&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
Office of Wetlands,
Oceans and Watersheds (4502F)
VV/etlawd
OUR VITAL
LINK
BETWEEN
LAND
AND WATER
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U.S. EPA Involvement
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in
partnership with other federal agencies, and state, local, and
tribal governments, is responsible {or restoring and
maintaining the chemical, physical, and biological integrity
of the nation's waters. Because of the value and junction o_f
wetlands as an integral part o_f those waters, EPA is also
chargedwith protecting wetland resources. Themajorfederal
regulatory tool/or this is Section 404 o_f the Clean Water
Act, which is jointly administered by the U.S. Army Corps
o_f Engineers and EPA. Section 404 establishes a permit
program to regulate the discharge o_f dredged or fill material
into waters of the United States, including most wetlands.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviceand the National Marine
Fisheries Service have important advisory roles in the permit
review process under the Clean Water Act, and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service has the lead responsibility for
identifying wetlands on agricultural lands.
EPA recognizes that a truly effective program to protect our
nation's wetlands must include supplemental approaches to
the Clean Water Act, along with the cooperation of federal,
state, and local agencies, developers, farmers, foresters,
environmental groups, the scientific community, and thepublic.
Active citizen support and participation is an essential
ingredient of such a program.
EPA uses a number of non-regulatory programs to supplement
the Section 404 program: a contractor-operated telephone
hotline to allow easy access to the EPAfor information about
wetlands (see back cover); distribution of publications and
fact sheets about wetlands; partnerships with private
landowners and state and local governments, comprehensive
watershed planning, education programs for the public, and
support of efforts to improve wetlands management (e.g.,
workshops, conferences, and research). The EPA is also
involved in a long-term project to monitor and assess the
ecological resources of our country.
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Wetlands are indeed the vital link
between water and land. "Wetlands"
is the collective term for marshes,
swamps, bogs, and similar areas
found in generally flat vegetated ar-
eas, in depressions in the landscape,
and between dry land and water
along the edges of streams, rivers,
lakes, and coastlines. Wetlands can
be found in nearly every county and
climatic zone in the United States.
Most likely, a wetland exists in your
neighborhood or very close to it.
Because they are so varied, wetlands
can be difficult to recognize. Some
are wet all of the time/ some may look
completely dry most of the time.
Our ideas of what a wetland should
look like may not include all types
of wetlands. Some wetlands are large
and some are very small. Many have
been altered by human activities such
as farming, ranching, and the build-
ing of roads, dams, and towns.
Wetlands have often been re-
garded as wastelands — sources of
mosquitoes, flies, unpleasant odors,
Great Blue Heron
and disease. People thought of wet-
lands as places to avoid or, better yet,
eliminate. Largely because of this
negative view, more than half of
America's original wetlands have
been destroyed—drained and con-
verted to farmland, filled for hous-
ing developments and industrial
facilities, or used to dispose of house-
hold and industrial waste.
As people understand ecological
processes better, attitudes towards
wetlands change. We now know that
For more information, contact the EPA Wetlands Information Hotline
U.S. FWS, Herb Stein
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wetlands are, in fact, valuable natu-
ral resources. Whether drier or wet-
ter, bigger or smaller, wetlands
provide important benefits to people
and the environment. Wetlands help
regulate water levels within water-
sheds/ improve water quality/ reduce
flood and storm damages/ provide
important fish and wildlife habitat/
and support hunting, fishing, and
other recreational activities. Wet-
lands are natural wonderlands of
great value.
Reading this booklet will give you
a better understanding of the rich va-
riety of wetlands, their importance,
how they are threatened, and what
can be done to conserve them for
future generations.
Prairie Pothole Wetlands U.S. FWS
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cure
Wetlands are areas where water
covers the soil, or is present either at
or near the surface of the soil all year
or for varying periods of time during
the year, including during the grow-
ing season. Water saturation (hy-
drology) largely determines how the
soil develops and the types of plant
and animal communities living in and
on the soil. Wetlands may support
both aquatic and terrestrial species.
The prolonged presence of water cre-
ates conditions that favor the growth
of specially adapted plants (hydro-
phytes) and promote the develop-
ment of characteristic wetland
(hydric) soils.
