Wetlands By: Dr. James Anderson

An estimated 221 million acres of wetlands occurred in the 48 states prior to European settlement

Since that time, more than 53% of those wetlands have been drained or filled for development, agriculture, resource extraction, and other purposes.

53% Lost

West Virginia has an estimated 102,000 acres of wetlands, which is less than 1 percent of the state's land area

In the late 1700s, it was estimated that West Virginia had 134,000 acres present, which was 24% more than the current acreage.

West Virginia has fewer wetlands than many states primarily because of its rugged topography, but there are some well-known wetlands in the state such as: Cranberry Glades Canaan Valley Pine Swamp Cranesville Swamp

The rugged topography limits the number of wetlands in West Virginia.

In West Virginia, numerous wetlands occur where man-made structures, such as roads and railroads, impound water

Wetlands can also be found around the margins of lakes and farm ponds, rivers, and seeps

So What is a Wetland? “ All areas...in which the natural declivity is insufficient, when the forest cover is removed, to reduce the soil to the measure of dryness necessary for agriculture. Whenever any form of engineering is necessary to secure this desiccation the area is classified as swamp.”

Today two primary definitions are used, the scientific and the regulatory

The scientific definition used by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service defines wetlands as “lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface or the land is covered by shallow water. For purposes of this classification wetlands must have at least one or more of the following attributes:

(1) at least periodically, the land supports predominantly hydrophytes; (2) the substrate is predominantly undrained hydric soil; and (3) the substrate is nonsoil and is saturated with water or covered by shallow water at some time during the growing season of each year.”

The regulatory definition used by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Army Corp of Engineers defines wetlands as: “those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions.”

Within wetlands three parameters are present: 1) Hydrology-indicates that water is present on the surface or within the root zone

2 ) Hydric soils-have unique properties that are related to alternating wetting and drying of the soils

3 ) Hydrophytic vegetation (or hydrophytes)- are particular plants such as cattails (Typha spp.) that are tolerant of wet soil or low oxygen conditions

Hydrology + Hydric Soil + Hydrophytic Vegetation =

Wetlands are known by a variety of names including aquatic, bogs, bottomlands, fens, marshes, mires, moors, muskegs, peatlands, playas, potholes, ponds, sloughs, swamps, riparian (streamside), salt marshes, seeps, vernal pools, wet prairie, and wet meadows

playas

marsh

Wet meadow

Common types of wetlands occurring in West Virginia are aquatic, bogs, marshes, swamps, riparian (streamside), seeps, and wet meadows

There also is a scientific classification used for mapping and reference purposes Based on this classification most wetlands in West Virginia are a type of palustrine emergent, palustrine scrub- shrub, palustrine forested, or palustrine unconsolidated bottom/ unconsolidated shore wetlands

Palustrine wetlands have less than 0.5 parts per thousand of ocean-derived salt and are generally dominated by trees, shrubs, or persistent emergent vegetation (vegetation that lasts at least until the next growing season). If wetlands do not meet these criteria, they are considered lacustrine, estuarine, or riparian wetlands

Most West Virginia wetlands are Palustrine.

Wetlands provide numerous ecological functions and also are valuable economically

Precipitation and run-off are stored in wetlands, which changes sharp run-off peaks to slower discharges over longer time periods reducing the potential for flooding For example, 9,300 acres of wetlands along Charles River (Massachusetts) was estimated to prevent $17 million in damage/year from floods

Wetlands are highly productive wildlife habitats Almost 50% of the federally listed threatened or endangered animal species rely on wetlands Birdwatchers visit wetlands to see and photograph bald eagles, red-winged blackbirds, kingfishers, tree swallows, and many other birds and wildlife

It is estimated that $10 billion is spent annually by 50 million people observing and photographing wetland- dependent wildlife

Wetlands contribute millions of dollars annually in terms of fish, fur, alligator hides, and other commercially valuable wildlife species Wetlands also supply cash crops of cranberries, blueberries, peat moss, and timber

Wetland plants can remove toxic contaminants from water and soil and they absorb agricultural fertilizer, nutrients, and pesticides before they pollute waterways Wetlands also have been used in treating acid mine drainage from abandoned coal mines

Wetlands are primarily conserved through management or conservation of existing wetlands and through construction of new ones Wetlands are often managed specifically as habitat for wildlife species

Many of the national wildlife refuges also are focused on wetland habitats for migratory birds Wetlands can be made more productive by manipulating the water regimes to promote seed germination of favorable forage and seed-producing plants

There is no comprehensive federal legislation designed specifically to conserve wetlands

However, some wetlands are protected under Section 404 and 401 of the federal Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge of dredged or fill material into the waters of the United States

If an area meets the regulatory definition of a wetland it is illegal to fill it in unless a federal and state permit is obtained However, there are exceptions to this rule Wetlands not associated with a stream (isolated wetlands) currently are not protected

Additionally, wetlands are offered no protection against draining and all wetlands less than 1/10 th of an acre are not protected

In reality Section 404 and 401 of CWA only regulates filling of wetlands greater than 1/10th acre.

Wetlands that require a permit can still be drained, but mitigation must be implemented

In general for every acre destroyed 2 acres must be constructed if the impacted site was an emergent wetlands or 3 acres must be constructed for scrub- shrub and forested wetlands

The federal policy of “no net wetland loss” also has helped to slow the loss of wetlands.

Wetlands are highly productive systems that provide valuable ecosystem functions and values to humans The public has recognized these values and although wetlands continue to be lost, it is at a much slower pace than historical rates

Policies aimed at preventing wetland loss and requiring that destroyed wetlands be mitigated have helped slow this decline However, in many cases the mitigated or constructed wetlands do not perform as well as natural wetlands

In the future, the remaining wetlands will be increasingly more important for maintenance of biodiversity and contributing to ecosystem functions.

Wetland Related Research Moist-soil Management Mute Swans Otters Canaan Valley Rare Wetland Plants Rare Wetland Plant Communities Vertical Liner Wetland Mitigation Ohio River Back Channels Wetland IBI Deer Herbivory Beaver Mitigation Banking

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