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Wetlands American Wetlands Month

May is American Wetlands Month

Learn! Explore! Take Action!

American Wetlands Month 2010 Events

History of American Wetlands Month

What Are Wetlands?

Why Celebrate Wetlands?

Status of Wetlands in the United States

What You Can Do to Protect and Restore Wetlands

Resources

Other Partners in American Wetlands Month

Celebrate Coastal Wetlands... Connecting Us All!

This May will mark the 20th anniversary of American Wetlands Month, a time when EPA

and its partners in federal, state, tribal, local, non-profit, and private sector organizations

celebrate the vital importance of wetlands to the Nation's ecological, economic, and social

health. It is also a great opportunity to discover and teach others about the important

role that wetlands play in our environment and the significant benefits they provide -

improved water quality, increased water storage and supply, reduced flood and storm

surge risk, and critical habitat for plants, fish, and wildlife.

This year's American Wetlands Month will focus on coastal wetlands. Between 1998 and

2004, coastal wetlands losses in the eastern United States totaled about 59,000 acres per

year. Read more about the status and importance of coastal wetlands in the fact sheet

and National Wetlands Newsletter article below.

Fact Sheet: Celebrate Coastal Wetlands Connecting Us All! (PDF) (2 pp, 1.9MB, About

PDF)

Newsletter: Celebrate Coastal Wetlands Connecting Us All! (PDF) (4 pp, 373K, About

PDF) You can also access the National Wetlands Newsletter directly.

EPA encourages all Americans to consider doing the following to help celebrate the month,

wherever they reside:

55 days

to American

Wetlands

Month!

You can put this American Wetlands Month countdown widget on

your website by clicking on the "i" in the lower right hand corner,

then copying and pasting the HTML code onto your website.

Wetlands

http://www.epa.gov/owow_keep/wetlands/awm/index.html

Last updated on Thursday, July 22, 2010

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1. Learn about wetlands. This is a great time to better understand what a wetland

is, where wetlands can be found, and the importance of wetlands. Activities may

include reading and studying about wetland areas, drawing maps or illustrations of

wetlands, and identifying native species found in wetlands. Information on

wetlands and the important benefits they provide is available on this website,

through EPA's wetlands fact sheets series, or by visiting the websites of our

partners.

2. Explore a wetland near you. Unless you live in the most extreme climate zones,

there is a good chance a scenic wetland exists nearby for you to visit and explore

during American Wetlands Month and throughout the year. To find a wetland near

you, consult your local parks department, state natural resource agency, or the

United States Fish and Wildlife Service. If you live in the Washington, DC area, a

guide has been created to highlight wetlands and wildlife sanctuaries.

3. Take action to protect and restore wetlands. Support and promote wetlands

informing community members about wetlands' vital roles, "adopting" a wetland,

joining a local watershed group, or participating in a wetland monitoring,

restoration, or cleanup project. There are many other actions Americans can take

to help conserve wetlands.To learn more about what you can do to help protect

and restore these valuable natural resources in your state or local area, visit What

You Can Do to Protect and Restore Wetlands.

American Wetlands Month 2010 Events

EPA welcomes and encourages your participation in this exciting outreach effort!

Please share information about 2010 American Wetlands Month events near you by

completing and submitting the American Wetlands Month Event Information Form.

Click below to find about 2010 American Wetlands Month Events planned in your state.

New events will be added to the map weekly.

Nationwide Events

For tips on planning a wetlands event and links to other informational materials on

Alabama GO

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wetlands, go to http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/awm/#resources.

If you'd like to refer to past American Wetlands Month Events, please visit our

2009 Events (PDF) (11 pp, 74K, About PDF)

2008 Events (PDF) (14 pp, 80K, About PDF)

2007 Events (PDF) (6 pp, 43K, About PDF)

If you have questions about this form or would like to discuss other ways to participate in

American Wetlands Month, please contact ow-wetlandsmonth@epa.gov.

History of American Wetlands Month

American Wetlands Month was created in 1991 by EPA and its federal, state, tribal, local,

non-profit, and private sector partners to celebrate the vital importance of wetlands to the

Nation's ecological, economic, and social health and to educate Americans about the value

of wetlands as a natural resource. Historically, annual events such as national and

regional conferences have been organized to include a broad range of people including

wetland scientists, educators, and public interest.

The annual celebration of American Wetlands Month in May inspires people to work

throughout the year to protect, preserve, and expand wetlands. Highlights from last

year's celebration include:

The National Wetlands Award Ceremony which honored a diverse group of

individuals for their extraordinary commitment to conserving wetlands.

International Migratory Bird Day which celebrated the theme "Birds in a Changing

Climate" and highlighted threats to migratory birds and efforts taking place to

conserve them.

A special Web cast for watershed practitioners entitled "Taking on Long-Term

Stewardship Responsibilities of Wetland Mitigation Sites."

The Izaak Walton League of America's celebration of American Wetlands Month,

which focused on the theme "Alien Invaders: Invasive Species and Wetlands" and

explored the ways invasive species are endangering the health of wetlands and

how to stop their spread.

What are Wetlands?

