United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Wetlands Protection
Office of Water
Washington DC 20460
February 1988
OPA-87-016
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Cover photo David Cooper
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AMERICA'S WETLANDS
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//T A Tetlands" is the collective term
V V for marshes, swamps, bogs,
and similar areas that often develop
between open water and dry land.
These wet areas can be found in every
county of every state in the United
States. If there's not a wetland in your
neighborhood, there's probably one
nearby.
In the past, wetlands were often
regarded as wastelands—sources of
mosquitoes, flies, and unpleasant
odors. Most people felt that wetlands
were places to be avoided, or better
yet, eliminated. Largely because of this
negative view, more than half of
America's original wetlands have been
destroyed. They have been drained
and converted to farmland, filled for
housing developments and industrial
facilities, or simply used as receptacles
for both household and hazardous
waste.
More recently, with our increased
understanding of ecological processes,
attitudes towards wetlands have
changed. Scientists have discovered
that wetlands are, in fact, valuable
natural resources that provide many
important benefits to people and their
environment. Among other things,
wetlands help improve water quality,
reduce flood and storm damages,
provide important fish and wildlife
habitat, and support hunting and
fishing activities. Wetlands are not
wastelands at all; they are natural
wonderlands.
Reading this booklet will give you a
better understanding of the
importance of wetlands, how they are
threatened, and what can be done to
conserve them for future generations.
EPA
Involvement
The Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), in partnership with state and
local governments, is responsible for
restoring and maintaining the
chemical, physical, and biological
integrity of the nation's waters.
Because of the value of wetlands as an
integral part of those waters, EPA is
also charged with protecting wetland
resources. The major federal
regulatory tool for this is Section 404
of the Clean Water Act, which is
jointly administered by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers and EPA. Section
404 establishes a permit program to
regulate the discharge of dredged or
fill material into waters of the United
States, including most wetlands. The
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the
National Marine Fisheries Service have
important advisory roles in the permit
review process.
EPA recognizes that a truly effective
program to protect our nation's
wetlands must be supplemer ted by
approaches other than Section 404 and
requires the cooperation of federal,
state, and local agencies; developers;
environmental groups; the scientific
community; and others. Active citizen
support and participation is an
essential ingredient of such a program
(see page 8)- To provide leadership
in building such a broad-based
national effort, EPA established an
Office of Wetlands Protection in N86.
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TYPES OF WETLANDS
Wetlands arc mostly serni-acjuatic
lands that are cither inundated or
saturated by water tor van ing periods
ot time during the growing season. In
all wetlands, the presence ot water
creates conditions that favor the
growth ot specially adapted plants
(hydrophytes) and promote the
development of characteristic hydric
soil properties.*
A wide variety of wetlands have
formed across the country due to
regional and local differences in
vegetation, hydrology, water
chemistry, soils, topography, climate,
and other factors. In general, two
broad categories of wetlands are
recogni/ed: coastal wetlands and
inland wetlands.
Coastal wetlands, as their name
suggests, are found along the Atlantic,
Pacific, Alaskan, and Gulf coasts. They
are closely linked to our nation's
estuaries, 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, however,
have successfully adapted to this
environment. Certain grasses and
grasslike salt-loving (halophytic) plants
form extensive colonies called "coastal
marshes." These marshes are
particularly abundant along the
Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Mangrove
swamps, dominated by halophytic
shrubs or trees, are common in Hawaii
and in southern Florida.
Inland wetlands occur throughout
the nation's interior. They are most
common on tloodplains along rivers
and streams, in isolated depressions
surrounded by dry land, and along the
margins of lakes and ponds. Some
even form at the upper edges of
coastal marshes where salt-water
influence ends. Inland wetlands
include marshes and wet meadows
dominated by grasses and herbs,
shrub swamps, and wooded swamps
dominated by trees, such as
bottomland hardwood forests along
tloodplains. Certain inland wetland
types are common regionally, such as
the pocosins of North Carolina, bogs
and tens of the northeastern and
north-central states and Alaska, inland
saline and alkaline marshes and
riparian wetlands of the arid and
semiarid West, prairie potholes of
Minnesota and the Dakotas, vernal
pools of California, playa lakes of the
Southwest, cypress-gum swamps of
the South, wet tunclra of Alaska, and
tropical rain forests of Hawaii.
