Conservation Commission

Wetland Benefits

Wetlands are characterized by:

• the presence of water at or near the ground surface for part of the year
• the presence of soils which were formed under wet conditions
• most of the plants are adapted to wet conditions

Benefits of Wetlands slow floodwaters protect uplands from erosion increase water quality provide setting for recreation and study support a diversity of wildlife across the landscape moderate local climate recharge groundwater produce products used by humans: timber, peat, fish, rice, cranberries, blueberries, hay for livestock Did You Know... ... that wetlands are often called the "kidneys of the landscape" because like kidneys, they filter out harmful materials?

And solitary places, where we taste The pleasures of believing what we see Is boundless, as we wish our souls to be.                     Percy Bysshe Shelley

Destruction of Wetlands...

...can lead to serious and costly consequences such as:


• pollution of drinking water supplies
• flooding of upland areas downstream
• destruction of tourist attractions

Prime reasons to protect our wetlands:

1. Wetlands protect and preserve drinking water supplies because they purify surface water and ground water by filtering and plant chemistry.
2. Wetlands prevent loss of human life and property during floods because they absorb and store water.
3. Wetlands retard soil erosion because the abundant vegetation holds the soil in place.
4. Wetlands provide for a diversity of wildlife due to a presence of a plentiful water supply, habitat for breeding, nesting, feeding and predator escape.

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