Wetlands are the vital link between land and water, where the flow of water, the cycling

of nutrients, and the energy of the sun meet to produce highly productive ecosystems

with unique plant and animal life. Wetlands may not be wet year-round. In fact, some of

the most important wetlands are seasonally dry transition zones. They are among the

most valuable, but often least understood, wetland resources.

Why Celebrate Wetlands?

Water Quality Protection & Improvement

Wetlands are often referred to as the "kidneys" of the landscape for their ability to

remove excess nutrients, toxic substances, and sediment from water that flows through

them, helping to improve downstream water quality. Recently published studies on

pollutant removal rates for natural and restored wetlands indicate that, depending on the

type of wetland, the season, and other factors, wetlands can retain significant

percentages of nitrates, ammonium, phosphorus, and sediment loads. Natural wetlands

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have also been effective in removing contaminants such as pesticides, landfill leachate,

dissolved chlorinated compounds, metals, and stormwater runoff.

Reducing Flood Risk

Wetlands play an important role in reducing the frequency and intensity of floods by

acting as natural buffers - slowing, absorbing, and storing significant amounts of

floodwater. Since flooding is the most common natural hazard in the nation, wetlands

play an integral role in managing this risk, particularly through planning approaches that

consider the entire watershed. Wetlands can also significantly mitigate the impacts of

storm surges and waves. The nation's vital Gulf coastal landscape and associated

infrastructure experienced crippling damage as a result of wind, tidal surge, and flood

related impacts during the 2005 hurricane season. Experts have concluded that the

significant historic losses of wetlands in southern Louisiana contributed to the magnitude

of hurricane impacts. These events illustrated the economic, cultural, and ecologic

consequences of losing protective coastal wetlands, which provide significant and

sustainable protection to life and property.

The presence of wetlands on the landscape can also mitigate flood damage inland. A

study by the Wetlands Initiative concluded that restoring wetlands along the 100-year

flood plain of the Upper Mississippi River could increase storage capacity to 39 million

acre-feet of flood water--a similar volume to the Mississippi Flood of 1993 that caused

$16 billion in damages.

Water Storage & Supply

The ability of wetlands to store and filter water helps to protect and replenish surface and

underground drinking water sources. Studies have concluded that the thousands of small

wetlands that dot the U.S. Great Plains (called playa lakes) play a significant role in the

recharge of the Ogallala aquifer - one of the Nation's largest aquifers and a principal

source of groundwater used to irrigate agricultural land and provide drinking water in the

Great Plains.

Bioproductivity & Habitat

As nurseries of nature, wetlands are among the most biologically productive natural

ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs in their productivity

and in the diversity of species they support. Mixtures of vegetation and shallow water

zones provide diverse habitats for a variety of species - plants, insects, amphibians,

reptiles, birds, fish, shellfish, and mammals. Many species rely on these critical habitats

for survival as sources of food, shelter, and breeding grounds. For example, frogs, toads,

and salamanders depend on small, isolated wetlands during their development. It is

estimated that one-half of all North American bird species nest or feed in wetlands, and

despite the fact that wetlands comprise only 5% of the land surface in the conterminous

United States; they are home to an estimated 31% of plant species.

Economic Viability

Commercially, wetlands provide an essential link in the lifecycle of 75% of the fish and

shellfish harvested in the United States and up to 90% of the recreational catch. Many

industries, in addition to the fishing industry, derive benefits or produce products that are

dependent on wetlands. For example, coastal wetland and barrier systems can provide

buffers that protect commercial and industrial infrastructure, including ports, and oil and

gas structures. Commercial products harvested in wetlands include rice, cranberries, peat,

hay, medicines, timber, and fur.

Recreational & Cultural Opportunities

Finally, wetlands provide infinite opportunities for recreation and cultural pursuits. They

are inviting places for popular activities such as hiking, fishing, bird watching,

photography, and hunting. In 2001, more than 82 million Americans took part in these

types of recreational activities, spending approximately $108 billion.

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Status of Wetlands in the United States

The United States has made progress in reversing the historical wetland loss of an

estimated 100 million acres of wetlands since the late 1700s. Specifically, the net annual

loss of wetland acres has decreased dramatically in the past few decades, from nearly

500,000 acres per year between the 1950s and 1970s to nearly 60,000 acres per year

from 1986 to 1997. The last national report released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

indicated that wetland gains exceeded losses between 1998 and 2004.

Despite this positive news, however, wetlands continue to be threatened by a variety of

factors, and some wetland types continue to decline in acreage and condition. Urban and

rural development is now the leading cause of wetland loss, accounting for nearly 60% of

freshwater wetland loss nationally. Urban and rural development can also degrade

existing wetlands by increasing sediment, nutrient and other contaminant loads beyond a

wetland's capacity to assimilate them. Additionally, habitat fragmentation, hydrologic

alterations, and increases in invasive species are all troubling effects on wetlands due to

urbanization. As watershed and associated wetland systems are compromised, there can

be negative economic, social, and environmental impacts. Consequences of global climate

change and sea-level rise are also expected to have an adverse impact on wetlands.

