Living in Harmony with Wetlands

Not All Wetlands Are Alike

Some wetlands, like tidal and freshwater marshes, have ponds that become deeper and shallower with the seasons. While others, like coastal marine wetlands, may be flooded all year. Prairie pothole wetlands may be dry for most of the year. Fifty percent of North America's waterfowl use them for breeding grounds.

If you're a Southeasterner, there's probably a swamp or floodplain forest near you. These are known for trees, shrubs, and other woody plants that have adapted to floods, ponds, and water-saturated soils. They offer habitat for wildlife and store flood water and trap sediment.

If your home is in the Northeast or the Appalachian Mountains, you've probably heard about bogs. Thousands of years ago, bogs were formed by glaciers. Today, they are havens for evergreen trees, shrubs, and sphagnum moss.

In California's Central Valley, the Gulf and East Coasts, and along Midwestern streams not all wetlands are natural. Some, like the greentree reservoirs, are artificial. These are often intentionally flooded to give waterfowl a winter home. Water levels are lowered when the waterfowl are gone. But no matter where the wetland is, you'll find that...

Wetlands Are Busy Places

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