Wetlands vary widely because of
regional and local differences in soils,
topography, climate, hydrology, wa-
ter chemistry, vegetation, and other
factors, including human distur-
bance. Indeed, wetlands are found
from the tundra to the tropics and
on every continent except Antarc-
tica. Two general categories of wet-
lands are recognized: coastal or tidal
wetlands and inlander non-tidal wet-
lands.
Coastal wetlands in the United
States, as their name suggests, are
found along the Atlantic, Pacific,
Alaskan, and Gulf coasts. They are
closely linked to our nation's estuar-
ies, where sea water mixes with fresh
water to form an environment of
varying salinities. The salt water and
the fluctuating water levels (due to
tidal action) combine to create a
rather difficult environment for most
plants. Consequently, many shallow
coastal areas are unvegetated mud
flats or sand flats. Some plants, how-
ever, have successfully adapted to this
environment. Certain grasses and
grasslike plants that adapt to the sa-
line conditions form the tidal salt
marshes that are found along the At-
lantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts. Man-
grove swamps, with salt-loving shrubs
or trees, are common in tropical cli-
mates, such as in southern Florida and
Puerto Rico. Some tidal freshwater
wetlands form beyond the upper
edges of tidal salt marshes where the
influence of salt water ends.
Inland wetlands are most common
on floodplains along rivers and
streams (riparian wetlands), in iso-
lated depressions surrounded by dry
land (for example, playas, basins, and
"potholes"), along the margins of
lakes and ponds, and in other low-
lying areas where the groundwater in-
tercepts the soil surface or where
precipitation sufficiently saturates the
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Riparian Wdland
EPA Region 8, Paul Mclver
soil (vernal pools and bogs). Inland
wetlands include marshes and wet
meadows dominated by herbaceous
plants, swamps dominated by
shrubs, and wooded swamps domi-
nated by trees. Certain types of in-
land wetlands are common to
particular regions of the country:
• bogs and fens of the northeastern and
north-central states and Alaska
* wet meadows or wet prairies in the
Midwest
* inland saline and alkaline marshes and
riparian wetlands of the arid and
semiarid west
• prairie potholes of Iowa, Minnesota
and the Dakotas
* alpine meadows of the west
* playa lakes of the southwest and Great
Plains
• bottomland hardwood swamps
of the south
* pocosins and Carolina Bays of the
southeast coastal states
* tundra wetlands of Alaska.
Many of these wetlands are sea-
sonal (they are dry one or more sea-
sons every year), and, particularly in
the arid and semiarid West, may be
wet only periodically. The quantity
of water present and the timing of
its presence in part determine the
functions of a wetland and its role in
the environment. Even wetlands that
appear dry for a few months — such
as vernal pools — often provide criti-
cal habitat for wildlife adapted to
breeding exclusively in these areas.
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Seasonal Wetland in. Sfrmti
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For more information, contact the EPA VI 'e&mls Informa ilon Hotline
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Wetlands are among the most pro-
ductive ecosystems in the world,
comparable to rain forests and coral
reefs. An immense variety of spe-
cies of microbes, plants, insects, am-
phibians, reptiles, birds, fish, and
mammals can be part of a wetland
ecosystem. Physical and chemical
features such as climate, landscape
shape (topology), geology, and the
movement and abundance of water
help to determine the plants and ani-
mals that inhabit each wetland. The
complex, dynamic relationships
among the organisms inhabiting the
wetland environment are referred to
as food webs, (see illustration
below).This is why wetlands in
Texas, North Carolina, and Alaska
differ from one another.
Wetlands can be thought of as
"biological supermarkets." They pro-
vide great volumes of food that at-
tract many animal species. These
animals use wetlands for part of or
all of their life-cycle. Dead plant
leaves and stems break down in the
water to form small particles of or-
ganic material called "detritus." This
enriched material feeds many small
aquatic insects, shellfish, and small
fish that are food for larger preda-
tory fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds,
and mammals.
Wetlands support a ricli j
web, from microscopic algae
and dragonfly larvae to
alligators and black bears.
