1. PRESERVING OUR WETLANDS A Presentation of the Madison County Park System

2. W HAT ARE WETLANDS ? Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water, with water that is still or flowing, fresh or brackish, including areas of water no deeper than 20 feet.

3. T YPES OF W ETLANDS Freshwater marshes Tidal marshes Fens Bogs Swamps Mangrove flats Floodplains and deltas

4. W ETLAND C HARACTERISTICS NameLocationsHabitat for... Freshwater marsh WidespreadGrasses, frogs Tidal marshIntertidal zonesGrasses, crabs, clams FenAreas of mineral-rich water Grasses, shrubs, trees BogGlaciated areasSphagnum moss, shrubs, trees SwampSaturated or flooded areas Cypresses, gums, maples Mangrove flatSubtropical areasMangroves

5. W HY DO WE NEED WETLANDS ? Wetlands are regions where soils, water, plants, and animals interact These interactions generate healthy wildlife, fisheries, and forest resources

6. O THER B ENEFITS OF W ETLANDS Flood control Shoreline and storm protection Nutrient retention and export

7. F LOOD C ONTROL Rain and melted snow are stored in wetlands Some stored water recharges groundwater Storage of water in a wetland reduces risks of damaging floods downstream

8. S HORELINE AND S TORM P ROTECTION Wetland vegetation stabilizes shorelines by reducing energy of waves and currents Wetland vegetation holds sediments in place to reduce erosion Wetlands lessen force and impacts of coastal storms

9. N UTRIENT R ETENTION AND E XPORT Wetlands retain nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, improving water quality Accumulated nutrients support aquatic life as well as forest and agricultural products Nutrients are released slowly throughout the year to benefit plants and animals downstream

10. M AMMALS IN THE W ETLANDS

11. W ETLAND L OSS Historic approach has been to drain wetlands to convert land for agricultural use Approximately 80% of U.S. wetlands have been lost to agriculture Approximately 50% of wetlands worldwide have been lost

12. L OCAL W ETLAND L OSSES

13. R ATE OF W ETLAND L OSS

14. I MPACTS OF W ETLAND L OSS Floods—more damage to areas that were once wetlands Water quality—more sediments, nutrients, and contaminants downstream Animal habitats—loss of habitats for animals that inhabit wetlands