Efforts to Protect and Restore Wetlands

EPA, along with other federal agencies, is taking a number of steps to protect the health

of wetland habitats and ecosystems. EPA works closely with the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers to ensure no net loss of wetlands and other aquatic resources under the

Section 404 permit program of the Clean Water Act. This regulatory program includes

guidelines requiring that discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United

States be avoided and minimized to the extent practicable and that unavoidable impacts

be fully compensated. Currently EPA is partnering with the Corps on a number of

important efforts in the Section 404 program including the implementation of national

guidance on program jurisdiction in response to the Supreme Court decision in Rapanos

vs. U.S., implementation of the joint EPA/Corps compensatory mitigation regulations, and

the deployment of a new information management system to better track wetland

permitting and mitigation efforts nationwide.

States, Tribes, local governments, and conservation organizations also play a critical role

in restoring, protecting, and improving wetlands. Accordingly, EPA provides funding

through Wetland Program Development Grants to build and enhance state and tribal

wetland program capacity in the areas of regulation, monitoring, restoration, water

quality standards, mitigation compliance, partnership building, and outreach and

education. EPA's Five Star Restoration Challenge Grant Program provides funding,

technical support, and information to help communities restore wetlands and stream

banks. Since 1999, this program has supported nearly 500 projects utilizing more than $4

million in federal funds and $25 million in partner matching funds. These projects have

restored or improved 8,225 acres of wetlands and 95 miles of stream banks.

Finally, EPA has initiated development of the first ever national assessment of wetland

condition to be conducted in 2011 (http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/survey/). This

probability-based statistical survey will assess the health of the Nation's wetlands while

strengthening state and tribal programs for wetland monitoring and protection. It will

develop baseline information in order to evaluate environmental progress in protecting

and restoring the Nation's vital national wetland resources.

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What You Can Do to Protect and Restore Wetlands

Citizens can make valuable contributions to the protection and restoration of wetlands.

Consider taking some of the following actions to help conserve wetland resources near

you:

Volunteer with a local watershed or conservation group (or start your own if none

exist in your area) to protect, restore, and monitor a local wetland or stream area.

Check Surf Your Watershed (http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/locate/index.cfm) for a

watershed group near you.

Work with a community group, youth group or school to identify a local wetland

that could be restored to its natural condition. Funds may be available for local

projects through the 5-Star Restoration program. For more information, go to 5

Star Restoration Program

Talk to your local government about steps they are taking to protect and restore

wetlands in your area, and encourage action. Some local governments protect

wetland quality by adopting ordinances that limit development next to wetlands

(known as wetland buffers). For information, go to Wetlands and Watersheds

or check out The Planner's Guide to Wetland Buffers for Local

Governments which provides information to local governments that

are considering enacting or amending a wetland buffer ordinance to manage land

use and development.

Plant native vegetation in your yard and limit your use of fertilizers and pesticides

which can pollute nearby waterways.

If you live in Georgia, adopt a wetland! The state of Georgia has developed an

Adopt-a-Wetland Program, based on its Adopt-a-Stream Program. A manual

explains how to find a wetland to adopt and how to conduct a wetland walk,

perform surveys, and maintain the health of a wetland is available on the

program's Web site. Programs like Georgia's provide an opportunity for hands-on

learning for all ages. For more information, call (404) 656-1639 or visit The

University of Georgia's Marine Extension Service Shellfish Research Laboratory

Resources

"Common Questions: Wetland Festivals" (PDF) (11 pp, 250.3K, About PDF)

- This guide, prepared by the Association of State Wetland Managers with support from

the U.S. EPA, is a resource that may be useful in planning a wetland festival or other

outreach event to raise wetland awareness. Drawing upon lessons from previous festivals

and other resources, the guide answers questions that groups should consider if

interested in designing and carrying out their own wetland festival.

"Wetlands and Wildlife Sanctuaries to Visit in the Washington, DC Metropolitan

Area" - This guide highlights a few of the many places to learn about and enjoy wetlands

in the Washington DC area. If you live outside the DC area, you can find a wetland near

you by contacting your local parks department, state natural resource agency, or the

United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

EPA wetlands fact sheets - EPA has developed a series of fact sheets that provide

technical and educational information on a variety of topics related to wetlands

conservation.

"Southeastern Wetlands: A Guide to Selected Sites in Georgia, North Carolina,

South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky" - Co-published by the EPA and the

Tennessee Valley Authority, this book invites and inspires readers to visit wetlands of the

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Southeast and learn about the challenges faced in their preservation. A limited number of

free copies of this book are currently available. Contact Gail Harrison

(harrison.gail@epa.gov) to obtain a copy.

EPA Wetlands Education Materials - The following website will help you find activities,

curriculum/guides, education programs, teaching tools, and other links related to

Wetlands Education.

Our Partners in American Wetlands Month

Environmental Law Institute (http://www.eli.org)

Izaak Walton League of America (http://www.iwla.org/)

Association of State Wetland Managers (http://www.aswm.org)

Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (http://www.fws.gov)

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

(http://www.noaa.gov)

Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service

(http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/AWMsuggestedways.html)

National Park Service (http://www.nps.gov)

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