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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