Members receive weekly issues of Insider’s Edition and bimonthly issues of Wetland News per year. If you are a member already, you may read the latest issue of Insider’s Edition and Wetland News (NAWM’s membership newsletter) by logging in to your Members' Portal. NAWM membership benefits information.
NAWM is looking for photos of our members working in the field—whether inside or outside, regulation or restoration, monitoring & assessment—or mapping & management of wetland resources. We would like to feature photos of wetland professionals doing a wide range of activities in the field of wetland science, policy and management. Please email these photos to Laura at laura@nawm.org for use on the NAWM website and/or in our membership newsletter, Wetland News.
The NAWM membership includes state, tribal, federal, and local wetland managers, regulators, researchers, field scientists, academics, private consultants, and more. These wetlanders work across the United States in a wide variety of wetlands and related aquatic resources. To celebrate the important work that NAWM members are doing, each month NAWM shines the Member Spotlight on one member to learn more about the good work they are doing to protect and restore our wetland resources, how they came to work in wetlands, and how being a member of the Association benefits their work. If you would like to nominate a member for a future Member Spotlight, please reach out to Portia Osborne, NAWM Assistant Director, at portia@nawm.org. View Member Spotlight Archive.
Laura Lapierre
Laura Lapierre is the Wetlands Program Manager for the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Seeing the tangible positive impact my group has made on the Vermont landscape, whether it’s seeing a fence line separating a development from the wetland buffer or a restoration project filled with native plants and wildlife. I love knowing that the many small successes add up across the landscape.
What is one of your biggest professional accomplishments?
Getting seven new wetlands designated with Class I protections. Before the program had the ability to initiate rule changes, there were only three wetlands with the state’s highest level of protection.
What is your favorite wetland species? Why?
One of my many favorite wetland species is Carex leptalea, it is so tiny and sweet. It was the first really small sedge I keyed out by myself and I loved the discovery of it and its habitat.
How did you end up working in wetlands?
In school, I was most interested in biodiversity. Wetlands are the best places to study biodiversity! I ended up studying sedge niche partitioning in grad school and found out I could make a living studying and managing wetlands.
What advice do you have for someone interested in getting started in wetlands work?
Join your local wetland organization and volunteer. It’s a great way to see the different directions you can take with wetland work and networking.
How long have you been a member of NAWM? How have you participated in NAWM?
I’ve been a member for 11 years. I’ve attended many of the annual coordination meetings, contributed to a workgroup or two, and have presented and attended NAWM webinars.
What is your favorite benefit of being a member of NAWM?
Getting out of my state silo! I love seeing what other states and tribes are up to, feeling their struggles and successes, and receiving appreciation of our collective work. This puts wind back in my sails to continue the push to protect and manage our wetland resources.
What is your favorite NAWM memory?
Being a part of the capacity building workgroup. We all have capacity issues and it felt great to problem solve the issue and provide guidance for other wetland managers.
If you would like to nominate a member for a future Member Spotlight, please reach out to Portia Osborne, NAWM Assistant Director, at portia@nawm.org.
View Member Spotlight Archive.