Why Your Support Matters: Protecting Carolina’s Wetlands Together

rick.savage • August 10, 2025

Message from the Executive Director

As Executive Director of the Carolina Wetlands Association, I have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the incredible impact our Association has on preserving and protecting one of the most vital ecosystems in the Southeast—our wetlands. These rich landscapes are more than just beautiful backdrops to our lives; they are the lifeblood of biodiversity, clean water, natural resilience (flood control), and cultural heritage across North and South Carolina. But the truth is: we cannot do this work alone.


🌿 Wetlands Are Essential—And Under Threat

Wetlands are nature’s unsung heroes. They filter pollutants from our water, buffer communities from flooding, store carbon to combat climate change, and provide critical habitat for countless species. Yet, despite their importance, wetlands continue to be drained, degraded, and dismissed.


Every year, we lose more wetland acreage to development, pollution, and climate pressures. And with each acre lost, we lose a piece of our natural defense system, our wildlife corridors, and our shared legacy.


💧 What We Do—And Why It Matters

At Carolina Wetlands Association, we work tirelessly to:

  • Advocate for wetland-friendly policies at the local, state, and federal levels.
  • Educate communities through workshops, field trips, and public outreach.
  • Support citizen science and stewardship to empower people to protect wetlands in their own backyards through our Volunteer Wetlands Monitoring Program.
  • Conduct research and restoration projects that bring science and action together in working with vulnerable communities to restore wetlands to mitigate flooding.
  • Community Engagement: Our work isn't just about the land; it's about the people who live, work, and play in these communities. Your donations help us organize volunteer events, workshops, and guided nature walks. By bringing people closer to wetlands, we foster a deeper appreciation and a stronger sense of stewardship.

Our work is grounded in collaboration—with landowners, educators, scientists, and volunteers. But behind every successful initiative is a network of supporters who believe in our mission and invest in our future.



💸 Why Financial Contributions Are Critical

We understand that giving is a personal decision. But here’s why your financial support is not just appreciated, it’s essential:

  • We are a nonprofit organization with no guaranteed funding. Every dollar we receive goes directly toward programming, outreach, and conservation efforts.
  • Your contributions allow us to grow—to reach more communities, train more volunteers, and expand our impact across the Carolinas.
  • Funding helps us respond quickly to emerging threats, whether it’s a proposed development in a sensitive wetland area or a new policy that could undermine protections.


Simply put: your donation is an investment in clean water, climate resilience, and a healthier future for all.


🌎 A Shared Responsibility, A Shared Reward

We often say that wetlands don’t have a voice—but we do. And with your help, we can speak louder, act faster, and protect more.

Whether you’re a longtime supporter or new to our work, your financial contribution makes you a vital part of this movement. It tells decision-makers that wetlands matter. It tells communities that someone is fighting for their safety and sustainability. And it tells future generations that we cared enough to preserve what matters most.


🙌 How You Can Help

  • Make a one-time or recurring donation through our website.
  • Sponsor a specific program or event that aligns with your values.
  • Encourage your workplace to match your gift or become a corporate partner.
  • Share our mission with friends and family—awareness leads to action.

Every gift, no matter the size, helps us move the needle. And every supporter becomes part of a legacy of stewardship and hope.


💚 Thank You for Standing With Us

We are deeply grateful for the passion, energy, and generosity of our community. Together, we’ve made incredible strides—but there is still so much to do. With your financial support, we can continue to protect the wetlands that protect us.

Let’s keep this momentum going. Let’s ensure that Carolina’s wetlands remain vibrant, resilient, and revered for generations to come.


With gratitude and determination, 

Rick Savage

Executive Director Carolina Wetlands Association


We can't do this alone. Click here to donate or volunteer.

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Federal Rollbacks Threaten Wetland Protections: What You Need to Know About Senate Bill 5653

