American
Wetlands

...	
To increase public awareness of the
values and productivity of wetlands,
encourage people to enjoy them, and
to protect, recognize, enhance,
commemorate, and restore our
Nation's wetlands.'
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¦ Flood control: Often called natural sponges, wetlands
thelp control flood waters by absorbing water during heavy
• rainfall then slowljk releasing it downstream.	,ua

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¦ Boating: Wetlands are some of our
Inst- fHidyetnrtS-ffrtas/attideling canoeists
and kayakers to their pristine environments.
ltaTi Fish and wildlife habitat: Most fish and
shellfish we eat live in wetlands when they are
young. Wildlife also migrate through wetlands'
"linear corridors"—and many endangered species
live there, as do birds and mammals of all Afes^
from the mouse to the moose.	J?


¦ Hunting: Wetlands support an annual commercial fur
and hide harvest of $3OO-$40O million. Migratory birds and
waterfowl use these ecosys ems for food and shelter, and
for breeding and wintering grounds.
wP Fine arts and ~jsf
*uk^rature: Over theiafer /,
fcUff c-enttiries naturalists. f /
landscape painters, I |
photographers, and writers \
-have expressed appreciation .
Tor-the values—both^^ (.
tangible and intaifgible— —,
"oFAmejyca's wetlarTds.——* i.
i
For more information on American Wetlands
Month and wetlands protection, contact the
Wetlands Hotline 1-800-832-7828.
B Fl9hrng: Nearly all the t'ish ant^felHslT harvested
commercially—and half of the recreational catch—depend on
yvfrtlflnds foffood and habitat during part of their life cycle.
_«.i— j_ vegetated aquatic ecosystems that include such areas as bogs, marshes, swamps, and prairie potholes, are now recognized as some of the most productive
natural areas in the world. They're habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife, fish and shellfish. Humans, also, use wetlands for recreation, erosion control, and water
quality control. But we've only begun to recognize their irreplaceable ecological values: wetlands have long been misunderstood and abused. Historically, Americans,,
perceiving wetlands as useless swamps, drained, filled, channeled, and polluted them—destroying more than half the original 200 million acres of wetlands in,the*s (
lower 48 States. In response to these losses, the National Wetlands Policy Forum set two goals for protecting and managing the Nation's wetlands: (1) to achi«a^
	_		sr-
Erosion control: Because thev
often located between water bod
and high ground, wetlands buffed
shorelands against erosion. Wetlands
plants also bind soil with their roots and
help to absorb impacts from wave actio#
I Quality of life:
iome buildgrs^value ^
^^UeF^fasnatursirbufferS"-^.
between land uses, as water
features, to create diversity
within the development.
¦ Water quality and availability: Like giant
kidneys, wetlands help purify water by processing
nutrients, suspended materials, and other pollutants.
Wetlands also increase the availability of water by
absorbing and adding water in wet seasons, then
gradually releasing it during dry periods. ^
¦ Recreation: Wetlands are wonderlajjda^14*''?^
People hunt, fish, crab, hike, walk, and boat
there—and those 50 million who observe and
photograph birds in wetlands spend nearly
$10 billion a year on their hobbv.
Celebrate American Wetlands. Appreciate the values and functions of our wetlands.

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American Wetlands Month
Co-Sponsors
oastal America
orps of Engineers
,nvironmental Protection Agency
sh and Wildlife Service
tional Park Service
Conservation Service
TATES
elaware Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Control
inois Department of Conservation
Louisiana
Mississippi Bureau of Marine Resources
South Carolina
Oregon
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Broward Co., FL
Eugene, OR
Indianapolis, IN
Northwest Michigan Council of Governments
Novt, Ml
STATE ASSOCIATIONS
Association of State Floodplain Managers
Association of State Wetlands Managers
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
American Fisheries Society
B.A.S.S., Inc.
Ducks Unlimited
Izaak Walton League of America
National Association for State River
Conservation Programs
National Audubon Society
National Coalition for Marine Conservation
National Wildlife Federation
Ocean Alliance
Sierra Club
Lrout Unlimited
dlife Trust of North America
iER
jican Planning Association
"WflSncan Water Resources Association
Arvicl^ Company
Atlantic Center for the Environment
Audubon Naturalists Society of the Central
Atlantic States
I Audubon Society of Portland, OR
Environmental Institute, Univ. of Massachusetts
Environmental Law Institute
srmen Involved in Saving Habitat
sston Bay Foundation
|Michigan Federation
gan United Conservation Clubs
jal Water Resources Association
Jp(American Lake Management Society
!il arod Water Conservation Society
Institute
IAeJAuLWatershed Council
ervation Association

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Celebrate American Wetlands
— what you can do —
Develop resolutions recognizing American
Wetlands Month: Encourage your government
officials to recognize the values of wetlands by
issuing a resolution declaring May as American
Wetlands Month.
Enjoy wetlands: Plan a "walk in the wetlands"
for your community—visit nearby wetlands in a
National Wildlife Refuge, a state park, or
estuary—to appreciate their beauty and values.
Organize a local group: Encourage others in
your community to form a group to help protect
wetlands in your area.
Read about wetlands: Learn more about the
special qualities and fimctions of wetlands by
reading about them. Call the Wetlands Hotline
for suggestions: 1-800-832-7828.
Talk to elected officials: Visit your dtyjtownj
county council and your state legislature to talk
about the need to protect ivetlands. Invite them to
visit a nearby wetlands with you.
Look into government programs: Contact
State and Federal ivetlands protection agencies
to find out what laws, programs, and projects
protect ivetlands. Call the Wetlands Hotline for
information: 1-800-832-7828.
For more information,
please call the
Wetlands Hotline:
1-800-832-7828
Publicize American Wetlands Month:
Encourage your local newspaper and radio/TV
stations to run stories on wetlands protection.
Contact the co-sponsors for information.

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