Report on North Carolina Wetlands Definition Revision and Its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

The North Carolina General Assembly enacted a revised wetlands definition law two years ago, aligning the state’s wetlands definition with the federal government’s narrower description. This alignment, mandated by the 2023 Farm Act and consistent with a May 2023 Supreme Court ruling, restricts wetlands protection to areas with a continuous surface connection to Waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act. The change has sparked significant public concern regarding environmental and community impacts.

Public Hearing and Stakeholder Perspectives

During a public hearing held in Raleigh, more than a dozen participants expressed opposition to the revised wetlands definition. Key concerns included:

1. Risk to North Carolina’s waterways and natural pollution filtration systems.
2. Increased flooding due to loss of wetland buffers.
3. Potential loss of protections for approximately 2.5 million acres of wetlands as estimated by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Legislative and Regulatory Context

• The Environmental Management Commission (EMC) is responsible for adopting rules to protect air and water resources and must amend the state’s wetlands definition accordingly.
• The Rules Review Commission is prohibited from challenging the amendment as per the enacted law.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) holds final approval authority over the rule.
• Legislative review of the rule is anticipated during the 2026 General Assembly session.

Environmental and Community Impacts

Experts and advocates highlighted the critical role of wetlands in supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – Wetlands act as natural filters improving water quality.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – Wetlands serve as natural flood buffers, mitigating climate-related flooding risks.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water – Wetlands provide essential habitats for commercially and recreationally important wildlife.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – Protection of diverse wetland ecosystems such as pocosins, Carolina Bays, and cypress swamps.

Key Statements from Environmental Advocates

• Brooks Rainey, Southern Environmental Law Center: Emphasized the importance of expert-driven rulemaking over politically influenced mandates.
• Kerri Allen, North Carolina Coastal Federation: Advocated for state-specific wetland protections tailored to local ecological needs rather than shifting federal definitions.
• Dr. Adam Gold, Environmental Defense Fund: Highlighted wetlands’ capacity to store up to 1.5 million gallons of floodwater per acre.
• Lisa Rider, Coastal Carolina Riverwatch: Warned of increased flooding, degraded water quality, and habitat loss due to wetland protection rollbacks.
• Chris Herndon, Sierra Club North Carolina: Noted the economic consequences of wetland loss, including wasted taxpayer dollars on flood recovery.
• Julie Youngman, Southern Environmental Law Center: Suggested a cautious approach to rule adoption, encouraging collaboration with the legislature to maintain existing protections.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

The proposed wetlands definition revision poses challenges to achieving multiple SDGs by:

1. Reducing natural water purification systems, impacting SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
2. Increasing vulnerability to flooding and climate change effects, undermining SDG 13 (Climate Action).
3. Threatening biodiversity and aquatic ecosystems, affecting SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
4. Potentially harming local economies reliant on healthy ecosystems, relevant to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Next Steps and Public Participation

• The DEQ is accepting public comments on the Wetland Definition Amendment via email and mail through the specified deadline.
• The EMC is scheduled to review recommendations on the revised rule in its September 11 meeting.
• Final rule effectiveness is contingent upon legislative review and EPA approval.

Conclusion

The alignment of North Carolina’s wetlands definition with the federal government’s narrower criteria raises significant environmental and socio-economic concerns. Maintaining robust wetland protections is essential to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals related to water quality, climate resilience, biodiversity, and sustainable communities. Stakeholders urge collaborative, expert-driven approaches to ensure that state-specific ecological needs and community interests are prioritized in wetland conservation policies.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The article discusses wetlands as natural pollution filtration systems and their role in protecting waterways, directly relating to ensuring availability and sustainable management of water.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Wetlands act as natural flood buffers, reducing flooding risks, which is a key aspect of climate resilience and adaptation.
3. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Wetlands support fisheries and aquatic habitats, contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources.
4. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Wetlands provide habitat for wildlife and are critical ecosystems that need protection and sustainable management.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 6 Targets
   • Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including wetlands, to improve water quality and availability.
2. SDG 13 Targets
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters, such as flooding.
3. SDG 14 Targets
   • Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.
4. SDG 15 Targets
   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems, including wetlands.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Wetland Area Protected
   • The article mentions the loss of protection for an estimated 2.5 million acres of wetlands, implying the use of area of wetlands protected or restored as an indicator.
2. Floodwater Storage Capacity
   • Reference to wetlands storing up to 1.5 million gallons of floodwater per acre implies measuring floodwater retention capacity as an indicator of ecosystem service effectiveness.
3. Water Quality Improvement
   • Wetlands’ role in filtering pollution from waterways suggests indicators related to water quality parameters such as pollutant concentration reductions.
4. Community Resilience to Flooding
   • Impacts on rural and working waterfront communities imply measuring incidence and severity of flood events and economic losses due to flooding as indicators.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: coastalreview.org