This disclosure provides a method and system that segment flash memory to have differently managed regions. More particularly, flash memory is segmented into a “non-volatile” region, where program counts are restricted to preserve baseline retention assumptions, and a “volatile” region, where program counts are unrestricted. Contrary to conventional wisdom, wear leveling is not performed on all flash memory, as the volatile region is regarded as degraded, and as the non-volatile region has program counts restricted to promote long-term retention. More than two regions may also be created; each of these may be associated with intermediate program counts and volatility expectations, and wear leveling may be applied to each of these on an independent basis if desired. Refresh procedures may optionally be applied to the region of flash memory which is treated as volatile memory.