July 13, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Susan-Marie Stedman is a Policy Analyst for NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation . She has been with NOAA for 28 years and currently works in our headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Can you tell us about a project related to habitat that you’re currently working on or that you enjoyed?
Recently we released NOAA’s draft Mitigation Policy for Trust Resources for public comment. We started working on the project 5 years ago and throughout its development there were a lot of ups, downs, and delays. It took a team of more than two dozen people to explore all the issues, draft language, and untangle the complexities of different programs and authorities. I had never worked with such a large team before. I made mistakes, learned a lot, and am extremely proud of the final product. When it is finalized following the public comment period, the policy will help to conserve wetlands, mudflats, coral reefs, and other important coastal and riverine habitats. It means a lot to me to be part of something that will help protect the ecosystems I love!
What habitat work has been especially successful or inspiring to you?
When I first joined the office in 1993, I was part of an interagency team called the White House Wetlands Working Group. We met just around the corner from the White House and next to the offices for the Council on Environmental Quality. I always had a sense of being in a place where important work was going on. The purpose of the group was to resolve differences between federal agencies working on wetland regulations and policy. It was very inspiring to see people with fundamental disagreements find a way to overcome their differences and then go out for a beer together after the meeting.