Wetlands Under Threat: Local Tools for Protecting Wetlands in a Post-Sackett World

After the Sackett v. EPA Supreme Court decision stripped back federal Clean Water Act protections, local governments found themselves on the frontlines of wetland conservation — and many have more tools available to them than they realize. In this special American Wetlands Month episode, host Sebastian Duque Rios talks with wetland policy experts and on-the-ground practitioners about what local action looks like in practice.

ELI Senior Attorney Amy Reed introduces the Environmental Law Institute's newly published Local Wetland Protection Playbook — a practical guide to regulatory and non-regulatory strategies for municipalities, landowners, and community advocates. Then we hear two case studies. First, we're joined by Karen Cappiella (Center for Watershed Protection) to discuss how Bluffton, South Carolina became the first municipality in the state to close the post-Sackett loophole through a phased wetland ordinance and updated GIS mapping. Finally, we're joined by Mahtaab Bagherzadeh (National Wildlife Federation) and Nina Struss (Prairie Rivers Network) to learn more about how a bi-state coalition in the Quad Cities region of Iowa and Illinois is using climate assessments, ecological corridor mapping, and collaboration to protect wetlands in the region.

• 02:12 – Why Wetlands Matter 
• 05:57 – ELI's Local Wetland Protection Playbook & the Post-Sackett Landscape 
• 13:50 – Case Study: Bluffton, SC — Local Wetland Ordinances in Action 
• 26:41 – Case Study: Quad Cities, IA/IL — Climate Data, Ecological Corridors & Collaboration 
• 58:55 – Closing & How to Get Involved

See the resources mentioned during the episode for more information:

• ELI's Local Wetland Protection Playbook
• NWF Nature-Based Solutions Funding Database

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Creators and Guests

Host

Sebastian Duque Rios

Sebastian Duque Rios joined the Environmental Law Institute as a Research Associate in August 2024. He is the host of the People Places Planet Podcast.

Editor

Natalie Triana

Natalie Triana joined the Environmental Law Institute as a Research Associate in July 2025. She provides editorial support for the People Places Planet Podcast.

NC

Producer

Nick Collins

What is People Places Planet?

Welcome to People Places Planet, ELI's leading environmental podcast. We talk to leading experts across sectors who share their solutions to the world's most pressing environmental problems. Tune in for the latest environmental law, policy, and governance developments.