Honoring Wetlands & The People Who Protect Them
February 2, 2026, marks World Wetlands Day, an opportunity to recognize the vital role wetlands play in our environment and communities, and to celebrate the Snyder team members who dedicate their careers to protecting these essential ecosystems. Wetlands are among the most productive landscapes on Earth. They support diverse plant and animal life, filter and store freshwater, and help protect communities from storms and flooding.
Our environmental scientists apply their experience and field knowledge to projects that support wetland health and help guide responsible development. Below, several team members share reflections on the projects that have influenced their careers and why this work continues to matter.
Brett Shelton
Brett’s favorite project—The Webster City Certified Site—gave them the opportunity to delineate a variety of wetlands, complete an ordinary high water mark assessment on the Boone River, evaluate woodland habitat for potential threatened and endangered species, and submit a jurisdictional determination request to the Army Corps of Engineers. For Brett, environmental science has always been a way to put classroom concepts from biology, chemistry, agronomy, and ecology into practice. The ability to apply that knowledge outdoors, where the work directly shapes real landscapes, is what drew them to this career and keeps them engaged.
Nichoel Church
One of Nichoel’s favorite recent projects involves stream improvements, a new parking lot, and replacing a culvert with a pedestrian bridge at the First Unitarian Church of Des Moines. After completing a stream assessment and walking the site with the client, the team designed improvements using best management practices and restoration techniques. They also completed a wetland and stream delineation and secured a 404 permit. The project is now out for bid, with construction observation planned for 2026, and the client is pursuing water quality funding to support the ecological benefits of the work. Nichoel’s career path became clear in college when she realized she was happiest collecting data outdoors. Splitting her time between fieldwork and the office allows her to keep learning from the landscapes she studies.
Josh Wilhelm
Josh’s favorite project, at New Melleray Abbey, reflects his belief that the most diverse ecosystems are those allowed to function naturally. The project aims to create a stream mitigation bank using low‑tech restoration techniques, the first of its kind in Iowa. After initial drone flights and wetland and stream delineations, the team began implementing strategies to attract beavers, including constructing beaver dam analogs and planting food sources. Encouraging beaver activity will help raise the water table, create wetlands, slow flows, trap sediment and nutrients, and support a healthier, more diverse ecosystem while providing mitigation benefits for the client. Josh’s career has always centered on work that improves the environment and the way people interact with it, and he’s happiest when he’s in and around water resources.
Jeff Walters
One of Jeff’s favorite projects was the Fourmile Creek Stormwater Wetland, which involved wetland delineation, design, permitting, and construction of a new stormwater wetland within the Fourmile Creek Watershed. He’s especially drawn to natural resource restoration work that improves water quality while creating habitat for native plants and wildlife.
Work like this shows how wetland restoration contributes to the overall health of our landscapes. Although wetlands make up a relatively small share of the Earth’s surface, their impact reaches far beyond their boundaries. They help moderate climate patterns, support reliable water and food systems, and provide habitat for countless species, many of which depend on these environments entirely. Yet these ecosystems continue to face pressure from pollution, land‑use changes, and a changing climate, leading to losses that outpace restoration efforts. World Wetlands Day serves as a reminder of how important these landscapes are to ecological health, and community wellbeing. We recognize and appreciate the consistent effort our team puts into conserving wetlands and supporting their continued health for years to come.