"The federal regulations implementing Section 404
define wetlands as "those areas that are inundated
or saturated by surface or ground water at a
frequency and duration sufficient to support, and
that under normal circumstances do support, a
prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life
in saturated soil conditions."
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Prairie pothole wetlands—breeding grounds foi
over 5(1 percent of North American
Southern bottomland hardwood *i
Riparian wetland
Atlantic coastal marsh
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WETLAND VALUES
In their natural condition, wetlands
provide many benefits including:
food and habitat for fish and wildlife;
water quality improvement; flood
protection; shoreline erosion control;
natural products for human use; and
opportunities for recreation and
aesthetic appreciation. Each wetland
works in combination with other
wetlands as part of a complex,
integrated system that delivers these
benefits and others to society. An
assessment of the value of any specific
wetland must take this critical
interrelationship into account.
Fish and
Wildlife Habitat
Wetlands are critical to the survival
of a wide variety of animals and
plants. For many, like the wood duck,
the muskrat, the cattail, and the
swamp rose, wetlands are primary
habitats—the only places they can live.
For others, such as striped bass,
peregrine falcon, and deer, wetlands
are not primary residences but do
provide important food, water, or
cover. Moreover, a number of rare and
endangered species depend on
wetlands for survival.
Coastal wetlands are especially
important habitats for estuarine and
marine fish and shellfish, various
waterfowl, shorebirds and wading
birds, and several mammals. Most
commercial and game fish use coastal
marshes and estuaries as nursery
and/or spawning grounds. Menhaden,
bluefish, flounder, sea trout, spot,
salmon, croaker, and striped bass are
among the more familiar fish that
depend on coastal wetlands. Shrimp,
oysters, clams, and blue and
Dungeness crabs likewise rely on these
wetlands.
Inland wetlands are also valuable
fish and wildlife habitats. Most
freshwater fish feed upon
wetland-produced food and use
wetlands as nursery grounds. Most of
the important recreational fish spawn
in wetlands. A variety of
bird-life—ducks, geese, redwinged
blackbirds, and a large number of
other songbirds—feed, nest, and raise
their young in inland wetlands.
Muskrat, otter, and beaver are some of
the more familiar wetland mammals,
but others, like deer, use wetlands for
food and shelter. Black bear find
refuge and food in forested and shrub
swamps in many areas.
Altogether, wetlands are among the
most productive natural ecosystems in
the world. They can be thought of as
the "farmlands of the aquatic
environment" since they produce great
volumes of food (plant material). The
major food value of wetland plants
comes when the plants' dead leaves
and stems break down in the water to
form small particles of organic material
called "detritus." This enriched
material is the principal food for many
small aquatic invertebrates, various
shellfish, and forage fish that are food
for larger predatory fish, such as
bluefish and striped bass. These larger
fish are, in turn, consumed by people.
Thus, wetlands provide an important
source of food for people as well as for
aquatic animals.
Water Quality
Improvement
One of the most important values of
wetlands is their ability to help
maintain and improve the water
quality of our nation's rivers and other
water bodies. Wetlands do this by
removing and retaining nutrients;
processing chemical and organic
wastes; and reducing sediment loads
to receiving waters. Wetlands are
particularly good water filters. Due to
their position between upland and
deep water, wetlands can intercept
surface-water runoff from land before
it reaches open water. They also can
help filter nutrients, waste, and
sediment from flood waters. America's
future depends in large part on our
water resources, and protecting
wetlands is vital to restoring and
maintaining good water quality.
Flood
Protection
Wetlands have often been referred
to as natural sponges that absorb
flooding waters. They actually function
more like natural tubs, storing either
flood waters that overflow riverbanks
or surface water that collects in
isolated depressions. By doing so,
wetlands help protect adjacent and
downstream property from flood
damage. Trees and other wetland
vegetation help slow the speed of
flood waters. This action, combined
with water storage, can lower flood
heights and reduce the water's erosive
potential. In agricultural areas,
wetlands can help to reduce the
likelihood of flood damage to crops.
