DEEP Releases Online Training for Municipal Inland Wetlands Agencies

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) recently launched a new, free, online training program for municipal inland wetlands agencies. The program, “The Municipal Inland Wetlands Agency Comprehensive Training Program,” was custom built to allow agencies and their staff to carry out the regulatory and training requirements of the Connecticut Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Act (IWWA).

Municipal inland wetlands agencies have the important task of balancing support for their community’s economy with the need to protect and restore inland wetland and watercourse resources. This online training program assists agencies with their responsibilities by examining key sections of the IWWA and reviewing important procedures for conducting agency business. The course also discusses resource restoration techniques, stream crossing guidelines, site plans, and more.

“May is American Wetlands Month, and I can’t think of a better time to announce this important program which instructs and guides municipal inland wetlands agency members and staff on both the law they are implementing and the resources they are charged with protecting,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “An online format allows DEEP to offer comprehensive and quality training without enrollment or geographic constraints, and will significantly reduce training costs to both the state and municipalities.”

The program provides a foundation for inland wetlands and watercourses regulation in Connecticut, promotes consistency in the application of regulations and statutes, and improves decision making capabilities. Following a soft launch of the program in early March, the program received several positive reviews from participants.

It’s important to note that the program is not limited to municipal officials, and DEEP encourages participation by anyone interested in learning about the IWWA, the municipal inland wetlands agency permitting process, and the functions and values of inland wetland and watercourse resources.

Those interested in registering for the program can do so at DEEP’s Training for Municipal Inland Wetlands Agencies web page.