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down to SOO.OOO acres
<br />s crowded days.* The
<br />rom urbanization, the
<br />igc of the low market
<br />nmic screw. Wetlands
<br />L'hanges of dredge and
<br />c, everyday u^es that
<br />n incremental loss of
<br />ting on the hill above
<br />rtili/.ers. and other
<br />marsh. Similarly, the
<br />n destroy a marsh or
<br />Hands, and pkoving
<br />le on the hill then
<br />ts; they kKatwl there
<br />s; access to rivers and
<br />their actions destroy
<br />le actual credits and
<br />land resoi’i*t(*> are.
<br />ic work in evalu tting
<br />ands to othe.- uses,
<br />hat the benelits are
<br />shown, for example,
<br />vays g..od farndand.
<br />to early fro.sts. and
<br />oo slowly and too
<br />tcl> it require.^ more
<br />•onse<|Ufnce drained
<br />tanks rather than in
<br />wetlands haw not
<br />canals of the new
<br />ive quickly become
<br />ing on the banks of
<br />r*n sewers,
<br />iresolved, there has
<br />attitude and public
<br />he older laws were
<br />s a coroll,'iry to the
<br />(Migratory Bird
<br />oration Act, 1931:
<br />tet, 1950), recent
<br />e focused on the
<br />• to be prutected.
<br />Areas Act. 1972;
<br />Likewise* i;i .April
<br />'•-•nej a!!iu»ii.;i.(l a
<br />■S4ne the nation's
<br />:y goals in .support
<br />1 To imiumi/c alterations in the quantity or qunlitv of
<br />^ the n.i Ural Bow of water which nouiishe.s wetlands and to
<br />prouvl them from adverse dredging or filling practices
<br />it''oTli‘ P^«clices, siltation. or the ad-
<br />dilion of pesticides, salts, or toxic mulerails arising from
<br />nonimmt.source wa.stes or through construction acliviti. s
<br />2 To deny federal funds for construction of niunicinal
<br />waste water treatment facilities that may interfere with
<br />the existing wetland ecosystem, except where no
<br />filsible.'''® environmental damage is found
<br />3. To consult with the Department of Interior in
<br />determining the probable impact of pollution-abatement
<br />programs on fish and wildlife in the wetlands
<br />: ;®,‘'®f«mmend a public hearing in the event of a
<br />pr^Mted significant adverse environmental impact.*
<br />W hile the^ policies remain general, they do represent a
<br />significant change in the federal government position. In
<br />Apnl 1974, the Army Corps of Engineers adopted a
<br />similar set of guidelines under its authority from the
<br />Rivers and Harbors Act.
<br />During the past five years, state and local governments
<br />have aim begun many programs addressed specifically to
<br />wetland protection. Most of the states along the Pacific
<br />and Atlantic coasts, and Michigan on the Great Lakes
<br />have passed legislation protecting wetlands. The majo^
<br />effort has been to obtain state control of dredging and
<br />fUIing of wetlands: in most cases these activities now
<br />require a state permit. While this legislation is recent and
<br />therefore difficult to assess, most state governments feel
<br />^at the rate of wetland destruction has been slowed
<br />Siinilar systems of wetland protection have also been
<br />mstituted by municipal and county governments, in
<br />response to state mandates. Ixical wetlands laws tend to
<br />cover wetlands development in general, rather than simply
<br />restricting dredge and fill activities. Th6se programs are
<br />described in detail later in this section.
<br />ecology and THE PUBLIC PURPOSE
<br />Wetlands arc defined as a transitional area between dry
<br />land and open water. They are areas of low topography
<br />poor drainage, and standing water. Due to seasonal ami
<br />yearly variations in the borders of wetlands, they are
<br />sometimes hard to spot. Water-logged land in the spring
<br />may be dry through most of the summer and fall, while
<br />during years of extensive rainfaU wetlands are more
<br />extensive than in years of drought.
<br />Though it is difficult to produce a universally accepted
<br />^finition of exactly where wetlands end and other lands
<br />begin, wetlands are generally classified by their
<br />vegetation, water (fresh or saline), and predominant water
<br />depth. Wetlands also vary according to climate, with
<br />marked differences in vegetation from north to south
<br />Table 2 lists the various types of wetlands according to
<br />these factors, along with the most common forms of
<br />disturbance. It is based on the classification of water f<.wl
<br />habitats by the U.S. Fish and W'ildlife Service.