Wetlands within and upstream of
urban areas are especially valuable for
flood protection, since urban
development increases the rate and
volume of surface-water runoff,
thereby increasing the risk of flood
damage.
Coastal wetlands annually produce millions of tons of detritus that support important fish and shellfish
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Wetlands offer educational and recreational opportunities.
Much commercial fishing depends on wetlands.
Steve Deldnev
Muskrat lodge in inland marsh u s FWS
Shoreline
Erosion Control
Wetlands are often located between
rivers and high ground and are,
therefore, in a good position to buffer
shoreland against erosion. Wetland
plants are important in protecting
against erosion because they increase
the durability of the sediment by
binding soil with their roots, and they
dampen wave action and reduce
current velocity through friction. So
significant is the erosion control
function of many wetlands that some
states are recommending the planting
of wetland vegetation to control
shoreline erosion in coastal areas.
Wetland loss can increase flooding. Kel|y Drake
Natural
Products
A wealth of natural products are
produced by wetlands. Those available
for human use include timber, fish
and shellfish, wildlife, blueberries,
cranberries, and wild rice. Much of the
nation's fishing and shellfishing
industries harvest wetland-dependent
species. For example, in the Southeast,
96 percent of the commercial catch and
over 50 percent of the recreational
harvest are fish and shellfish that
depend on the estuary-coastal wetland
system. Each year, the U.S.
commercial fisheries harvest is valued
at more than $10 billion. Wetlands also
produce fur-bearers like muskrat,
beaver, and mink. The nation's
harvest of muskrat pelts alone is worth
over $70 million annually. Waterfowl
hunters spend over $300 million
annually to harvest wetland-dependent
birds.
Recreation
and Aesthetics
Through the centuries, painters and
writers have sought to capture the
beauty of wetlands on canvas and
paper. Today, such artists are often
joined by others with cameras and
video and sound recorders. The
observation and photography of
wetland-dependent birds, alone, entice
an estimated 50 million people to
spend nearly $10 billion each year.
But it doesn't take an artist or avid
hobbyist to appreciate these
wonderlands. Wetlands provide
endless opportunities for popular
recreational activities, such as hiking,
boating, and swimming. Almost
everyone likes being on or near the
water, and the presence of so many
fascinating lifeforms makes any
wetland an especially enjoyable
natural treasure.
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STATUS AND TRENDS
Current
Situation
According to recent estimates, the
lower 48 states had 99 million acres of
wetlands in the mid-1970s. This
amounts to an area equal to the size of
California. An additional 200 million
acres of wetlands are estimated to exist
in Alaska—covering slightly more than
half of the state—while Hawaii has
less than 100,000 acres. Next to Alaska
Louisiana and Florida have the largest
wetland acreage.
Extent of Wetlands in
the Lower 48 States
Original and Remaining Acreages of
Wetlands in the Lower 48 States
46% Remained
in the Mid-1970s
million acres)
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MARSH omf
ATEREWONT LOTS
OWNER FIN/TNCINC AVAILABLE
Coastal residential development in the 1960s
Development pressures continue.
Excavation and filling operations
Kuk Newton
Kellv Dr.ik-
Dumping grounds
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WETLANDS PROTECTION
Government
Protection
Mechanisms
There are various approaches to
wetlands protection by governments,
including acquisition, economic
incentives, and regulation.
Acquisition involves purchasing
wetlands or easements on wetlands
and establishing wildlife refuges,
sanctuaries, or conservation areas.
This approach is also used by private
conservation organizations.
Governments can also provide
economic incentives to private
landowners and industry to promote
wetland preservation. For example,
under the federal tax code,
landowners who sell or donate
wetlands to a government agency or a
qualified conservation organization can
claim the value as a charitable
deduction.
In contrast, some government
programs have actually encouraged
wetland destruction by reducing the
costs of conversion to other uses. In
recent years, Congress has passed a
few laws that create economic
disincentives to wetland destruction.
One example is the "Swampbuster"
provision of the Food Security Act of
1985. It seeks to discourage the further
conversion of wetlands to farmland
by eliminating most farm program
benefits for anyone who produces
crops on wetlands converted after
December 23, 1985 (the date of the
law's enactment).