By rick.savage • November 3, 2026
The U.S. Congress is poised to weaken federal protection of wetlands. To understand why these changes matter, it helps to know how wetland permitting actually works. How Wetland Permitting Is Supposed to Work Whether the permit goes through the State agency (e.g. NC DEQ or SC DES which reviews water quality impacts) and/or the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and EPA (which review the physical, chemical, and biological impacts), every application is supposed to follow a three-step mitigation sequence: avoid, minimize, and compensate. Avoid. The reviewer works with the applicant to determine whether the impact can be avoided altogether. Often, it can. Minimize. If the impact can’t be avoided, the reviewer and applicant look for ways to reduce it. Compensate. If the remaining impact is large enough, the applicant must compensate for the loss using a formula provided by the ACOE. Mitigation normally takes place in the same watershed and provides the same function as the wetland that was lost. This process takes time, but it is essential. It ensures that applicants don’t overlook options that could spare valuable wetlands. What Senate Bill 5653 Would Change Senate Bill 5653 , the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA),aims to speed up federal and state regulatory decisions on housing and other development projects. But the bill would increase environmental degradation and undermine the federal-state partnerships that protect clean water. Here is the core problem: when permitting is rushed, reviewers can’t carry out the avoid, minimize, and compensate process. More wetlands will be damaged, and there will be no way to make up for the lost wetlands and the benefits they provide. A Weak Answer to the Housing Shortage BAAJA does little to address the real causes of the national housing shortage and construction challenges. Instead, it increases pollution and works against the central goal of the Clean Water Act: to restore and maintain the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters, including wetlands. The bill is an assault on the nation’s rivers, wetlands, estuaries, and lakes. It also looks like a deflection from Congress’s inability to pass legislation that meaningfully tackles the lack of available housing. Undercutting State Authority Over Water Quality BAAJA also limits the authority states hold under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, making it harder for them to meet the water quality standards they have set for their own waterbodies. That would set back five decades of progress toward cleaner water, progress to which every sector of society has contributed, and it would affect generations to come. Fewer Wetlands Protected, and Weaker Review for the Rest This is yet another attack on wetland protection, and it affects all of us. Even those wetlands that remain regulated after recent jurisdictional retreats by EPA and the ACOE would not receive the normal permitting review. In practice, that means they aren’t truly protected either. What You Can Do Contact your representative. Ask your senators to oppose Senate Bill 5653 . You can find and contact your U.S. senators here , or look up your U.S. representative here to share your concerns with the House as well. Support Carolina Wetlands Association. We are your organization fighting to protect wetlands. The next time you explore a wetland or pour a clean glass of water, consider making a donation to help us keep up this work.

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By chase.bergeson • October 16, 2026
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Federal Rule Would Strip Protections from Many Wetlands and Streams

By kim.matthews • October 7, 2026
On September 9, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) offering additional ways to define “waters of the United States” (WOTUS). Why this definition matters The WOTUS definition determines which water bodies the federal government can protect under the Clean Water Act. In November 2025, the agencies proposed revisions to bring the definition in line with the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA. After taking public comments, they have now put forward further options. The new proposal narrows federal jurisdiction even more, potentially stripping protections from the vast majority of U.S. wetlands and seasonal streams. What our comment letter says The Carolina Wetlands Association is submitting comments opposing the proposal. Our main concerns: It would undermine the Clean Water Act’s purpose. The law’s goal is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters. This proposal would severely undercut that goal. The “days of water” test is a poor measure. The proposal decides jurisdiction by how many days a year water is present. That number correlates poorly with a waterway’s ability to carry pollution downstream to the rivers, lakes, and estuaries that would stay protected. Streams dry for as few as 30 days a year could lose protection, and polluters would have an incentive to discharge into them rather than into protected waters. Drinking water is at risk. About 56% of North Carolina’s stream miles feeding public drinking water systems are intermittent, ephemeral, or headwater streams. In South Carolina the figure is 51%. These systems serve 6.6 million people, who would bear higher health risks and treatment costs. Wetlands do critical work. They filter pollutants and nutrients that cause algal blooms, dead zones, and fish kills. Losing that function would also degrade groundwater, which many people drink untreated. The legal reasoning is flawed. We argue the agencies misread the Supreme Court’s language. “Relatively permanent” describes geographic features such as streams with defined beds and banks. The word “continuously” modifies “flowing” and doesn’t limit what counts as relatively permanent. It would be hard to implement. Many affected streams have no data showing how many days they lack surface water. That makes the rule difficult for agencies to administer and leaves landowners unable to tell whether the Clean Water Act applies to their property. The impacts haven’t been analyzed. The agencies should not finalize a rule before measuring the added pollution flowing from newly unprotected waters into those that supply drinking water, or projecting the resulting damage to downstream uses. What you can do Read the SNPRM Submit your comment by October 9, 2026, under Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OW-2025-0322 . Personal stories about the streams, wetlands, and drinking water you depend on are especially effective. Learn more: read the comments we submitted on the November 2025 version of the rule, many of which still apply.