...is under development or facing a development project, and you are concerned about the wetland. For larger wetlands, it might be wise to learn about the federal Clean Water Act and what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does at the Office of Water and Wetlands. For what they do, click here. To learn about wetlands in different regions throughout the U.S., click here for the EPA's webpage, Science Notebook entry on wetlands.

Understanding local, state and federal dredge and fill permitting programs can be complicated! ASWM has put a few guides together here for citizens to learn about these programs that affect wetlands and the regulated activities, e.g. filling in a wetland. American Rivers published A Citizen's Guide to the Corps of Engineers, which has a chapter on understanding the Section 404 Program, including the regulation of wetlands under the Clean Water Act. For the full guide, click here.

If the wetland is being filled or dredged without a permit, go to the town or county office to inquire as to the status of the permit application for the project. If the local and state authorities know nothing about a project or permit for that wetland, they might take the lead in investigating it. If you are a resident, you have a right to know about the permitting authority (whether it is the local, state or federal government) for that wetland project. For information on state wetland programs, click here.