ASWM has been involved with the discussion on wetlands in the context of floodplains, flooding events and other natural hazards for over 20 years. ASWM recently published its draft report, "Assessing the Natural & Beneficial Functions of Floodplains" here. In addition to the resources published here, please also visit the Association of State Floodplain Managers, a long-time partner and "sister" organization of ASWM's.

Wetlands are a part of a larger watershed context. A watershed is an area of land where all of the water is somehow connected to each other (above ground or underground) in a water system made up of a tributary of headwater streams, different kinds of wetlands, lakes or ponds (or both), rivers, creeks and/or major streams, flowing into another water body, possibly a large lake, large river, or ocean. Often when wetland managers talk about protecting wetlands, they are also considering the watershed (streams, lakes, ponds, other waters, ocean) that are part of the bigger picture. On this webpage, there are resources and publications related to watersheds.

Since the events of the Mississippi River floods of 2011, ASWM has kept a finger on the pulse of important media coverage, valuable information, reports --especially as related to wetlands and floodplains management, and interesting blog posts. This page is updated regularly. The information is sorted below into groups to aid in finding information about the flooding events and subsequent coverage.

The Association of State Wetland Managers is a member of the Natural Floodplain Function Alliance (NFFA). The Alliance is an affiliation of federal agencies, professional and nonprofit organizations, and individuals who are dedicated to the protection and preservation of the natural functions of floodplains, which includes coastal areas.  It was established to “promote, protect, and enhance the protection, restoration, and management of natural floodplain resources.” For more information, contact Jeanne Christie with the Association of State Wetland Managers. For information, click here. These webpages provide information about activity and issues shared by alliance members. Membership in the alliance is open to organizations that support natural flood functions.