerton. His master’s thesis topic was a study of succession in the alluvial scrub plant community following flood events in the Santa Ana River, California. In his spare time Bill enjoys hiking, camping, travel, skiing, singing acapella madrigals with the Sherwood Renaissance Singers and reading a good book.

Mary Ann Tilton - New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

Mary Ann Tilton is the Assistant Wetlands Bureau Administrator with the State of New Hampshire, Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), Wetlands Bureau. Mary Ann oversees wetlands permitting and assists in overall wetlands bureau natural rescue management. She has been with NHDES for over 30 years in various management and supervisory positions. She helped develop the Wetlands Enforcement program and supervised wetlands compliance for 17 years. She has served as the Assistant Administrator since 2005 and oversees state wetlands rules development, program development, and wetlands permitting. She is the recipient of an EPA Merit Award (2019) for development of a Wetlands BMP, multi-year rules initiative, and development of stream crossing rules. She holds a BA degree in Botany and Zoology from Connecticut College, MS in Zoology from University of Rhode Island, and a JD from UNH Law School (formerly Franklin Pierce Law Center), and is a Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) and member of the Society of Wetland Scientists. She lives with her family in Concord, NH and enjoys biking, hiking, skiing, and birding, and exploring amazing wetland habitats.