Allen Edris, a senior regulatory specialist and project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District, digs up soil to inspect it during a mitigation wetland visit in Butler County, Pennsylvania, June 20, 2023. The regulatory program protects wetlands because wetlands act as natural filters of pollutants, which results in cleaner water downstream. When developers build a project that negatively impacts a wetland, they are required to mitigate that damage by maintaining or funding a separate wetland in the same watershed to offset the impacts of construction. The regulatory program supports the Clean Water Act by protecting the physical, biological, and chemical integrity of the waters in the region. The regulatory office also supports the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 by ensuring the region’s navigable rivers remain open and accessible for everyone. All construction projects that impact navigation, wetlands or streams require a permit through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The public can contact the Pittsburgh District regulatory office directly to discuss permit questions using the contact information found on the district’s website. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District photo by Michel Sauret)