Freshwater and marine life including trout, striped bass, pike, sunfish, crappie, crab, and shrimp rely on wetlands for food, cover, spawning, and nursery grounds. Nearly 7000 plant species live in U.S. wetlands, many of which can only survive in these wet environments. Some wetland types are among the most productive ecosystem on earth. A stand of common cordgrass in a salt marsh can produce more plant material and stored energy per acre than any agricultural crop except cultivated sugar cane. Nutrients and plant material flushed from some wetland systems during storms provide essential food for plants, fish, and wildlife in estuaries and other downstream ecosystems.
Coastal wetlands help to blunt the force of major storms.
Mangrove wetlands, such as those along shorelines in Biscayne National Park in Florida, reduce flooding, coastal erosion, and property damage. Many wetlands contain a diversity of plants and animals that provide beautiful places for sightseeing, hiking, fishing, hunting, boating, bird watching, and photography. Some wetlands help provide clean, plentiful water supplies. For example, wetlands in Florida's Everglades help recharge the Biscayne Aquifer, the sole source of drinking water for the Miami metropolitan area. Ecological, cultural, and historic resources run abundant in our nation's wetlands, and provide countless opportunities for environmental education and public awareness programs.