CWIS -- "California Wetlands Information System"

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Mission Statement

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for implementing federal laws designed to protect air, water, and land. While this is done primarily through regulation, the EPA has also developed a wide variety of funding, planning, and education programs.

Major Roles and Responsibilities in Wetlands Management

EPA activities which affect wetlands include, but are not limited to, developing rules to regulate municipal and industrial wastewater discharge, and stormwater discharge; overseeing drinking water quality; and overseeing U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers regulatory activities pertaining to wetlands protection, and dredge and fill activities.

Legal Mandate

While numerous federal environmental laws guide the EPA's activities pertaining to wetlands, its primary mandate is provided by the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA). Section 404 of the CWA establishes a program to regulate the discharge of dredged and fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands. Activities in the program that are regulated under this program include fill for development, water resource projects (such as dams and levees), infrastructure development (such as highways and airports), and conversion of wetlands to uplands for farming and forestry.

For more information on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency contact:

OFFICE OF WETLANDS, OCEANS, AND WATERSHEDS/WETLANDS DIVISION
John Meagher, Director (202)260-7991
Phil Oshida, Acting Deputy Director, (202)260-7991

Mailing address:
USEPA Headquarters
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460

REGION IX; CA, NV, AZ, HI, PACIFIC ISLANDS
Alexis Strauss, Water Division Director, (415)947-8707

Mailing address:
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105

Webmaster: wetlands@resources.ca.gov