1. Mid-Atlantic Wetland Monitoring Work Group (MAWWG) A Regional Wetland Monitoring Workgroup Regina Poeske Wetland Monitoring Coordinator EPA Region III

2. MAWWG The Mid-Atlantic Wetland Monitoring Work Group (MAWWG) is a subgroup of the National Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Work Group. Begun in 2002. Responds to the needs of Mid-Atlantic States in development of their wetland monitoring programs.

3. MAWWG Funded through a Region III Wetland Development Grant. Includes all Region III States; Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Also includes Ohio, New Jersey, New York and North Carolina; recognizing ecoregion overlap.

4. MAWWG Goal of MAWWG is to build the capacity of states to monitor wetlands for incorporation into state water quality monitoring programs. Provide a forum for technical support, data and methods sharing.

5. MAWWG Need to regionalize wetland monitoring efforts for several reasons: WQ monitoring done at state level, wetland monitoring needs to reflect and coordinate with this model. Wetland types can vary significantly across the nation and even regionally, need to development monitoring methods that reflect these differences.

6. MAWWG Regional effort recognizes need for consistent approaches to wetland monitoring throughout Mid-Atlantic states. promotes partnerships between states and within states, such WQ monitoring efforts and wetland monitoring. seeks the effective use of limited resources to achieve the aims of the Ten Elements without overtaxing state programs.

7. MAWWG MAWWG has concentrated on the following issues: Inventory and Rapid Assessment – Increase the quality and scope of application of existing methods. Biological Assessment – Help establish the scientific basis for wetland standards and criteria. Standards and Criteria – Build the administrative and technical documentation to support adoption of water quality standards for wetlands. Strategy Development and Implementation – Identification of the elements of an adequate wetland monitoring and assessment program.

8. MAWWG Issues and Challenges: WQS for wetlands, what to measure. How to measure. Private property. How to coordinate with existing state water quality monitoring programs. How to implement a wetland monitoring program given current state resources.

9. MAWWG Region III role: Provide financial support through the Wetland Program Development Grants. Provide technical guidance and training in assessment methods, WQS development and policy issues. Facilitate interstate coordination through efforts such as MAWWG and participation in National Wetland Workgroup. Coordination with EPA Office of Research and Development and state efforts (EMAP, REMAP, RARE, STAR Grants).

10. Region III Efforts Pilot projects in 2 watersheds: Juniata Watershed in Pennsylvania Nanticoke watershed in Delaware and Maryland Assessment of wetland condition on a watershed basis.

11. MAWWG Next MAWWG meeting set for early November in Northern Virginia. Agenda set by states to meet their needs. Seeking to get more interaction and coordination with state WQ monitoring coordinators.

12. TMDL Settlement Agreement in Region III requires development of wetland assessment protocols in Pennsylvania and Delaware by the year 2004.

13. Regina Poeske Wetland Monitoring Coordinator EPA Region III 215-814-2725 poeske.regina@epa.gov