What is a wetland?

Water Classification Wetlands are areas that are covered by water or have waterlogged soils for long periods during the growing season. Plants growing in wetlands are capable of living in saturated soil conditions for at least part of the growing season. Sometimes may be unrecognizable as these areas will dry out. Wetlands are found from the tundra to the tropics and on every continent except Antarctica.

What is a wetland? Three Classifications –Ground Water –Hydrophylic Plants –Hydric Soil

Groundwater Classification is at the surface or within the soil root zone during all or part of the growing season

Hydrophylic Plant Classification Plants adapted for growing in standing water or saturated soils, such as moss, sedges, reeds, cattail and horsetail, rice, mangroves, cypress, cranberries, etc.

Hydric Soil Classification Soils are characterized by frequent, prolonged saturation and low oxygen content, which lead to anaerobic chemical environments where reduced iron is present.

United State and Wetlands

Importance of Wetlands: Hydrologic Long term and short term water storage –Wetlands protect land from damage caused by flooding, storms and tidal damage

Importance of Wetlands: Water Filtration Wetlands remove nutrients from surface and ground water by filtering and by converting nutrients to forms that won’t harm the environment

Importance of Wetlands: Habitat There are a number of plant and animal species that can only survive in a wetland ecosystem

Wetland Improvements Wetland Restoration Wetland Creation Wetland Enhancement

Wetland Restoration A degraded wetland or former wetland is returned to its previous condition as much as possible

Wetland Creation A non- wetland area is converted into a wetland

Wetland Enhancement A function of the wetland is improved upon