Open menu

Local Wetland Programs

Local governments are often best suited to fill wetland regulatory protection gaps because they are better situated to recognize wetland value in the local context. Many cities and towns have already taken steps to provide additional protection for wetland resources by adopting wetland ordinances and incorporating wetland management into smart growth initiatives, stormwater management, flood control, and climate resiliency goals. These actions can result in tangible ecological, sociological, and economic benefits for those communities.

Urban Wetlands Protection and Restoration Guide

NAWM Local Government Publications

Guides and Handbooks

Building Community Resilience with Nature-Based Solutions: A Guide for Local Communities
FEMA - 2020

Community Rating System: A Local Official's Guide to Saving Lives, Preventing Property Damage, and Reducing the Cost of Flood Insurance
FEMA - 2018

A Guide to Assessing Green Infrastructure Costs and Benefits for Flood Reduction
NOAA – April 2015

State Specific Resources

New York State Wetland and Watercourse Protection Measures

Washington State Critical Areas Handbook
Washington State Department of Commerce - June 2018

Wisconsin Model Wetland Conservation Ordinance
Wisconsin Wetlands Association – 2016

Other Resources

Green Infrastructure Effectiveness Database
NOAA

Urban Flooding: Moving Towards Resilience
ASFPM Foundation - 2020

Urban Wetland Design Guide: Designing wetlands to improve water quality