The functions of a wetland and the
values of these functions to human
society depend on a complex set of
relationships between the wetland
and the other ecosystems in the wa-
tershed. A watershed is a geographic
area in which water, sediments, and
dissolved materials drain from higher
elevations to a common low-lying
outlet or basin — a point on a larger
stream, lake, underlying aquifer, or
estuary.
Wetlands play an integral role in
the ecology of the watershed. The
combination of shallow water, high
Mark Sharp
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levels of nutrients, and primary pro-
ductivity is ideal for the development
of organisms that form the base of
the food web and feed many species
of fish, amphibians, shellfish, and in-
sects. Many species of birds and
mammals rely on wetlands for food,
water, and shelter, especially during
migration and breeding.
Wetlands' microbes, plants, and
wildlife are part of global cycles for
water, nitrogen, and sulfur. Further-
more, scientists are beginning to re-
alize that atmospheric maintenance
may be an additional wetlands func-
tion. Wetlands store carbon within
their plant communities and soil in-
stead of releasing it to the atmo-
sphere as carbon dioxide. Thus
wetlands help to moderate global cli-
mate conditions.
High Mountain Valley Wetland at to,oooFeet
Bottomland Hardwood Swamp
Todd Votteler
For more information, contact the EPA Wetlands Information Hotline
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eople
Only recently have we begun to
understand the importance of the
functions that wetlands perform. Far
from being useless, disease-ridden
places, wetlands provide values that
no other ecosystem can, including
natural water quality improvement,
flood protection, shoreline erosion
control, opportunities for recreation
and aesthetic appreciation, and natu-
ral products for our use at no cost.
Wetlands can provide one or more
of these functions. Protecting wet-
lands in turn can protect our safety
and welfare.
Water Quality and Hydrology
Wetlands have important filtering
capabilities for intercepting surface-
water runoff from higher dry land be-
fore the runoff reaches open water.
As the runoff water passes through,
the wetlands retain excess nutrients
and some pollutants, and reduce
sediment that would clog waterways
and affect fish and amphibian egg de-
velopment. In performing this filter-
ing function, wetlands save us a great
deal of money. For example, a 1990
study showed that, without the
Congaree Bottomland Hardwood
Swamp in South Carolina, the area
would need a $5 million waste water
treatment plant.
In addition to improving water
quality through filtering, some wet-
lands maintain stream flow during
dry periods, and many replenish
groundwater. Many Americans de-
pend on groundwater for drinking.
Flood Protection
Wetlands function as natural
sponges that trap and slowly release
surface water, rain, snowmelt,
groundwater and flood waters. Trees,
root mats, and other wetland vegeta-
tion also slow the speed of flood
waters and distribute
them more slowly over
the floodplain. This
combined water stor-
age and braking action
lowers flood heights
and reduces erosion.
Wetlands within and
downstream of urban
areas are particularly
valuable, counteracting the greatly
increased rate and volume of surface-
water runoff from pavement and
buildings.
The holding capacity of wetlands
helps control floods and prevents
water logging of crops. Preserving
Texas Parks and Wildlife D
Kelly Drake
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and restoring wetlands,
together with other wa-
ter retention, can often
provide the level of
flood control otherwise
provided by expensive dredge opera-
tions and levees. The bottomland
hardwood-riparian wetlands along
the Mississippi River once stored at
least 60 days of floodwater. Now
they store only 12 days because most
have been filled or drained.
Shoreline Erosion
The ability of wetlands to control
erosion is so valuable that some states
are restoring wetlands in coastal ar-
eas to buffer the storm surges from
hurricanes and tropical storms. Wet-
lands at the margins of lakes, rivers,
bays, and the ocean protect shore-
lines and stream banks against ero-
sion. Wetland plants hold the soil
in place with their roots, absorb the
energy of waves, and break up the
flow of stream or river currents.
Fish and Wildlife Habitat
More than one-third of the United
States' threatened and endangered
species live only in wetlands, and
nearly half use wetlands at some
point in their lives. Many other ani-
mals and plants depend on wetlands
for survival.
Estuarine and marine fish and
shellfish, various birds, and certain
mammals must have coastal wet-
lands to survive. Most commercial
and game fish breed and raise their
young in coastal marshes and estu-
aries. Menhaden, flounder, sea
trout, spot, croaker, and striped bass
are among the more familiar fish
that depend on coastal wetlands.
