Wetlands Workgroup

Wetland Workgroup Statement: Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency

On May 25, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court determined in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency that the jurisdiction of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) “extends only to those wetlands with a continuous surface connection to bodies that are waters of the United States in their own right, such that they are indistinguishable from those waters.” As a result, this ruling could reduce the number of wetland acres protected under the CWA.

Please see below for the Wetland Workgroup's response to this Supreme Court ruling. Posted February 8th, 2024.

• Wetland Workgroup Sackett v EPA Statement [PDF, 170.5 KB]

2022 Restoring the Wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Workshop

The purpose of this workshop was to bring together key stakeholders to discuss restoration, review barriers, develop strategies and ultimately produce an action plan for accelerating progress towards the Wetlands Outcome identified in the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The final action plan contains plans from jurisdictions, federal agencies, and non-government organizations, and was presented to the CBP Management Board at the December 2022 Management Board meeting.

The Wetland Workgroup, Habitat Goal Implementation Team (GIT 2), and other CBP working groups will be implementing and prioritizing actions from this plan moving forward. Additional resources will be uploaded here as projects are completed.

• 2022 WETLANDS WORKSHOP - Flyer [PDF, 148.0 KB]
• 2022 WETLANDS WORKSHOP - Meeting Minutes & Appendices [PDF, 980.9 KB]
• WETLANDS ACTION PLAN (January 2023) [PDF, 1.9 MB]

GIT-Funded Marsh Data Synthesis Project

The goal of this project was to 1) compile existing datasets and information related to marsh migration under sea level rise-driven inundation due to forecasted climate change, topography of bay shorelines, shoreline condition (e.g., erosion rates, hardening, existing natural resources), existing wetland area and potential migration corridors, and other relevant data from around the Chesapeake Bay and 2) develop a methodology that synthesizes the information in a format that can be used to assist with marsh conservation and restoration decisions under multiple sea level rise scenarios.

This report, titled "Scope of Work 8: Synthesis of Shoreline, Sea Level Rise, and Marsh Migration Data for Wetland Restoration Targeting Final Report" can be found below.

• Scope of Work 8: Synthesis of Shoreline, Sea Level Rise, and Marsh Migration Data for Wetland Restoration Targeting Final Report [PDF, 5.7 MB]

Wetland Co-Benefits Factsheet For Virginia Planners

This factsheet provides resource managers and state planners in Virginia with information on how wetland and living shorelines support the Commonwealth's existing programs and policies. Decision makers can review the resource to see how wetland protection, restoration and enhancement supports plans and initiatives meant for economic development, public health and safety, infrastructure maintenance, and natural benefits.

• How Wetland and Living Shorelines Support Virginia Plans and Policies [PDF, 636.7 KB]