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Repository Mat r a1
Perman3nt Co ection
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The battle to protect our environment is one that must
continue from generation to generation if our descendants
are to be assured of a pleasant, healthy place in which to
live. Awareness of environment concerns must therefore
begin early in life,
This coloring book concerns one of our nation's important
but often misunderstood natural resources. I hope the book
will kindle in the children who use it a better understanding
of our wetlands and a growing concern for the fragile nature
of the world around them.
signed:
Adlene Harrison
Region 6 Administrator
Environmental Protection Agency
Dallas, Texas
Texas
Arkansas
Louisiana
Oklahoma
New Mexico
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WETLANDS
Wetlands are just that... wet lands.
Not long ago most Americans did not know that our
wetlands are a very important natural resource. They
thought a swamp was just a swamp, and they went
right on filling the creeks and bayous and drying up
the bogs. Then they used the land for farms or built
factories and cities on it.
Now we know better. Now we know how important
our wetlands are, and we are working hard to keep
them alive and healthy.
Because wetlands are places that are under water
at least some of the time, they are home for many
special plants and animals that can live nowhere else.
Wetlands can be swamps, marshes, bogs and even
the bottomlands along creeks and rivers. Some
wetlands—like the Big Thicket in Texas, the
Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia and the Everglades in
Florida—are unique. But all wetlands are important.
They must be taken care of.
Look for wetlands near your home and when you are
on vacation. Look at the plants and animals living
there and try to tell what kinds of wetlands you find.
Look to see whether those wetlands are being
protected. As you will discover in this coloring book,
the wetlands are important to us all.
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SALTWATER MARSH
Saltwater marshes are usually found near the ocean.
Many of the fish, shrimp and oysters that we enjoy eating
live in saltwater marshes.
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FRESHWATER MARSH
Freshwater marshes are found near rivers and lakes.
Can you find the cattails in this freshwater marsh?
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BOTTOMLAND WETLANDS
Bottomlands are wet forests near creeks and rivers.
What kinds of animals live in bottomlands? Without wetlands
many plants and animals would become extinct.
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FRESHWATER SWAMPS
In freshwater swamps the trees grow right out of the
water. Swamps and bottomlands help keep floodwater away
from towns and cities. Wetlands also purify the water.
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Wastes from factories can poison wetland plants
and animals.
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Sometimes swamps are drained and...
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• sometimes bottomland forests are destroyed to make
new farmland.
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Sometimes people fifl marshes so they can build
houses near the ocean.
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Next time you see a wetland
Look to see what kinds of plants and animals live there.
They can tell you if it is a saltwater marsh, a freshwater
marsh, bottomland wetland, or a swamp.
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What kind of wetland is this? Is it going to be
protected or destroyed?
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Do you remember why wetlands are important to us all?
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This coloring book was produced by the Enforcement
Division, Wetlands Unit of the Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 6, in cooperation with the Region’s Office
of Public Awareness
EPA is the federal government’s principal guardian of
environmental quafity. The agency is responsible for the
major programs protecting and enhancing the quality of our
nation’s air and water, regulating Ihe use of pesticides
and toxic chemicals, controlling noise and radiation and
managing the disposal of solid waste materials.
Special acknowledgement is made to Vivian Hare of the
Region 6 staff who illustrated this publication.
Single copies of this publication may be obtained by
writing:
n
Environmental Protection Agency
Region 6
1201 Elm Street
Dallas, Texas 75270
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