Minnesota Wetlands Law & Compliance
DISCLAIMER
Before purchasing, review the rules of your licensing or certifying entity. It is your responsibility to confirm this course meets your CE requirements. See the credit tab on the course page for details.
What’s Included: Full webinar recording, written course materials, expert instruction, a mandatory quiz, and a certificate upon completion.
Deliverability Timeline: All courses are generally available within 1-2 weeks after the live presentation.
CE Credits: AIA and/or LA/CES accreditation is available by request for courses recorded prior to March 11, 2026. All courses after that date include those accreditations by default, if applicable. With these accreditations, our courses qualify for credit in nearly all states for engineers, surveyors, architects, and landscape architects.
Learn more about the on-demand format in our FAQ or contact us at (715) 835-5900 or customerservice@halfmoonseminars.org
Agenda
Registration: 8:00 – 8:30 am
Morning Session: 8:30 – 11:45 am
Lunch (On your own): 11:45 am – 12:45 pm
Afternoon Session: 12:45 – 4:35 pm
Introduction and Objectives
Identifying Wetlands
What is a wetland
Identifying wetlands (3 parameter approach)
Other non-wetland aquatic resources
Wetland Functions and Values
Understanding the importance of wetlands
• Flood storage and conveyance
• Water quality
• Pollution control and carbon storage
• Erosion control
• Wildlife habitat
• Recreation
Understanding Federal Law and Minnesota’s Wetland Laws
Federal laws
• National Food Security Act of 1985
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (NRCS)
• Clean Water Act – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Minnesota state regulations
• Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA)
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• Local ordinances/watersheds
Wetlands Permitting Process
Wetland delineations
Public waters/MPARS
Wetland permitting processes – the Joint Application and WCA/Corps
• Notice provisions
• Review process
• Mitigation/compensation requirements
• Appeals process
Compensatory Wetland Mitigation/Banking
Forms of mitigation
• On-site/project specific
• In-lieu-fee
• Banking
Methods
• Creation
• Restoration
• Preservation
Credits
Attorneys
6.5 Minnesota CLE Hours
7.5 Wisconsin CLE Hours
Professional Engineers & Geologists
6.5 PDHs
Floodplain Managers
6.5 ASFPM CECs
Continuing Education Credit Information
This seminar is open to the public and is approved for 6.5 standard CLE hours for Minnesota attorneys. The Wisconsin Board of Bar Examiners has approved this course for 7.5 CLE hours.
This seminar offers 6.5 PDHs to Minnesota professional engineers and geologists to whom the subject matter is professionally relevant. Educators and courses are not subject to preapproval in Minnesota.
Minnesota engineers and geologists with continuing education requirements in other states will be able to apply the hours earned at this seminar, in most cases. Refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility.
The Association of State Floodplain Managers has approved this event for 6.5 CECs for certified floodplain managers.
Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the seminar for most individuals who complete the entire event. Attendance certificates not available at the seminar will be mailed to participants within fifteen business days.
Speakers
Ben Meyer
Mr. Meyer is a wetland specialist with the Board of Water and Soils Resources (BWSR) located in the Central Office in St. Paul. He provides technical and administrative direction, program implementation and evaluation, and project oversight regarding wetland protection to BWSR staff, board members and local government units (LGU). Mr. Meyer is responsible for providing technical and program administrative training to BWSR staff members, officials and staff of LGUs and other government and private organizations involved with and affected by the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA). Prior to joining BWSR, he was an environmental consultant for 13 years conducting wetland delineations, permitting and other natural resources work. He has a B.S. degree in Biology from Northland College and an M.S. degree in Soil Science from the University of Minnesota. He is a Minnesota-certified wetland delineator, professional wetland scientist and past president of the Minnesota Wetland Professionals Association.
Dennis Rodacker
Mr. Rodacker is a senior wetland specialist with the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) in St. Paul. His primary duties include Wetland Conservation Act program policy development, interagency coordination with the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, and coordination and lead instruction for the Wetland Delineators Certification Program (WDCP) with the University of Minnesota. Over the past 16 years, Mr. Rodacker has worked as a soil scientist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service studying soil formation and mapping; as an environmental consultant conducting wetland delineations, permitting and other natural resources work; and as a wetland specialist at Anoka Conservation District working primarily on wetland regulations. Mr. Rodacker holds a B.S degree in Soil Science and is a Minnesota-licensed professional soil scientist, as well as a Minnesota certified wetland delineator.
Cade Steffenson
Mr. Steffenson is a Wetland Specialist with the Board of Water and Soil Resources, based out of the St. Cloud office and covers central MN. His main duties include providing technical assistance and administrative guidance to local government units (LGU) in their implementation of the MN Wetland Conservation Act (WCA). In addition, Mr. Steffenson is involved with rule making, development of alternative mitigation strategies in NE MN, and providing technical and administrative trainings to many agency and private individuals. Prior to this position, he worked in the Environmental Services Department in Mille Lacs County, acting as the WCA LGU for over 12 years. He has also held positions with the Lake the Woods SWCD, South Dakota Game, Fish, & Parks, MN DNR, and MN Pollution Control Agency. He earned a B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Ecology and Natural Resources from St. Cloud State University with a focus on Aquatic system biomonitoring. He is also a MN Certified Wetland Delineator.