Furthermore, fuzzy guidelines for classification and the difficulty of assessing potential effects of destroying wetlands complicate legislative procedures. The effects of draining one wetland may not apply to another wetland. We are playing around with a very dynamic, complex system that we don't understand. We've already demonstrated that this kind of action can get us into trouble. That swamp is a nuisance.
Animals are dependent upon plants which are dependent upon nutrients and on and on.
If one part of the system is affected, other parts are also affected. The value of a wetland cannot be precisely evaluated. It will differ from one area to the next and from one time to another. Readily apparent values of wetlands include their importance as nesting grounds for waterfowl, as spawning grounds for commercial fish and as nurseries for countless numbers of plant species. Other values which are not so readily seen include flood protection, erosion control, underground water recharge, water quality control and the supply of nutrients.