U.S. nationals: Mid-Atlantic Wetlands and Chesapeake Bay Watershed Internship, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Philadelphia, PA)

Under the guidance of a mentor, the selected participant will research aquatic resource approaches and other vetted and field-tested functional assessments and wetland assessment methods and decision tools that are used to improve wetland restoration, mitigation and protection in the Mid-Atlantic Region and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed through literature research and reviews. The purpose of this research is to examine the effectiveness of assessment methods to support wetland program management decisions. The research should concentrate on the four core elements of wetland programs which are: monitoring and assessment; voluntary restoration and protection; regulatory approaches including CWA 401 certification; and wetland-specific water quality standards. The participant will include research being explored by the Mid-Atlantic Wetland Workgroup (MAWWG), the Chesapeake Bay wetland workgroup and through the state and tribal wetland program plans (WPP). The participant’s research may culminate in a report and documentation on the successes and the barriers of wetland protection tools in the above-mentioned core elements.