No Net Loss of Wetlands?

That was the goal of the Law that President Bush Senior signed in 1989, and although it has decreased the rate of wetland acreage lost in this country annually, it is only as good as its enforcement and its enforcers. The Army Corps of Engineers, ultimately charged with enforcing this law, does not have the manpower in many parts of the country to physically go to the sites for most of the development plans that come across its desk, so it relies on accurate assessments from honest and capable environmental consultants, for the most part. It then relies on the developers to stick to the plans that it presents to the Corps. That's a lot of trust. It also assumes that development plans affecting wetlands even make it to the Corp's office. Local governments which review new development have much of the responsibility for making sure the federal wetland laws are followed. However, the ability and alacrity with which they do varies greatly from county to county within some states. Often, it comes down to individual citizens to report violations of this very important law that affects an ecosystem that is so important to so many species, including our own.

http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/pdf/reg_authority_pr.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/