Shrimp, oysters, clams, and blue
and Dungeness crabs likewise need
these wetlands for food, shelter, and
breeding grounds.
For many animals and plants, like
wood ducks, muskrat, cattails, and
swamp rose, inland wetlands are the
only places they can live. Beaver
may actually create their own wet-
lands. For others, such as striped
bass, peregrine falcon, otter, black
bear, raccoon, and deer, wetlands
provide important food, water, or
shelter. Many of the U.S. breed-
ing bird populations—including
ducks, geese, woodpeckers, hawks,
wading birds, and many song-
birds—feed, nest, and raise their
young in wetlands. Migratory wa-
terfowl use coastal and inland wet-
lands as resting, feeding, breeding,
or nesting grounds for at least part
of the year. Indeed, an international
agreement to protect wetlands of in-
ternational importance was devel-
oped because some species of
migratory birds are completely de-
pendent on certain wetlands and
would become extinct if those wet-
lands were destroyed.
For more information, contacttheEPA M'e'UKJs Information Hotline
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Natural Products for Our
Economy
We use a wealth of natural prod-
ucts from wetlands, including fish
and shellfish, blueberries, cranber-
ries, timber, and wild rice, as well as
medicines that are derived from
wetland soils and plants. Many of
the nation's fishing and shellfishing
industries harvest wetland-depen-
dent species/ the catch is valued at
Alligator
U.S. EPA
Hunlivj rn u Wd'lMid
$ 15 billion a year. In the Southeast,
for example, nearly all the commer-
cial catch and over half of the recre-
ational harvest are fish and shellfish
that depend on the estuary-coastal
wetland system. Louisiana's coastal
marshes produce an annual commer-
cial fish and shellfish harvest that
amounted to 1.2 billion pounds
worth $244 million in 1991. Wet-
lands are habitats for fur-bearers like
muskrat, beaver, and mink as well as
reptiles such as alligators. The
nation's harvest of muskrat pelts alone
is worth over $70 million annually.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept.
Recreation and Aesthetics
Wetlands have recreational, his-
torical, scientific, and cultural values.
More than half of all U.S. adults (98
million) hunt, fish, birdwatch or pho-
tograph wildlife. They spend a total
of $59.5 billion annually. Painters
and writers continue to capture the
beauty of wetlands on canvas and
paper, or through cameras, and video
and sound recorders. Others appre-
ciate these wonderlands through hik-
ing, boating, and other recreational
activities. Almost everyone likes be-
ing on or near the water,- part of the
enjoyment is the varied, fascinating
lifeforms.
For more information, tovl'tdthe EPA Wetlands Information Hotline
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Major Causes of Wetland
Loss and Degradation
Human Actions
Drainage
Dredging and stream channelization
Deposition of/ill material
Diking and damming
Tilling for crop production
Levees
Logging
Mining
Construction
Runoff
Air and water pollutants
Changing nutrient levels
Releasing toxic chemicals
Introducing nonnative species
Grazing by domestic animals
Natural Threats
Erosion
Subsidence
Sea level rise
Droughts
Hurricanes and other storms
Current Situation
The lower 48 states contained an
estimated 103.3 million acres of wet-
lands in the mid-1980s. This is an
area about the size of California. An
estimated 170-200 million acres of
wetland exist in Alaska — covering
slightly more than half of the state
— while Hawaii has 52,000 acres.
Next to Alaska, Florida (11 million),
Louisiana (8.8 million), Minnesota
(8.7million), and Texas (7.6 million)
have the largest wetland acreage.
In the 1600s, over 220 million
Peat Mining in a Wetland/Montane
acres of wetlands are thought to have
existed in the lower 48 states. Since
then, extensive losses have occurred,
with many of the original wetlands
drained and converted to other uses.
From the 1950s to the 1970s was a
time of major wetlands loss, but since
on 8, Paul Mclver
Percentage of Wetlands Acreage Lost, 1 780's-1 980's
Twenty-two states have lost at least 50 percent of their ori^ta^l wetlands. Seven states- Indiana, Illinois, Missouri,
Kentucky, Iowa, California, and Ohio havelost over 80 percent of their original wetlands. Since the 1970s, the most
extensive losses of wetlands have been in Louisiana, Mississibbi, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
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that time the rate of loss has de-
creased. Today, less than half of our
original wetlands remain, and recent
trend estimates show that wetlands
are still being degraded and lost.
