SEWF's Executive Director, Christine Olsenius, has written an article, "Institutional Barriers To Wetland Protection" that is featured in the May-June 2010 edition of the National Wetlands Newsletter (published by the Environmental Law Institute).  The article examines the way in which a lack of coordination between land use planning, watershed planning, and natural resource protection at the county and city level is preventing better wetlands protection.  It offers strategies for capacity building at the local level and for helping decision makers understand the value of green infrastructure.

To view the full-text article click here.

To learn more about institutional barriers to wetland protection or for questions, please contact Christine Olsenius at co@southeastwaterforum.org.

On April 16th, President Obama kicked off his America's Great Outdoors Initiative to promote innovative community-based efforts to conserve outdoor space and reconnect Americans to the outdoors.

For the last seven years the Southeast Watershed Forum has been encouraging communities to preserve forests, riparian areas, wetlands and open space to enhance watershed protection, while at the same time providing recreational and tourism opportunities, preserving habitat and maintaining local quality of life. Preserving land and water resources offer multiple values to local cash-strapped communities.

Providing places where people can access their rivers and streams, like Tennessee's Park and Float Program, helps paddlers enjoy southern waterways and provides places for anglers to drop the line and enjoy a peaceful evening.

The Forum has been encouraging the development of southern water trails, or "Blueways" for nearly 5 years and worked with the National Park Service last fall to host the first Southern Water Trails Conference in Chattanooga.

According to Nancy McPhee, program manager for the Lee County Florida Convention and Visitor's Bureau and a conference speaker, the development of the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail had a positive economic impact on their local economy. The number of outfitting businesses doubled between 2003 and the trail’s completion in 2007, and despite today’s economy, they are thriving.

According the Christine Olsenius, Executive Director of the Southeast Watershed Forum, the Southeast has a unique opportunity to lead the nation in the development of water trails. "These are liquid assets," said Olsenius. "Outdoor recreation and eco-tourism generate a great deal of funding for states and can be an integral part of a community's plan for sustainable growth and development."

(Click here to see an interview with Christine Olsenius on Water Trails)

One of President Barack Obama’s top priorities is to build economically competitive, healthy, opportunity-rich communities. In support of this effort, Congress provided a total of $150 million to The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a Sustainable Communities Initiative in the 2010 Budget to improve regional planning efforts that integrate housing and transportation decisions, and increase the capacity to improve land use and zoning.  Approximately $100 million will be available for regional integrated planning initiatives through HUD’s Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program.  This program is currently accepting registrations by those entities and organizations that are interested in seeking funding.  The deadline for the initial registration process is May 14, 2010.

To read the full article and learn more about the Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program and Initiative and how to register for funding consideration, click here.

This year marks the 12th anniversary of the Southeast Watershed Forum. Born out of a desire and need to share southern best management practices and watershed success stories on land and water protection, the Forum has been developing partnerships, tools and technical assistance to meet the needs of the fastest growing region in the nation. Click here to read the report.

During two brisk October days in Chattanooga, TN, more than 100 individuals from water and land conservation organizations, paddle groups, government agencies, chambers of commerce, utilities and businesses gathered for the first Southeastern Water Trails Forum.  Thanks to a partnership between the Southeast Watershed Forum, the National Park Service, and many other sponsors, the conference was held October 29-30, 2009, at the Chattanooga Marriott and provided a unique opportunity for sharing ideas and success stories for developing, maintaining and promoting water trails in our Southeastern communities.  Focusing not only on the logistics, but also on the environmental and economic benefits of water trails, this forum proved to be a successful venue for discussion that we plan to continue into the future.  Please check back soon for photos from the event, speaker presentations and more!