United States
                Environmental Protection
                Agency
            Office ot Water,
            Office of Wetlands,
            Oceans and Watersheds (4502 F)
               EPA843-F-95-001y
               February 1995
          Wetlands  and  Runoff
Since wetlands are typically the
lowest area on the landscape, they
often receive runoff from surrounding
land. Several of the key programs
that address such pollution are
discussed in this fact sheet.
Runoff (sometimes called "stormwater"
or "nonpomt source pollution") is
caused by rainfall or snow melt moving
over and through the ground. Runoff
carries natural and manmade pollut-
ants into low areas such as wetlands,
lakes,  streams, and eventually into
ground water. In addition, atmo-
spheric deposition and hydrological
modifications can contribute pollut-
ants to runoff as well as directly into
surface water. The quality or U.S.
wetlands and other water resources is
related to the quality of the environ-
ment contributing to these waters.
However, programs have historically
focused on single goals or small sets of
goals.  These programs have succeeded
in identifying and controlling, to some
degree, the larger point sources of
pollution.  EPA has expanded its focus
to use an approach that addresses the
interconnections between water
resources and the land, air, and water
environment surrounding the
resources.


Untreated Runoff
Impacts to Wetlands

Untreated runoff from agricultural
land, urban areas, and other sources is
a leading cause of water quality
impairment.  Siltation; pollutants;
excess nutrients; and changes to water
flows, such as more frequent inunda-
tion, and increased turbidity, are
responsible for most of the impacts to
wetlands from runoff.

Impacts to wetlands have resulted in
consequences such as changed species
composition, increased pollutant
 loadings (e.g., heavy metals), and
 replacement of complex wetland
 systems with less desired open water.
 Modifications of wetlands associated
 with some runoff management
 practices have resulted in significant
 impacts to wetlands. Some impacts
 have been particularly tragic, such as
 in Kesterson and Stillwater Wildlife
 Refuges, where untreated, contami-
 nated runoff resulted in mortality and
 deformities of wildlife populations,
 particularly fish and migratory birds.


 Current Status

 EPA has developed technical  informa-
 tion that landowners can use to
 protect the many functions of wet-
 lands,  including water quality im-
 provement.  An issue paper
 highlighting the impacts of stormwater
 on wetlands,  entitled Natural  Wetlands
 and Urban Stormwater: Potential
 Impacts and Management, is available
 through the EPA Wetlands Informa-
 tion Hotline  (contractor operated).
 Other information that can be
 obtained includes a guide describing
 best management practices to pretreat
 stormwater runoff before it enters a
 natural wetland (in press).  Additional
 materials on wetlands protection and
 restoration for nonpoint source
 benefits will be developed to assist in
 implementation of the wetlands and
 riparian areas chapter in the CZARA
 Management Measures Guidance (see
 box on page 2).  EPA will continue to
 work to address potential opportunities
' and conflicts regarding wetlands and
 programs addressing runoff.
 For more information, contact the EPA Wetlands Information Hotline
 at 1-800-832-7828 (contractor operated).

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