Recent estimates on non-federal land
indicate that the rate of loss is be-
tween 70,000 and 90,000 acres an-
nually.
Between the mid-1970s and the
mid-1980s, approximately 3.3 mil-
lion acres of inland freshwater wet-
lands were destroyed, and the
amount of coastal wetlands de-
Extent of Wetlands in the Lower 48 States
463
fvlllions
of acres
creasedby 71,000 acres. In-
land forested wetlands, pri-
marily in the southeast,
were impacted the most
during this time, with a loss
of 2.5 million acres. Ap-
proximately 900,000 acres
were converted from for-
ested wetlands to other wet-
land types (through logging
and other activity). Conver-
sion to agricultural use was
responsible for 54 percent
of the losses, drainage for
urban development for 5
percent, and development
for 41 percent. In addition to these
losses, many other wetlands have suf-
fered degradation of functions, al-
though calculating the magnitude of
the degradation is difficult.
These losses, as well as degrada-
tion, have greatly diminished our
nation's wetlands resources/ as a re-
sult, we no longer have the benefits
they provided. The increase in flood
damages, drought damages, and the
declining bird populations are, in
part, the result of wetlands degrada-
tion and destruction.
Wetlands have been degraded in
ways that are not as obvious as di-
rect physical destruction or degra-
dation. Other threats have included
chemical contamination, excess nu-
trients, and sediment from air and
water. Global climate change could
affect wetlands through increased air
temperature/ shifts in precipitation/
increased frequency of storms,
droughts, and floods/ increased at-
mospheric carbon dioxide concentra-
tion/ and sea level rise. All of these
impacts could affect species compo-
sition and wetland functions.
Draining Wetlands for Irrigation
Dick Gersib
Source: Dahl and Johnson. 1991. Wetlands .Swiws m-d Trends in the Coterminous
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As water, sediments, and nutrients move
through watersheds, different wetlands
perform differentjunctions, but all contribute
to the ecosystem.
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iroCectcow
The federal government protects
wetlands through regulations (like Sec-
tion 404 of the Clean Water Act),
economic incentives and disincentives (for
example, tax deductions for selling
or donating wetlands to a qualified
organization and the "Swampbuster"
provisions of the Food Security Act),
cooperative programs, and acquisition
(for example, establishing national
wildlife refuges). You can find out
more about these mechanisms by
calling the Wetlands Hotline (1 -800-
832-7828).
Beyond the federal level, a num-
ber of states have enacted laws to
regulate activities in wetlands, and
some counties and towns have
adopted local wetlands protection or-
dinances or have changed the way
development is permitted. Most
coastal states have significantly re-
duced losses of coastal wetlands
through protective laws. Few states,
however, have laws specifically regu-
lating activities in inland wetlands,
although some states and local gov-
ernments have non-regulatory pro-
Todd Votteler
For more information, contact the EPA 11 VK.-tmJs Informa lion Hotline
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Jennifer Matchett
grams that help pro-
tect wetlands.
Recently, partner-
ships to manage
whole watersheds
have developed
among federal, state, tribal, and lo-
cal governments,- nonprofit organi-
zations/ and private landowners. The
goal of these partnerships is to imple-
ment comprehensive, integrated wa-
tershed protection approaches. A
watershed approach recognizes the
inter- connectedness of water, land,
and wetlands resources and results in
more complete solutions that address
more of the factors causing wetland
degradation. The government
achieves the restoration of former or
degraded wetlands under the Clean
Water Act Section 404 program as
well as through watershed protection
initiatives. Together, partners can
share limited resources to find the
best solutions to protect and restore
America's natural resources.
While regulation, economic incen-
tives, and acquisition programs are
important, they alone cannot protect
the majority of our remaining wet-
lands. Education of the public and ef-
forts in conjunction with states, local
governments,
and private
citizens are
helping to pro-
tect wetlands
and to increase
appreciation of
the functions
and values of
wetlands. The
rate of wet-
lands loss has
been slowing,
but we still
For more information, contact the EPA Wet,tads Informa iion Hotline
Wood Ducks
U.S. FWS, Tim McCat
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have work to do. You can be a part.
