Wetlands are areas that have been protected by the federal government through regulations like Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, due to the important role they play in the ecosystem. They are areas where water saturates the soil, called hydrology, or there’s a prolonged presence of water near the soil for all or most of the year. These conditions foster a specially adapted ecosystem of plants, called hydrophytes, and terrain, called hydric soils.
Why Do Wetlands Need Protecting?
Wetlands offer a wildlife habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals. They provide protective cover, nesting places as well as food to wildlife. Due to its unique ecosystem, certain plants that thrive in wetlands would become extinct without them. Many animals also depend on wetlands for their survival. In fact, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than one-third of the endangered species live in wetlands. Migratory birds also use wetlands to rest, feed, and breed. Without wetlands, some migratory species would vanish due to their dependence on these areas. Indeed, protecting wetlands is important for wildlife conservation.
Wetlands Help Urban Life
Aside from the protection that wetlands give to wildlife, they are also important in inhibiting flooding. Wetlands absorb heavy rains, then releases the water at rates that streams can handle. They help to reduce soil erosion, decrease water pollution, and counteract stormwater runoff.
Wetlands also have the ability to filter out pollutants in the water, serving as natural water treatment plants. The filtering capability of wetlands has been proven in a study conducted in 1990, wherein without the Congaree Bottomland Hardwood Swamp, located in South Carolina, that area would require a $5 million waste water treatment plant. This also shows the economic benefit that wetlands provide to areas where they are located.
It’s estimated that an acre of wetlands can provide $10,000 of environmental benefits, including filtering water, preventing flooding, providing wildlife habitat, and reducing soil erosion and water pollution.
Wetlands and Recreation
Aside from the different environmental functions of wetlands, they are also the perfect spot to spend time relaxing. They provide an ideal location for bird watching since migratory birds rest in these areas during migration. They give painters a beautiful scene to express on canvas. And they provide a natural space to enjoy walking and skating, or to simply appreciate the peaceful outdoors.
How Wetlands Are Being Protected
Since wetlands are important to maintain the balance of the ecosystem, the EPA, along with the Corps of Engineers created the National Wetlands Mitigation Action Plan in 2002. The goal is to prevent the further loss of wetlands. The EPA Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) provide opportunities to those wanting to build a wetland program to help protect vulnerable wetlands and their aquatic resources.
