United StatM
                    Environmental Protection
                    Agency
Office of Water (WH-556F).
Office of Wetlands, Oceans.
and Watersheds (A-104 F)
EPA843-F-93-001 cc
March 1993
      „   ?*   WETLANDS FACT SHEET # 29
EPA REGION VII IRC
                   EPA's Outreach Efforts
   069175
           EPA's Wetlands Division marshals
     a variety of tools to protect wetlands effec-
     tively. One of the primary tools is outreach,
     including fostering public and private part-
     nerships, providing technical assistance, and
     educating the public. The Wetlands Divi-
     sion and EPA's Regional Offices are actively
     involved in outreach initiatives that include:
     •   creating partnerships with the agricul-
        tural community, private landowners,
        State and local governments, and other
        Federal agencies;
      •  educating the public, children, and
        adults;  and
      •  providing technical assistance to State
        and local governments as well  as pri-
        vate, and non-profit organizations.

     BACKGROUND

           In order to increase long-term wet-
     lands conservation and management, it is
     necessary to enhance public understanding
     of the value of wetlands as well as support
     innovative programs that encourage pri-
     vate, State and local actions to conserve
     wetlands.

     OUTREACH INITIATIVES

     •    EPA  Wetlands Protection Hotline:
     (1-800-832-7828): A toll free telephone ser-
                   vice, operated by a contrac-
                   tor to EPA, that is respon-
                   sive to public interest, ques-
                   tions, and requests  for in-
                   formation about wetlands.
     In its first year of operation (March 1991-
     February 1992), the Hotline received and
     responded to over 14,100 calls, an average of
     more than 1,100 per month.
   •American Wetlands Month—Across the
   country each May, Federal agencies, State
   and local governments, and private and
   non-profit organizations come together vol-
   untarily to increase public awareness of the
   values  and productivity of wetlands, en-
   courage people to enjoy these resources,
   and to protect, recognize,  enhance, com-
   memorate, and restore our Nation's  wet-
   lands.
   •Audubon's America: A program to pro-
                 tect, conserve, restore, en-
                 hance  and interpret the
                 natural and cultural re-
                 source values of the land
                 and water areas in the 35
   States where John James Audubon lived,
   traveled, wrote, painted, and observed. This
   will be accomplished by recognizing and
   establishing a system of connected public
   and privately owned natural areas in the
   mid-western and eastern United States.

   •Sponsorship of Workshops and Confer-
               ences: EPA sponsors a vari-
               ety of forums encouraging in-
               formed discussion on  wet-
               lands issues including State
               programs, wetlands and wa-
   tershed management, categorization, miti-
   gation, altered wetlands, and education.
   • Available   Publications:  Private
   Landowner's Wetlands Assistance Guide;
   Agriculture and Wetlands: a Compilation
               of Factsheets; Beyond the Es-
               tuary: ThelmportanceofUp-
       EPA   \  stream Wetlands in Estuarine
               Processes; and America's
               Wetlands: Our Vital Link Be-
               tween Land and Water.
         For more information,, contact the EPA Wetlands Hotline at 1-800-832-7828 *
     •contractor operated

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