USACE finally implemented the pending 2018 changes to the National Wetlands Wetlands Plant List (NWPL) on May 18, 2020, effective immediately. Below you'll find the eight (8) plant species being added to the NWPL and the four (4) species with at least one regional indicator status change.

These changes are now live in Ecobot!

Be sure to download the latest version from the App Store.

You can now map and name multiple wetland polygons on the fly, and use the built-in map to navigate between sampling points. Instantly generate Esri ArcGIS-ready points and polygons. With no manual effort, map features collected in the field can now be dropped directly into ArcGIS Pro or into other GIS software that can import Esri shapefile formats.

One year ago, Ecobot was excited to announce our partnership with Esri. Our combined efforts are now baring fruit with enhanced offline mapping functions and ArcGIS integrations available within Ecobot's version 2 release this week.

In today’s fast paced world, probably more than any time in history, the essence of Heraclitus philosophy that the only constant in life is change has become the reality for most of Earth’s citizens.  Between technology, communications, and speed of travel, human reality is changing faster than most individuals can comprehend or keep up with.  Change is constant.  We can’t step in the same river twice; the river changes and so do you.

Obi-Wan Kenobi’s legendary line from the original Star Wars: A New Hope, thwarted the probing questions of the stormtroopers looking for R2-D2 and C-3PO, and captured the hearts and souls of fans across the galaxy. The art of persuasion through the redirection of thought and energy can sway most minds that are not sealed against it. In these times where science-fiction is a part of our everyday lives, it can be easy to lose sight of just how easily we can be redirected by programming, marketing, and artificial intelligence. We are constantly being mined for data so we can be groomed as better customers.

Updated on 2/17/2020:  On January 23, 2020, the new WOTUS rules went into effect, limiting federal jurisdiction to wetlands that are connected via surface water, excluding ephemeral streams and isolated wetlands. With this new  ruling, the US loses nearly 18% of its stream protections and as much as 50% of wetland protections. States like Nevada and Arizona lose upward of 85% of their water protections. Again, the question stands: if the impetus for this rule change is to save money and time on regulations, why is no one talking about technology?

Updated on 10/02/2019:  On September 12, 2019, the US Environmental Protection Agency finalized its repeal of a 2015 Obama Rule for jurisdictional WOTUS by the federal government.  This change will largely impact the 22 states where the Obama Rule has been in effect.  This decision will create nationwide regulatory confusion and lawsuits.  I will continue to stay abreast of the details and provide relevant updates on new publications.

As the Chief Scientific Officer of Ecobot, it is crucial that I address the pending changes to the rules of implementation of the Clean Water Act proposed by the current administration.  While all regulations must be occasionally looked at in order to evolve with the times, the proposed changes, if implemented, would be a great tragedy to the both the environment and the economy of the United States.  The proposed changes to the protection of “the Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) would be a major backward step in responsible progress of our country and the world at large.