Why are wetlands and other water resource areas important?

The cost of loss or wetland acreage, degraded water quality, increased storm damage, and depleted fish, wildlife and plant populations has been well documented.

Wetlands provide many free services to the community. Low areas serve as floodways to channeldd storm and other flood waters and act as buffers to prevent damage to nearby roads and buildings. Naturally forested riverfront areas slow flood waters and trap sediment and debris. These functions minimize the need to extensive and expensive engineered flood management systems. Wetlands also provide temporary storage of flood waters, allowing floods to receded slowly and to recharge groundwater aquifers.

Wetlands are often sources of public or private drinking water supply. Wetlands and fully vegetated riverfront lands help to purify the waters they receive from highway or agricultural runoff and other sources. They serve as natural settling areas where soils and vegetation trap sediments which bind and, in some cases, break down pollutants into non toxic compounds. Sediments under marsh vegetation absorb chlorinated hydrocarbons and heavy metals such as lead, copper and iron. Wetlands and riverfront lands retain nitrogen and phosphorus compounds which otherwise would foster nuisance plant growth and degradation of fresh and coastal waters.

Wetlands and valuable to wildlife – providing foof breeding areas and protective cover.  Naturally vegetated riverfront lands also provide essential travel corridors for many species. Shellfish beds and commercial and recreational fisheries are dependent on good water quality and healthy coastal and inland wetlands.

Banks serve a buffers for landowners against storm damage. Vegetated banks bind the soil, preventing erosion caused by wave or surface water flow.