Working Smart to Protect Wetlands: A Primer	Frequently Asked Wetland Protection Questions	Success Stories: Read & Submit
Wetland Rules & Regulations	Wetland Protection Strategies	Links to Additional Information & Resources
Local Government Decisions & Wetlands	Gathering Information About Your Wetland	Report a Wetland Concern or Request Assistance

Most people can readily recognize when a proposed construction project or land use activity will degrade or destroy a wetland. However, far fewer know what to do about it. Whom do you call, and when? What do you say? Will they listen? Will it make a difference?

Fortunately, the law provides many opportunities for concerned citizens to influence project outcomes. You do not need to be a wetland policy expert or ecologist to take advantage of these opportunities, but waging an effective wetland protection campaign does require effort.

Though project details may differ, Wisconsin Wetlands Association recommends the same suite of strategies for working smart to protect local wetlands. Specifically, we encourage citizens concerned about a local wetland development proposal to:

#1: Develop an understanding of the decisions and public participation requirements that apply to your project of concern. This includes federal and state wetland regulations and local approvals for development projects (e.g., zoning decisions and building permits).

#2: Identify what decisions have already been made, and which are yet to come. Mapping out past and future decision points will help you to determine when your input will be most useful and what types of wetland protection strategies will be most effective.

#3: Gather and share specific information about the wetland of concern. Communicating reliable information about what will be lost if the wetland is degraded or destroyed will greatly improve your credibility and influence as you work to inform and educate decision makers, your neighbors, the media and other potential allies.

#4: Use science, statute and savvy to communicate the right information, to the right people, at the right time. Timing, message and method all matter. Carefully consider each one to improve your chances of being heard.

As a whole this list may seem daunting, but the links on the Protecting Wetlands menu above provide detailed instructions on how to meet and exceed these recommendations. If you’re ready to dig in, we encourage you to begin your wetland protection training by reading the section on wetlands rules and regulations. Or warm up slowly and visit the Frequently Asked Wetland Protection Questions pages for a broader peak at the range of topics and strategies discussed on these pages.

As you review these pages, look for this symbol for tips on what to watch for and how to be heard. Detailed advice on how to be an effective voice for wetland protection can also be found by clicking on Wetland Protection Strategies on the menu above.

Note: Though Wisconsin Wetlands Association’s Protecting Wetlands webpages focus primarily on how citizens can reduce the wetland impacts of proposed construction activity, much of the information on these pages will also be useful to help you evaluate and respond to other types of wetland threats.