<br />Analyzing a community's wetlands in terms of thise
<br />«»Iogical types gives a better picture of the local
<br />resources lieing considered. Sedge meadows, for example.
<br />38
<br />are often overlooked when considering a uetlamls pro;fram
<br />lH‘cause they may look more like gras.slands tl.an
<br />wetland.s, but they are strategically im,.ort:^nl fo.- their
<br />fUtermg and water storage capabilities. LikewiM*. certain
<br />t>jes of wetlands m.iy const it ute an extre.melv rare
<br />hioIogMcal resource. Hogs, for exan.ple. arc relatively rare in
<br />the plains .states and will support pitcher plants, sund-ws
<br />am other flora that arc not found elsewhere in the region’
<br />In this ca.se they can have value for their uni(,ueness.
<br />W hatever their specific local valutr. wetlands do have a
<br />set of common natural functions that make them valuable
<br />resources for society. The* resource values of wetlands can
<br />he summarized as follows:
<br />change inorganic nutrients into organic material, storing
<br />Tw ho n r ^*1^0
<br />if *ti water through a wetland, allowing the silt
<br />Thuf th of it them.selves.
<br />Ih s the removal of wetlands cau.ses faster runoff of
<br />dm,or w»,or. Con«,q„o..„^ prZi,h
<br />2. W'etlands al.so influence the quantity of water Thev
<br />act lo retain water during dry periods and hold it back
<br />during fl«,oil.s thus ket*ping the water table high and
<br />relatively .s3ahle. One acre of marsh is capable of ahsorMn-r
<br />or holdin)c 300,000 gallons of water and thus helps project
<br />the commnnity against flooding and drought. C«a;tal
<br />vvetland.s also absorb storm impact.
<br />3. Wetlands are important resources for overall
<br />environmental health and diversity. They provide
<br />essential breeding, nesting, re.sling. and feeding grounds
<br />'T'
<br />u. h nH t • «“ractiN e ti, m.nny
<br />upland birds and animals. Since it is here that the food
<br />Hr r f"'- *'»Pl*orting a wide variety of
<br />I ants and animals. 3 ht se factors have the social value of
<br />providing g.neral environmental health; creating
<br />rwreational. research, and educational sites: maintaining
<br />•iHdin trapping and fishing, and
<br />adding to the aesthetics of the community.
<br />n many ways wetlands present the classic case for
<br />public rcgnlal ion. Mo.st of their assets arc public g.Kids "
<br />they are provided for one member of society, they
<br />wl*ila* 7 ***' ('onsciiuently. the use values of
<br />wetlaml.s are not ensidered through the regular system of
<br />the land market. An individual cannot sell hi*s marsh
<br />tering funetu.n on the market, nor can he pric, his
<br />grounduater protection sy.stem and .sell it to others .Such
<br />values nmy play some role in land use dt>ci.sion.. but H
<br />of th^hn •' Thrrer*‘*’''"f ^ Potentialoi iht laml. Jherefore. it becomes important for the
<br />i f 1. ^ • !. ** ” of Steps a communiiv
<br />fctlands tegulaiory program for it^
<br />u.
<br />2. 1'hen it must act on a policy level. It must dec-de if
<br />tium. vul„..s „rc- enou,:l, t» ,1„. uVv
<br />Wet land
<br />Seasonally
<br />l’'loode<| lla
<br />or Flats
<br />Inland Frv<i
<br />Meadows (2
<br />Meadow)
<br />inland Shai
<br />Fresh Mars
<br />Inland De«|
<br />Fresh Mars
<br />Inland Oper
<br />Fresh Wate;
<br />Shrub
<br />Swamps
<br />Woodetl
<br />Swamps
<br />Inland Salii
<br />Flats
<br />Inland Salii
<br />Marshes
<br />Inland Oper
<br />Saline Wale
<br />Coastal Sha
<br />Fresh Mars)
<br />('onstal Dee
<br />Fresh Marsh
<br />Coastal Ope
<br />Fresh Water
<br />Coastal Salt
<br />Flats
<br />Coastal Salt
<br />Meadow
<br />Irrc*gulnrly
<br />FIntKied Salt
<br />Marshes
<br />Regularly
<br />Flooded
<br />Salt
<br />Marshes
<br />Sounds and
<br />Bavs
<br />Mangrove
<br />Swainp.s
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