Importance of Importance of WetlandsWetlands

&&

Their PreservationTheir Preservation

What is a wetlandWhat is a wetland?? MarshMarsh: soft-stemmed : soft-stemmed

vegetationvegetation SwampSwamp: woody plants: woody plants BogBog: freshwater, spongy : freshwater, spongy

peat, evergreens, mossy peat, evergreens, mossy floorfloor

FenFen: freshwater, peat-: freshwater, peat-forming, covered in forming, covered in grass, reeds, and grass, reeds, and wildflowerswildflowers

www.nwi.fws.govwww.nwi.fws.gov

WetlandsWetlands::

The link between the land and The link between the land and waterwater

An ecosystem characterized by: An ecosystem characterized by:

-hydrology-hydrology

-soils -soils

-vegetation-vegetation ““Nurseries of life”Nurseries of life”

What Wetlands do for you:What Wetlands do for you:

Prevent/reduce Prevent/reduce floodingflooding

Improve water Improve water qualityquality

FishingFishing Maintain Maintain

biodiversity and biodiversity and aestheticsaesthetics

Reduce soil Reduce soil erosionerosion

Serve as ground Serve as ground water recharge water recharge areasareas

Make wonderful Make wonderful outdoor outdoor classrooms!classrooms!

Despite all of these benefits, 60,000 acres of Wetlands are lost Despite all of these benefits, 60,000 acres of Wetlands are lost each year, in the US aloneeach year, in the US alone

The Clean Water Act of 1972:The Clean Water Act of 1972:• GoalGoal: To restore and maintain the chemical, physical, : To restore and maintain the chemical, physical,

and biological integrity of the nation’s watersand biological integrity of the nation’s waters• SupportSupport: “the protection and propagation of fish, : “the protection and propagation of fish,

shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water”water”

• The Act does not deal with ground water or water The Act does not deal with ground water or water quantity issuesquantity issues

• It employs ways to sharply reduce pollutant discharge, It employs ways to sharply reduce pollutant discharge, finance wastewater treatment, and manage runofffinance wastewater treatment, and manage runoff

Reversing the impact of Reversing the impact of degradationdegradation

““The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value.turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value.

-Theodore Roosevelt-Theodore Roosevelt

• Wetland MitigationWetland Mitigation: :

-improvement upon wetlands that is made as exchange -improvement upon wetlands that is made as exchange for damage done to wetlands elsewherefor damage done to wetlands elsewhere

• RestorationRestoration::

-returning one of the wetland characteristics to a -returning one of the wetland characteristics to a drained wetland sitedrained wetland site

• CreationCreation::

-impounding water to excavated, depressed areas that -impounding water to excavated, depressed areas that did not previously contain wetland soils or vegetationdid not previously contain wetland soils or vegetation

MitigationMitigation

1980’s President Bush> “no net loss”1980’s President Bush> “no net loss” Each developer must first obtain a Each developer must first obtain a

permit before beginning constructionpermit before beginning construction ““no net loss” policy failsno net loss” policy fails Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI)Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Army corps of Engineers>enforceArmy corps of Engineers>enforce Fish and Wildlife Service>consultantsFish and Wildlife Service>consultants

REstorationREstoration

Provides landowners an opportunity to Provides landowners an opportunity to benefit wildlife, themselves, and benefit wildlife, themselves, and communitycommunity

-USDA Natural Resource Conservation -USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) & Wetlands Reserve Service (NRCS) & Wetlands Reserve ProgramProgram

Takes place where hydric soils remainTakes place where hydric soils remain From 1982-1992 768,700acres of From 1982-1992 768,700acres of

wetlands gained wetlands gained

CREATIONCREATION

All 3 characteristics are missingAll 3 characteristics are missing Difficult, costly, and often Difficult, costly, and often

unsuccessfulunsuccessful A Success StoryA Success Story::

-NHC/DEM Landfill, treating leachate-NHC/DEM Landfill, treating leachate-awarded CAMA grant from NC -awarded CAMA grant from NC division of Coastal Management division of Coastal Management -lowers costs, and reduces 60,000gal -lowers costs, and reduces 60,000gal of discharge from entering Cape Fearof discharge from entering Cape Fear

You may ask yourself…”You may ask yourself…”How can I How can I help?”help?”

EPA’s wetland helpline: 1-800-832-EPA’s wetland helpline: 1-800-832-78287828

EPA’s wetland homepage:EPA’s wetland homepage:

www.epa.gov/owow/wetlandswww.epa.gov/owow/wetlands USDA’s Wetlands Reserve Program:USDA’s Wetlands Reserve Program:

www.wl.fb-net.orgwww.wl.fb-net.org

May is American Wetlands Month!May is American Wetlands Month!