Approximately 75 percent of wet-
lands are privately owned, so indi-
vidual landowners are critical in
protecting these national treasures.
What You Can Do
Despite the efforts of governments
and private conservation organiza-
tions, pressures that destroy wetlands
will continue. The problems of deg-
radation of wetlands from pollution,
urban encroachment, groundwater
withdrawals, partial drainage, and
other actions also require attention.
Many opportunities exist for pri-
vate citizens, corporations, govern-
ment agencies, and other groups to
work together to slow the rate of wet-
land loss and to improve the quality
of our remaining wetlands. First,
state and local governments need to
be encouraged to establish programs
to effectively protect wetlands, espe-
cially inland wetlands, within their
borders. Second, because individual
landowners and corporations own
many of the nation's wetlands, they
are in a key position to determine the
fate of wetlands on their properties.
Finally, all citizens, whether or not
they own wetlands, can help protect
wetlands by supporting wetlands
conservation initiatives.
Wetlands are an important part of
our national heritage. Our economic
well-being and quality of life largely
depend on our nation's wealth of
natural resources, and wetlands are
the vital link between our land and
water resources. As wetlands are lost,
the remaining wetlands become even
more valuable. We have already lost
many of our nation's wetlands since
America was first settled. We must
now take positive steps to protect
wetlands to ensure that the functions
and related values they provide will
be preserved for present and future
generations.
How Can I Make a Difference?
• Get involved —find out when wetlands exist
near your home, try to learn more about them,
and support educational efforts.
• Support wetlands and watershed protection ini-
tiatives by public agencies and private organi-
zations.
• Purchase federal duck stamps from your local
post office to support wetland acquisition.
• Participate in the Clean Water Act Section 404
program and state regulatory programs by re-
viewing public notices and, in appropriate cases,
commenting on permit applications.
• Encourage neighbors, developers, and state and
local governments to protect the function and
value of wetlands in your watershed.
• Rather than draining or filling wetlands, seek
compatible uses involving minimal wetland al-
teration, such as waterfowl production, fur har-
vest, hay and forage, wild rice production,
hunting and trapping leases, and selective tim-
ber harvest.
• Select upland rather than wetlands sites for de-
velopment projects and avoid wetland alteration
or degradation during project construction.
• Maintain wetlands and adjacent buffer strips as
open space.
• Learn more about wetland restoration activities
in your area, seek and support opportunities to
restore degraded wetlands.
• In Mew England, participate in EPAs "Adopt-
a-Wetland" program.
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Regional Offices
EPA Region 1
John F. Kennedy Federal Building
One Congress Street
Boston, MA 02203
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine,
Mew Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
(617)565-3420
EPA Region 2
290 Broadway
New York, NY 10007-1866
Mew Jersey, Mew York, Puerto Rico,
Virgin Islands
(212)537-3000
EPA Region 3
841 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia,
West Virginia, District of Columbia
(215)597-9800
EPA Region 4
345 Courtland Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30365
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Mississippi, Morth Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee
(404)347-4727
EPA Region 5
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio,
Wisconsin
(312)353-2000
EPA Region 6
1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 900
Dallas, TX 75202
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mew Mexico,
Oklahoma, Texas
(214)555-6444
EPA Region 7
726 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Mebraska
(913)551-7000
EPA Region 8
999 18th Street, Suite 500
Denver CO 80202
Colorado, Montana, Morth Dakota,
South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
(303)293-1603
EPA Region 9
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Arizona, California, Hawaii, Mevada,
American Samoa, Guam, Palau,
Morthern Mariana Islands
(415)744-1305
EPA Region 10
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
(206)553-1200
Additional information concerning wetlands protection can be
obtained from the EPA Wetlands Hotline (contractor operated)
at (soo) 832-7828 from 9:00 am to 5.-00 pm EST.
E-mail address: WETLANDS-HOTUNE@EPAMAILEPA.GOV
Cover Photos: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Sandhill Cranes Lake Andes NWR, Gary Zahn
EPA Headquarters
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
Wetlands Division (4502F)
401 M Street SW
Washineton DC 20460
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