From Swamp to Suburb: The True Cost of Wetland Loss in Florida

May 13, 2026

Florida has lost tens of thousands of acres of wetlands in recent decades — transforming landscapes, altering water systems, and threatening wildlife and the communities that depend on them. This webinar examines the drivers and consequences of wetland loss across the state, the legal and regulatory frameworks that shape wetland protection, and the data and tools that bring decades of change into clear view.

Hear from three leading voices working at the intersection of science, policy, and law. Julianne Thomas (Conservancy of Southwest Florida) introduced the Conservancy’s recently released wetlands mapping tool, demonstrating how decades of development have reshaped Southwest Florida. Mariana Aziz Pico (Miami Waterkeeper) examines Miami-Dade County’s Urban Development Boundary and the local planning and policy tools available to protect remaining wetlands. Christina Reichert (Earthjustice) closed with the federal legal landscape — Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the recent D.C. Circuit ruling that keeps federal wetlands permitting in place, and what the evolving definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) means for our wetlands future.

Together, the program moves from data to local policy to federal law — offering a comprehensive look at what’s at stake and what  community planning can do to protect these critical ecosystems before more are lost.

This event was approved for the following continuing education credits for those who attended the live webinar

• American Institute of Certified Planners — 1.5 AICP CM (#9328597)
• Florida Bar — 1.5 General CLE (#2605259N)
• Florida Environmental Health Professionals — 1.5 Contact Hours / 0.15 CEUs
• Certified Floodplain Managers — 1 CEC
• Florida Landscape Architects (1.5 DBPR Credits #0015851)