Welcome to the SWS Website

Welcome to the web site of the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS), an international organization of about 3,500 members dedicated to fostering sound wetland science, education, and management. SWS is the society for wetland professionals. It puts at your fingertips the latest research, access to the smartest people in the wetlands business, and links to the most interesting developments. Explore our site and see for yourself.

SWS News and Current Events

Visions of a Sustainable Mississippi River Meeting 6/22/09

August 10-13, 2009. Collinsville, IL. The conference will convene representatives from commerce, navigation, agriculture, research, recreation and management of our nation's largest river. Organized by The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center. See website for details.

Drought and Water Diversion Threaten Iraqi Marshes 5/28/09

Scientists and participants of the Third Scientific Conference on the Rehabilitation of Southern Iraqi Marshes drafted an appeal to raise international awareness of recent setbacks in the restoration of these once vast marshlands. Droughts and resulting water diversion by neighboring countries threaten previous successes. SWS member Michelle Stevens (mlstevens@prodigy.net) attended the meeting and participated in drafting the appeal letter.

Lee Ischinger (1943-2009), SWS Past President 6/3/09

Lee Ischinger, President of SWS in 1992-3, passed on May 29th. As President, Lee helped establish the Professional Wetland Scientist Certification Program and lestablish the first SWS Business Office, moving the Society “out of the shoeboxes”. He was a leader in the Rocky Mountain Chapter, organized the very successful SWS Conference in Bozeman, MO, USA and many other events for the Chapter. [read obituary]

US Agencies Address Clean Water Restoration Act 5/28/09

Five US Agencies released an open letter supporting revision of the Clean Water Act according to five guiding principles. It was signed by the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Interior, Army Corps of Engineers, and the Council on Environmental Quality.

The letter responds to Senate Bill 787 by Russ Feingold (D-Wis) aimed at clarifying and expanding federal control to all US waters, including wetlands. Proponents say it will restore protections in the 1972 Clean Water Act removed by recent court rulings. Opponents say the expanded federal regulation overreaches. SWS submitted a statement in support of a similar bill in 2007 [read letter].

Jon Kusler Receives SWS Lifetime Achievement Award 5/26/09

Dr. Jon Kusler is the 2009 recipient of the SWS Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Kusler is Associate Director and co-founder of the Association of State Wetland Managers, and author of over 50 publications on wetland science, policy, and law. SWS is pleased to celebrate Jon Kusler's distinguished career in wetland science and management. [announcement flyer PDF]