While acquisition and economic
incentive/disincentive programs are
important, they alone cannot protect
the majority of our remaining
wetlands and the public values
wetlands provide. Therefore,
government programs to regulate
activities in wetlands are also needed.
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act
establishes the major federal program
that regulates activities in wetlands.
Under this law, the discharge of
dredged or fill material into waters of
the United States—including most
wetlands—requires a permit from the
Army Corps of Engineers. Failure to
obtain a permit or to comply with the
terms of a permit can result in civil
and/or criminal penalties. The Corps
issues a public notice of a permit
application to inform citizens and
government agencies, including EPA,
of the proposed project and to solicit
public comment. The Corps evaluates
permit applications based upon two
standards: regulations developed by
EPA in conjunction with the Corps
(known as the Section 404(b)(l)
guidelines) which set the
environmental criteria for permitting
projects in wetlands; and factors to
determine if the project is in the public
interest.
It is important to recognize that the
Section 404 program is not a
comprehensive mechanism for
wetlands protection. For example,
some activities that can damage and
even destroy wetlands, such as
drainage and ground-water pumping,
are often conducted without
discharging dredged or fill material
into waters of the United States, and
thus are not regulated under Section
404.
Regulation of wetlands is certainly
not limited to the federal level. Over
the past three decades, numerous
states have enacted laws to regulate
activities in wetlands, and some towns
have adopted local wetlands protection
ordinances. Most coastal states now
have laws to protect coastal wetlands
which have significantly reduced
losses of these wetland types.
However, fewer than 20 states have
laws specifically regulating activities in
inland wetlands. Where they exist,
such laws often regulate only specific
activities or apply only to certain
wetland types or to wetlands above a
given size.
Private Protection
Options
Despite the efforts of governments
and private conservation
organizations, pressures to degrade
and destroy wetlands will continue as
demand for land for development
increases. Even if losses were
controlled, the insidious problem of
degradation of wetlands from
pollution, urban encroachment,
ground-water withdrawals, partial
drainage, and other actions still
requires attention.
Many opportunities exist for private
citizens, corporations, government
agencies, and others to work together
to slow the rate of wetland loss and,
where necessary, to improve the
quality of our remaining wetlands.
First, states and local governments
need to establish programs to
effectively protect wetlands—especially
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, every citizen, whether or not
they own wetlands, can help protect
wetlands by supporting any number of
wetland conservation initiatives.
Citizen participation in wetlands
protection is essential to success. Some
options for private citizens to improve
the status of wetlands are:
• Rather than drain or fill wetlands,
seek compatible uses involving
minimal wetland alteration, such as
waterfowl production, fur harvest, hay
and forage, wild rice production,
hunting and trapping leases, and
selective timber harvest.
• Select upland sites for development
projects rather than wetlands, and
avoid wetland alteration or
degradation during project
construction.
• Donate wetlands, or funds for
purchasing wetlands, to private or
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public conservation agencies.
• Maintain wetlands and adjacent
buffer strips as open space.
• Construct ponds in uplands and
manage for wetland and aquatic
species.
• Support various wetland
conservation initiatives by public
agencies and private organizations.
• Purchase federal duck stamps from
your local post office to support
wetland acquisition.
• Participate in the Clean Water Act
Section 404 program by reviewing
public notices and, in appropriate
cases, commenting on permit
applications.
Additional information concerning
wetlands protection can be obtained
from the EPA regional offices listed on
the back of this booklet.
Wetlands are an important part of
our national heritage. Our economic
well-being and our quality of life are
largely dependent 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 over half of our nation's
wetlands since America was first
settled. We must now take positive
steps to protect wetlands to ensure
that the values they provide will be
preserved for future generations.
For additional copies of this booklet
contact:
Public Information Center (PM-211B)
U.S. EPA
401 M Street SW.
Washington, DC 20460
1 I'A j'.r.itetullv acknowledges tin.1
assistance of Ralph liner (Us |-'Kh ,nui
Wildlife Sumce) in the production ot this
booklet.
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