Supporting Wetlands Managers

The Association of State Wetland Managers received a $40,000 Leadership grant to hire Dr. Brenda Zollitsch in a new staff position of Policy Analyst.  Brenda, a recent PhD graduate from the University of Southern Maine's Muskie School of Public Service, will provide policy analysis and programmatic expertise to ASWM's members nationwide, and will coordinate ASWM's new Wetlands Alliance.  With the increasing recognition of the importance of wetlands, particularly in the face of a changing climate, the new Policy Analyst position will enable ASWM to provide wetlands managers with better access to case studies, effective model practices, lessons learned and new connections with each other.  In her first year, Brenda will complete and analyze a rigorous national inventory of current wetlands laws and regulations in each of the 50 states to provide a base from which ASWM can provide policy recommendations to wetlands professionals.  She will also develop a portfolio of support documents and training materials to help wetlands managers better communicate with policy makers.  Brenda's background in collaborative environmental problem solving and stormwater management will feed directly into her work at ASWM.