PLCY 698 is the final capstone course to complete the public policy major at UNC-Chapel Hill. For this class, we were divided into teams and assigned a nonprofit to conduct policy research for. My teammates and I had the opportunity to work with Coastal Carolina Riverwatch - a grassroots, female-led, nonprofit organization working to serve and protect North Carolina’s White Oak River Basin. Throughout the semester, we conducted thorough research on federal, state, and county-level wetland policy, as well as the key role that wetlands have on environmental, economic, and public health.

This research is especially important in light of recent federal and state legislation that puts wetland health at risk. In May 2023, The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) significantly reduced the scope of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The decision officially excluded isolated wetlands from receiving protections under the CWA, as they do not border larger bodies of water nor do they have a connection to “navigable waters.”

In the wake of this decision, the North Carolina General Assembly reclassified the definition of wetlands in the NC Farm Act of 2023. This bill altered the state definition of wetlands to be consistent with the federal definition. NC previously had its own legal protections for wetlands in addition to the CWA, but the Farm Act combined with the Sackett v. EPA ruling now leaves over 2.5 million acres of NC wetlands open for development and degradation. Wetlands are invaluable resources that are crucial for the well-being of North Carolinians, especially those who reside in coastal communities.

Our research highlights the importance of maintaining wetland protections in federal and state laws. Our report discusses historical wetland policy, trends in wetland health and water quality over the past 25 years, and recommendations for policymakers and environmental advocates moving forward. Check out our work below!