SYMPOSIUM PRESENTER CO-AUTHOR: Ken Powell, Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources TITLE: Draft Wetland Functional Assessment Tool for WI and MN ABSTRACT: The Wisconsin and Minnesota Wetland Rapid Assessment Methods (RAM) are currently used to evaluate wetland function and inform some regulatory and mitigation decisions. Supported by US Environmental Protection Agency wetland development grant funding, state agencies in Minnesota and Wisconsin are working jointly to update their RAM with a quantitative tool that evaluates several wetland functions, including water quality, hydrology, ecology, and human use values. Presenters will discuss the strategy for developing the new tool and show current tool functions, data sources, and plans for field testing and public input. BIO: Tom Pearce received a master’s degree in urban and regional planning and a master’s degree in water resources management from UW-Madison. Tom has worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) for the past five years coordinating policy and administration of the state wetland regulatory program. Prior to working for WDNR, Tom spent five years working in environmental education and conservation leadership.