1. Importance of Wetlands & Their Preservation

2. What is a wetland? Marsh: soft-stemmed vegetation Swamp: woody plants Bog: freshwater, spongy peat, evergreens, mossy floor Fen: freshwater, peat- forming, covered in grass, reeds, and wildflowers www.nwi.fws.gov

3. Wetlands : The link between the land and water The link between the land and water An ecosystem characterized by: An ecosystem characterized by: -hydrology -hydrology -soils -soils -vegetation -vegetation “Nurseries of life” “Nurseries of life”

4. What Wetlands do for you: Prevent/reduce flooding Prevent/reduce flooding Improve water quality Improve water quality Fishing Fishing Maintain biodiversity and aesthetics Maintain biodiversity and aesthetics Reduce soil erosion Serve as ground water recharge areas Make wonderful outdoor classrooms!

5. Despite all of these benefits, 60,000 acres of Wetlands are lost each year, in the US alone The Clean Water Act of 1972: The Clean Water Act of 1972: Goal: To restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters Goal: To restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters Support: “the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water” Support: “the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water” The Act does not deal with ground water or water quantity issues The Act does not deal with ground water or water quantity issues It employs ways to sharply reduce pollutant discharge, finance wastewater treatment, and manage runoff It employs ways to sharply reduce pollutant discharge, finance wastewater treatment, and manage runoff

6. Reversing the impact of degradation “The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value. -Theodore Roosevelt -Theodore Roosevelt Wetland Mitigation: Wetland Mitigation: -improvement upon wetlands that is made as exchange for damage done to wetlands elsewhere Restoration: Restoration: -returning one of the wetland characteristics to a drained wetland site Creation: Creation: -impounding water to excavated, depressed areas that did not previously contain wetland soils or vegetation

7. Mitigation 1980’s President Bush> “no net loss” 1980’s President Bush> “no net loss” Each developer must first obtain a permit before beginning construction Each developer must first obtain a permit before beginning construction “no net loss” policy fails “no net loss” policy fails Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) Army corps of Engineers>enforce Army corps of Engineers>enforce Fish and Wildlife Service>consultants Fish and Wildlife Service>consultants

8. REstoration Provides landowners an opportunity to benefit wildlife, themselves, and community Provides landowners an opportunity to benefit wildlife, themselves, and community -USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) & Wetlands Reserve Program Takes place where hydric soils remain Takes place where hydric soils remain From 1982-1992 768,700acres of wetlands gained From 1982-1992 768,700acres of wetlands gained

9. CREATION All 3 characteristics are missing All 3 characteristics are missing Difficult, costly, and often unsuccessful Difficult, costly, and often unsuccessful A Success Story: A Success Story: -NHC/DEM Landfill, treating leachate -awarded CAMA grant from NC division of Coastal Management -lowers costs, and reduces 60,000gal of discharge from entering Cape Fear

10. You may ask yourself…”How can I help?” EPA’s wetland helpline: 1-800-832-7828 EPA’s wetland helpline: 1-800-832-7828 EPA’s wetland homepage: EPA’s wetland homepage:www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands USDA’s Wetlands Reserve Program: USDA’s Wetlands Reserve Program: www.wl.fb-net.org May is American Wetlands Month!